Wild Rose Brewery

Stopped in for a flight and meal and was glad I did. The place has some history as it is an old hangar of sorts converted and preserved from the old airport. I think I got that right?
Had the flight and would easily buy 3 – 4 of the beers again. They have a couple light entry beers and the raspberry fruit beer kills it on flavor. Their brown ale and chocolate stout were my favorite and both IPAs were a kick back from a hop bomb. About $ 19 CAD for a flight of 8 beers.
I had the ribs after at least 5 people asked if I wanted food and I wouldn’t get them again. The flavor and texture was almost mushy and the bones were breaking in half. Over soaked in seasoning/​liquid? I don’t know but I opted for another beer instead of more food.
The place was packed and crowded and akward for a solo traveler to find a place even at the smaller bar. They let me go back and give myself a tour which was cool as well. I’d come back for the beers but would pass on the food.

Menu is straight out of the 90’s pretty boring even for pub style food, and it wasn’t really even that good either. Wouldn’t recommend eating here, maybe just a beer.

Go discover the genuine spirit of this brewery and have great beer and food, but don’t tell anyone else. Lets keep this hidden gem in Currie Barracks to ourselves :-))

What a spot!
The girlfriend and I came here after a quick 9 holes of golf at richmond green.
We grabbed a seat on the patio and the server provided us an umbrella as it was super sunny.
We had some grizzly paw soda (we both weren’t drinking that day) — black cherry and ginger beer (epic sodas!) and then added the nachos (huge portion), plus pulled BISON. They didn’t skimp on the sour cream or salsa and even had reasonably sized to-​go containers.
They were $ 22 nacho’s all-​in, but they were worth it. I will be back to sample other food options!

Velvet fog tops my list of favorite wheat ales so there’s something sexy about drinking it right where it’s brewed. All their beer is naturally brewed with no chemicals or preservatives and maybe that’s why it just feels right to try a few every time I’m here. Sitting in the sun on the patio drinking beer and tasting quality bites doesn’t get better then this spot. I highly recommend the marg. pizza and fish tacos.

We buy kegs of beer from here for our stampede parties as well as those little piggies for use at the office.
I like the beer and the pricing is good but actually sitting in the brewery for drinks is loud and packed. In the summer you eat dirt from the highway.
The food isn’t good at all and there isn’t much vegetarian to choose from — but that’s what you usually get in YYC.
I’ll stick to big purcahses from here… or a quick beer posssibly. Not a place I would hang out at regularly or for much time.

97 reviews? Well, here is one more!
If there’s one menu item that you need to order, it would be the soft pretzel. It’s so good and so worth it.
Came with a few other Unilocalers for a UYE and we had a great time. Nothing like kicking back a couple of pints on a Sunday afternoon. When you first arrive at Wild Rose Brewery, you may question whether or not Google Maps took you to the wrong place. This place has the one of the most unassuming places to have a brewery.
Enough about logistics, let’s talk about the beer. One of my fellow Unilocalers got the «paddle» which seemed like a great deal and a great chance to explore many beers at once. I’ve had plenty of Wildrose beer before so I wanted to try out some of their seasonal flavours (which were great!)
Will be back. For the beer and the pretzel.

I’ve never had service like they provide at Wild rose brewery… it’s unreal how attentive, efficient and awesome the staff are. A group of us went for some grub and beer, and at no point in time were any of our glasses/​pints empty before a server came to ask how we were doing.
Velvet fog and Barracks brown are my favorite.
The Montréal smoked meat flat bread is tasty!
Kind of in a random place, but definitely worth checking out.

My first visit to the Wild Rose although I have enjoyed their brews for years. I took my lovely Miss for a pint and a bite. Velvet Fog was her instant favorite. I enjoyed one as well as the IPA. Shared the Brewer’s Lunch. The bread, meat and potato salad were excellent. This was a perfect share for us. The other meals leaving the kitchen looked amazing as well.
The location of the building on the barracks grounds coupled with the walk from the parking lot to the door along the dirt path felt like walking onto the MASH set. Upon entering the quonset, the nostalgic feeling carried on.
Friendly greeting and being helped to a seat where two fellas kindly shared their table was really cool. The atmosphere was nice with lots of noisy chatter. The small room was at capacity.
Not sure if WR is like this all the time, but it is a place to enjoy a beer and rub elbows with other fine Calgarians.

This place is cool … But not fancy at all… But the wine was not bad and the service very friendly. I am not a beer person, but most of my friends like the beer here… This is a great place to go in a group for a different time…

I stumbled onto this place while staying for a night in Calgary. It’s a little out of the way and seems like you’re going to a random shed when you get there but it was great. I tried a couple of their IPAs and their bison brisket which was quit tasty! The staff was also very friendly! I would return here if I go back to Calgary.

Wild Rose Brewery was the perfect break in a touristy day in Calgary, separating a visit to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and heading downtown for the nightlife.
The current brewery is just southwest of downtown (as I understand it they are expanding with an additional location), and the place has ambiance all-​around. Housed in a small hangar/​fallout shelter, the building has character from the get-​go, and continues to get better with a sizable beer garden and interior hall.
Although I was slightly bummed to find out prior to my arrival that Wild Rose was no longer offering tours, I was still strongly encouraged to check the place out based on the beers and the food. Even with the highly enthusiastic recommendations from the staff at the hostel we were staying at (I always have concerns that a highly-​set bar will lead me to at least some level of let-​down), this place did not disappoint in any fashion!
To start, if you’ve never been here before, grab yourself a flight of 8 of their beers, including 7 of their flagship brews and their seasonal. That’ll fill you up with just over 3 pints of beer! Continuing on, order some food. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner. If you’ve been conserving your beer samples appropriately, you’ll be able to do some beer-​food pairings. What were some of the highlights? The filling «Barracks Brown Ale Stew» went perfectly with their brown ale of the same namesake, while the «Brome Lake Duck Tacos» were a perfect match for some of their lighter brews… I personally thought the «Velvet Fog» wheat and the «Wraspberry Ale» raspberry ale complimented the blood orange-​roasted, cranberry-​topped duck perfectly.
Whether you’re just popping through Calgary as a stop on the way to Banff National Park, an oil and gas tycoon that’s in town for work, or a local that loves a good brewpub, Wild Rose Brewery is a must-​see (and a must-​eat, and a must-drink…well, you get the point).

I apparently have trouble writing reviews for Calgary establishments, compared to the number I write for vacation spots. Time to start rectifying that imbalance!
In particular, I need to review Wild Rose Brewery before they have to close this location for good. They currently have their lease til Feb 2015 & are hoping to get it extended again. If they do not, you have to check them out before they shut the doors forever! I am sure the beer & the food will be just as fantastic anywhere else, but this small restaurant & tap room attached to their older brewing facility in the Currie Barracks has atmosphere they won’t be able to duplicate.
Wild Rose is Calgary’s best brewery (although the competition is increasing) & they serve all of their beers here on tap, plus you can buy them on site in bottles & in mini kegs called party pigs. Never have we failed to impress company when we open our fridge door & reveal our party pig, complete with a name tag & filled with the equivalent of 25 bottles of beer. Patterson is currently pouring IPA at our house right now. (They also have a program for larger kegs, but you need to order those ahead of time)
But this is definitely more than a mini beer store — they have a kitchen & full menu to go with the pints. Food is always good quality, although I must say I miss the black bean dip they used to have! The veggie chili is just not as good (strangely, though, my meat-​eating partner thinks it is excellent, & has ordered it several times, so I guess it is just me) A few daily specials complement the set menu. Several of the dishes include beer as an ingredient & they will help you pair a beer style with your meal if you wish.
They also have beer specials — their «seasonal» brew will be available (also found in many local pubs’ tap lists) as well as a featured cask conditioned ale on Friday, usually a special variation of one of their standards (last week was their brown ale with coconut & vanilla bean). The pour usually starts at 4 pm on Fridays, & there is rarely a seat to be found, so arrive early!
The inside of the tap room is a mix of small tables & larger communal seating with long benches. The regulars are quite friendly so there is generally no problem sharing. Some of the small tables are bar height, but there is plenty of accessible seating too. On one occasion, I witnessed someone in a wheelchair enter when the room was quite full, with only higher seating available, but a group immediately offered to move to it so their low table could be taken over by the newcomers.
Edited June ¹²⁄₁₄ to include info that both washrooms are wheelchair accessible. I’ve only seen the inside of the women’s, however :)
For me the big downside is location, not for atmosphere, but for ease of visiting. I wish it were closer to downtown so I could walk or cab there, as I hate making my designated driver cut his drinking short!

I was quite impressed with this place, I’d heard a lot of good things about it but never ventured in. As an Albertan I’m always happy to check out local breweries, and I’ve had Wile Rose beer before and boy is it tasty!
Trying to find this place if you’ve never been is a bit tricky… it kind of feels like it’s in the middle of no where but it’s definitely worth it once you find it.
We came on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed, we were lucky to find a table! They had a lovely assortment of beers on tap including a couple I’d never heard of before (cherry porter). We sat down and order some beers and lunch and had a great time.
The food was delicious, the atmosphere was fun and the beer was good… need I say more? I’ll be back for sure!

You know how I feel about Wild Rose Brewery? Proud.
Now, I haven’t done anything to deserve this pride. It’s not my business. I don’t even know the owners or any of the people who work there. I’m just your average customer. But I like their beer so much that I actually feel pride when I tell people they’re from Calgary. Wild Rose Brewery, it impresses me how much you impress me.
When it comes down to it, this is the company that sparked my own personal beer revolution, empowering me to toss off the shackles of big brand beer and explore the endless craft beer universe and I’ve never looked back. Ever.
S.O.B. — You sunnuva bitter, so special and old. Smooth, delicious, and mellow enough to have at your side as a party companion for those all night sessions.
Velvet Fog — You know, I honestly think if it wasn’t for the name, this could be the most popular everyday beer in the city. It’s flavourful, refreshing and would have huge mass appeal. While yeah, it’s «velvet» smooth I think it gets perceived as girly… it’s not! Fellas. Drink this beer! Call it a «Fog» if it makes you feel better. It makes me feel better… Actually, Wild Rose, can we please just call this a «Fog»? Us Alberta boys can get a little insecure about these things…
I.P.A — Industrial Park Ale before I even knew what an India Pale Ale was. So you want to get into the hoppy world of IPA’s? Wild Rose is a great place to start. It’s got enough of a great hop-​kick to the face to be a real IPA (the Keith’s your drinking is a lie!), but is still mostly approachable by many novice beer drinkers. It’s inviting, and will open your eyes. If it’s a bit much for you, order a pretzel to go with it. The pretzel grease helps take the hop edge off. Seriously.
WRed Wheat — …meh… I don’t really drink this one, actually. *shrug* You can’t win ‘em all. :)
WRaspberry — A very berry flavoured summertime classic. Have a significant other who doesn’t like beer? Here’s your real raspberry getaway vehicle from those horrid alco-​pops.
Brown Ale — Nutty, chocolatey, and one of my preferred fall beers.
Alberta Crude — as the weather gets colder, my beer preference get darker. In the deepest depth of winter the toasty malts of this oatmeal stout keep me warm inside.
Ooh ooh! Are you ready for this? I AM!
Cherry Porter — The Wild Rose winter seasonal… Ok. THIS is why you need to drop what you’re doing right now and get down to the brewery! The fruit flavour isn’t light like it is in the WRaspberry. Ohhh no. Think deeeeep cherry, like stewed cherries mixed with dark chocolate. THAT is the Wild Rose Cherry Porter.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to the food, shall we?
The Food — Yah, it’s good.
The Place — I love taking people from out of town here, because I’m proud of it, yes, but also because just as they are convinced I’ve taken a wrong turn we roll up at the old airplane hangar at the Currie Barracks. I love how the brewery is always a destination visit and you can’t just stumble in. I don’t like how you can’t just stumble home. Someone always has to behave themselves. *sigh.
Seriously though, the food is really well thought out and totally delicious. I’ve just written enough for one evening. Go see for yourself.

You cannot go wrong with drinking any Wildrose product and their Brewery itself is a treat. Nestled away in the Currie Barracks, where this is basically the only thing left other than defunct military housing, you will find the source of Wildrose power inside an airplane hanger.
My favourite part about actually visiting the brewery, is their food! This kitchen is boss and they don’t have a deep fryer, so everything you get here is ovenbaked or stove top cooked. It is also neat to see how they utilize their own brews in the cooking process.
It’s also a big bonus cause WR Wred Wheat is my favourite beer and to find it on tap in this city is ridiculous. So come, drink your WR favourites, enjoy the food, go on a tour, pick up a party pig (they name each one individually) and relax in this cozy beer haven.

I must add to my previous review after attending a Co-​op Beer Dinner at WR. If you’ve never been to a Beer Dinner, I recommend them. They are usually around $ 60 for five courses and five beers.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. I always really enjoyed the food at Wild Rose, finding it complimentary to the beer and relatively healthy. But the menu at the Beer Dinner revealed the Wild Rose chefs to be nothing short of genius. These guys are capable of much more than they are letting on. That said, I have seen some of their more unique creations start to creep their way into the standard menu.
The beer dinner consisted of Velvet Fog steamed mussels and clams, roasted SMOKEY butternut squash soup with bacon paired with IPA (mind blowing), mushroom and goat cheese salad, and then an unbelievable Alberta braised short ribs in demi-​glaze, roasted winter squash, cabbage, and baked polenta. This all finished with a cherry porter trifle; light, and full of cherry flavour with smokey notes. It was simply outstanding.
Keep your eye out for this event in the future! With any luck, even more of these awesome menu items will crop up on their standard rotation!
Normal menu rotation must-​try items: Blue cheese field greens (if you’re into blue cheese), Alberta crude oatmeal stout (on a cold day), salmon gravlax, Brewer’s lunch (come hungry).

Walking into this brewery, I didn’t know what to expect… But was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere! I really liked that you can see into the brewery from your table.
Our waiter was super nice and helpful. I asked him what I would enjoy based on my taste preferences and he brought me over a couple different samples of beer.
My friend and I ordered the Hummus & Naan for a starter — it was a huge portion of dip compared to the Naan given but was full of flavor.
I ordered the veggie flatbread for my main dish and let me tell you… It was great! I love flatbreads and sometimes I get disappointed at places, but not Wild Rose!
Definitely coming back for another pint and some food.

Oink oink… party pig?! Yes please! What is a party pig?! It’s a pig full of beer! 25 glasses to be exact! My coworker received a pig (Analise) as a present!
Cost is $ 50 for a full Pig + $ 40 refundable deposit
Two options when you’re done:
EXCHANGE — Bring in your empty Pig and they’ll fill it or give you another Pig for $ 50
RETURN — Bring back your empty Pig and they’ll refund the $ 40 deposit
Located in the old Curry Barracks this place is a hanger/​barn/​garage looking thing in the middle of no where with a gravel lot and chain link fence I felt like I was driving through a desert and came across this watering hole /​oasis! hahah.
Love the atmosphere, garage-​y feel, Fermenting bins in the back behind the bar.
Prices are reasonable.
Food is good — soft pretzel, nachos,
Good beer selection.
Patio outside the garage for those nice hot days.

With the recommendation for the mac & cheese here, I thought it would be worth a visit. They were right. It was a delicious treat and the beer was excellent.
It was a great beer and good food, but why don’t you have wifi? I would have stayed longer, had another starter and another beer to go with it, but not if I can’t check in on Unilocal.I was bummed about it.
Note: the place is easy enough to find, once you realize that it’s buried on a former/​current army base. When you come off the road, make the sharp right.