Inside the new Calgary bar brought to life by one of Alberta's most-loved craft breweries
It’s been almost a year since a huge mural revealed that beloved Edmonton-based Sea Change Brewing Co. would be making its way to Calgary.
Since the iconic artwork popped up on the Beltline building that used to be home to brewpub Inner City, many have been speculating about what’s to come, but the Sea Change team stayed tight-lipped about what exactly we could expect.
“The anticipation for it wasn’t planned, and everyone was like, ‘When are you opening?’ We just had to kind of like keep our heads down and not say too much,” Pete Nguyen, partner at Sea Change Brewing Co., told Dished.
Around a month ago, a new addition was made to the mural with the name “Skelly Club,” adding to the intrigue around the space.
But now, Sea Change’s newest project, Skelly Club, is finally open to the public, and of course, we practically ran to check it out.
YEG to YYC
If you’re familiar with Alberta’s craft beer scene, you’ll have definitely come across or even tried a lot of Sea Change’s beer. First established in 2017, the Edmonton-based brewery has become easily identifiable for its tattoo-inspired branding, opening its first taproom in YEG in 2018.
A few years later, following the launch of Sea Change’s distillery arm, Shiddy’s, the Rumpus Room was opened in Edmonton, serving its own unique spirits and cocktails.
But almost a decade on, the company has finally made its move to YYC.
Nguyen told Dished that while the brand always wanted to open something in Calgary, there was never a solid plan. However, that all changed last year, when Sea Change took over the space at 820 11th Ave. SW.
“We never knew exactly what we wanted, and we didn’t really know that there was going to be a brewing space here. We were toying around with just having a tap room,” he explains.
“It just turned out that we were able to get both a great location, and we were ready to brew out of that space.”
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Total transformation
While the space has previously operated as a brewpub and Sea Change is already brewing in the location, Nguyen says it was important to give the YYC spot its own identity.
“We didn’t want to open up another Rumpus Room, and we wanted to focus on the beer since the brewery is right there. So we created this concept that felt a little bit different,” he explains.
“Instead of just calling it another Sea Change tap room, it’s the Skelly Club, which is just a fun way for us to differentiate another spot that’s a little bit bigger and with more offerings.”
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If you’ve ever spent time at Inner City, you’ll be in awe of what’s been done with the space. It’s received a total overhaul, taking inspiration from bars that have been around since the ’60s and ’70s in the U.S.
“We wanted to build something that felt nostalgic, but we didn’t want it to feel like a dive bar; we didn’t want it to feel old,” Nguyen says.
“Then we decorated it with stuff that uses Sea Change branding, which is more of that tattoo culture that we’re into. It’s a mishmash of a lot of things, but I think it works today in a weird way.”
What you’ll now find is a trendy spot, with dark wood, comfortable booths, and a large bar, echoing years gone by but with modern accents, plenty of artwork that harkens to Sea Change’s tattoo-esque designs.
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And tucked just behind the Skelly Club space, you’ll find Flat Boy Burgers, a brand-new spot for smash burgers, milkshakes, and more, which can be ordered to enjoy in Skelly Club and delivered by a conveyor belt, which to us is worth a peek at alone.
What’s on the menu?
In a departure from what you’d usually expect from a tap room or distillery, Skelly Club offers the best of both worlds with a large menu of Sea Change beers such as the popular Death Wave lager and Prairie Fairy Blackberry Wheat Ale.
If you’re a craft beer aficionado, you won’t be disappointed by the lineup, as there really is something for everyone.
Other offerings include Shiddy’s famous Booze Sodas and more for those who aren’t beer drinkers, which we’ll be back to try ASAP.
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As mentioned, Skelly Club guests are able to order from Flat Boy Burgers. Its concise menu is made for burger lovers, featuring single, double, or triple stacked certified Angus beef smash patties.
If there’s one thing Calgary has in abundance, it’s good burger spots, and we’re happy to report that Flat Boy stands up among the best. We also loved the chunky and salty fries, dipped in the spot’s signature Flat Sauce.
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All in all, from the drinks to the food, Skelly Club is a very welcome addition to the Beltline.
Sea Change Brewing Co.’s Skelly Club
Address: 820 11th Ave. SW, Calgary
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