Banff Ave Brewing Co. is a classic Banff experience, up there with snowy slopes, winter adventures and scenic views. For over a decade, the brewpub has been a go-to for locals and tourists alike for great grubs, craft brews and a relaxed, friendly vibe. And the place has now levelled up its culinary offerings with a whole new space.
If you’ve been to Banff, you most likely are aware that Banff Ave Brewing has a cozy upstairs Pub and a Taproom on the main floor, but they’ve expanded with a new restaurant, aka The Lodge. Each of these three spaces comes with their own menus and merits, so here’s a quick low down of what you can expect—
THE TAPROOM
Think of the Taproom as a display window giving you a glimpse of what to expect from the rest of Banff Ave Brewing. Being at street-level, it’s the perfect spot to watch the Banff “wildlife” in its natural habitat while sampling flights of their awesome craft brews. With a casual ambiance, you’ll find heaps of board games to cozy up with, and if you happen to be there on a Tuesday night you can catch live music from local artists. Plus, you can browse their huge selection of some of the coolest brewery merch around.
THE PUB
Head upstairs to find The Pub, AKA Banff Ave Brewing’s O.G. spot, and an almost-secret hideaway. Kind of like Banff’s living room, this is the place to get comfy and hunker down with a pint and some delicious pub favourites après whatever adventure you’ve been on. No matter where you’re from, you’ll be feeling like a local in no time. The Pub is the place to eat if you’re in the mood for classic pub grub and comfort food – like their infamous Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, buttery soft Pretzels, huge plates of Nachos, and more. Beer not your thing? Don’t worry, they’ve got some creative cocktails and a well-stocked back bar menu with scotch, whisky, gin and more for you to dig into.
THE LODGE
Right across the hallway from The Pub, The Lodge is the brewery’s newest offering. Here you’ll find some of Banff’s best pizza. Seriously. Their Detroit-style deep dish pizza is one of a kind in the town, and you’ll be dreaming of the golden, buttery crust and “cheese crown” for days after trying it. While the pizza is definitely a highlight, fresh pasta is made daily in-house and dishes like their Lamb Fazzoletti are next level. Add on some share plates, and you’ve got yourself a pretty darn delicious time out.
And of course, all the flavours on this menu are thoughtfully put together to pair well with their in-house craft brews, but you can also check out beers from their neighbours around the province. Plus, there are some fabulous cocktails featuring award-winning gin from their sister brewpub Last Best Brewing & Distilling in Calgary, and a diverse wine list to boot.
The three spaces collectively make Banff Ave Brewing worth visiting every time you head to Banff for a trip (and even every day of your trip with all those choices). Frankly, we’d visit the mountains just for a chance to indulge at the brewery, as should you!
