Best Places To Buy Beer Kegs In Calgary

If you're looking to buy a keg of beer in Calgary, there are several options available to you. Big Rock Brewery offers 30-litre and 59-litre kegs, with prices ranging from $160 to $285. Brewsters offers kegs of its 13 core beers in 50-litre and 30-litre sizes, with prices ranging from $180 to $250. Willow Park Wine and Spirits offers a large selection of domestic and imported beers, with prices ranging from $100 to $400. Good Mood Brewery offers 20-litre, 30-litre, and 50-litre kegs, with prices ranging from $110 to $250, plus a refundable $40 deposit. For those looking for a quick option, Cabin Brewing Company offers core beers for pick-up within 24 hours of placing a request.

Keg prices in Calgary

Calgary offers a wide range of options for purchasing a keg of beer, with prices varying depending on the brand, size, and retailer. Here is a comprehensive guide to keg prices in Calgary:

Big Rock Beers

Big Rock offers a variety of beer options, with prices ranging from $160 to $285. Their kegs are available in 30-litre and 59-litre sizes. It is recommended to call ahead for availability and order at least 24 hours before pick-up. Additionally, pumps can be rented for a $10 fee, with a $60 refundable deposit.

Brewsters

Brewsters offers kegs of its 13 core beers, with prices ranging from $180 to $250. While they typically stock 50-litre kegs, 30-litre kegs may also be available but in limited supply.

Crowfoot Wine and Spirits

Crowfoot Wine and Spirits offers a selection of standard domestic beers, such as Kokanee and Canadian, in various sizes: 20, 30, and 59 litres. Their prices range from $125 to $345, and pump rental costs $5 with the purchase of a keg.

Trolley 5

Trolley 5 offers a rotating selection of beer, with kegs available in 20 or 50 litres. The prices for the kegs are $95 and $225, respectively. They also offer pump rentals for a refundable deposit of $50 per pump and $50 per keg. It is recommended to call at least 72 hours in advance for keg requests.

Wildrose Brewery

Wildrose Brewery offers its regular beers in 59-litre kegs, with a few options available in 30 litres. They also sell 8.5-litre party pigs for $55. Keg prices range from $175 to $275, and no deposit is charged, although a credit card is required. Orders should be placed 3 to 4 days in advance.

Willow Park Wine and Spirits

Willow Park Wine and Spirits boasts Calgary's largest selection of kegs, with nearly 150 kinds of domestic and imported beers. Their prices range from $100 to $400. While they offer same-day pick-up for orders placed before 11 AM, they recommend providing at least two weeks' notice for special orders. Pump purchases are available for $80, but rentals are not offered.

Good Mood Brewery

Good Mood Brewery offers 20-litre, 30-litre, and 50-litre kegs, priced at $110, $155, and $250, respectively. Additionally, there is a $40 keg deposit and GST, which are refunded upon returning the keg. They provide free delivery within Calgary for orders over $60.

Cabin Brewing Company

Cabin Brewing Company offers core beers for pick-up, and they request a 24-hour confirmation window. A valid credit card is required at the time of pick-up.

Liquor Depot

Liquor Depot offers a wide selection of kegs, often selling at cost, with prices ranging from $120 to $300, depending on the beer and size. They typically require a week's notice for orders. A deposit of around $100 is charged, which is refundable upon returning the keg. Hardware rentals are also available.

Deposits and rentals

When renting a keg, you will usually be required to pay a deposit, which will be refunded when you return the keg. The deposit amount varies depending on the retailer and the size of the keg. For example, Good Mood Brewery charges a $40 deposit for all sizes of kegs, while Trolley 5 charges a $50 deposit per keg and a $50 deposit per pump. Willow Park Wine and Spirits requires a $100 deposit for pump rental, in addition to a $30 rental fee.

Some retailers, like Wildrose Brewery, do not charge a deposit but require a credit card to be placed on file. It is important to note that some retailers, like Willow Park Wine and Spirits, only offer pumps for purchase and do not rent them out.

In terms of rental options, some breweries, like Cabin Brewing Company, only offer kegs for pick-up, while others may deliver for free within Calgary city limits, like Good Mood Brewery. It is recommended to call or email the brewery or retailer in advance to confirm availability and place your order.

Pick-up and delivery options

Most places offering kegs of beer in Calgary require you to pick up your order in person. Some breweries, such as Good Mood Brewery, offer free delivery within Calgary city limits for orders over a certain amount. Good Mood Brewery also offers 48-hour city-wide delivery from Tuesday to Saturday. Willow Park Wines & Spirits offers free local delivery within Calgary for orders over $200.

If you're looking to pick up your keg, it's a good idea to call or email the brewery or retailer at least 24 hours in advance to ensure your order is ready. Some places, like Wildrose Brewery, require 3 to 4 days' notice for keg orders, while others, like Willow Park Wines & Spirits, recommend giving at least one week's notice.

When picking up your keg, don't forget to bring a valid credit card and some form of identification. Many places will also require a deposit, which is usually refundable upon the return of the keg.

For added convenience, some retailers, like Liquor Depot, offer the option to rent the necessary hardware, such as taps and hoses, in addition to selling kegs of beer.

Be sure to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to chill your beer before your event. Most places will have a limited supply of chilled kegs, so it's always best to order in advance if you want your beer to be ready for your party or special occasion.

Beer types and brands

Beer is typically made by brewing and fermenting starches, usually extracted from cereal grains such as wheat, maize, and malted barley. The fermentation process produces ethanol (alcohol) and carbonation, resulting in the bubbly beverage we know as beer. Modern beer often includes hops, which add bitterness and act as a preservative, and brewers may also add flavouring agents like herbs or fruit.

The biggest difference between beers is the kind of yeast used in fermentation. Beers start out as either an ale or a lager. Ales are created through "top fermentation", where yeast ferments at warmer temperatures and settles at the top of the beer. Lagers, on the other hand, have a longer fermentation process at cooler temperatures, and the yeast settles at the bottom.

Once the ale or lager base is created, the styles and flavours can be varied to create specific kinds and substyles of beer.

Ales

Ales are full-bodied drinks with strong flavours and aromas. They are famous for their complex notes, often featuring both intense sweetness and bitterness, along with a noticeably hoppy profile. Ales are particularly common in England, where the term has become interchangeable with "beer" due to its popularity.

Some common styles of ales include:

• American Pale Ale: known for its floral and fruity notes.
• New England India Pale Ale: characterised by juicy and citrusy flavours.
• Brown Ale: offers rich flavours of roasted malt and chocolate.
• Imperial or Double India Pale Ale: tends to be more bitter than other varieties.

Lagers

Lagers are the most widely consumed and commercially available type of beer. They are brewed at lower temperatures and can range from pale to dark in colour. Lagers are well-balanced and mellow, typically clearer than most beers, with less bitterness and a cleaner finish. They also tend to have higher carbonation levels than ales.

Some popular styles of lagers include:

• American Lager (or Golden Lager): a very light-coloured, crisp, and clean-tasting lager with high carbonation.
• American Amber Lager: copper-coloured with a medium body and light caramel flavour.
• American Dark Lager: a light-bodied lager with reduced malt flavour, low bitterness, and high carbonation.

Other Common Beer Styles

While ales and lagers are the two primary categories, there are numerous other styles of beer that have been developed over time. Here are a few examples:

• Pilsners: pale lagers that originated in the Czech Republic. They are known for their crisp, refreshing flavour and golden colour.
• Dunkel: a dark lager style that originated in Germany, featuring flavours of chocolate, caramel, and bread crust.
• Stouts: stronger versions of porters, stouts are dark and heavy-bodied. They often have roasted notes along with flavours of coffee, licorice, chocolate, or molasses.
• Wheat Beer: made with wheat as the central grain, these beers are light in colour and have a full mouthfeel and a citrusy flavour.
• Sour Beer: intentionally sour or acidic in flavour, often paired with fruits like raspberry or cherry to balance the tartness.

These are just a few examples of the diverse range of beer types and brands available. Each style has its unique characteristics, flavours, and aromas, offering something for every palate.

Keg sizes

Kegs come in a variety of sizes, with the most common in the US being the half-barrel, quarter-barrel, and sixth-barrel. In Europe, the most common keg size is 50 litres, though 30-litre and 20-litre kegs are also available.

The half-barrel keg is the standard size used in the US brewing industry. It holds 15.5 gallons of beer, or approximately 124 pints or 165 12-ounce servings. This is the size that most people picture when they think of a beer keg.

The quarter-barrel keg, also known as the pony keg, holds half the amount of a half-barrel keg, i.e., 7.75 gallons, which equates to approximately 62 pints or 82 12-ounce servings. These kegs are often used in smaller venues and for special events where a smaller variety of beer is being served.

The sixth-barrel keg, or sixtel, holds 5.16 gallons, which is equivalent to about 42 pints or 55 12-ounce servings. Sixth-barrel kegs are typically used for specialty and craft beers, which may not be consumed as quickly as more mainstream beers.

Other less common keg sizes include the Cornelius keg, or Corny keg, which was originally designed for dispensing soft drinks but has become popular with homebrewers. It holds 5 gallons or approximately 40 pints or 53 12-ounce servings.

When purchasing a keg, it is important to consider the size of your event and the number of servings needed, as well as the available storage space. For large events or high-volume bars, a half-barrel keg is often the best choice due to its large capacity. For smaller gatherings or venues with limited space, a quarter-barrel or sixth-barrel keg may be more suitable.

Frequently asked questions