Last Best Brewing & Distilling

Last Best Brewery is located where the old Amsterdam Rhino used to be, and much like when it was the Rhino, the atmosphere and ambiance of the establishment is a blend of what I feel is kind of homey with an industrial modern décor. We went there for a birthday party and the service was good and pleasant for how many people there were. Drinks and food were fairly average and on par with most of the other «hip» trending eateries nowadays but I did feel some of their food was overpriced. I ordered the mini grilled cheese, which had 3 in the order, and consisted of cheese and caramelized onions and was $ 12. I would probably go back the Last Best Brewery but I may just stick to drinks next time.

I really miss the District (that used to be where Last Best is currently located). The beer is still top notch like before, and the food is pretty good. But I feel like the food can be overpriced for what you get. And I also miss the wing specials that the District used to do.

Great beer. The show pony pale ale is quite bitter and is excellent. The IPA, porter, and grolch are also very good.
We ate a sandwich with fries, adding the fish of the day — Arctic char in this case. The fish was great (nice to have this option after moving from Vancouver to Calgary). The fries are VERY salty and come across as being frozen processed fries (MacDonalds-​esque) — the most disappointing part of the meal.
The best beer in Calgary, and the food we tried was above average, but not at the standard of standard of similar places we’d frequent in Vancouver.

Where do I even start?
This is an exceptionally beautiful place to be. There is nothing that isn’t on point here. First, they make their beer RIGHT HERE! Talk to your server or call ahead and book a tour of the brewery!
Seating is spread out and a wide variety, at that. A large room with tables of various heights, booths, and a large rectangular bar in the middle of the place that has seating on both sides. There is a bright front room and, the jewel, an amazing patio featuring a fire pit and recessed seating as well as tables
For all you parents, you’ll be thrilled to know that not only do they welcome our kids, there is a nice little kids menu for them to choose from. Under 18 is welcome until 10pm I do believe.
Now, on to what we all really care about, the food! I’ve tried about half the menu now and nothing has come up short. The striploin made my cattle rancher dining companion groan with pleasure. This same man bemoaned not getting good beef in yyc restaurants not 5 minutes before his food arrived. The root beer BBQ wings are crispy on the outside and tender inside and oh so flavorful.
The desserts are amazing, especially that carrot cake. I am having a blast eating my way through this place!

Went as a foursome to watch part of a baseball game. Think this might be the last reincarnation of this space! The former Amsterdam Rhino/​District have been melded together to create a cozy yet spacious Brew pub.
Only had drinks this time around but the menu looks delicious and the server we had was awesome. I do like that despite having tvs all around for watching various games, it didn’t take away from the atmosphere.
This is definitely a go to for large groups who want a upper scale casual place to go.

I’m at a 3.5 on this one. It’s a bit of a love — hate going on.
The staff/​servers are 5 star. They are great
The ambiance is 4 – 5 star as well. It’s very modern feeling with a touch of steam punk from the brewery.
The beers are excellent as well.
I can’t quite wrap my head around the menu and the portions.
Bison Burger. was OK. but the bun was weird. Tasted like gluten free buns do. Dry and sandy.
Baked beans are great! Portion is pretty small considering. .it’s beans.
The wings are breaded… I hate that. I would go to KFC if I want panko.
The salads are exceptional, especially if you add the fish.
It’s not a standard pub menu, which is their strength and their weakness. If you’re tired of garlic ribs and fries, give this place a try. As the place is relatively new, there’s a good chance they will continue to experiment and refine their selections and that’s great.
I will return. and recommend… but that’s more for the ambiance, the service and the beer.

love their beer, but honestly I like to drink it at the Ship more than at the brew house… not sure what that means? Maybe I’m more of a casual person, and the brew house/​lounge/​whatever? It’s a bit too loud and trendy, so obviously I’m becoming and old lady and you should ignore me. We had dinner and drinks, the beers are great if you like microbrews, but the same pint of show pony is a buck cheaper at the ship so there you have it, i’m old and crusty and cheap too…
anyrate, food was great, but on the pricer side. Fish and chips was like $ 20, it was good and a large portion but still… the same fish and chips can be had at other pubs for a few bucks less. other menu items ranged up from there, only the burger was cheaper so keep that in mind if you imagine a night out with food and beers. Don’t get me wrong, the dining scene in calgary is going more upscale, and $ 30+ bucks for a bison steak is not entirely unreasonable, but when I think of a brewery I am in the mood for bear and something cheap and salty to eat with it… that’s my two cents. I’l be next door at Broken City…

This place defines the word «gastropub.» It’s a wonderful spot the get really great very and delicious high end bar food.
I have been to Last Best a couple of times now in different nights of the week and different times so I finally fell comfortable reviewing it. First off, I love their beer. I think it’s well made with excellent flavor and finish. I’m not always a fan of the show pony, which seems to be the summer beer, but I think it’s a solid choice for those like the lighter options. Anyway, you can get their beer on many places around town, do why come to the source?
Well, first because you can come to source! That seems to be an obvious one but I thought I’d throw it out there. Second, you get to try more than just their seasonal beer and if you’re like myself and their darker stuff, this is going to be the only place to get it until winter kicks in (and who wants to wait for that??). Also, the atmosphere is great. They have an expansive dining room, gorgeous bar, and even an patio area to enjoy. There is so much space that it’s not hard to find a spot, but if you go on a Thursday or Friday night there might only be a few chairs left at the bar.
As I mentioned, this place defines gastropub in every way, especially the food. It’s all well made and must of it is beer inspired in some way. There are beer battered fish and chips and beer stew and the such. They also have a good selection of other items but I am a fan of hanging out at the bar and getting snacks so I haven’t tried as much of their food as their beer.
I would say that the cocktails are not are strong as their beer and food but I wasn’t really judging it that way. I think there are other places in town that do great cocktails so if you want great beer come here.
I also love the service. The bartenders are all friendly and helpful and even on a busy night I was checked on numerous times. This really is a great place to start your evening with a great meal or maybe finish it with a nice dark beer and a great conversation.

Tried corn meal calamari. What a bad day it was. So ridiculously made, so awful to taste buds… Wish they could fare on others…
As I am not a great fan of beers, I got the feedback from my friends who were sharing the table for the night. They said they liked 3 out of 6 samplers.
May not be the appropriate place for me to visit as I am not into beers but had to be there for a friend’s party.
Not to forget to mention that the ambiance was so nice and perfect. Also good to observe they dimmed the lights depending on exterior light.
Waitress were patient enough with serving and separating the bills.

4.5 stars but I’m bumping it to a 5!
I was so happy with my experience at Last Best last Saturday. I had arranged a surprise birthday party for the hubby (without checking out the place before — I know, I’m a risk-​taker), and I was stoked that everything went so smoothly.
We were a party of 12 – 14, and the waitress was attentive, informative and super friendly. A bunch of us ordered the beer flights and we all loved it. A nice mix of lagers, porters, wheat beers and seasonals! I was apprehensive about ordering food because of the mixed reviews on here, but my fears were turned upside down. The food was delicious! I ordered the bone marrow and it was really tasty. I tried the bison burger too, and damn that was good! Others seemed to enjoy their meals too — no complaints whatsoever!
In the end, the waitress nicely separated the bills for everyone, which was an AWESOME surprise. Every time you go out with more than 6 people you know it has the potential to be a nightmare because so many bars and restaurants refuse to separate the bill. Not here! Last Best did a great job dividing up the bill with no questions asked, and was extremely accommodating, even when we had a few people leave early and a few people arrive late.
The space is really spacious and airy with brick walls, big artwork. Just overall great décor! The bathrooms were a french colonial style and totally unique!
Overall, I am very impressed with this new addition to the Calgary bar scene and will definitely return. Glad I picked Last Best for the birthday surprise event!

Happiest ever. My sister and wife had the Halibut and chips, my brother in law and I went for the bison burger. Clean pub food, great service and a fantastic atmosphere — what more could you want?!

Love, love, love this place! Another great brewery and pub addition to Calgary’s downtown. We came here for a late lunch on a sunday and the place was quiet. The space is huge with a very large enclosed patio, two different sets of bathrooms and a big round bar right in the middle. The prohibition style and décor was gorgeous and relaxing. It wouldn’t be the best place to watch a sports game with just a few TV’s situated above the bar though. We sat in a booth and the table legs were very awkward and in the way which made getting in and out unpleasant though. Our server was very polite and we never had to wait long for food or drink. She recommended good beers to try and was knowledgeable about the selection.
Our favorites were the WIPA, scotch ale, and Imperial IPA. The caramel ale was a pleasant surprise as I don’t like coffee and it smelled very strong but was pleasantly smooth and didn’t taste at all like coffee. For food we got a Panini and the Penne. Both were delicious with generous portions. Overall we can’t wait to come back and try this place out again, hopefully on a busier night to get the full experience.

I’m a fan of the beers and service (Dagny). We weren’t going to eat at first because I bumped into an old co-​worker who told me she didn’t like any of the food they ordered (wings, calamari, knuckle sandwich), which were the things I would have ordered.
We ordered a flight of beers that Dagny arranged by tasting order. She was genuinely ethusisatic that made us want to stay and give LBBD a fair chance. She guided us through the menu (and did not recommend any of the items my co-​worker ordered).
Best thing I ate was the grilled roasted chicken panini. The bread was crunchy, the filling was hot, cheesy and really flavourful. Skip the fries (bland) and get the mixed green salad. My husband loved the dates and other goodies in the salad.

Last Best is doing it right. Like me, you probably have sampled Last Best’s offerings at events or pubs in the city. But what you were missing out on is their unbelievable rotational tap selection (called «Here to Play»). Innovative and delicious brews reminiscent of some of the more experimental breweries south of the border can be had from their Alberta-​shaped sample tray. I must say, one of the best imperial IPA’s I’ve ever drank. Their beers have excellent balance and lots of flavour. For a truly unique experience, try their nitro-​brewed Caramel Latte. Mind blowing.
Last Best also partners with a other brewing companies including Jasper and Banff Ave to share the distilling responsibilities on their diverse spirits and mixed drinks menu. I personally didn’t order one as I couldn’t tear myself from the beer selection, but offsetting reviews were positive from my table.
The food is delicious with a variety of healthy selections and ideal beer-​pairings. Service is friendly and informative, and the beer prices are very reasonable and poured to correct pint sizing. Outside, they have a semi covered patio that also has a fire pit you can sit around at night – complete with loaner blankets.
#1 brewpub in Calgary at the moment, unseating my beloved Wild Rose. It’s Last Best’s innovative and fun selection of brews that put them ahead of the pack.

I really love some of the craft beers that are popping up in Alberta lately. These folks took it a step further and opened a pub along with it.
The inside is far bigger than I thought it would be. Very welcoming layout and décor. If I didn’t have to drive and work the next day, I probably would have stuck around for a year or so relaxing.
Our server was Jennifer. All smiles and great service. Not wanting to limit my beer palate, I went for the sampler. 6 little beers to tickle my fancy. Of course, I wasn’t a fan of all of them, but it was a nice variety to get acquainted to the brewery’s beer ensemble.
The food was lacklustre. Not awful, just not as good as one would hope considering the quality of their brews. I don’t think it was worth the price, but maybe it was just a misfire on this occasion. They deserve a second chance. Even if the food isn’t better next time, they still have the tasty, delicious beeeeeeeeeer *Homer drooling sound*
The Show Pony is the favourite of the 6 I tried. Give it a shot.

Coolest. Place. Ever! In-​house made beers with different malts, ales, and flavours make this the coolest pub! Being both a distillery/​brewery and pub/​restaurant makes this place versatile and unique!
Came by after dinner on a Saturday night, and sat at the bar. Wasn’t sure what beer to get, but the bartender was extremely nice and explained each beer in reference to our tastes. We ended up getting 6 different ones in a tasting option for $ 15. Quite a good choice if you’re unsure or wanna try more than one!
Outta the six, the 3 I liked the most were the Snow Pony Pale Ale, Barrel-​Aged Red Ale, and the Caramel Latte Beer! Yummy how they made the beer taste like an actual coffee! My friend also tried the Mini Grilled Cheese and said it was brilliant, including the caramelized onions!
A great place to spend your evening, and a lively place with the bartenders not getting a break! Not quite the place id you want to have a heart-​to-​heart chat though…

If I lived here this might be my second home.
And that’s without having tried the food, which looked/​sounded amazing.
Local breweries always warm my heart, be it in America or Canada. The trend of craft beer is real around the world, and proof of its efficacy is here.
I sat at the bar, ordered a Last Best IPA and it may well have been.
The IPA was delicious, melon notes, mixed with a pleasant sweat bread like malt. Just ever so bitter at the end in all the right ways.
The bat staff was really helpful and was happy to share their story, name and some samples.
They have not started distilling their own products yet, so for now only the brewing portion of their name is correct, they do have tons of spirits.
Can’t wait to go back and get some food and try more beers. This place immeaditly felt like home away from home.

New restaurants and brew pubs in Calgary, take note. When you open a new place, you need to be well staffed.
We went to Last Best for a light lunch, mostly to sample their seasonal beers, which you can for $ 15.
They had lots of staff available and our server was very nice and patient. She needed to brush up on her beer knowledge though, rather odd hiring someone who hasn’t sampled all the beers she serves yet.
All of their «Here to Play» beers were amazing. A few standout favourites were the Olsch Kolsch B’Golsch, King Ralph’s Imperial IPA, and my favourite, the Caramel Latte beer infused with Fratello coffee. This beer is s nitro beer, with a creamy head, and lower carbonation. Many breweries are starting to play with this new nitro beer sensation, and I love it.
Their food menu states everything is Alberta inspired and they do have some nice menu options such as marrow. I had the mixed greens and they were tasty, I loved the candied figs and seeds that accompanied it.
Can’t wait go go back and have more of their menu and return for more of their unique and tasty beer. This place is one of the first breweries in Calgary to offer so much variety and flavor in their beers.

Love the beer, love this spot.
There’s nothing like being up close and personal with the beers that you are drinking. With plenty of beer options to choose from, I opted for the flight to get a sample of the best that Last Best had to offer.
My all time favourite is still their Last Best IPA. There’s something special about the IPA that just stands out above the rest. A comparison would be Brewsters, but I still think Last Best takes the cake here.
Also, side tip. Went in again last night to fill up my growler. Came out to $ 14 and it was fabulous.

Yes, yes and yes!
Last Best takes the classy-​casual style of popular Calgary beer halls and gastropubs, and brings you as close to the beer as you can possibly get: right in the brewery.
Once through the big, bold yellow doors you’ll walk into an open-​feeling space, proudly showcasing the brewery through large glass windows. The room is built around a large centre bar, the primary feature of the main room, surrounded by plenty of booth seating that’s well lit with natural light. They make good use of the building’s bare brick walls and includes plenty of aged wood and steel for a warm, raw feel.
Off from the main area are a few separate rooms, including a slightly segregated upstairs room, perfect for a sit down dining experience or an event with plenty of windows overlooking 11^th Ave. As well as a completely separate basement bar.
I’m so thrilled that one of my favourite patio spots in the city is now back in action! Completely hidden from street view, Last Best has a courtyard patio with a fire pit.
Along with their signature beers that are «here to stay», which are available at many pubs across town, you’ll find a selection of limited time, or «here to play» beers, only available at the brewery for a limited time.
Signature beers include the rich and floral Show Pony Ale, Dirty Bird Black Lager: a dark beer that still pairs well with patios, the Porter: black coffee flavours like the Dirty Bird except way more badass, and my personal favourite, the IPA, which is not only boldly hoppy but somehow has this tropical fruit almost peachy taste to it. Remarkable.
As they are a brewery as well as a full-​service restaurant, you can buy growlers of beer to take home with you. Beer to go — not a common feature of bars in Calgary.
My first ever visit to Last Best marked a quick tour and a glass of their incredibly delicious, but only «here to play» Imperial Stout. I can’t wait to check out the food menu next time and plenty of patio days after that.