New micro-brewery, taproom eyeing first Calgary location

The craft beer market in Calgary is booming these days with its popularity steadily on the rise.

As more and more people partake in the offerings of a stellar group of micro-breweries in the city, another one is looking to join them.

The Annex Ale Project, a micro-brewery and tap room, is seeking its first location in Calgary with an immediate focus on the central business districts.

The founding partners are Andrew Bullied and Erica O’Gorman. Bullied, the Annex Brewmaster, has worked as a head brewer and O’Gorman is an chef with a diploma in a culinary arts.

Michael Kehoe, of Fairfield Commercial Real Estate, is handling the site selection.

Kehoe says the taproom will be attached to the front of the brewery where the clientele will sample beers, order pints and buy fresh beer to-go in a Growler. 

''Annex Ale Project is currently seeking a 4,000-square-foot space to lease in a character building with patio potential in central Calgary but not in the downtown core. Special requirements such as flooring, drainage, ceiling height, electrical input and shipping/receiving infrastructure will be important considerations in a potential location,'' says Kehoe.

''Annex will differentiate itself in the Calgary craft beer market by producing small batch artisanal ales on site. The market position that Annex will be establishing in the Calgary beer scene has been successful with other micro-brewers in more evolved craft beer markets like Portland, San Francisco and Vancouver. The Annex model is new to Alberta but has been tested and proven to be successful in other craft beer markets.''

 Kehoe says the concept will seek a second Calgary location once the first one is confirmed and there is potential to expand to other cities in the future.