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The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Food Breweries Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Pubs, Breweries, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
622 Main StCanmore, AB T1W 2B5
(403) 678-9983
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company
Review Highlights
"It is a great place to stop after a day of skiing or hiking."
(in 3 reviews)
"The ginger beer is really good."
(in 3 reviews)
"...AMAZING beer, but by Banff area standards it's incredible."
(in 6 reviews)
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Thomas M.
Calgary, AB
1/25/2012
Great beer, food just OK
I love their beer, but the food is just OK, and there are many, many other places I would rather eat at in Canmore. -
Review from Kimberly P.
Calgary, AB
2/5/2012
We waited 5 minutes at the entrance before we were even acknowledged. (Strike 1) Several servers saw us, and walked straight by. Ok, so it was a busy Saturday lunch; I'll give them that...
We were seated upstairs by the front windows. Great! Ordered an IPA and some water. Had to ask for a second glass of water, since the first glass was filthy with lipstick marks and grime. It didn't even phase our server, as if that was something that happened all the time. (Strike 2). IPA was decent. Looking into the sunlight streaming in through the windows, all I could see was dust 'snowing' down from the duct directly over our table. I literally placed my coaster over my pint. (Strike 3)
Food was sub-par. My cheddar jalapeno soup was curdled, barely warm. My wrap was soggy. My boyfriend ordered bratwurst. Looked microwaved. The plate was 85% french fries, some fresh, some stale. (Strike 4)
Looking around, the atmosphere could be pretty rad, but the carpet looked filthy. The walls were splattered with who knows what. You could see layers of dust everywhere.
I was not in the mood to complain. At this point, I just wanted out of the place ASAP. We won't be back. I don't care how good the beer may be, the service was shit, and the place was filthy.
4 Strikes. -
Review from Matt B.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a bit of an enigma. Some of my friends have had incredibly good experiences here, while other swear they will not set foot in there ever again. I quite like it. In pre-Yelp days, a friend and I were pretty much regulars, going there for lunch quite often (to the point where the staff would ask "So, the usual for you two today?")
These days, it's still a great place to stop and have a beer. My only gripe against them is that they keep changing their menu, and every time they change it they seem to remove another menu item I like.
However, there are still a number of staples that won't change - I really like their hamburgers, as they have a nice flavor. Their beer is quite good, and they also make a number of sodas. Their grapefruit soda is excellent - it's like they took the good parts of grapefruit that I like, kept them and gotten rid of the rest. It definitely would make a nice mixer with vodka, since it's not overly sweet either.
I really enjoy the atmosphere of the place as well - if they are busy and you get seating upstairs, it starts to have quite an old log-cabin feel. There's a pool table up there as well, and TV's are interspersed throughout the whole building.
I definitely recommend this place if you are going to or through Canmore. Bring me some grapefruit soda on your way back! ;) -
Review from Danelle W.
Calgary, AB
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Grizzly Paw is a fun place to visit in Canmore, whether after a hard day of hiking (nothing like a beer & a hearty meal!) or shopping or just hanging out.
The wood interior gives it a really cabin-esque feel, which isn't unusual in Canmore (at all). The interior is friendly and there's lots of seating (including upstairs!) It's great for kids too.
The Grizzly Paw has their own line of beer & sodas - both are delicious. I can highly recommend the Raspberry beer, or the root beer or grapefruit sodas.
The food is generally good. Nothing spectacular, but consistent and yummy. The BBQ chicken quesadilla could have used a little more BBQ sauce, but had a nice bite to it. Also, would prefer the sour cream and salsa come in separate containers.
Service can apparently be really good or pretty poor but I've never had a bad experience. It gets busy, especially around the dinner hour, but if you come earlier or later it's not too bad.
All in all, I'll definitely keep coming to the Grizzly Paw when I want some grub in Canmore.
(28/30) -
Review from Sheena C.
Calgary, AB
10/21/2011
My husband and I ate here about a week ago while on a mini vacation. We had never been here before so it was a nice change. We were seated quickly and the server was very polite! I ordered the Veggie Delight Pizza and the Beavertail Raspberry Beer (which was recommended as a good complimentary beer to my dinner).
The Pizza was one of the best I've ever had. It tasted fresh and well... delicious! The balsamic vinegar reduction that was drizzled over the pizza was so good I wanted to bottle it up and take it home! The raspberry beer was really good as well (however I'm no beer expert so don't quote me on that!).
Reasonably priced and a nice comfy cottage-in-the-woods atmosphere!
I've recommended going there to a few people already! NOMNOM. -
Review from Wendy P.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fish and chips... good! Especially the chips. Beer... also good! Enjoyed a stout in the sun. Patio... lovely on a summer day! Service... on par with a pub.
Why the three stars? Bathrooms. Gross! Two out of three toilets with toilet paper still in the bowls. Let's hope it was a one-off kind of toilet day. Keep these clean and this is a solid 4-star in Canmore. -
Review from Peter T.
9/27/2011
Recently stopped by Grizzly Paw on my way back to Calgary from Banff. Saturday afternoon, there was a wait, no big deal. I was with one other person. We put our names down, we were told 10-15 min. Fine. I eye a two person table that sat empty the entire time we were waiting. Then lo and behold, 25 min later, we were put in that table.
No big deal, so they made us wait outside so their kitchen could keep pace. No problem I thought. I order a Mushroom Swiss burger with Fries/Salad, my friend orders a soup. Another very long wait ensued.
Perhaps their kitchen was understaffed, but it really shouldn't take so long to prepare a burger and a soup.
-$13.95 for a Burger and Fries is slightly overerpriced.
-Their homemade Sodas are really good and free refill.
-Atmosphere-wise, there are a few flat-screen TVs to entertain the guests. Wood chairs, no carpet, bar and grill decor.
-Our waitress was friendly. -
Review from Karlie M.
8/3/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I always like to visit microbreweries/brew pubs on my travels, so I was excited to visit Grizzly Paw in Canmore. I checked out their website ahead of time and saw all of the beers they had on offer, and learned that they also make their own pop, which is a really cool idea.
I went for dinner with my dad on the Saturday of August long weekend. As expected the place was packed, but we didn't have to wait long as we were only a party of two. We were seated upstairs. The volume was high, but again, every table was full. I think our waitress was decent, but she was so incredibly busy and running back and forth, there wasn't much time for her to be outstanding. We each got a bison burger at $13.95. Mine with house salad, which oddly had a ton of beets in it. The burger was fine, but it wasn't as delicious as I expected it to be.
I also ordered a pint of Beaver Tail Raspberry Ale. On the menu it said something about 'fresh mountain raspberries', so I expected there to be a few berries in my beer, but sadly there wasn't. I ALSO had a cream soda, which was quite excellent.
There's a huge patio outside, so I think it would be nice to come here on a quieter summer night, maybe not in the middle of a beautiful long weekend. It was so busy and loud that we didn't really have a mellow experience. I would go again, though.
Beer and pop available to take home at the restaurant or across the way at The Paw Shop.Listed in: Breweries
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Review from Erica E.
6/24/2011
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed our meal here. We started off by splitting the beer sampler, this is a set of 10 (around that number) shot glass sized beers, a fun way to try out their beer (my favorite was the honey wheat).
For my main course I had a pulled pork sandwich with carmelized onions. The bbq sauce was great, the menu said it had beer in it which I couldn't really taste but I thought it was tasty. The sandwich was big and for $13 came with fries and a side salad, pretty typical pricing for the area.
i didn't try my boyfriend's "canadian style" (canadian bacon+ cheddar cheese) burger but he said he liked it.
If you are in the area and are looking for a casual meal, this would be a good option. -
Review from Rob C.
Edmonton, AB
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Grizzly Paw Pub and brewing company is the second thing I associate with Canmore (after the mountains of course). Food is stellar and quite simply the best fries and nachos in Alberta. I say this as a natural health educator... I rarely eat crap, but when the poorest of food choices are prepared so lovingly and by as talented a cook team as Alberta offers, then this is the place.
My buddy ordered the nachos.. his with chicken and sides of salsa and sour cream. Eat bite was finished with an OMG, these are the best nachos I've ever had. I listened to this for nearly an hour when I finally ordered my own. I kept saying the same thing. Each bite is both a repeat of the one previous as well as unique on it's own.
and.. I can't say enough about their Caesar's with their unique salted rim. Known for their beer selection, brewed on site, and worthy of a tasting flight or two before settling in on a flavor for the night, the caesar is out of this world.
Next up for review will be the poutine fries and their pizza. (yes, I'm a natural health educator and fitness enthusiast... and ONLY eat this type of food once a week and after a hard day of fitness so as to earn it... but when it's time, Grizzly Paw is the place to indulge).
Great place to take the wife or girlfriend,but best to enjoy the local sights (um, female servers) on a night out with the boys. -
Review from Bob M.
Calgary, AB
10/1/2011
This is one of our favorite spring/fall patio in Canmore (see Iron Goat review). Fish and chips are always great, beer in the sun under a heater is amazing and the scenery is breathtaking. When we have tourists from Europe or Asia staying with us, we always plan for an afternoon at the Paw.
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Review from Sean B.
9/10/2011
The food was so so, at best, and the service is horrible. Go somewhere else if you want your money's worth.
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Review from Philippe G.
Calgary, AB
3/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The beer and the soda are unmatched. The atmosphere is fantastic, the service is a 3/5 and the food is a strong 3/5.
The quality of the beer makes up for most items here, seasonal options, true northern selections and a Canmore style unlike most spots in the town.
It would be a 5 if the food or service ever WOWED! me, but in 10 visits, neither has really put a stamp on the experience. -
Review from huong n.
7/23/2011
this place was awesome!
we were hungry and tired; the combination of good food and beers was a perfect end to a long day of rigorous hiking. this food was a different species from the standard bar food - the steak and the carrot soup were tasty! our waitress was patient as we pondered the choice of beers. the beers were so good - it helped us through a bad rendition of john denver.
the decor is nice but typical mountain resort bar and restaurant.
this place is worth s try, if you are on your way into or out of banff! -
Review from John T.
8/10/2011
The beer was great. About 7$ a beer. The food was just ok. The service was great!
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
9/10/2010
The beer here is good... especially the coffee stout, because you can really taste the strong flavours. I had the raspberry ale, which is made with real raspberries. The taste was subtle, but nice.... Other than that, I didn't think anything special of the place. I look to the signature items - which included fish and chips and really didn't enjoy it. I though the fish was overcooked, and the batter was wayyyy too thick. Their tartare sauce was well made and the fries made up for it, but I was overall not impressed. The vegetable panini was loaded with too much cheese and it was more of a pita bread wrap, rather than a panini.
I was told that the shepherd's pie was bland and the chicken quesidillas tasted like rubber.
I read afterwards that they make their burgers inhouse..so that must be their meal winner! Too bad I didn't get it. -
Review from Eric B.
1/23/2010
There's an old joke that a Canadian friend once told me: How is American beer like a couple making love in a canoe? Both are F**king near water!
Rest assured that the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company pours the real Canadian deal.
A few years ago, Gayle and I stopped here on the way back to Calgary after a very nice weekend in "greater" Banff. The restaurant at the Storm Mountain Lodge was a nice compliment to their accommodations. And after a nice steak dinner at the Keg the night before, Gayle indulged my desire for a good burger and a beer.
We sat upstairs and with Grizzly Paw's selection, where all my beer fantasies came true. I started and stuck with their IPA, because it was so good and because I'm a hoppy guy. My gorgeous Red Head had the Red, while I could have easily expanded into their Amber, Porter, or Stout offerings. After all, I haven't met a full, flavourful, and sometimes dark beer that I didn't like. The pub food was good too and the service was even better. And all of this was wrapped up in casual small town charm and of course a hockey game on the TV. -
Review from Antonio D.
9/11/2010
This place reminded me of BJ's or Rock Bottom Brewery. I like the beer sampler--especially the big Head Nut Brown, Rutting Elk Red, and the Beaver Tail Raspberry.
The Granny Bee's Mountain Roughage with Salmon was an abundance of greens, egg, mozzarella and cheddar cheese--it was good. I really liked the Canadian Classic Burger which had Canadian back bacon and cheddar. -
Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/16/2008
Grizzly Paw Brewing is a cool little micro-brewery in downtown Canmore. We sampled a few of their beers and found they tasted pretty good. The Rutting Elk Red was my favourite.The food, however, was a different story.
The burger I ordered was dull and bland. But the service was acceptable. They just need to start taking pride in their food the way they do their brews.
Go for the beer, leave for the food....... -
Review from ROGER A. B.
Canmore, AB
3/19/2009
If you are looking for a local restaurant which has style but not going to break your wallet, this place is it.
The only critique is that of the waitresses. Their dress is a little less conservative and they are not always the nicest. -
Review from Jimmi S.
Calgary, AB
9/10/2011
great food and service. great patio.
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Review from Andrew H.
3/31/2009
As a beer snob, I will tell you: "this is the best beer you will get in this part of Canada." It's not AMAZING beer, but by Banff area standards it's incredible. I highly recommend the sampler, it will give you a nice taste of all their beers. one of my favorites is the IPA, this is what an IPA is SUPPOSED to taste like, not that Alexander Keith's swill. The barley wine is probably the best beer of theirs I tasted.
The food, is average to slightly above. I got the sheperds pie, and while it was good, it was VERY VERY salty (perhaps to keep you buying beer?).
In the Pacific Northwest this place would be nothing special, but in its region there is nothing really like it. -
Review from Kent V.
12/6/2009 1 Check-in Here
The beer is fantastic here, and the pub food is alright too. It is hard to be super impressed or disappointed in pub food, its near impossible to mess up.
They also brew their own sodas here, with cane sugar (not using high fructose corn syrup like most pop beverages). The ginger beer is really good.
It is a great place to stop after a day of skiing or hiking. -
Review from Lee M.
Halifax, NS
2/14/2009
Beer - 5/5
Food - 3/5
End result? A great place to stop on your way home from skiing to have a great pint (or two) of excellent micro brew, and totally acceptable pub-grub.
They also have flat screens all over if you are looking for a place to catch the game.
Make sure you try their Ale - unreal beer! -
Review from Cait B.
6/2/2010
Great place to grab a pint. Get out of tourist filled Banff and spend a day in Canmore. The beer is awesome and you have to order their poutin. You'll want to smear it all over yourself, yes, it is that good!
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Review from randy k.
Calgary, AB
2/2/2011
Smoking was banned in Banff and Canmore long before Calgary, which resulted in my heading out of the city whenever I wanted a drink. Beer is my beverage of choice so I eventually found my way to the Grizzly. I really like the beer. The food is your typical pub food. Some reviewers have commented that the food is overpriced. I suspect this is because it is in Canmore and you get gouged for wanting to eat in Canmore. Try and get a table upstairs, I find it is much nicer and has a better ambiance.
If you like beer than The Grizzly Paw is worth checking out. -
Review from Jason C.
7/27/2010
Moldy Food.
We were served two flatbread pizzas whose bottoms were covered almost edge to edge with mold.
Some of the mold spots were up to one centimeter in diameter. At first the bitter taste was ascribed to the yellowing arugala on the pizza, but when my fiancée said she had just gotten a mouthful of mold, her brother turned the pizza over to reveal the horror. At that point, further inspection revealed smaller, but still visible dots of mold on top of the pizza crust.
While this alone would be enough for many to rate the Grizzly Paw Brewery a zero star restaurant, or indeed to put a call in to the health department, our first response was to calm down and realize that no restaurant would purposefully serve rotten food. It was what happened next that really got our ire up.
Initially no manager came to our table, but when we refused to accept the re-fired pizzas they had made (we did not request them) the chef came out to "apologize" but was clearly more concerned about his food cost than our health, enjoyment, or his own reputation and business. He made flippant comments about how we eat mold every day and how he would feed our re-fired pizzas to his staff and how after serving 2400 meals on the previous Saturday, this was so unlikely to have happened anyway. He did actually use the word, "sorry," but everything else he said made it clear that he was irritated with us and more worried about the money he was going to lose than any thing else.
The horror of having seen one of my own bite marks across a blue, black and white mold spot almost as big as my thumbnail made not just for a bad meal, but a ruined evening and a taint of suspicion about food for the next few meals. Those who had ordered burgers instead of pizza were so disgusted that their appetites were lost and did not eat their meals.
Previous posters have said that the Grizzly Paw doesn't take sufficient pride in its food. But that stands to reason when the chef doesn't even understand the disgust caused by the rotten food he served.
The beer was really good, but not good enough to wash away the taste of mold. -
Review from Jollean C.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2009
While The Grizzly Paw lacks in coziness, it does have that rustic small-town kitschy mountain charm that tourists from outside North America will really dig. The rest of us will find a good patio to drink on in the summers and some agreeable menu items. They make a decent burger and once I had some amazing ribs that had been done in one of their local brews combined into a bbq sauce. Considering I don't drink beer, it tasted fantastic. Sit upstairs in the window area and you'll get a nice view of the mountains. Ahhhhhhhhhhh....we do love our Rockies.
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Review from kathy m.
8/2/2010
The food here was good but way overpriced. When we first arrived in Canmore we were walking around and saw people eating some tasty-looking nachos out on the patio of the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company and made plans for a future visit to check them out. The place was packed, very hip and happening. Upon further inspection of the menu, we noted that those nachos were twenty bucks (US dollar accepted at par--thank you very much, George W. Bush) and you had to pay four dollars more for meat, extra cheese, guac, or sour cream--four bucks EACH. Really killer $12.00 US nachos would probably run around thirty bucks at the Grizzly Paw. So I ordered the Asian noodle salad. It was actually very good. One thing I especially liked about this salad was the combination of crunchy and soft noodles. Beneath the noodles was an assortment of fresh crispy greens and peppers as well as snow peas and onions. Atop was a grilled chicken breast that was moist and sliced in thin strips. The dressing was a light vinaigrette that complimented the dish. It was great. My husband, put off by the prices and knowing I usually only eat about half of my meal ordered a root-beer float for his dinner entree. The root-beer was also brewed on-site. He didn't regret his choice.
