Three breweries. One beer-smart route.

This Calgary tour works because it pairs fun, funny guides with real relationships in the local beer scene, so you’re not stuck doing the generic beer-van routine. I like that you get award-winning beer at stops across different brewery districts, and the staff helping you taste are cicerones or beer judging students who explain what you’re noticing instead of just pouring and leaving you to guess.

You’ll also like the pacing: three brewery stops with time for flights, plus a VIP-style brewery visit where beer history and ingredients actually come up. One consideration: food and any extra drinks aren’t included, and this tour isn’t suitable for kids under 18, so plan your schedule (and your expectations) around that.

Key things that make this tour worth your time

• Cicerone-level tasting support: you’ll learn how to evaluate beer, not just what to drink.
• Three award-winning breweries across districts: you get variety in both styles and settings.
• Transportation included: you’re taken care of door-to-meetpoint, with group options for private tours.
• VIP brewery time: you get education about manufacturing and ingredients, plus a brewery tour experience.
• YYCTOURS-only perks: exclusive merchandise and some product discounts can show up at certain venues.
• Optional food-friendly stop: the itinerary can include one location with great food (but food isn’t included in the price).

Getting picked up at Calgary Tower (and why the start matters)

The meeting point is easy to find: outside the Calgary Tower, in the loading area for public tours. If you’re booking with more than 4 people, pickup and drop-off can be arranged, which matters because it keeps the day from turning into a scavenger hunt.

This start location also gives you an immediate sense of place. Calgary’s a spread-out city, so having a fixed anchor point helps you relax and look forward to the beer stops instead of thinking about transit logistics all morning or afternoon.

The van ride isn’t dead time; it’s part of the tasting plan

You spend time riding in the van between brewery districts, but it’s not just idle sitting. The tour’s built around guided education: how beer is made, what ingredients do to flavor, and how to interpret what’s in your glass.

That makes the whole day feel like one connected lesson. Even if you’re the friend who usually says I only like beer that tastes like X, you’ll likely leave with a better way to describe what you’re getting—without needing a brewing degree.

Stop #1: Beer flights that set your taste “baseline”

You’ll hit three breweries, and at each one you’ll get beer flights plus time to enjoy what’s on offer. The first stop usually matters most because it sets your expectations for sweetness, bitterness, body, aroma, and carbonation—so you can tune in for what’s coming next.

This tour also focuses on award-winning or industry-leading breweries only, which is a big part of the value. You’re not paying to visit random places that might be good; you’re paying to be guided through breweries that have already earned recognition in the craft world.

A drawback to note: because your tasting plan depends on brewery menus, you should expect the exact selection to vary by venue and what they’re currently pouring.

Stop #2: Learning how to evaluate beer like a judge

Here’s where the “education” part becomes more than a side note. The guides are cicerones or beer judging students, and they’re there to talk you through beer evaluation—so you’re not just tasting, you’re learning how to taste.

I love this approach because it helps you move past the one-word reactions. You’ll practice noticing things like aroma intensity, malt and hop balance, finish length, and how the style shows up in your mouthfeel. It’s also the kind of info that stays useful after the tour, when you’re picking beers on your own later.

From a practical angle, this stop format is great for groups. If one person likes darker beers, another likes light and crisp, and another wants something experimental, you’ll still get a shared vocabulary for comparing what you’re tasting.

Stop #3: A VIP brewery tour plus extra craft time

The last brewery stop includes a VIP-style brewery experience, where you get education about manufacturing and ingredients. That’s the moment when the day clicks: you taste, then you learn what in the process likely caused what you just noticed.

You also get more time to enjoy the selection at that brewery. Some venues have great non-beer craft products too, and the tour includes time for you to explore beyond the flights—so you’re not stuck feeling like the whole day is just drinking in a row.

One more perk you should watch for: exclusive merchandise and product discounts at some venues that are only available to YYCTOURS guests. It’s not guaranteed at every stop, but when it’s offered, it’s a nice way to bring something home that actually ties to the breweries you visited.

What’s genuinely local about YYCTOURS in Calgary

YYCTOURS positions itself as Calgary’s only locally owned brewery tour, and that shows in how the day is structured. The tour company emphasizes community relationships, which is what helps you get access to the better breweries and gets you an experience that feels connected to the local scene rather than copied from the next city over.

You’ll also get behind-the-scenes support that goes beyond the day-of logistics. They maintain an up-to-date Calgary Brewery Map showing breweries you can visit, plus a blog series called Beers of the Week where they visit every brewery in town over a year and share what they taste. There’s also a monthly feature on local producers on their main page.

Even if you don’t read it before you go, that kind of ongoing coverage signals something important: they’re not just running tours. They’re paying attention to what’s happening across Calgary’s beer landscape.

Price and value: what $83 buys you (and why it’s not just a tasting)

At $83 per person for about 210 minutes, this tour can be good value if you like craft beer and want structure. The big cost saver is transportation included, plus the tour team handles logistics and planning.

You’re also getting more than one taste stop. With three breweries in three different brewery districts and beer flights at each, you’re effectively paying for guided access across a spread-out city where self-planning would cost you time (and likely rideshare money).

On top of that, the included education isn’t generic. You get guidance from cicerone or beer judging students/certified members, and you get a VIP brewery component—so you’re not paying only for alcohol. You’re paying for interpretation: what you’re drinking and why it tastes the way it does.

One pricing reality to keep in mind: beer flights are included, but additional drinks aren’t. If you’re the person who wants to keep ordering after each flight, budget for that separately.

Food, extra drinks, and how to plan your appetite

Food isn’t included, which is worth planning for. The tour can include one stop with great food, but since food and additional drinks aren’t part of the listed inclusions, you should expect to pay for meals separately if you want them.

For the day to feel fun instead of heavy, I suggest treating the flights like the centerpiece and planning food as a support. If you’re hungry, grab something before you meet (or plan to choose a food-friendly stop during the tour), and stay aware of pacing so you don’t end up rushing between breweries.

Also, the tour doesn’t include gratuity on the add-ons side in the way people sometimes expect. The inclusions say gratuity to brewery staff is covered as part of what YYCTOURS pays on your stops. Still, keep it simple: if you’re unsure, confirm at booking what you should or shouldn’t tip.

The guide experience: what you’re getting besides pours

A strong guide can make or break a beer tour, and this one leans into that. Guides are trained as cicerones, beer judging students, or certified members, and they focus on education: history, manufacturing, ingredients, and how to evaluate beer.

In at least one reported experience, the guide Shawn was described as fun, funny, and knowledgeable, with the ability to tailor the tour based on the group’s preferences around beer and food. You should also expect the general vibe to be light and social, not classroom-stiff.

That matters because beer tasting gets better when it feels comfortable. If you’re hesitant about trying styles you don’t usually order, a good guide can make that feel normal—and even enjoyable.

Who should book this Calgary brewery tour?

This fits best if you want a structured craft beer day in Calgary without planning every detail yourself. It’s a good match for:

• Beer lovers who want to understand styles, ingredients, and evaluation
• Groups that want fun guidance plus time to actually hang out at breweries
• Adults (18+) who don’t want to drive and prefer transportation handled
• Visitors who want to experience multiple brewery districts in a short window

It’s not designed for families with children under 18, and it also won’t work if you’re bringing alcohol or drugs (those are not allowed).

If you’re newer to craft beer, don’t worry—you don’t need to know anything beforehand. The whole point is that you learn while tasting.

Should you book YYCTOURS Calgary Brewery Tour?

If you want a craft beer tour that treats beer like something to understand—not just something to drink—then yes, I’d book it. The combination of three brewery stops, beer flights at each, and a VIP brewery education moment is the core reason the price can feel fair.

I’d skip it only if you want food included, or if you’re traveling with people who won’t drink beer and don’t want to spend time exploring craft products at breweries. Also, if you’re picky about having zero extra costs, remember that additional drinks aren’t included.

For most adults who like Calgary beer and want a guided day that’s easy to execute, this is a solid, practical choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The tour meets outside the Calgary Tower in the loading area for public tours. If you have more than 4 guests, the company can come pick you up.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation is included, and private groups can have custom pick up and drop off.

How long is the tour?

The tour duration is listed as 210 minutes.

How many breweries are included?

The tour includes stops at three Calgary breweries.

Are beer flights included?

Yes. Beer flights are included at each brewery stop.

Is food included?

Food is not included in the price. The tour can include one stop that has great food, but you would still pay for it separately.

What should I bring?

You should bring a passport or ID card.

Is it only for adults?

Yes. It’s not suitable for children under 18.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide is in English.