Calgary: Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues

Calgary’s craft beer scene is spread across the city, so this tour saves you the trouble of finding your way between breweries, arranging a driver, and guessing which taprooms are worth your time. You visit three award-winning breweries in three different districts, with beer flights and a guide who can adjust the stops to suit your tastes.

I like the personal touch. Shawn is funny, quick with a joke, and good at remembering what each person enjoys, from dark beer to unusual brews made with beets, flowers, or coffee. I also like the teaching side: your guide is a beer judging student or certified cicerone, so you get more than a ride between tasting rooms.

The main drawback is that food and extra drinks cost more. A food stop may be included in the route, and past visitors especially enjoyed the pizza, but the tour price covers the brewery tastings rather than a full meal or every drink you may want.

Key points to know before you book

• Three brewery districts: You visit three Calgary breweries in separate parts of the city, not three stops in one small cluster.
• Shawn may lead your tour: He is known for a funny style and for matching beer choices to each person’s preferences.
• Beer flights are included: Each brewery provides a flight, with time to order other craft drinks if you want them.
• Transport is handled: The tour begins and ends at 101 9 Ave SW, outside the Calgary Tower, with custom pickup and drop-off for private groups of more than four.
• A lesson comes with the tasting: You learn about ingredients, production, beer history, and basic beer evaluation.
• Plan for adults only: You must be at least 18 and bring a passport or other accepted ID.

Three Calgary breweries without the driving puzzle

Calgary is not a city where you can simply walk from one notable brewery to the next. The stops are spread across different brewery districts, and that makes transportation one of the strongest reasons to book this experience.

Your meeting point for a public tour is outside the Calgary Tower in the loading area at 101 9 Ave SW. From there, the van carries you between the three brewery areas and returns you to the same spot at the end. The total time is 210 minutes, or about three and a half hours.

That timing gives you roughly an hour at each brewery, though the exact flow can depend on the day and the venues selected. You are not rushing in for one sample and immediately leaving. You have time to receive a flight, talk through the beers, and enjoy the room before moving on.

For a private group, YYCTOURS can arrange pickup and drop-off, provided your group has more than four people. That option makes sense for friends celebrating together or for a group that wants the stops shaped around shared preferences. Public tours allow other people to join, so the mood and group size may vary.

What the $83 price really covers

At $83 per person, the value comes from the combination of transport, planning, three beer flights, and access to staff who can explain what you are drinking. If you visited three breweries alone, you would need to pay for rides between districts and make your own choices about where to go. You would also need a safe plan for getting back after several tastings.

The tour takes care of the route and pays the gratuity owed to brewery staff at each stop. That matters because your $83 is not just a ticket for a van ride. It includes the core tasting program at three award-winning or industry-leading breweries.

You also receive time to buy other drinks and craft products if you want them, but those extras are not included. Food is separate as well. One stop may offer a strong food choice, and pizza has been a popular pick, but you should budget for that meal rather than assume it is part of the tour.

The value is strongest if you want variety and convenience. It is less compelling if you already know Calgary’s breweries, have a designated driver, and prefer to order individual pints at your own pace.

Shawn’s style makes the tasting personal

The guide can shape the experience around your palate instead of giving everyone the same rigid lesson. Shawn, who leads some tours, has a lively sense of humor and pays attention to what each person likes. That is useful when a group includes both craft beer regulars and people who are still working out what they enjoy.

A good example is the range of beers available during the tour. You might sample something dark, something light, and something built around an unusual ingredient. Beers made with beets, flowers, and coffee have all appeared on the route, and one visitor discovered a new appreciation for dark beer after trying several styles.

That kind of range gives the tour a purpose beyond drinking three flights. You can compare ingredients and methods, then notice how your own preferences change from one stop to the next. If you usually order a pale ale, your guide may help you try something outside that safe choice without making the process feel like a test.

The humor also matters during a three-and-a-half-hour tasting. Shawn has been praised for being funny as well as informative, which helps keep the education relaxed. The listing does warn that bad jokes are not included, although your guide may have a different view of what counts as a bad joke.

Brewery one: get your bearings with a guided tasting

The first brewery gives you a chance to settle into the pace of the tour. You receive a beer flight and begin learning how to taste with more attention to aroma, flavor, body, and finish.

The specific breweries can vary, since the company works with several venues and builds routes around current options and group preferences. What remains consistent is the focus on award-winning or industry-leading locations rather than random stops chosen only because they are nearby.

Your guide can explain why a beer tastes the way it does, including the role of ingredients and production choices. You may already know the difference between a lager and an ale, or you may be starting from scratch. The format works for both, since the tasting can be discussed at a basic or more detailed level.

The first stop is also where you can tell your guide what you want from the rest of the afternoon. If your first flight reveals a preference for darker styles, fruitier beers, or less bitter options, the route can be adjusted where possible. That flexibility is one reason a private tour may suit serious beer fans better than a fixed public schedule.

Brewery two: compare styles and local character

By the second stop, the flight format becomes more useful. You have already tasted one set of beers, so you can compare the next brewery’s choices rather than judging each glass in isolation.

This is where Calgary’s local beer culture becomes more than a list of breweries. Each producer makes its own decisions about ingredients, balance, and the styles it wants to serve. The tour is designed to show that range, with time to discuss what makes one beer different from another.

You may find familiar styles alongside less expected combinations. The unusual examples involving coffee, flowers, or beets are a reminder that Alberta craft beer is not limited to standard pale ales and lagers. If you are curious about experimental brewing, this stop may be one of the more interesting parts of the afternoon.

The tradeoff is that a flight contains several small pours, not a full glass of every beer you like. That is a good arrangement for sampling widely, but anyone who prefers to settle in with one pint may find the pace a little busy. You can order additional drinks, though those purchases are extra.

Brewery three: finish with food, more beer, or both

The final brewery gives you time to enjoy the route without needing to hurry off for another transfer. A food stop can be included, and pizza has been singled out as a particularly good match for the beer tasting.

Because food is not included in the price, check your appetite before you leave the meeting point. Three flights can add up, and a meal may be welcome by the last stop. If food is not your priority, you can use the time to focus on the final flight or order another craft product at your own expense.

This last venue is also a useful point to revisit what you have learned. You can compare your favorite brewery, reconsider a style you thought you disliked, and ask final questions about brewing or judging. Since the tour includes tutorials on evaluating beer, the afternoon can leave you with a practical way to assess beer on your own.

The return to the Calgary Tower keeps the finish simple. You do not need to arrange a taxi from an unfamiliar industrial area or decide who will drive after the tastings.

A brewery tour with a real teaching angle

Many brewery outings are mainly social. This one puts more weight on how beer is made and how to assess it.

Your guide may discuss the history of beer, the brewing process, and the ingredients used in different styles. You also learn how to look at, smell, and taste beer with purpose. That does not mean you need to become a beer judge. It simply helps you notice why one beer feels crisp while another seems heavy, bitter, sweet, roasty, or fragrant.

The staff guiding the tour are beer judging students or certified cicerone members. That background gives the explanations more substance, especially if you want to ask about brewing choices or style differences.

Still, the education is presented within a social outing. You are not attending a formal certification class, and the depth of the discussion may depend on your guide and group. If you want technical detail, ask questions. If you mainly want good beer and a pleasant afternoon, you can keep the conversation casual.

Private tour or public tour?

The public version is the simpler choice for individuals and smaller groups. You meet outside the Calgary Tower, join whoever else has booked, and follow the planned route.

A private tour offers more control. Your group becomes the only group on the tour, and pickup and drop-off can be arranged for groups larger than four. YYCTOURS can work with your tastes when planning the stops, which helps if your group has a clear interest in sour beers, dark ales, experimental brewing, or food.

Private does not mean every detail is guaranteed to change. The company still works with available breweries and the timing of the day. But it gives your group a better chance to set the tone and avoid spending the afternoon negotiating between very different preferences.

For a birthday, reunion, or friend group, private transport also keeps the day together. For a solo booking or pair of friends, the public tour is likely the more sensible value.

What you need to bring and what to expect

Bring a passport or ID card. The tour is for people aged 18 and over, and alcohol and drugs are not allowed beyond the legal tasting activity.

You must sign waivers before taking part. Wear something comfortable for a van-based afternoon with several brewery stops, though no special equipment is required.

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. If you need a tour in another language, this experience is not presented as a match.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option also helps if you are still setting your Calgary schedule.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the tour to you if you want to sample Calgary beer without planning a route yourself. It suits first-time visitors, small groups of friends, and anyone who wants a safe ride between districts.

It is also a good choice for mixed-experience groups. A beer fan can ask detailed questions, while a beginner can try several styles with some guidance. The guide’s attention to personal preferences is especially useful when not everyone in the group drinks the same way.

You may want a different plan if you dislike group outings, do not drink alcohol, or want a long meal at each brewery. The tour includes beer flights and time at each stop, but it is still a moving route rather than a lazy afternoon at one taproom.

Children under 18 cannot join. Food, extra drinks, and any personal gratuity are not included, so add those costs if you want more than the included flights.

Should you book the Calgary Brewery Tour?

Book it if you value three quality stops, transport, and a guide who can teach as well as entertain. The strongest part is the mix of access and personal attention: you cover several Calgary brewery districts, taste award-winning beer, and get help finding styles that fit your palate.

The $83 price is fair when you use the transport, flights, brewery education, and included staff gratuity. I would choose the private option for a larger group with strong preferences, and the public option if you want an easy introduction to Calgary’s beer scene.

Just plan for food and extra drinks separately. If that suits your budget, this is a practical way to spend an afternoon tasting local beer without turning one person in your group into the driver.

FAQ

Where does the Calgary Brewery Tour begin?

Public tours meet outside the Calgary Tower in the loading area at 101 9 Ave SW.

Where does the tour end?

The tour returns to 101 9 Ave SW outside the Calgary Tower.

How long does the brewery tour last?

The tour lasts 210 minutes, or three and a half hours.

How many breweries will I visit?

You will visit three Calgary breweries in three different brewery districts.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation between the breweries is included. Private groups with more than four guests can arrange custom pickup and drop-off.

Are beer tastings included in the price?

Yes. Beer flights are included at each brewery. Additional drinks and other craft products cost extra.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, though the route can include one brewery with a good food option.

What age do I need to be to join?

You must be at least 18 years old. Bring a passport or ID card, and expect to sign a waiver.