It took us a little while to find where the pubs and bars of Calgary were but Stephen Avenue in downtown was filled to overflowing with all the watering holes having extensive happy hours there.
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While we didn't have time to partake in the beginning, we finally got around to doing a crawl before we left but then we found out why the pubs were so crowded on the preceding days...the weather was gorgeous, fall, "perfect temperature", outside weather and Calgarians were spending what would be the last of that great weather on their patios.
Patios to Calgary are what biergartens are to Munich...great, outdoor drinking spots where local go to mingle and imbibe.
Our day was decidedly chillier and most of those Calgarians seemed to be home in front of a cozy fireplace. No worries, we're still out and about, let's go see what we can find...
Starting off nextdoor to the hotel, we're at a popup beer garden put up by the National restaurant chain at evJunction, a container park with little shops in each shipping container and entertainment via a local hip hop group.
The selection is a little limited, a blonde and a berry based brew are the canned choices here, and Tim and I lean toward the blonde while Letty likes the berry beer.
The C-Train gets us over to Stephen Avenue where we hit three more pubs, all within a block of each other.
Our first stop is Bank and Baron, a huge pub in a former bank. The bartender invites us to go to the basement to see the old vault and take pictures.
Tim and Letty go with the mimosas which are on special this day while I get my Molson Canadian fix.
Yeah, it's a cheap beer but it's better than most of our cheap beers back home.
Across the street, we visit the James Joyce Irish pub.
Here, we find a little privacy at a wheelchair-accessible nook near the entrance (while their 'secret' wheelchair accessible bathroom also comes in handy mid drinkathon).
Tim goes fruity with a strawberry colada, Letty goes with their special Moscow Mule, while I have a reserve Canadian Crown Royal whiskey shot with a Shock Top beer chaser (picture at the top of this post).
We end up around the corner at the Palomino Smokehouse where we have the best, juiciest brisket we've ever had. Seriously delicious food here.
As for drinks, Letty has a Rock Creek cider and I go for a local craft brew, a Big Rock Traditional Ale.
From here, it's not a long walk back to the hotel. Wobbly, maybe, but not far.
Cheers!
Darryl Musick
Copyright 2017 - All Rights Reserved
Photos by Letty Musick
Copyright 2017 - All Rights Reserved
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