You may be able to get a cheap beer anywhere in Toronto. There are bars and pubs on practically every street corner. But getting a high quality pint of craft beer is a little harder to come by. Although many bars often have rotating taps of local brews, your choices can sometimes be limited. Unless you go straight to the source. The domestic bottles of Bud Light and Corona may be cheaper, but treat yourself to a unique, made in-house, pint at one of these great micro breweries located in Toronto instead.
Steamwhistle (255 Bremner Blvd)
Although not quite so little anymore, Steamwhistle, located near the Rogers Centre, is a tourist attraction, as well as a great place to get a beer after a baseball game. The iconic green bottle can be found in a lot of other bars and restaurants around the city as well. Their signature beer is a light pilsner that even the beer rookie will find enjoyable.
Mill St. Brewery (21 Tank House Lane)
Located in the beautiful Distillery District, the Mill Street Brew Pub is a great place to go for a wider selection of beer. They have the classic Mill St. Organic, and a creamy Cobblestone Stout, as well as a Lemon Tea Beer for something a little different. They offer tours of the brewery and a retail store stocked with growlers, pint glasses, and even T-shirts.
Amsterdam Brewery (45 Esandar Dr.)
This brewery has been around since, but they just opened a waterfront brewpub (245 Queens Quay) in 2013 that is sure to attract old regulars as well as new beer lovers. Their Boneshaker IPA is a favourite, and their Amsterdam Blonde is always a good pick if you prefer light beer. The brewpub features a retail store, and huge patio. Great for summer!
Bellwoods Brewery (124 Ossington Ave)
If you are in the hipster neighbourhood near Queen and Ossington, then you have to check out Bellwoods Brewery. Who can resist trying a barrel aged saison called Farmageddon? Or the Hellwoods Imperial Stout? April 2014 marks their 2 year anniversary and they are still going strong, so they must be doing something right.
Black Oak (75 Horner Ave)
Here is a brewery that has won numerous Ontario and Canadian brewing awards. Their most popular brew has got to be the Black Oak Pale Ale, which has been around since they opened in 1999. But don’t miss their Nut Brown Ale or the Ten Bitter Years Imperial IPA either. You can pick up a bottle or two at their retail store, or in LCBOs across Ontario.
Spearhead Brewery
Unfortunately, Spearhead does not have a brew pub like a lot of the other breweries on this list. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get their signature Hawaiian Pale Ale when you are out at a pub this summer. Look for it on tap at, C’est What, Bar Volo, The Rhino, and more. Don’t forget about the award winning Moroccan Brown Ale, either.
Get Well (1181 Dundas St. W)
Get Well started out as just a bar with a variety of beers on tap. But when they saw how much Toronto likes craft beer, they decided to start their own nano brewery right on site. They produce small batches of anything from a pale ale, to a porter, which they serve on tap in the bar. Go in for the free arcade games, and be sure to try their signature Get Well Porter.
Great Lakes Brewery
Also the oldest independent brewer in Toronto, Great Lakes Brewery was named Canada’s Brewery of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards, last year. Their first beer was the Golden Horseshow Lager, which is still going strong. Since opening in 1991, they have added more experimental brews to their list, including the highly popular, Devil’s Pale Ale, and the Audrey Hopburn. Look for their unique brew in cans and bottles at the LCBO and on a rotating tap in pubs across Toronto.
