CRAFT Beer Market Edmonton: The Glow Up

By ChrissyJuly 27, 2021

yeg restaurant yegfood food craft beer market

Being able to sound smart at a party is an essential life skill. Kind of like knowing how to change a tire… or calling AMA to change the tire for you. After a summer of little socialization, (thanks, COVID-19), this year will be different -hopefully. With social gatherings and business lunches returning in the future, I thought I’d give you a couple of conversation starters to use while you’re standing around drinking beer. yeg restaurant yegfood food craft beer market

For example, did you know?

George Washington wrote a recipe for “small beer” in a notebook he kept during the French and Indian War back in the 1700s. The beer calls for three gallons of molasses.
In 1933, before a guy named Krueger terrorized suburban children (and me) in their dreams, there was a brewery with the same name that teamed up with a canning company to package the Krueger Special Beer in a can.
You can chill a can or bottle of beer in two minutes flat. Fill a bowl with ice and salt, then stir. Place the beer in the bowl and wait two minutes. It’s that simple.

Speaking of beer and socializing, let’s talk about CRAFT Beer Market (how was that for a segue?). CRAFT’s recent renovations, dubbed “the Glow Up,” include a games area, cocktail camper, bottle shop (think cocktails and craft beers to-go), a bright new interior, and more.

Here is what you need to know about CRAFT Beer Market:

CRAFT is in the heart of downtown Edmonton at 10013 101A Ave (off Rice Howard Way). The building is unique, with high ceilings and an overall vintage feel. Before the Glow Up, CRAFT’s patio was one of my favourites in the city, and that hasn’t changed. The set-up is slightly different, but with more seating.
There are games! If you are familiar with CRAFT, the second floor is almost unrecognizable. The new games area has bocce courts, corn hole, shuffleboard, and a vintage-inspired cocktail camper bar.
CRAFT’s menu focuses on fresh, local ingredients such as carnitas street tacos, crispy chicken sliders, West Coast salmon bowls and thin-crust pizzas. They have new menu creations from some award-winning celebrity chefs like the smoked baby back ribs by Alex Chen and Connie DeSousa’s wedge salad. Some of my favourites are the Baja fish tacos, kale caesar salad, and any of the pizzas (seriously). There are different happy hour food specials daily. Brunch is available from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays,
The CRAFT Bottle Shop is new, with a curated selection of beer, wine and pre-mixed cocktail pouches (I recommend the Mai Tai), for you to take home. The drink menu has over 100 different beers and wines on tap and a refreshing cocktail menu. I recommend the Moscow mule, which comes in three flavours: classic, passion fruit and raspberry.
You can make reservations for inside the restaurant, but not the patio. Outdoor seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Paid parking is available in the Impark lot next to CRAFT. For a lower rate, select “CRAFT special” and use the code 4378 for $4.75 after 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and $5 all day on the weekends.