In this fourth installment of our  mini-series “Calgary Craft Beer 101″ we will be looking where you can purchase craft beer, or where it’s sold.

Unlike “commercial” beer, craft beer is not generally sold in local liquor stores. Instead, craft-brews (especially owners of small micro-breweries) tend to produce craft beer to be consumed on their premises. This makes the act of purchasing craft beer to be enjoyed at home with some friends a bit not tricky. However, this also makes the whole experience for some people even more enjoyable (and even more authentic) because it allows them to connect on a personal level with the people who are behind the production of their favourite brew. All in all, it can make for a wonderful local experience.

With that said, Calgary is home to a plethora of micro-breweries. One of the most famous among them is the Minhas Micro Brewery and offers a Calgary micro-brew tour for people interested in learning more about craft beer and how it’s made. Of course they also make it possible for you to purchase your favourite brew, regardless of whether you participated on one of their micro-brew tours or not.

Keep in mind that while most craft beers are usually not sold in liquor store, there exist some specialized craft beer stores out there that do sell them. 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits located on 218 12 Ave SE is one of them. Just remember that if you enjoy the local part of craft beer, directly visiting micro-brews is the best way to go.

Happy and safe drinking from the Minhas Micro Brewery!