I am a big fan of craft beer. For years I’ve been diligently keeping track of the Ontario craft breweries I’ve tried (on apps like Untappd), and in total I’ve rated about 1500 beers, which is no small feat. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it!
Interestingly, I don’t see breweries as just places to grab a beer anymore. They’ve evolved into vibrant community hubs, where the real magic happens. In the past, community centers hosted events, but now it’s breweries that have taken up the mantle, offering live music, local art showcases, and collaborating with nearby businesses to spotlight local ingredients in their food menus. It’s even better when they have an outdoor patio, where you can kick back and soak in the vibe while sipping something crafted right from the heart of the area.
In short, a visit to a brewery is more than just about the beer. It’s a way to dive into the local culture, meet new people, and get a taste (literally and figuratively) of what makes the community unique.
Whichever brewery you choose to visit during your time in Ontario, remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.
Ontario breweries in and around Toronto for great craft beer
Here are some of my favourite breweries that happen to be based in, or at least not too far from, Canada’s largest city.
Left Field Brewery (Toronto, Ontario)
Tucked away on a quiet residential street in Toronto’s East End, this baseball-themed brewery is one of my favourites. Not only are their beers delicious, but their commitment to baseball-themed beers, merch and decor makes it a worthwhile place to visit before or during a Toronto Blue Jays game, or for one of their themed events. In fact, they’ve just opened a location in Liberty Village, making it even easier to enjoy their beers in the West End!
As for the beer, the Greenwood IPA is one of the most famous in the country, so if you like juicy IPAs, this is the place to start. On a hot day, you can’t go wrong with their playfully named Ice Cold Beer. I’d also recommend their Bricks & Mortar Porter, which is actually brewed in collaboration with their East End neighbours, Pilot Coffee Roasters, so expect plenty of coffee flavour.
Red Tape Brewery (Toronto, Ontario)
Another East End staple, Red Tape specialises in both unique brews open to the public and bespoke beers for events and celebrations. Located on Main Street at Gerrard, the space is bright and airy with plenty of natural light.
They also have so many delicious beers to try. Try their flagship Celebration Saison, which is an orange and ginger saison in a champagne bottle. I’d also recommend their Oslo’s Ray of Sunshine IPA, which is dry-hopped with Citra, and the Birdie Pilsner.
GoodLot (Alton, Ontario)
The first of the craft breweries on this list to take you outside of Toronto, GoodLot prides itself on being a farm first and a farmstead brewing company second. Their brewery continues to grow with new additions every year, including their brand new tasting room. It’s a pleasure to visit GoodLot – in the summer months you can step outside and sip your pint amongst the towering hop fields, and stay for one of their live music events.
It’s also a place that brews the right way, with sustainability and environmental impact at the forefront of their process.
As far as beers go, you can’t go wrong with their classic pale ale, the Farmstead Ale, but I’m also a big fan of their Stones Throw IPA, and their Brown Ale is a good choice for those who appreciate more British speciality ales.
Muskoka Brewery (Bracebridge, Ontario)
Muskoka Brewery opened their doors in 1996, so they were well ahead of the craft beer boom, and in many ways they helped to push it along and define it. They’d grown so much by 2012, that they moved their location to where they are today, a defining fixture on Muskoka Beach Road. It all started with two founders, and now they’ve got a team of over 100, and their story is one of the great entrepreneurial stories in Ontario’s beer industry.
Naturally, it’s not just the story that brings people in, but also excellent beer. They make my favourite light beer in the province, the Detour Session IPA, but their most popular beers are likely the Mad Tom IPA, or the Cream Ale. If you’re looking for a juicy IPA on a hot day, I’d strongly recommend their Hazed & Confused Juicy IPA!
The Second Wedge (Uxbridge, Ontario)
Another one of my favourites in the province, Second Wedge is known for being a community hub in the heart of Uxbridge. Their relaxed approach to beer means you’ll always feel warm and welcome when you visit, and their beer is a real treat. They’ve recently reopened the brewery after extensive damage from a tornado that tore through the town a few years ago, so there’s all the more reason to pop in and try their award-winning brews.
This is, in my humble opinion, a place to embrace some beer creativity. I’d recommend the High Grass Lemongrass Ginger Saison, the Smoked Wheat on Rye and, in the colder months, the Spice Factory, a spicy, warming strong ale.
Oast House (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
Among the many wineries in the Niagara region, you can’t miss the bright red 200-year-old barn that is Oast House in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They expertly brew delicious beers year-round, with seasonal specials that highlight their access to the bounty of local food Niagara is known for. The lot was constructed with substainability in mind—in fact, the two-story beer patio (complete with panoramic vineyard views) is made from old shipping containers.
Sip on their Strawberry Rhubarb Ale in the summer, an Olde Tyme Gingerbread Porter in the winter, or just go for their classic and delicious Saison Farmhouse Ale all year round.
Collective Arts (Hamilton, Ontario)
What’s great about visiting this hip, modern brewery as opposed to just buying it somewhere else? At Collective Arts brewing, you can get limited edition artwork on their cans if you visit in person! Art has become a central part of what they do at Collective Arts, but they also happen to make excellent beer. My brother and I actually cycled here from Oakville on a Saturday afternoon, so I should also note that they’re extremely bike-friendly, especially with the large outdoor area.
The Life in the Clouds IPA is one of the most popular and respected beers in the province, but that’s just the beginning. I’m not the biggest fan of sours, but their Jam Up The Mash Sour is something to behold (along with the Guava Gose), and the Rhyme & Reason Pale Ale is also a firm favourite of mine.
Ontario microbrewery: 4 more great options to put on your radar
We’ve got great breweries in every corner of this province. Here are a few places I’d recommend you stop and visit, or even plan a little trip to visit!
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company (Vankleek Hill, Eastern Ontario)
Beau’s is magical, and even if you can’t make it all the way to the brewery, it’s worth trying their beer at your local liquor store, as their beer is widely available. That said, I love their brewery as it perfectly encapsulates the Beau’s vibe – cool as cool gets. All their beers are certified organic.
I’d start with my favourite beer in the province, Lug Tread, which is a lager. A lot of people love their IPAs (especially the Full Time IPA and Juiced AF), but I think the Nordic Pale Ale really embodies what a crisp, lively pale ale can be.
Quayle’s Brewery (Coldwater, Ontario)
Quayle’s doesn’t just brew delicious beer, they also offer a day or afternoon of entertainment on their dynamic farm site. Whether you’re here to sample a flight, order snacks or main courses from the on-site food trucks, or hang out with a large group of friends or family in one of the large beer garden areas, it’s a special place to visit.
I’d start with the Fiddle & Field Pale Ale or the Hayloft Saison. In the warmer months the Cabin Fever – Lemon Raspberry is delicious and for winter I’d go for their Silver Lining Dark Lager.
Charlotteville Brewing Company (Simcoe, Ontario)
By now you’ll have realised that I’m a sucker for country breweries. There’s just something so satisfying about enjoying a pint of delicious craft beer in a rural setting. Charlotteville is another standout, owned by a university professor-turned-brewer and his partner who bought back the family farm to brew excellent beer. Between the old farmhouse aesthetic in the airy historic barn and the beautiful views of the farm fields, you’ll be glad you stopped by.
I love their Local 519 Pale Ale, their Pie in the Eye Wheat Beer and their Velvet Devil Stout.
Refined Fool Brewing Co. (Sarnia, Ontario)
Refined Fool is a revered local brewery in Sarnia, but it’s also a music venue. I’d recommend a visit to their main brewery site, complete with some seriously epic art, but you might also want to check out their brewpub, Davis by Refined Fool, which is also in Sarnia.
I’ve always loved their simple story of how they came to be. “We started out as a foolish bunch of backyard brewers using propane burners and frozen hoses, and now we’re a real microbrewery.”
They’re known for their IPAs, so that’s where I’d look first, especially when it comes to beers like their Van Full of Weirdos, Party Sharks and Florida Stole My Parents. You can probably see by now that they’re playing with just about every aspect of this business.
