In a city that is booming with micro and craft breweries, it’s pretty hard to turn a corner and not come across a local watering hole with a great selection of beer. Gone are the days of relying on watered down beer from global conglomerates.
But with all the endless possibilities, how do you decide where to go? Take a seat, and give our list of the best breweries, brew pubds and bars with great selection a read.
BREWERIES
AMSTERDAM BREWING COMPANY
Location: 45 Esandar Dr
Everyone knows about the Amsterdam Brewery on Queens Quay, but did you know there’s also a location in Leaside? The Amsterdam Brewing Company isn’t a full on restaurant like its sister brewery, but it does offer a tap room, a brewery, and a store for those not in the mood for missioning downtown.
BANDIT BREWERY
Location: 2125 Dundas St W
Trees, picnic tables, and a rocky floor, Bandit Brewery’s patio truly makes you feel like you’re drinking out in the woods.
BATCH
Location: 75 Victoria St
In 1987, in the little town of Creemore, a small brewery dedicated themselves to big taste and the time-honoured tradition of European brewing. With the idea of bringing their great taste to Toronto, they opened Batch, now brewing and serving your favourite Creemore brews right here in the city.
BELLWOODS BREWERY
Location: 20 Hafis Rd
At the end of 2016, Bellwoods Brewery opened a new location in North York that includes a brewery and bottle shop. This location focuses mainly on brewing wild ale, but Bellwoods favourites like Witchshark, Wizard Wolf and Jutsu are also brewed here. Stop by for samples or to stock up on some local craft beer.
BLACK CREEK BREWERY
Location: 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy
The Black Creek Brewery is located in Pioneer Village and recreates the brewing practices from Ontario in the mid-1800s. As part of this recreation, Black Creek brews four styles of beer that were popular in the 1860s in Ontario. Visitors are encouraged to take a tour of the brewery, try samples, and even purchase their own vintage-style take-home brews.
Blood Brothers Brewing
Location: 165 Geary Ave
You probably recognize this brand from menus at various bars throughout the city. This local brewery has its own bottle shop, as well as a newly added tap room for all your on tap needs.
Brickworks Ciderhouse
Location: 125 Bermondsey Rd
The Brickworks Ciderhouse is embedded in Toronto’s history as the city’s first cidery. You may have seen their branded cider Batch: 1904, which is available at a number of LCBO locations throughout Toronto.
BURDOCK
Location: 1184 Bloor St W
Brewery, restaurant, music venue. Your one stop for all those Friday night plans you can’t decide on.
EASTBOUND BREWING CO.
Location: 700 Queen St E
With $2 oysters on Sundays and $5 oysters on Tuesdays, Eastbound Brewing Company is sure standing out in the local brewery scene. Although their own beers won’t be ready until later this summer, they’re serving some of their local favourites from around the city for the time being.
GODSPEED BREWERY
Location: 242 Coxwell Ave
With their grand opening this past Canada Day, Godspeed Brewery is officially Toronto’s newest brewery. They currently have three different beers available in their retail store as well as the restaurant/pub that will be opening soon.
GREAT LAKES BREWERY
Location: 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd
A little further out from downtown, but defiantly worth the commute. Great Lakes Brewery was 2016’s Ontario Brewery of the Year and there’s a reason for it.
JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING
Location: 90 Cawthra Ave #101
Great beer and trivia are the key ingredients for a good time every Wednesday night.
LEFT FIELD BREWERY
Location: 36 Wagstaff Drive
Starting out as a married couple’s hobby, Left Field Brewery prides themselves on the simple philosophy that great beer is about great taste and good times. This is why they run various events that range from euchre tournaments to Sunday morning yoga in the brewery, followed by a cold beer of course.
MASCOT BREWERY
Location: 31 Mercer St
In the heart of downtown Toronto sits Mascot Brewery, an intimate dining experience joined by a rooftop beer garden. They have managed to make you feel like you’re out on a field, maybe like a festival, with astroturf, big umbrellas, and a food truck on the roof.
MUDDY YORK BREWING CO.
Location: 22 Cranfield Rd
Inspired by the real Muddy York back in 1793, Muddy York Brewing Company takes pride in celebrating the, “culmination of beers’ long and vibrant history.” Founder Jeff Manol opened the brewery in 2013 after winning multiple awards for his home brews, and is the creator of the blog Hoptomology.
RORSCHACH BREWING CO.
Location: 1001 Eastern Ave
With much anticipation, Rorschach Brewing Company opened their doors earlier this year in March. They successfully renovated a century old home in to one of Toronto’s coolest breweries with one of the best patios in the city, surrounded by trees and fitting over 100 people.
STEAM WHISTLE BREWING
Location: 255 Bremner Blvd
If you’re ever feeling like learning about beer while sipping on some too, Steam Whistle Brewing has tours and tasting running every half hour, seven days a week. Right across from the Rogers centre, it’s the perfect place to kill some time before a Jays game.
BREW PUBS
AMSTERDAM BREWHOUSE
Location: 245 Queens Quay W
Not only does Amsterdam Brewery have delicious craft beers, this location also sits right on the water making it one of the best patios in the city. They also have an impressive list of non-meat options, most importantly their buffalo cauliflower as it’s an absolute delight.
BELLWOODS BREWERY
Location: 124 Ossington Ave
With one of the coolest street patios in the city, Bellwoods Brewery is the perfect date spot after a romantic walk through Trinity Bellwoods Park.
DUGGAN’S BREWERY
Location: 1346 Queen St W
Beer Candied Bacon is an item on the menu, if that doesn’t convince you…
GRANITE BREWERY
Location: 245 Eglinton Ave E
The Granite Brewery is an Eglinton favourite. This brewpub sports two patios, one in the front and one in the back, that are both beautifully designed. The Granite also comes with hand-crafted, all natural ale brewed on site.
INDIE ALE HOUSE
Location: 2876 Dundas St W
A beer on tap called “Broken Hipster” is sure to hit home for many of us.
LOUIS CIFER BREW WORKS
Location: 417 Danforth Ave
Louis Cifer Brew Works is out on The Danny serving six of their own craft brews and many local favourites. They also host free movie nights where they play classics like Toy Story and The Neverending Story.
MILL STREET BREW PUB
Location: 21 Tank House Lane
Located in the beloved Distillery District, Mill Street Brewery was East Toronto’s first commercial micro-brewery to open in more than 100 years.
RADICAL ROAD BREWING CO.
Location: 1177 Queen St E, Toronto
In the heart of Leslieville is Radical Road Brewing Company, serving eight of their own craft beers and a unique menu that ranges from Caribbean curried vegetable roti to spicy pan fried squid.
RAINHARD BREWING CO.
Location: 100 Symes Rd
The Rainhard Brewing Co. lives in what was formerly a 1940s manufacturing plant. This location offers a bottle shop and bar, along with an on site brewery.
3 BREWERS
Location: 120 Adelaide St W
With now three locations downtown Toronto, 3 Brewers is the smartest choice to have your beer perfectly match up with your food. Their menu will actually tell you which of their pints will compliment your meal the best. They also have a delicious warm pretzel on the menu that will let alone keep you coming back.
Bars with Great Selection
BAR HOP
Location: 391 King St. W
Like a little seafood with you beer? Mussel Mondays and Buck-A-Shuck Tuesdays sound perfect for you.
CASTRO’S LOUNGE
Location: 2116 Queen St E
Opened until 2 a.m. every day of the year, Castro’s Lounge is the place to be for music lovers. Not to mention they have four cask handpumps, eight draught taps and 110 bottles and cans.
CES’T WHAT?
Location: 67 Front St E
Located in the cellar of a historic 19th century building in the St. Lawrence Market area, Ces’t What is a veteran of Toronto craft brewing. Just over 26 years old, they pour forty-four craft beers, including seven of their own and eight casks.
DUKE’S REFRESHER
Location: 382 Yonge St
On tap there are 40 beers available ranging from local craft to classic imports. For the regulars, there is the Einstein Club that gets you a personalized 24oz stein and discounts on refills for the year.
EULALIE’S CORNER STORE
Location: 1438 Gerrard St E
Not the kind of a corner store to get 10 cent candies, Eulglie’s Corner Store has beers, a wicked patio, and something called Sean’s Super Nachos.
GET WELL
Location: 1181 Dundas St W
Craft beer and arcade machines will have you entertained for hours.
ORIGINALS ALE HOUSE
Location: 1660 Bayview Ave
For all your comfort food needs, Originals Ale House is your beer and wings kind of place. This bar is old school and also doubles as a live music venue for added entertainment. Take a sip of one of their many beers on tap while you’re there.
PINKERTON’S SNACK BAR
Location: 1026 Gerrard St E
Just over a year old, the Pinkerton Snack Bar is your classic late night Neighbourhood snack bar for all those night time cravings.
PROHIBITION GASTROHOUSE
Location: 696 Queen St E
Prohibition Gastrohouse bring in the best-rated draughts from around the world so you can enjoy them in good ol’ Toronto, Canada.
STOUT
Location: 221 Carlton St
Trivia nights two days of the week and a range of board games to choose from will go perfect with their great selection of craft beer.
STRATENGERS
Location: 1130 Queen St E
Over 10 beers on tap, Stratengers is your family friendly hangout spot with a huge patio. The whole building is a bright purple, there is no way you could miss it.
TEQUILA BOOKWORM
Location: 512 Queen St W
Proudly serving drinks exclusively from our own backyard. “No Heineken or Corona.”
THE BELSIZE PUBLIC HOUSE
Location: 535 Mt. Pleasant Rd
The Belsize is a new addition to the Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood and specializes in Canadian draught craft beers and ales. Most of their craft beer offerings come from Ontario, including Toronto’s Amsterdam “3 Speed Lager,” Muskoka Detour IPA, and Guelph’s Wellington Special Pale Ale.
THE CEILI COTTAGE
Location: 1301 Queen St E
The word céilí (pronounced kay-lee) is an Irish word for a social get-together of music, song and dance. The Ceili Cottage gives you that to their huge patio with their cold beers and famous oysters.
THE CRAFT
Location: 107 Atlantic Ave
With over 120 craft beers on the menu, you’re pretty much guaranteed something you’ve never tried before. Not to mention $4 select drinks 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
DUKE OF KENT
Location: 2315 Yonge St
The Duke Pubs prides itself in providing a massive and always changing selection of craft beer, and the Duke of Kent brings this promise to midtown Toronto.
THE DYLAN BAR
Location: 1276 Danforth Ave, Toronto
The Dylan Bar, inspired by the poet Dylan Thomas, has 16 beers on tap and a ton of bottles from across North America. They live by Dylan Thomas’ quote, “Do not go gentle into that good night.”
THE ONLY CAFE
Location: 972 Danforth Ave
The Only Cafe isn’t your typical cafe, unless your typical cafe has 25 rotating craft beers and a pinball machine.
THE WREN
Location: 1382 Danforth Ave
The Wren has 12 draught taps focused on Ontario microbreweries that they rotate weekly, as well as well as southern style food menu that has delicious items like a pulled pork chimichanga and a glass noodle sandwich.
THIRSTY AND MISERABLE
Location: 197 Baldwin St
One of the best bar names out there, it truly describes how we all feel after a long day of work. Serving mostly local craft beers and a few imports, it is said to be the “ultimate dive bar.”
3030
Location: 3030 Dundas St W
Weekly trivia, paint nights and movie nights, all while serving delicious food and local craft beer.
TOWN CRIER
Location: 115 John St
Curating its 50 taps to showcase mostly Belgian and German offerings, Toronto’s Town Crier brings you on a European vacation right in the heart of downtown.
WVRST
Location: 609 King St W
With currently 25 different sausages on the menu, and loads of craft beer, it’s recommended you go on an empty stomach.
Image courtesy Bandit_brewery via Instagram