Nearly two years after its taproom burned down, Ol' Beautiful Brewing Co. is ready to rise from the ashes. The landlord of the popular Inglewood/Ramsay-area craft brewery that was heavily damaged in a 2024 fire has submitted a development permit to the City of Calgary's planning department to rebuild the taproom at the same location, at 1103 12th Street S.E.
Fire and Community Response
Fire crews arrived in the middle of the night on June 30, 2024, to find the taproom fully engulfed, with flames spreading to the rooftop, which had partially collapsed. More than 30 firefighters and 13 fire trucks responded to the blaze. Despite the severity of the damage, the brewery continued operations at a production facility in a nearby industrial park.
The community rallied around Ol' Beautiful after the fire. Several bars and liquor retailers that stock the brewery's beers increased their orders, while a GoFundMe page raised nearly $26,000 for the brewery's staff. The day after the fire, next-door neighbor Cold Garden Beverage Co. donated all its proceeds to Ol' Beautiful's employees. Another competitor, Toolshed Brewing Co., also raised funds for the staff in 2024.
Development Permit Progress
The development permit, which is still under review, was submitted in April and everything seems to be flowing smoothly, according to Chris Carroll, the brewery's co-owner. He noted that the landlord has been working closely behind the scenes. Architectural renderings included with the application show a similar footprint as the previous taproom, with a single-storey, white brick exterior and an outdoor patio.
Carroll emphasized that the design closely resembles what was there before, and no major structures like condo towers are planned. While he hopes the taproom could open sometime next year, he stressed that it is too early to comment on construction timelines or a potential reopening date.
Looking Forward
Carroll expressed patience and gratitude for the forward movement. He noted that the support from competitors and the community provided a silver lining and fueled the team during the challenging process. Pending administration's support, the Calgary planning commission may still need to approve the application. Based on conversations with city planners, Carroll does not anticipate significant hurdles, stating, We think they'd prefer a vibrant business to a hole in the ground.
