Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

You mean "Tops".

Has it been called Tops at any time since I started going there 20+ years ago? No
Was it once called Tops? Maybe
Did everyone I went to higschool with refer to it as Tops. Yup
Will I ever call it anything other than Tops? Hell no!

I worked in the area since 1998 and never heard it called Tops.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by troutman

I worked in the area since 1998 and never heard it called Tops.

We called it Tops when I was at St. Vincent for junior high in the early 90's.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Cappy

TABLE 5!

Alumni Sandwiches has a Philly Cheesesteak as their feature right now. Worth a shot.

Will go and report back!

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Their newish Mexican lager is quite nice (Fringe), perfect on warm summer days. I wonder if their location makes it tougher versus Barely Belt places?

Well if we every had a nice summer day I might have to head over and try that lager...

I haven't been to Zero Issue this year yet. It's a little out of the way for us but still better than the barley belt. Good places there but we rarely go as it's quite inconvenient from the NW.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Will go and report back!

I had the cheesesteak at Alumni last week- I thought it was...ok. Beef had an odd consistency for some reason but was reasonably tasty. I'd get a beef dip or chicken sandwich next time though

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Anyone else hear rumours that Zero Issue Brewing could be packing it in by September?

I don't know about this, but that sector would be so hard. I was at a golf tournament the other day, and there was a local brewer there that I had never heard of. The beer was good, but it's got to be nearly impossible to stand out with things so crowded.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know about this, but that sector would be so hard. I was at a golf tournament the other day, and there was a local brewer there that I had never heard of. The beer was good, but it's got to be nearly impossible to stand out with things so crowded.

Also, don’t successful craft breweries eventually get purchased by the giant brewers?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by troutman

Also, don’t successful craft breweries eventually get purchased by the giant brewers?

I think of all the local ones here that popped up only Banded Peak has been bought by one of the big ones so far. And lots of folks weren't happy about that too apparently.

[Table 5]

While I'm all for more local entrepreneurs...it does feel like an over-saturated market, and all the microbreweries blend together after a while. Personally, Ol Beautiful and Fahr pretty much make up 99% of my craft beer needs...the rest I can give or take.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I think of all the local ones here that popped up only Banded Peak has been bought by one of the big ones so far. And lots of folks weren't happy about that too apparently.

Wildrose got bought by Sleeman's/Sapporo but yeah. Not many acquisitions. Maybe some consolidation. Fahr Bought OT Brewing recently. Big Rock acquired Tree / Dukes cider awhile back. Macros are probably busy chasing the RTD market.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Table 5

While I'm all for more local entrepreneurs...it does feel like an over-saturated market, and all the microbreweries blend together after a while. Personally, Ol Beautiful and Fahr pretty much make up 99% of my craft beer needs...the rest I can give or take.

I’m at the point where I won’t even try a free sample of a new beer at the liquor store. Chances are it’s no better than anything else on the shelf that I already know I like, and on the rare off chance it is, the likelihood of it surviving and not just shutting down and leaving me wanting is extremely low.

I’d rather not even know if it’s any good.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Anyone else hear rumours that Zero Issue Brewing could be packing it in by September?

No, but only recently did I learn about Tool Shed's troubles.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

While I'm all for more local entrepreneurs...it does feel like an over-saturated market, and all the microbreweries blend together after a while. Personally, Ol Beautiful and Fahr pretty much make up 99% of my craft beer needs...the rest I can give or take.

I have the same issue. I went to a microbrewery with some friends not long ago and I found myself just wanting a very standard beer.

I get that some people want the fancier beers, and thats all well and good, but is it too much to want a standard lager or a decent wheat ale on tap for people who dont want a grapefruit shandy or whatever?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have the same issue. I went to a microbrewery with some friends not long ago and I found myself just wanting a very standard beer.

I get that some people want the fancier beers, and thats all well and good, but is it too much to want a standard lager or a decent wheat ale on tap for people who dont want a grapefruit shandy or whatever?

Where did you go? I think every one I’ve been to had a lager/pilsner/easy drinking whatever. The majority do these days, at least.

[fotze2]

Even the pilsners aren't "easy drinking". Why does this taste like a fingered my own anus?

It's totally oversaturated. The shelves are full of local and its 95% gross. Can we F off with the hops? Pineapple pumpkin espresso IPA. Call it Kaopectate and be done with it.

We used to have a very wide range of Belgian (the best) on the shelves, now its "local" crap at the the same price point.

My buddy is a partner at Origin and he confirms its a brutally tough market. They have the backdrop of being the malters for a bunch of other places as their core business but tough breaking in.

Ol Beautiful seems to be the front runner currently, but I don't even like it. I get free six packs from there and I can't choke it down.

The hops don't sit well in the guts.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I'm not drinking much anymore, but as a result, if I have even half a beer I feel god awful.
I think I'm done with beer.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Even the pilsners aren't "easy drinking". Why does this taste like a fingered my own anus?

It's totally oversaturated. The shelves are full of local and its 95% gross. Can we F off with the hops? Pineapple pumpkin espresso IPA. Call it Kaopectate and be done with it.

We used to have a very wide range of Belgian (the best) on the shelves, now its "local" crap at the the same price point.

My buddy is a partner at Origin and he confirms its a brutally tough market. They have the backdrop of being the malters for a bunch of other places as their core business but tough breaking in.

Ol Beautiful seems to be the front runner currently, but I don't even like it. I get free six packs from there and I can't choke it down.

The hops don't sit well in the guts.

Oh man, did you ever get any of those 'Craft Beer Advent Calendars' as gifts? Those things were 99% undrinkable swill.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I'm not drinking much anymore, but as a result, if I have even half a beer I feel god awful.
I think I'm done with beer.

I definitely feel like poo after. Like smoking some butts left in the ashtray.

I think I had a life quota for beer and I reached it early because I am a winner.

Give me a belgian Duvel though.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh man, did you ever get any of those 'Craft Beer Advent Calendars' as gifts? Those things were 99% undrinkable swill.

But it was a hall pass from the wife to randomly get hammered.
Why are you hammered?
It was your craft beer advent calendar. I missed a few days and that one was 13%! Had to have all four to catch up.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I'm not drinking much anymore, but as a result, if I have even half a beer I feel god awful.
I think I'm done with beer.

Beer does the same to me but I can usually stomach two. Anything more than that and my gut doesn't like it plus I can't sleep for some reason. I mostly just drink scotch now but I can't really enjoy that on a patio on a hot summer day. I've tried cocktails and the canned drinks but they are overly sweet which isn't good either.