EDITORS NOTE: A previous version of this story erroneously reported that the Cold Garden Brewing Company was destroyed by fire. In fact, the fire was at the Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co., which is located next to the Cold Garden Brewing Company. We regret the error.
Dan Allard gathered with other pub owners early Sunday as the Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. went up in flames.
“We had to watch the whole thing go down,” Allard, owner of the Cold Garden Beverage Company, said in an interview with Global News on Sunday.
Nobody is believed to be injured after the popular Calgary brewery was destroyed early Sunday in the southeast community of Ramsay.
Calgary police told Global News a fire started around 2:30 a.m. at the Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co. at 1100 11th Street S.E.
Crews found smoke and flames visible from the outside of the pub. Once inside, firefighters said the blaze had engulfed the building, causing a partial roof collapse.
The Calgary Fire Department brought the fire under control after nearly three hours at the scene, using nearly 1.2 million litres of water.
First responders were unable to enter and search the pub, but Calgary fire doesn’t believe there was anybody inside at the time.
Allard’s brewery, located next door, wasn’t damaged, but Calgary Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Cowan said Ol’ Beautiful is unsalvageable.
“I’m as good as I can be,” said Ol’ Beautiful owner Chris Carroll. “It’s a bit surreal, obviously, but we’ve got a really good team and lots of people reaching out to offer their support and help.”
Carroll took a chance back in 2018 when he first opened Ol’ Beautiful.
In the years he’s run the pub, he said he has enjoyed being surrounded by people who like to support local businesses.
“It’s such a good spot,” Carroll said. “Having our good neighbours — Smithbilt Hats and Crown Surplus — it’s just a good community.”
Allard, who is also chair of the Inglewood Business Improvement Area, said he opened Cold Garden with the vision of having another brewhouse next to his.
Thousands of people flock to the area every weekend, largely due to the pubs, he said.
“We really wanted to create a scene here,” he said. “This corner was derelict before.
“So having Ol’ Beautiful just plucked out of thin air is going to have an impact. It’s going to be tough and I’m sure the retailers will feel it as well around the (neighbourhood).”
Investigators are now working to determine what caused the fire. Police told Global News the arson unit is investigating.
While the brewhouse’s historic Inglewood site is gone, Ol’ Beautiful ale is still being produced at a nearby location.
Carroll said he is not one to be seen with a tear in his beer. He’s confident some form of tap house will rise from the ashes.
“For sure, some day,” he said.