Calgary Shopping and local micro breweries

[GreenLantern]

Hitting Cowtown this weekend for the Caps game Sat and The Dudes on Friday.. and I want to shop.

Last time I came to Calgary was about a year ago and I went to the new outlet mall and I was not impressed. Obviously, it is an outlet mall, so the selection will be limited, but I walked through the entire Lacoste store and could not find one thing I wanted.. among other stores.

What I want to come home with is a Pea Coat and a pair of designer jeans (Rasts, Sevens, TR's, Diesels etc..) on SALE. I can pay full price for this stuff in Saskatoon, I shop in Calgary because I should be able to find it cheaper.

What I am looking for is suggestions on stores to hit that can get this done, in your experience which store has the best deals?

Second on my list is to find a "spot" in Cowtown. Every city I visit I always find a pub that I really like and want to come back to, in most cases they have house or local beer on tap that I fall in love with. This all usually comes from a suggestion from an unlikely place.. well what is more unlikely than a Hockey forum! So what say you, what is your favourite hole in the wall style pub, that preferably has some kind of local beer on tap.

One beer I am specifically looking to have some more of in Calgary is Fort Gary. I fell in love with their dark in Winnipeg last time I was there and I have heard rumours you can find it in Alberta.



Also to add, I don't need Heroin beer as a suggestion... I plan to get a few of those in me during the game.. my record is 9 in one regulation game.. although that is a night I can neither remember nor forget..

[NiklasSundblad]

I don't know what to tell you about the shopping, but there are two pubs you should definitely hit. 1 is the Hop in Brew (12th ave between 1st and 2nd street SW) which is by far the best beer bar in the city. 2. is the Wild rose Brew Pub, which is in a strange location on the old Army Base, near the calgary farmer's market. on Friday at 4 pm they tap a cask or two, that alone should be worth the trip.
I've only seen Fort Gary dark on tap once or twice here, probably at the Hop in Brew. It's dead easy to get in bottles though.

Out of curiosity, where do you like to drink in Sask? I spent most of my year there drunk.

[HotHotHeat]

Brooklyn clothing in Kensington seems to have better pricing on high end designer jeans than Harry Rosen. The outlet mall SUCKS for high end stuff (which makes zero sense to me). Other than that, the new Chinook Mall has a great selection of jeans . . . Except you have to contend with losers in wife beaters trying them on at the same time.

Seconded on Wild Rose. Great spot. Hudson's is a great time on a Friday or Saturday - Some Flames seem to have made it their post game meeting spot.

[Ducay]

Sounds like you have a pretty jaded view as to what the "big city" has to offer. Prices, stores and selection are all the same as Saskatoon. You'll save on the PST and thats it. You're confusing Calgary with the states (when it comes to shopping).

As for local pubs/brews, Calgary is pretty weak as well. Wild Rose makes a few great beers, but their pub has really limited (and so-so) food choices. The beer and location is all that place has going on for it.

[Cain]

Was never a fan of Fort Garry's, but you'll find it easy enough.

Wild Rose is calgary's only real micro brew. They are fairly average when it comes to micro brews however. Better than any non micro brew but that goes without saying! I've said micro brew a lot.

I have quite liked their pub as well. Quite small, in a weird location and right in the brewery.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I quite like Wild Rose. Velvet Fog, their Brown and Wraspberry have all been enjoyed by me on many occasions. I'll order Wild Rose over almost anything if its on tap.

[flamesgirl18]

if you're looking to pick up a pair of designer jeans on sale, Pusch has a VIP sale on this weekend that gets you 25% off anything in the store...I know for sure that they have TR and William Rast. I picked up a pair of Rocks for a decent price so it might be worth checking out, Market Mall and Chinook Mall both have stores. All I had to do was print out the coupon from facebook (http://www.facebook.com/puschit)

edit: it looks like the sale is only on until tomorrow and not until next weekend like I originally thought...

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by NiklasSundblad

I don't know what to tell you about the shopping, but there are two pubs you should definitely hit. 1 is the Hop in Brew (12th ave between 1st and 2nd street SW) which is by far the best beer bar in the city. 2. is the Wild rose Brew Pub, which is in a strange location on the old Army Base, near the calgary farmer's market. on Friday at 4 pm they tap a cask or two, that alone should be worth the trip.
I've only seen Fort Gary dark on tap once or twice here, probably at the Hop in Brew. It's dead easy to get in bottles though.

Out of curiosity, where do you like to drink in Sask? I spent most of my year there drunk.

In Saskatoon anywhere that serves Paddockwood is a great stop, on tap it is a hard find at most places (Yard and Flagon on Broadway carries it on tap), but in the bottle some of the top end restaurants like Calories or Wezaria (sp) have it. Try the IPA 606 if you ever get a chance, one of the best beer I have drank. Winstons is a dive but Friday nights it is packed with a University crowd and they have our best beer selection in town. Earls has great house beer, they even make a dark Saskatoon berry beer in the summer. Hold your "FRUIT HAS NO PLACE IN BEER" opinions until you try this one, it isn't a beer for the average Coors Light Bottled Lake water drinker thats for sure.. a step up on the other crap like Ricards White. Stay clear of Great Western, no clue how that beer keeps winning awards..

In Regina you have to hit Bushwhackers. They have a tray they bring out with four sippers of every kind of their beer so you can taste them all then grab a pint of the ones you like. And the food is unreal.

Thanks for all the tips, Chinook mall was on my list obviously as it is the place to go.. good to know I will be able to find at least some kind of sale there.. any other specific stores to check out there for designer wear? I am not a fan of shopping, in and out kind of guy, so if I know exactly where I am going that would save me some aggro.

Logistics wise is it plausible to hit both of those pubs in the same night? If not I can do one Friday and one Saturday after the game, any preference on which pub is better which night?

[Young-Sneezy]

hop and brew is sick




just makesure to wear the following

1. flat brim hat
2. thick rimmed plastic glasses
3. cardigan
4. DEEP v neck
5. skinny....and i mean SKINNY jeans.
6. converse shoes, aka chuck taylors

anddddd you better study up on some unknown "experimental" "artists" to talk about

[Young-Sneezy]

- molly malones is pretty popular here for some drinks before the game

- lounge burger is right by the saddledome and is tasty

- market or chinook

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

In Saskatoon anywhere that serves Paddockwood is a great stop, on tap it is a hard find at most places (Yard and Flagon on Broadway carries it on tap), but in the bottle some of the top end restaurants like Calories or Wezaria (sp) have it. Try the IPA 606 if you ever get a chance, one of the best beer I have drank. Winstons is a dive but Friday nights it is packed with a University crowd and they have our best beer selection in town. Earls has great house beer, they even make a dark Saskatoon berry beer in the summer. Hold your "FRUIT HAS NO PLACE IN BEER" opinions until you try this one, it isn't a beer for the average Coors Light Bottled Lake water drinker thats for sure.. a step up on the other crap like Ricards White. Stay clear of Great Western, no clue how that beer keeps winning awards..

Dude, I was practically keeping Paddockwood in business singlehandedly. (this is 2005-2006ish) Back then you could only get Black Cat the Yard and an English stout at Amigos, plus whatever 4 Calories kept on tap. I would drive out to the brewery to buy bottles, a lot. 606, and the Czech are really easy to come by here.

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

hop and brew is sick




just makesure to wear the following

1. flat brim hat
2. thick rimmed plastic glasses
3. cardigan
4. DEEP v neck
5. skinny....and i mean SKINNY jeans.
6. converse shoes, aka chuck taylors

anddddd you better study up on some unknown "experimental" "artists" to talk about

It's no so bad before 9 pm .

[Bill Bumface]

For shopping, check out the Core (giant mall right downtown). If you're going to get ripped off, might as well do it under the world's largest sky light

If you've been there before, it's totally different now. Its most of the way through a huge renovation and it's actually pretty cool.

For going for some drinks, Hudsons is my favorite spot for a full on night out, Local 510 and 522 are not too bad for some beers either (one is downtown, one is on 17th, fairly similar). Bottlescrew bills is a not-so pretty place downtown with a HUGE beer selection.

[GreenLantern]

Out of thanks but will get you tomorrow, much appreciated.

Wow so many choices.. so far it seems that I have to hit this Hops one of the nights given its local beer selection.. I still need a concrete location I can get Fort Gary on tap, I have to have a pint of it to figure out if I was just caught in the moment, or if it really was that good of a beer.

Has anyone seen How I Met Your Mother? Something like that.. the greatest burger joint in New York..

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by NiklasSundblad

Dude, I was practically keeping Paddockwood in business singlehandedly. (this is 2005-2006ish) Back then you could only get Black Cat the Yard and an English stout at Amigos, plus whatever 4 Calories kept on tap. I would drive out to the brewery to buy bottles, a lot. 606, and the Czech are really easy to come by here.

Ahh yes.. Black Cat.. very good.

They have a special beer they only brew for Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, so its brewed for basically one month each year.. it is without a doubt the best stout I have ever had. That will send you to your grave.

Whats an Amigos type joint I can hit up in Calgary? Might like to catch a late show after The Dudes Friday night.. or after the game Saturday..

I like holes in the wall, but I don't want to get to far off the beaten path, we are staying outside the south end of Calgary I don't remember the name of the area.. but staying downtown is basically a must.

Usually I would just explore but we only have two days and she is a big city!



Can't wait to wear my Riders jersey to the game..

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Ahh yes.. Black Cat.. very good.

They have a special beer they only brew for Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, so its brewed for basically one month each year.. it is without a doubt the best stout I have ever had. That will send you to your grave.

Whats an Amigos type joint I can hit up in Calgary? Might like to catch a late show after The Dudes Friday night.. or after the game Saturday..

I like holes in the wall, but I don't want to get to far off the beaten path, we are staying outside the south end of Calgary I don't remember the name of the area.. but staying downtown is basically a must.

Usually I would just explore but we only have two days and she is a big city!



Can't wait to wear my Riders jersey to the game..

Closest to Amigos are Broken City and The Ship and Anchor Neither are off the going to take you out of your way. Both will be busy.

[jjbouma]

Last time I was in Costco here they had R&R jeans for ~$100. Not sure if they are still in stock.

[GGG]

Probably too late but the District on 12th and 5th SW had fantastic food and micro brew. Their black pilsner is one of my favourite beers.

[GreenLantern]

Not to late, heading out there in three days..

Looks like I got three pubs to hit in two nights. We are hitting The Dudes Friday night at Wyckham House on the Mount Royal Campus there, whats the atmosphere like in that venue? How late do the shows typically go?