Out last week for supper with friends. After navigating several adjacent and interlocking traffic circles after several tries we got to our destination - the Wild Rose Brewery tap house at the old Currie Barracks -- Canadian Forces Base Calgary and had a very enjoyable meal. We'd all heard from friends that the site was an excellent place for beer and a meal and so were anxious to try it out. The tap house is in the refurbished garage on the base. One of the guys was familiar with it in its previous incarnation as a member of the Canadian forces. So we we had a chunk of the evening related to a his adventures there. There's also a "Buy Gear" booth and a beer store in case you want to buy a souvenir flat of their product. We got the the Barracks Brown Ale. The food was excellent - I had a really tasty and large bison burger with a green salad as a nod to healthy dining. The staff were pleasant and helpful. Based on the fact that the site offered a selection serving of the breweries wares delivered on a heavy wooden tray they also were physically imposing at least as far a forearm strength goes The tap house is also dog friendly. Like The Hague. The dogs were well behaved and quiet and the owners appreciated the attention given the critters by other patrons. read more

Wild Rose is a nice brewery with some tasty food. We stopped here a few years back when traveling through Calgary and it was a welcome respite from hours on the road. The brewery has a casual and inviting atmosphere and the workers were very nice. We tried an IPA and a raspberry ale and the IPA was better overall than the fruit beer, but we enjoyed them both overall. We had some French onion soup and chips and queso and both were very tasty overall. We didn't get to stay too long since we still had a lot of traveling to do, but we would definitely stop here again when we're in Calgary and we'd recommend it to anyone who's in the area. read more

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I enjoy it every time we go here. Great beer, lots of selections, good portions, and prices. The service was timely, helpful with suggestions, and friendly. When it comes to food I only ever get the full order of nachos which can easily feed 4-5 average sized people. read more

I had the Barrack's Brown. (Yes, I love stouts and ales!) My husband had the Alberta Crude, an oatmeal stout, yum! It was smooth and flavorful! We ate the pretzel sticks to start. They had a homemade taste and were served with whole grain honey mustard and a horseradish Dijon. I had the taco salad which was good as well! Our server was attentive in a very crowded room! read more

Somewhere along the way I had a beer from Wild Rose. I don't remember what it was or where I had it but it was stuck in my memory bank. Visiting Calgary I knew I wanted to hit it and was I ever happy I did so! It's in an old hangar where a lot of the patrons know each other and the staff. Everyone was friendly with us. We ordered a couple flights and most of the beers were really good. I really, really liked the Blonde Ale. The Oatmeal was also really good. These were my standouts but you can't go wrong with the IPA or Brown or the sour. We did have a pretzel - make that two - while we were hanging out (they were perfect). If we had more time we probably would have spent another couple hours there. It was a really enjoyable experience all the way around. read more

I have no idea why this place is the most popular and visited brewery in town. It's large and noisy, it's super crowded. The food choices are not great, and the beer is not good. What's to like? We took an Uber here and managed to snag the last two seats at a large family style table, shoved up against a wall so we could face and shout at each other to talk. The food menu left a lot to be desired in the way of fun pub food options. The salads were lame, and the burger choices seemed wrote. My wifes mushroom burger (without the bun) looked like barely an appetizer for one, and was way too expensive, even by Canadian standards. My chili was okay, but it was too dense and bland, I don't think it even had cumin in it. The beers were all mediocore and sub-par. I don't think I have had such a selection of so many boring beers. The service was passable but not friendly or quick. I think my wife had to walk over to track down our server to get our check as she never came back to check on us. So yea...I really don't know what we were missing but this place was not worth our visit. read more

Wild Rose Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Love it for so many reasons but the number one reason is the food!! The service is great! The atmosphere is chill and so fun especially in the summer on their huge patio! Is a great place to ride your bike to and stop for a pint and some delicious eats! read more

Great place!!, pet friendly, clean, good fast service. Great beer and food. Recommend the quesadilla mmmm read more

Wild Rose Brewery - Great patio area!! Incredible Pet friendly guys attending!!... definitely to come back and enjoy beer and food. Cheers!! - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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 Yelp. 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. read more

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I have eaten at this restaurant before. As well, they had a booth at "Taste of Calgary" this year for drinks only- no food. The drinks they had were: - High Harvest Strong Pale Ale with Hemp SPA - Ponderosa Gose - Wraspberry Ale - velvet Fog Wheat Ale - I.P.A. Love their beer! read more

Szechuan pork tacos had a bad flavor, if any flavor at all and were really oily and messy. Their IPA also had no flavor. Worst IPA I think I've ever had. I will say that the service was good though. read more

Wild Rose is our favorite Brewery. We're from the states and when we made a plan to go camping in Banff we knew we had drive the hour and a half to Wild Rose. While we were there we had a flight to start, then decided on our concoctions (20oz pours of at least two of their beers mixed together) and a bowl of chili and a pretzel. When it came time to leave, we weren't sure what we wanted to take with us as all are phenomenal. 9 crawlers later, our minds had been made up. If I could give more than 5 stars to Wild Rose I would!! read more

Great place. Great beers. Great service. Some of the best 'bar' food I've had. Got to go there if you're in Calgary.

The beer here is amazing, I have always been a rasberry fan but the cowbell is my new favorite! One of the best beers I have ever had. And after a few you mix it with rasberry, mmmmmm. And then the food, just as amazing. The smoked meat sandwich is as good as any in Montreal. The smoked meat flatbread is equally awesome. The problem with the food being so good is it takes away more room for beer. read more

Wild Rose Brewery - Smoked meat sandwich - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I hosted a 30 person event here, and there was plenty of room. They were fast and attentive, their lunch was delicious and upper scale. We had some last minute vegan orders which Chef quickly prepared to their delicious satisfaction. They quickly and discreetly took drink orders and refills. Everything was ready on time. I am certified with the Beer Judge Certification Program, and the beers I tasted here were to style (aroma, body, mouthfeel, and overall), and they were delicious. I can see why this is a favorite hangout for locals. I highly recommend hosting events here - they can seat 80 people. read more

Wild Rose Brewery - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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. read more

Wild Rose Brewery, how do I love thee? I'd try to the count the ways, but I'm afraid I won't ever be able to stop. From your tap room to your tours to your staff who are so obviously passionate about your product, if I'm not heading out there for a pint, you can rest assured that there's some Wraspberry, Velvet Fog or Alberta Crude in my fridge to tide me over until my next visit. Faves in your tap room: Pink Velvet - it's half Wraspberry and half Velvet Fog. The Best Wurst - how can you go wrong with a plate full of sausage, beans, sauerkraut and cabbage? I have a hard time finishing this one. Meaty chili - wow! The first time I tried this I couldn't quite understand why there was a chili pepper on top... until I took my first bite. It's got some kick, and it's one of my faves. What is the best occasion for Calgarians to visit your tap room? Why, every occasion! I've been here for birthday parties, group dinners, lunch with friends, meetups with yelpers, post frisbee drinks, brewery tours etc. It's amazing food, drink and atmosphere with better-than-reasonable pricing. Heck, I've even taken a couple of your party pigs houseboating. They're fit just perfectly into those little fridges :). Whatever your magic sauce is, keep doing it! Cuz it's got me coming back for more. read more

I've not been a fan of the typical microbrewery gastropub experience, wherein food quality and value often take a back seat to the beer and to the maintenance of a faux-casual urban chic vibe (a vibe generally reflected in menu pricing). WRB, however, is an exception to this in many ways. First, the ambiance is fully unpretentious, This converted army barrack is about two-thirds brew plant and one-third taproom, and the latter is unassumingly adorned with beer bottles and related paraphernalia (the way a dorm room might be decorated, I suppose, though that comparison really doesn't do this place justice...). I won't pretend to be a beer aficionado, but I've had four of the WRB brews (Wraspberry, Wred Wheat, Brown Ale, and Velvet Fog), and have enjoyed them all enough to appreciate the hype about this local brewery. That's pretty much all I can say about the beer itself, and I likewise can't say too much about the food (since I haven't had a full meal here yet), other than that the three appetizers we shared were far better than I'd expected them to be, that the menu appeared extensive and well thought out, and that this appears to be a popular place to dine. For me, the kicker at WRB is the tour of the brew plant. I had done a few such tours prior to the one here, but I can say that, for whatever reason, this was the first time I fully grasped the brewing process in a way that left me with a greatly enhanced appreciation for what beer is and how it should be experienced. (One interesting aspect about the tour - about which I feel ambivalent - was the way that our guide, though a series of rants, played out a battle between the humble, well-meaning typical microbrewery and the malevolent large-scale industrial beer manufacturing powers, accusing the latter of various forms of unsavory and deceptive manufacturing and marketing practices. While this was entertaining, and perhaps educational to a point, it left me curious to learn more and hear the other side of the story...) read more

The only aspect of that Wildrose Brewery that is less than stellar is the location. It isn't exaclty easy to get to if you don't want to drive, and when i go to a brewery/restaurant I like to have a few pops. So there is the negative. The positive is pretty much everything else. Located in a building that looks like it was once a hangar or something similar, it is pretty spacious inside with a lot of stainless steel and a clear view of the brewing area. With seasonal beer along with their classic line-up, you're likely to find a beer you will enjoy, but keep in mind Wildrose tends not to brew too many lagers and light beers. The food....to be honest I can't remember, but I've been told I liked it and I hear rave reviews from many friends about the chili. If you ever need a drinking buddy to accompany you to Wildrose, let me know, I will bend my schedule. read more

Wild Rose Brewery - Looks like cola ... It ain't - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

A bar on the Currie Baracks? You heard right! Wild Rose Brewery is situated right in the middle of Currie Barracks, right across from the Calgary Farmers' Market. What a strange and perfect place for a microbrewery. Okay, so locally brewed beer aside, let me tell you a couple of interesting and different things about this place. Wild Rose Brewery actually offers tours of their brewery, a tour that allows you to see behind the scenes, learn about the fermentation process and sample different beers! Each staff member knows more about beer than any other person I've met, aside from other staff members. They are usually fun people, who enjoy educating us about one of man's greatest drink: BEER! They have great specials on their beer, since it's brewed right there! And they have a surprising amount to choose from. I'm a huge fan of their Wraspberry ale! It's so sweet and tasty, I think of more like juice than beer! Among others are Velvet Fog, Wred Wheat Ale, Brown Ale, IPA and Stout. It's nice to support a local brewery with locally brewed beers! Have I mentioned their Party Pig yet? This is a mini keg, holding approximately 25 pints of beer, which they rent (or sell) for any occasion. Whether you're having a party, or just want a little kegger in your fridge, you can get the Party Pig for only $50... full! It's a great deal... and it actually looks like a little pig! Party Pig! Hehe! read more

Wild Rose Brewery - *photo credit wordpress.com - Brewpubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I visited the taproom last night. We all got flights, my husband didn't love all his beers but I really liked mine, and so did our friend. We were going to stay for dinner but there are signs disallowing minors after 7p, and we had our 14mo daughter with us. I don't begrudge them that policy, I personally feel as though kids should be out of breweries by 7 but we were killing time before a red eye flight so had to have her with us. The sign says no exceptions but we left just before 7 so I don't know how much it's enforced. It's a nice place to spend some time in good weather. read more

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! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yM__QJKXtvLM_KFH-kpSlg?userid=-gzH91WI8-RphjXAfuR8xQ#CircZ7HR5G2lwbS2vScZig 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. read more

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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). read more

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Interesting location. The staff at this brewery are great, very personable. I tried a variety of their beers, all very good quality. Can't say which one I liked the best because each one was great. Nice taproom. read more

I went recently for a relative's birthday party. Service was really good. Our server had no issue splitting the tab among coming and going guests. The brewery let us bring in a cake and didn't charge us for using their plates. Totally recommend this place for large get-togethers. I've always liked Wild Rose beer, but their special beer cocktails were fantastic. I never would have thought about blending one beer with another, but it works. I enjoyed the blends more than drinking a regular Wild Rose beer. The food I tried was good quality. Food was like a home-cooked but better than you can make yourself. Portions are on the smaller side, and no fries are served, which is better for you anyway. read more

The beer it's all about the beer! Wild rose is truly a business that has risen from the ground up.It's a beer fairy tale, a living breathing fairy tale that not only inspires me with their unique business model but puts real pride and love into their products. It taste amazing! I have been a fan of wild rose since I first tried their beer. Velvet fog is truly one of my all time favs! But pretty much all across the product line each beer that they brew will certainly satisfy beer lovers anywhere! From the Alberta crude to their very popular Wraspberry they keep it pretty tight and don't get carried away with to many flavours. The tight product line is one of the more solid on the craft beer market. They don't make no junk at wild rose! In the summer I had the pleasure of taking the brewery tour and enjoyed a very nice dinner after! The food overall was quite tasty and fairly priced, but let's be honest as nice as it is to have a decent restaurant inside the brewery I don't come here for the food, I come for the ultra fresh brew! If you love beer or even just learning about new things I highly reccomend coming for the tour. It's a quite homey operation that takes its self seriously where it counts ( the beer) but is otherwise extremly relaxed and laid back which I personally love! One final thing to say about wild rose, the beer is potent it will go to your head a little faster than most! And according to the guy who gave the tour it's not a higher alcohol content than average it's because they don't use preservatives so it actually absorbs much faster. Just so you know 2 pints of wild rose is like 3 pints of standard swill ( aka Molson or bud) really good bang for your buck! Come and enjoy! 9/30 read more

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! read more

"OK MAGGOTS!! I ORDER YOU TO DROP INTO THAT SEAT AND DRINK A BEER!!" screams Drill Seargent Beer-y McBeer-a-lot. .... "ummm....ok," i reply. "UMMM....OK, WHAT?!?" .... "ok, sir?" i'm scared at this point. I then drink my beers with a straight back, fresh crew cut, and military precision. ************************ Ok, it wasn't like that at all, but when I went to Wild Rose Brewery with my sister, Ari G., we were surprised to find this cool brewery in a military Quonset hut. I was prepared to drop and give the beer maiden 20 push-ups if I was so commanded....as long as a Wild Rose Sampler soon followed! The location definitely makes this brewery/pub unique! It was a nice summer day. The roll-up door was rolled up, and we grabbed a table inside---although the patio seating outside beckoned. We liked it in here. The joint was busy, but chill. Loved the old B&W military photos. Also liked looking at all the foreign beer bottles displayed around the dining area (we liked looking for breweries we'd been to). On to the beer---with names like "Alberta Crude Oatmeal Stout", "S.O.B.", & Wrasberry Ale, I knew I was in for a creative treat. I, of course, went with a sampler. My sister maid me look like a pansy and went with a tall cold 20 oz. pint. The beers were oh so tasty, and helped throw us into the festive spirit of our fellow Albertans. We were also lucky to meet Calgary Yelp Ambassador Wendy P here. I wish I tried her beer concoction: 1/2 Wrasberry Ale & 1/2 Velvet Fog (sounds scrumptious!). For a beer sponge, I had a plate of pulled pork sliders. They were ok, nothing to Yelp about. They served their purpose and helped soak up the alcohols. It was cool to find a cool brewery like this in Calgary. I'm a fan! read more

2.5 stars. We crossed this one off the Calgary bucket list today and I must say that I was not so impressed? It was a Sunday afternoon, I know, not a good time to go and drink a big pint of beer (now sleepy!) but this was the one plus about this place. The pint was tall and cold and I am not even much of a beer drinker. Got the Wraspberry one. (no spirits here, beer and wine only) Service - embarrassingly bad. No hello, no goodbye, no checking on us as we ate. The place was not very busy. I felt like I was in a cross between a garage, basement and a barn. However, that said, the place is for sure unique and it was very clean, even the washrooms. Ordered: Pretzels - yummy, hot, salty and fresh with interesting mustards on the plate. Crab cakes - worst I have had in a long time. Looked good and had decent crunch but were all bread filler. Beef and Barley soup - not so good, the broth was watery and the barley was all clumped together in a sloppy ball. No meat. Odd! Meatballs Sliders - meat not so fresh and lacked sauce and cheese. All in all, if you like Wildrose beer and are not concerned about food or service this is the place for you. Do not expect to find TVs here to watch Ottawa win the Playoffs, there are none! Would be hard pressed to return. read more

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. read more

I've introduced a number of friends - native Calgarians, recent imports AND out-of-towner's - who all agree that Wild Rose is an especially unique brew-pub and a "MUST-return" destination. I call it a destination because... it's beyond out-of-the-way; it's practically deliberately hard-to-find. With the south entrance to Currie Barracks closed last night (the one on Richardson Way SW by Mount Royal University) we had to enter from the East/Crowchild side and tell the security guard at the gate we were going to Wild Rose for "just one pint". You see... unique! (Who else has tax-payer funded bouncers?) Co-piloting my friend down poorly lit roads past military vehicles we squeezed into a jam-packed dirt parking-lot. A full & lively scene welcomed us on a Wednesday night! It spilled out through the open overhead door onto the large concrete patio which was also brim-full thanks to a rare & treasured warm September evening. Fellow Yelper's - Point of Information here: the building is called "Quonset" (not a barn, hanger, or shed). Wiki-link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quonset_hut The ex-Canadian-Air-Force Quonset gives Wild Rose a 1-of-a-kind atmosphere (look for the trouble-light chandelier) which keenly matches the sites, sounds & smells of the machinery of brewing. This somehow lulls your expectations in such a way that beer, food, and even the service have you saying, "Well, I didn't see that coming." It's the magic of Under-Promise; Over-Deliver that has me coming back again and again and taking the time to share the love. In a city of a million people, many of which suffer from "Quadrant-itis", it is worth the drive to this SW brew-pub from any direction. And for those who are GPS-less or directionally impaired, the cab-drivers know the trail to Wild Rose well enough. Besides - your car couldn't be safer overnight than being parked in the middle of a dim but still-functioning military base swallowed whole and now slowly being assimilated into one of the oldest 'burbs in Calgary. read more

I wish this place was in range for a "quittin' time" beer. Seriously, the only complaint I have is that this place is tucked deeply into the former Currie Barracks. So no 1 am staggering home for me. Which is too bad, because the beer is amazing, like mind-blowing great, the staff is friendly, and the menu has the best pub food in Calgary. The best summer hang-out and an excellent place to take people from out of town. Also, they could clean the patio a bit, but I say NO. This is Wild Rose country, we don't need no fancy wanna-be Irish pub patio. The concrete tables and mis-matched chairs suit me just fine, thanks. read more

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). read more

I really dig this place. I have been here a few times and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Perfect place to chill out with friends or a date. Food is consistently yummy, I have tried a few different things, never had the same thing twice and have never been disappointed with the eats. Tried the pulled pork sliders last time - we loved them. Loved them so much i got an order to go so my roommate could try them, he loved them just as much as me. It's nice to stop in for the casked beers on Fridays, they start serving it at 4pm. It's always busy but I have never had to wait long for a seat. Last time I was there the patio was totally slammed, but I'm hoping to hit that up soon, it's west facing which means lots of sun. I am also known to have backyard bbq's and fires, I am thinking this summer will be the summer of the party pig! read more

This is the place to go to get a real 'Brauhaus' feeling. The food is good and the atmosphere casual. We have been here and listened to classical music as well as on 'normal' days to have one of their own beers. Personal favourite beer: Alberta Crude Beer to go: Try one of their Party Pigs. It is a 8.5 litre keg of beer which looks like a pig. read more

While beer is not my adult beverage of choice, the quality and the taste of the beers from the Wild Rose is undeniable. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to visit the taproom for a farewell lunch for a colleague and got a chance to sample their food offerings. One thing you have to know is that their kitchen has no deep fryer so although the team aspires to do "pub food", they have done an effective job at replacing those fried stables like ribs and french fries with options like coleslaw, baked beans and salads. The prices for their appetizers and entres are very reasonable, considering the amount of food received. I ordered the pulled pork sliders with a side of curried coleslaw. The food was fresh, quickly prepared and most importantly delicious. I washed down those tasty sliders and slaw with a glass of their SOB (Special Old Bitters). Be warned, you will not leave hungry. It would be really easy for the group at Wild Rose to not give two cents about their food offerings as their real competitive advantage is their beer but fortunately for consumers, that isn't the case. These guys care and it shows. Highly recommended for beer sampling and tasty food while doing it. read more

I love, love, love Wildrose. The seasonal beer right now is the Wild Rose Cherry Porter. If you haven't tried it yet, you should seek it out. They describe it as the 'black forest cake' of beer. How could you NOT want to try it?? Their regular lineup is filled with flavorful, unique beers - each one has a wildly different flavor - so you are sure to find something that appeals to you. Here are my thoughts on a few of their regulars: *Wildrose IPA - This is one of my favourite beers, and is definitely the best local IPA I've tried. It is very hoppy yet drinkable. *Velvet Fog - This one lays claim to being the first available unfiltered commercial beer in Alberta, which is hard to believe given the robust flavor unfiltered beers like this one can have. I find this particular one to be more hoppy than fruity (I find many unfiltered beers tend to have more of a fruity flavor). *WRaspberry Ale - This one is a fruity, tart beer that is perfect for a sunny day. Or a cloudy day. Or a snowy day. It used to be a seasonal brew, but it became so popular that they now produce it year-round. *Brown - This one is an easy drinking brown ale which has a refreshingly clean finish. If the beer alone doesn't bring you here, they also serve up some excellent food. Last time we were here, we shared a few plates along with our samplings of beer. The Brewer's Lunch had a wide assortment of cheese, meat, salads, onions, pickles, etc and was served with bread made in-house. The bacon-wrapped skewers were delicious as was the garlicky hummus and naan. At times, part of me wishes that they were more centrally located so that I could have a more convenient place to imbibe. But their location has character, and you really don't want to change that. Keep up the good work, Wildrose! Review #16 of Yelp's 30 Day Review Challenge read more

It is impossible not to give Wild Rose Taproom 5 stars because their beer is so darn good. ... the fact that they serve food as well is just a bonus on top of those 5 stars. I don't want to compare, but when I first tried a Wild Rose beer, I could not believe the flavour I had been missing out on (unlike some other Calgary breweries, which shall not be named). But making a visit to the Brewery/Taproom is an experience in itself. Set in (what seems to be) an airplane hanger, the bar of the taproom looks RIGHT into where the magic happens, so you can watch a Master Brewer hard at work while you sit and enjoy the delicious labour of his hands. I have had the pulled pork sliders, the jalapeño Mac & Cheese, the curried coleslaw and the Oatmeal Stout brownie. All very good! Like I said, it is all just a "bonus" to go with your beer. On our visit, Jessica and I had the pleasure of seeing them boiling (is this the right word for this?) the hops while we enjoyed our meal. Aromas of what smelled like cut grass or green tea filled the space with it's rich "farmy" deliciousness. I had seen breweries before, but this was the first time I had seen the brewing in full action. Quite exciting. It is nice to be able to see first-hand how one of my favourite breweries (ever!) produces it's fine product. The fact that I can go any time, watch it happen and enjoy a tasty meal is priceless. read more

Having called Calgary home for 4 years now, I've never been to the Wild Rose Brewery. Though I've always been a fan of their beer, WRB is one of those establishments I was secretly avoiding. The reason being everyone I know has had a great experience here and I was concerned that it wouldn't live up to the hype. I'm happy to report, its reputation is warranted. We did take the tour and it was very educational. The host certainly seemed to know his stuff and indeed one does get a better appreciation and understanding of the process behind Wild Rose products. It also came with a half pint of beer and WR glass which was a nice keepsake. The tour cost $12 + tax and I think it was well worth it. If anything it was a neat way to kill 45 minutes. I really enjoy the atmosphere. Though it's novel to see worldly beer bottles lining the tops of the walls acting almost as badges of brewing conquest and fun to watch the darts battles in the corner, I just feel at peace here especially after a long day. Friends getting together in a pub where one can actually have a conversation in a sunlit atmosphere, delicious yet reasonably priced food and challenging your taste buds to try a WR beer you've never tried before. What more could one ask for? read more

Some of my earliest childhood memories stem from visits to the old WWII runways that used to cross the fields near the THEN Mount Royal College. Long stretches of runway still remained decades later; and as a kid, I watched model airplanes fly from them, friends' go-carts putter up and down them, and various weekend car clubs racing and slaloming and doing static "shine and shows." These strips of concrete were just "there," as far as most people cared. Roads to nowhere without traffic to kill you. But I do remember one day asking WHY runways nobody used somehow existed in the middle of the city.... and being somewhat amazed to learn of their military history (despite the more than obvious CFB Clagary, JUST OVER THERE)! Amazed, because something I only knew as black and white war footage on TV, had physical ties to this place. And everything here was most definitely real. That "making it real to me" moment was profound as a kid. I've probably been fascinated by war historiy and aircarft ever since. So not surprisingly, I was sad the day I learned the runways were being torn up and removed. As time moved on, though, I pretty much forgot all about them. Years passed. Currie Barracks shuttered as an active base. But thankfully, much of that past still remains -- almost as it always did, though with a new, now-commercial purpose. And all of that makes the location--and the building that Wildrose finds itself in--so incredibly unique to Calgary. Walking through the doors and having a pint here for the first time, those ties to the past are once again brought home. I honestly could see a similar scene 60 years ago: an officers lounge, or a room of newly trained pilots ready to ship out. It wouldn't look much different then as it does now. This has been a long way of saying: I'm into the vibe, because there's more meaning here, if you allow it, than you will find almost anywhere. But let's face it: the beer is great, which also helps things along immensely! More than a few Calgarians list WR as their favorite of any brew. And the food? I've tried only appetizers, but in each case, they surprised me by surpassing what I would have expected in a pub. Unique and original in their own right. This is something special to Calgary, and I'm a fan. Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012 - 2/30 read more