REVIEW: National Beer Hall – Calgary, AB
It’s no surprise that National Beer Hall was voted one of the best pubs in Calgary, AB. Each National location comes with it’s own vibe, but the 4 beer halls have the same common denominator; good food and great beer. Check out each location around Calgary and see which one is your favourite.
By Shira Kogut on Mar. 07, 2017
As of last weekend, if National Beer Hall was a set of properties in Monopoly, I would’ve had them all. After two years of being in Calgary I’d finally visited all 4 branches.
National on 17th
It started about 3 months after we arrived in Calgary before we even knew 17th Ave was a thing, we had some visitors who were staying downtown. Randomly, we took a walk down 17th Ave and said
“Hey, that place looks fun & awesome!”
We walked into National on 17th. We loved the long bench style tables and were mesmerized by the amount of beers. This was still almost a year before I was introduced to the world of craft beer and my world existed of Labatt, Molson, Budweiser and other beers that I was not fond of so sadly at that point I thought I didn’t like beer and chose a diet coke instead. I did, however scarf down their Beer Cheese Spread and Pretzel Bread (which I was originally supposed to share with my hubby, he got very little, so we ordered a second round which also disappeared pretty quickly).
National on 8th
About a week later, it was my birthday and my brother (who has lived in Calgary longer) suggested we meet all my friends at the National on 8th, if we liked National so much. That’s the one with the beautiful rooftop terrace. Still had some beer fear, so I chugged a diet coke and a mason jar of Strawberry Lemonade (adult style) with a fabulous Glory Bowl (I was still a vegetarian at the time too, wow so much has changed in two years).
National on 10th
Prior to Just Beer launching in March 2016, I’d finally learned the secrets of craft beer, so, when we had a team-building afternoon at National on 10th I ordered one of my new faves Last Best’s There Will Be Porter. Hanging out and bonding with the rest of the staff over bowling and a beer, no better way to spend a Friday afternoon. And sheer brilliance on National’s part to pair two things that go together so well beer and bowling.
National Westhills
Finally last weekend my son had a birthday party out in Elbow Valley. It would’ve taken me too long to go home and come back. Then I saw a sign that said “Turner Valley…kms” I was like:
“Turner Valley = Brauerei Fahr = my favourite Hefeweizen!”
Two birds with one stone, I remembered there was a National in Westhills, that I hadn’t been to yet, so off I went for a Clive Burger and Fahr Away Hefeweizen. I sat with my burger, beer and book and enjoyed a nice, rare hour to myself.
What do all National locations have in common?
Each location of National Beer Hall had a menu of delicious food, a bar filled with great beer, and good customer service. No matter which location you end up at on a Saturday Night, you’ll have a wonderful time.
For more restaurant reviews, beer reviews, or brewery tours around Calgary, Alberta, check out these links:
Ensira Ethiopian Restaurant & Tusker Kenyan Beer Review
Beer Maven’s Brewery Tour at Big Rock Brewery
Calgary’s Beer Revolution Restaurant Review
Beer Review of Cold Garden’s Cool Runnings Stradler