The 4 Best Canmore Breweries near Banff

A mighty mountain backdrop, crystal clear rivers, stunning trails, and… exceptional beer? That’s Canmore, Alberta, for you. 

Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies about 20 minutes south of the town of Banff, this idyllic town isn’t just a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts; it’s also home to a burgeoning craft beer scene that’s as captivating as the landscape that envelops it. 

Canmore breweries aren’t your run-of-the-mill beer factories; they’re a combination of passion, creativity, and a love for the local community, all wrapped up in a frothy, delicious pint. 

Short on Time? Here are the key takeaways:

• There are truly only 4 Canmore breweries in town
• Be sure to check their winter hours before heading out!
• Almost all of them offer food options

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Map of Canmore Breweries and Beer Bars

Canmore Breweries

1.  Canmore Brewing Company

• Hours:
  • Monday – Thursday: 11AM – 11PM
  • Friday: 11AM – 12AM
  • Saturday: 10AM – 12AM
  • Sunday: 10AM – 11PM
• Food Available: Yes

First up, we’re visiting the illustrious Canmore Brewing Company. Tucked away on Railway Avenue, you’ll be lured in by their warm, family-friendly vibes. 

This place is brighter than a lager in a crystal glass and friendlier than your grandma on bingo night. Not only do they pour their 6 classic brews with style, but they also mix it up with seasonal specials, experimental pilot brews, and – drum roll please – Beer Cocktails. They even have a cider as a mainstay. 

When we visited, I (Sam) enjoyed a mainstay, Highline Lagered Blonde and a seasonal, Sunny Dripper. This was a fruited sour with mango and raspberry flavors. It was incredible.

Chris enjoyed their mainstay, Ten Peaks Pale Ale as well as their Georgetown Brown, which had great caramel notes!

Their beer snacks? Top notch. Hand pies, beer pretzels, or any mouthwatering meal delivered straight to your table from the best local eateries. 

For an insider peek into their brewing magic, book a tour although from their tasting room, you can sit among the equipment for a great view too. You might even witness your next pint in the making!

2. Sheepdog Brewing

• Hours: 
  • Monday – Friday: 3PM – 9PM
  • Saturday: 1PM – 9PM
  • Sunday: 1PM – 6PM
• Food Available: Limited options
  • Can bring your own food

From the paw of the Grizzly, we move on to the doghouse. But fear not, we mean Sheepdog Brewing! 

This cozy, small-batch micro-brewery is the locals’ hub for quality, variety, and community connection. Their rotating beer styles are a testament to their craft, each brew more creative than the last. 

With 14 taps, you can expect at least 1 cider as well as a variety of beer types from sours and saisons to IPAs and porters. Juicy Rumor NEIPA and Kelsey’s West Coast IPA are the closest thing they have to mainstays and chances are they might be on tap when you visit. Hurry, before their latest batch runs out!

We split a flight and I can tell you without a doubt there wasn’t a bad beer. On our flight: Morning Glory Coffee and Vanilla Cream Ale, Nut About Hazel Brown Ale, Salt Bae Sour Ale, and Juicy Rumour New England IPA. Since we live fulltime in an RV, we rarely buy to-go beers, but we did from here. Definitely one of our favorite on this list.

While they don’t have a full kitchen, they do offer a few bites. When we visited the snacks included: Texmex Chili Dip, Thai Salsa, Cookies, Pretzels and Chips. You can bring your own food if those don’t fit your munchies. 

3. The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company

• Hours:
  • Monday – Wednesday: 12PM – 7PM
  • Thursday – Sunday: 12PM – 9PM
• Food Available: Yes

Next, it’s time to poke the bear – the Grizzly Paw, that is.

Born in 1996 and standing strong in downtown Canmore, The Grizzly Paw Brewing Co is an iconic spot offering delicious pub food, locally crafted soda, and beer with magnificent mountain views from their 2nd floor patio.

They have 2 separate locations in Canmore. Their OG location is the downtown pub located on Main Street. Their second location is a multi-level operation that includes a taproom and Tank310 restaurant. 

Fancy a pie? Head to the ground floor taproom, where pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and wings await, along with their small merch shop. 

Looking to bask in awe-inspiring panoramic views while you eat? Tank310 is their brewery-side eatery located on the 2nd floor with large paned-glass windows that bring the outside in. 

Want to be outside with your brewski? They have a BBQ truck out back with a large outdoor area filled with games to keep you entertained. (This typically closes in the winter months).

In addition to their flagship beers, they offer a variety of seasonals to try. When we visited, we split a flight that included: Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat, Watzmann Marzen, Rutting Elk Red and Three Sisters Pale Ale.

If beer isn’t your thing (not sure why you are reading this article, but..), they also have a line of canned cocktails using gin or vodka. 

4. BLAKE Brewhouse and Distillery

• Hours: 
  • Monday – Friday: 11:30AM – 10PM
  • Saturday & Sunday: 11AM – 10PM
• Food Available: Yes

Fasten your seat belts, folks and roll into the industrial chic of BLAKE Brewhouse and Distillery.  

A converted car garage turned beer paradise (hence the driving puns), this place is as cool as an ale on a hot summer’s day. And with their “bustaurant,” your food and drink pit-stop needs are sorted for the summer.

While they offer between 8-10 beers on draft, they are worth each sip with Trans Canada IPA and Tailgater Pilsner being the most popular. I drank a pint of their Tailgater which was a light Pilsner. Chris tried the Trans Canada. While the beer was good, the food stole the show for us personally.

We only got some food to split, but the Mixed Bag Dumplings and Oil Spill were to die for. We don’t know what type of magic was in the foccacia bread, but it was arguably the best we’ve ever had.

In addition to their beer lineup, as their name suggests, they are also a craft distillery producing two types of vodka, gin and rum. 

And we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t mention their ice cream. Made in house, they offer unique flavors that are both cream or plant based. 

Canmore Beer Bars

5. Angry Bear Growlers

• Hours: 
  • Tuesday – Sunday: 3PM – 11PM
  • Monday: Closed
• Food Available: Yes

Roaring into the scene next is Angry Bear Growlers. 

*Disclaimer, when we tried to visit, they were closed for remodeling so we were unable to experience their line up. The below info is a summary from their website and Facebook page.

With 58 rotating taps of craft beers, cocktails, ciders, and more, this is a beer haven for the daring. We suggest this stop if you are short on time and want to try different brews from the area.

They also have 4 taps of their own Angry Bear beers, but we decided to not add them to the Canmore breweries list as they are more of a beer bar than a brewery.  In addition to filling a growler or crowler, you can try tasting flights, sip a pint or munch on some food in the taproom.

They offer a happy hour from 3 to 6PM daily. They also have a range of non-beer options including cocktails, cider, seltzer and non-alcoholics.  For food options, they offer traditional bar food like wings and burgers. 

6. Fergus & Bix Canmore

• Hours: 
  • Monday – Friday: 11AM – 12AM
  • Saturday: 10AM – 12AM
  • Sunday: 10AM – 11PM
• Food Available: Yes, full restaurant

If you weren’t able to make it to any of the local breweries, Fergus & Bix Canmore is a regional chain to Canada. While they have 2 other locations in Canada, they are focused on supporting local brewers and providing a bar to try lots of beer. With over 15 beers on tap, they largely feature British Columbia and Alberta brewers. 

That’s it, folks! Our Canmore Breweries journey has come to a close. 

We’ve witnessed the fusion of science and art, tasted the love and passion poured into every brew, and immersed ourselves in the rich beer culture that thrives in this Rocky Mountain haven. 

But remember, this is just a glimpse into Canmore’s thriving craft beer scene. 

There are many more pints to be poured, more brews to be discovered, and more stories to be told. 

Still Thirsty? We have another beer guide for Banff.

>> 5 Can’t Miss Banff Breweries And Beer Bars In Canada