Village Brewing has been a staple in the craft brewing scene in Calgary for more than 10 years ago.
When it first opened, it was one of only five craft breweries in the city. Now it feels like there is a craft brewery on every corner in Calgary.
What I think sets Village Brewery apart from its competitors is its commitment to community. I know this may sound a little clique but I really think that’s the heart of brewery. Just perusing their website and socials, you can see the wide range of community-focused events from live music, artist series to supporting Calgary pride and partnering with local groups.
Bravo.
Now let’s talk alcohol-free brews.
My research is a little hazy on the actual date when Village Brewing began offering non-alcoholic beer. Likely it offered as an afterthought like most breweries did back in the day. In 2019, Village Brewery relaunched the CR*FT – “Authentic CR*FT beer without the *Alcohol” featuring a pale ale, blonde, IPA and a stout. This entailed a refresh of the cans and a new marketing campaign.
I went with the Blonde Ale.
My Review – Village Brewing’s Blonde Ale (35 calories, Less than .04% alcohol by volume)
Name Bling (name creativity) – I appreciate the simple of Cr*ft beer moniker for the line of their line of no alcohol beer. The individual beer names are straightforward and descpritive: Hazy IPA, Pale Ale, Velvety Stout and Blonde Ale. No confusion here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sip n’ Savour (Taste) – Blonde ales are typically defined by a low to moderate hoppy bitterness. They have a light malt profile akin to a pilsner. I am a fan of pilsners because they are easy to drink (which has gotten me in trouble a few times.) Being a fan of pilsners, I enjoyed Village Brewing’s golden ale described as “crispy, dry and balanced with a slight fresh-baked biscuit finish reminiscent of honeycomb and bread.” Refreshing and easily enjoyable. Love it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wallet Wellness Index (Value for Money) – Prices fluctuate $9.99 to $12.99 for four 473 ml cans in the supermarkets. While a four-pack is still more affordable than regular beer, savvy shoppers might want to wait for sales, which seem to be every few weeks. Being budget-conscious, I appreciate snagging a good deal when I can (no pun intended). ⭐⭐⭐
Label Love (Packaging/ Presentation) – I love the simple, clean, colourful design of the individual cans, which effortlessly capture your on the shelves. The non-alcoholic market is becoming noisy so I appreciate the simplicity in marketing. Plus, the cans bear a striking resemblance to traditional beer cans. So if you don’t want to explain why you are not drinking alcohol, it makes things easier. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall – I’m a fan. I really enjoyed the ale especially when I am looking for something light and crispy. I love the bigger cans so one always does the trick. I can picture myself reaching for a Village Brewing Blonde Ale on those hot summer days. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where to buy: I should mention that Village Brewing has a taproom at 5000 12A Street SE in Calgary. They offer brewery tours and host private parties. Find their beers at most local supermarkets in Calgary. I have found them at Co-op and Safeway. You can also order them online through their website.