Rising Tides Taproom: Calgary's newest taproom opens today
After much anticipation, Rising Tides Taproom, a new inclusive community taproom, is finally opening today at 2 pm.
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This new taproom aims to be a safe space for everyone with beautiful coastal vibes, a local connection, and a great selection of craft beers.
This beautiful taproom in the Montgomery community will be offering birthday cake donuts to celebrate.
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The gorgeous decor of lush plants, beach-wood tables, and the aquamarine wallpaper illustrated with bold images of sea life is immediately eye-catching.
“Think a bright and airy Tofino beach house living room (minus the ocean view),” Ali Goulet and Katie McNeil, the owners of Rising Tides Taproom, told Dished.
“We have incorporated lots of coastal elements in our art: wood, tile and many plants. We hope to be a little escape in Calgary where you can come to feel the ease of the west coast way.”
There’s also space for shuffleboard, bar seats, a dining room, couches, and more in the 45-seat room that feels like a beach cabin.
That’s intriguing enough for us, but the food, beer, and overall concept have had people talking about this new neighbourhood spot.
“We are going to have a fun rotational market-style menu with snacks and items from a whole bunch of local favourites and hidden gems,” said the two owners.
“Delicious sandwiches, samosa platters, hand pies, charcuterie boards and cheese plates, baked goods… things that go great with drinks with pals!” Goulet and McNeil also told Dished, speaking about the food menu offered.
“Our drink menu consists of a really exciting 12 tap list with a focus on featuring women, BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ operations, as well as a tightly curated unique wine menu, an extensive non-alcoholic drink menu and some innovative canned cocktails and ciders,” they also said.
The focus on featuring women, and the BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ community make this concept even more inclusive and unique.
“Inclusive community taproom means a space that is safe for everyone to come and be themselves authentically,” said Goulet and McNeil.
“This means we tolerate no transphobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, or violence.”
“We are a space for the queer community to gather safely and also a space for those who believe in kindness, peace, equality and love to come and enjoy some of the best beer in the city!” they added.
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The owners are excited about making drinking feel like we can also do some good, and that’s why they came up with the “reverse happy hour” idea.
“One of the features of our space is our Giving Wall, where three local charities will be featured,” they told Dished.
“When you get a beer from the charity tap or during a ‘reverse happy hour’ called High Tide, you will receive a token ($1) and be able to select the charity you want to support.”
It’s a fun idea that we can’t wait to try immediately after stepping into this long-awaited space.
The team here has been trying to get Tegan and Sara here to celebrate the official opening.
“As my partner and I are queer women who grew up in the ’90s/’00s in Calgary, Tegan and Sara were the soundtracks to our queer coming of age,” the owners told Dished.
“When we found out that they were back in Calgary filming their TV show, High School, during the time that we were opening, we got it in our minds that it would be an amazing full-circle moment to invite them to come and see the inclusive community space we have created.”
“Figuring out a way to invite them has been a fun escape from the stress of the opening, and we got a chance to meet them and invite them in person last week, and it was great!”
This new concept has been in the works for quite a while now, and after seeing months of construction photos posted to the Instagram account, it’s astonishing to see just how amazing it turned out.
It’s one of the most visually stunning room designs in Calgary.
This beautiful new room will be open today from 2 pm to 10 pm, with street parking, bar service, and a first-come, first-served approach.
Rising Tides Taproom
Address: 4545 Bowness Road NW, Calgary
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