This 'head-turning beast' just rolled onto Calgary's craft beer scene - Action News
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Calgary

This 'head-turning beast' just rolled onto Calgary's craft beer scene

A new company has just begun operating a three-fleet Pedal Pub in the Barley Belt, Inglewood and Ramsay.

Each mega-bike has a 'beerless leader' to ensure responsible fun on board

There's no drinking on board the Pedal Pub, but 'what you do at the brewery once you get there, that's up to you,' says David Skabar. (Monty Kruger/CBC)

David Skabar was visitingNashville when he saw a strange, glorious thing rolling down the road.

"I said, 'I've gotta get on that thing, and not only thatbut I've gotta bring it back home.'"

"That thing"happened to be a 15-person "pedal-powered patio," in Skabar's words, and "home" happensto be Calgary.

The bright yellow-and-blue, Dutch-mademega-bikes launched Fridayunder the name Pedal Pub, and they're designed to allow beer enthusiasts to cycle between some of the hottest craft breweries in the Barley Belt,Inglewoodand Ramsay.

With a "beerless leader" (read: sober driver)at its helm, and 10 cyclistspedalling with all their gusto, the contraption tops out at about 10 km/h.

"You gotta pedal. This is no joyride," says a laughing Skabar, who compares the experience to a "full-service spin class."

After burning those calories, passengers disembark and pop into a brewery for 20 to 25 minutes, share a pint, and then hop back on. This continues for about two hours.

Thriving craft beer scene

For Skabar, the "head-turning smile-maker" has people whipping their camera phones out as soon as they spot it. But his beer bikes aren't the only ones out there.

Urban Pedal Tours and Calgary Beer Bikes offer similar tours of Calgary's brewing scene, and they're all tapping into the successful proliferation of local craft brewing.

"What the brewers in the province have really done to bolster the craft brewing scene is just amazing, and we want to really share that with the world," Skabarsaid.

There are spots for only 10 people to pedal on each vehicle. The other five passengers can just sit back and enjoy the ride. (Monty Kruger/CBC)

"These pedal pubs, they live right at the intersection of crazy fun, hyper local and shared experiences. For me, that co-ordination of bike-riding, BS-ing, and having a great time is just too much for me to miss," Skabar explained.

But he stresses that it's all responsible fun.

Each of the company's drivers, previously referred to as beerless leaders, are certified to serve alcohol and are trained to spot intoxication.

No drinking is permitted on board. Still, that doesn't mean you can't have fun, Skabar said.

"We've got people jumping on here, fist-pumping and listening to music, having a great time and experiencing their town in a radically different way."

Health Canada funded study finds B.C. needs to strengthen its alcohol policies. (Monty Kruger/CBC)

With files from Monty Kruger