NO GODS NO MASTERS SERIES: RAIN DOG BAR

This instalment of our NGNM series showcases our friends at Rain Dog Bar. Founded by notable Cicerone, Bill Bonar, Rain Dog Bar just made the list of Canada’s Best Bars 2024 for the second year in a row—this year they are moving on up, earning the title of 30th Best Bar in Canada.

Before diving into the beer world, Bill was a wine enthusiast, working at various wine bars over the years. His passion for beer began while designing rotating beer lists at work. In 2009, during his honeymoon road trip to Vancouver, Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco, he was introduced to beers like Anchor Steam and Rogue Dead Guy and this experience ignited his desire to learn everything about beer. Shortly after, Bill became the first Cicerone in Alberta, with a clear goal to open a bar focused on beer and food pairings, offering unique flavours not readily available in the city.

Fast forward to 2018, while Rain Dog Bar was in its early development, Bill joined Annex for a three-month role as our taproom manager. Eighteen months later, he left our taproom better than he found it and opened Rain Dog Bar. After a brief stint as a pandemic pie shop, Rain Dog Bar has been operating as one of Calgary’s premier beer and food destinations under Chef Rashad Ali, showcasing the best in Alberta beers and world-renowned rockstars. On any given day you’ll find us, and other beer industry folk, tucked at the wood at Rain Dog Bar learning what’s going on in the world of beer from Bill.