| Although a restaurant's house wine is merely a commercially available wine which the restaurant has selected to serve those of its patrons who order "wine" without further specification, a restaurant or pub’s house beer is usually one that has been specially brewed for it.
Because of Alberta’s liquor control laws, this is the only way a restaurant can offer a unique beer without installing its own brewing equipment. In this way, house beers can be considered a bridge between commercial microbreweries and on-premise brewpubs.
While sometimes the beer is one a brewery already produces with a new name slapped on it, or a mere tweaking of an existing recipe, it is often a completely new recipe devised by the brewery or restaurant. There are a handful or extablishments offering house beers in Calgary, so next time you're in the mood for something a little different, order a pint of the house.
Some of the options available are:
Buzzard Breath Ale
Brewed for Bottlescrew Bill's Old English Pub (140 — 10 Ave. S.W.) by Big Rock Brewery, this is perhaps the most successful house beer. In bottled form, this beer enjoyed substantial success in the United States during Big Rock’s early years, when the brewery was experiencing its greatest growth, and is known around the world. Indeed, on a recent trip to Bruges, Belgium, I saw a Buzzard Breath poster hanging prominently in the museum at the small De Halve Maan Brewery. This amber-coloured beer is malt dominated and can be enjoyed by ale lovers who don't like over-hopped beers.
Goldspur and Rosebud
Brewed for the Hop In Brew Coffee & Beer House (213 — 12 Ave. S.W.) by Alley Kat Brewing of Edmonton, these two beers are brewed according to recipes devised by Dick Hoppener, Hop In Brew's owner and a former award-winning home brewer. Goldspur is a Belgian-style golden strong ale like Duvel, while Rosebud is a Belgian-style white beer like Hoegaarden.
Udder Ale and Ugly Ale
The Cactus Club Cafe (7010 Macleod Tr. S.) has commissioned Wild Rose Brewery to brew its Udder Ale, and Sleeman's Brewery to brew its Ugly Ale. Udder Ale is based on the Wild Rose Wred Wheat, while Ugly Ale, also a wheat ale, is an entirely new recipe. Brewed with real raspberries, Udder Ale starts with a light candy-like sweetness, but the finish is dry and astringent. Ugly Ale has no fruit added and is thin-bodied and clean. In both cases, the use of malted wheat is readily apparent.
Michael's Lager
Brewed for Michael's Restaurant (139 — 10 Ave. S.W.) by Big Rock Brewery, this lager pours with a thin white head that floats atop the golden beer. The flavour is very well balanced, and although it starts off grainy, it has a nice earthy hop flavour in the finish.
Mutiny Amber Ale
The Ship & Anchor Pub (534 — 17 Ave. S.W.) has a great selection of beers, including its house beer, Mutiny Amber Ale. Brewed at Alley Kat's brewery in Edmonton by the former brewmaster of Mission Bridge brewpub (now Wildwood Grill & Brewing Company), and based on his recipe, this amber ale has a soft nose with a light hop note. The flavour, on the other hand, is balanced to the malty side, although it has a dry finish.
Original Joe's Blonde
Brewed for Original Joe's (Marda Loop, Kensington and 4th Street S.W.) by Wild Rose Brewery, this beer is golden with hints of amber. It is very light bodied and though it has a touch of sweetness at the start, it dries out and becomes very clean in the finish. As the beer warms, it develops a touch more maltiness, but remains a generally dry beer. |
