If you are looking for places to visit in Toronto then you must include some of the over 50 craft breweries in your itinerary. If variety is the spice of life, then you will find it at the best breweries in Toronto. From lip-smacking Cold IPAs, to crisp easy drinking lagers to smooth stouts and winter spiced ales, you can discover some truly unique brews. With so many amazing beer styles and taproom experiences available, it can be overwhelming to decide on which breweries to visit. We have tried to help by listing the top 10 Best Craft Beer Experiences in Toronto.
If you are looking at planning a brewery tour with your friends or for a corporate team building activity, or are simply looking for things to do in Toronto this weekend then please get in touch with us! Our Toronto Brewery Tours start at $105 per person, which includes round trip transportation, we will visit 3 top rated breweries where you will receive a flight of beer, plus you will be provided with a behind the scenes tour by one of our expert guides. Contact us today to plan your tour!
Amsterdam Brewhouse is one of the most popular craft breweries located in Toronto. Founded in 1986, this family-owned and operated brewery has been crafting beers that embody the spirit of their namesake city ever since. From light beer offerings like their 3 Speed Lager, tongue numbing IPA's such as their Boneshaker and their constant flow of seasonal beers, Amsterdam Brewhouse offers a beer for everyone. The Brewhouse is a two storey brewpub operating just off of Queens Quay in downtown Toronto. It is boasts a beautiful aesthetic and is extremely busy, especially in the summer months as their patio views are picturesque. Whether you're sampling an old favourite or trying something new, a visit to Amsterdam Brewhouse is sure to get your taste buds tingling!
Located in East York, Brunswick Bierworks is a must see for any craft beer enthusiast. They offer 20 different taps at all times that feature craft beer that they brew with their local and global partners. Brunswick Bierworks is a contract brewing and co packing facility. This enables brewing partners such as Innis and Gunn and Weihenstephaner to have their beers brewed freshly for the Ontario market rather than have them imported from overseas. Brunswick hosts a wide variety of taproom events and will often have food pop ups on weekends. If you are looking for things to do in Toronto this weekend, then we recommend popping over to Brunswick for a pint or two.
Left Field Brewery is a craft brewery located in Toronto's East Leslieville neighbourhood. Founded in 2013, the brewery is passionate about baseball and offering unique and delicious beers to their customers. All of their beers are named after various terms used in baseball. Some of their crowd pleasers include their Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale, Laser Show double IPA and their Bang Bang Dry Hopped Sour. Left Field also is the founder of the Beer for Everybody initiative. This initiative supports local causes through fundraising done through their sale of beer and merchandise. So why not stop by and see what's brewing at Left Field Brewery? We guarantee you won't be disappointed!
Henderson Brewery is located in Toronto's West End and opened its doors to the public in 2016. This dog friendly Toronto craft brewery is a staple in the neighbourhood offering an inclusive space for everyone and anyone to enjoy their ever changing tap list. They have become known for offering their Ides series which is a beer brewed in collaboration with a local artist, business or cause that is released on the ides of each month. in 2020 they partnered with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Rush. They now offer the Rush Golden Ale as well as seasonal Rush collaborations including the Rush: Moving Pictures Belgian Ale.
Junction brewery opened its doors in 2011 and moved into its new location in 2018. Junction now operates out of a Toronto heritage building that was used in the 1930's as an incinerator and was affectionally called "the destructor". It has since been completely renovated and is well worth the visit. They offer a wide variety of beers on tap and for sale in their bottle shop. Some of our favourites include the Conductors Craft Ale which is a perfect blend of a classic ESB and American Pale Ale style, Hazy IPA and their Stout which explodes with delicious chocolate and roast coffee aromas and flavours.
Great Lakes Brewery has been a staple of the Toronto Craft Beer scene since they opened in 1987. They now have two locations. Their brewery located in Etobicoke and their brewpub located in downtown Toronto. They host and sponsor a wide variety of community events and almost every bar and pub across Toronto will feature a Great Lakes tap in their line up. They are known for producing deliciously refreshing New England Pale Ales such as their Burst and also releasing weekly seasonal offerings such as their Stocking Toe Pale ale, and their Robohop New England Double IPA.
Known for their tagline "Do one thing really, really well" Steam Whistle brewery is famous for their Premium Pilsner. Steam Whistle Brewery and Biergarten are located at the base of the CN Tower in downtown Toronto just steps away from Rogers Centre where the Toronto Blue Jays play their home games. Steam Whistle has played a large role in the craft beer scene in Toronto through sponsorship, craft beer festivals hosted by them and through community events. Whether you are a local or are visiting Toronto for the first time, a visit to Steam Whistle Brewery for pint of their Pilsner and pretzel is well worth it!
In the early 1800's when Toronto was just a small blip of a city, the area around Keele and St Clair was known to be fairly low income and many of the residences were simply hand made huts. This area would be referred to as "The Shacklands" which is where Shacklands brewery takes it name! Fast forward 200 years and Shacklands brewery is now situated in the Stockyard brewery district, just a couple of hundred meters walk from Rainhard Brewery and Junction Brewery. Shacklands is known for its delicious award winning Belgian Style Ales. Their Formidicus is a Belgian Style Imperial Porter that comes in at a whopping 8.5% is worth the trip alone. Not to mention their other 9 available beers. Stop by Shacklands and tell Dave, who will be behind the bar that we say hi!
The idea behind Rorschach Brewing Co. was started in 2006 by 3 University of Toronto students who would in 2015 make their dreams a reality by opening up their very own brewery! They are located on the Eastern side of Leslieville and have set up in a century old home that has been renovated to host customers and of course to brew beer! Some of their notable beers we recommend is their Malevolent Benevolent (Cocunut Cakes) Imperial Stout and their Haterade Orange Power Drink Sour. While there grab one of their hand made pizzas to help wash down those wobbly pops.
Rainhard Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Toronto's vibrant Junction neighbourhood. Founded in 2014, the brewery is dedicated to producing the best beer possible and emphasizing quality over quantity. From hoppy IPAs to lightly sweet stouts, Rainhard Brewing Company has something for everyone. They are especially well known for their sour beers, which are made using wild yeast and aged in barrels from local wineries. So why not try out one of their unique offerings today? You won't be disappointed!
Whether you are sampling beers at local Toronto breweries, attending a beer-tasting event or visiting a bottle shop, these Top Ten Craft Beer experiences offer the best of craft beer culture in Toronto. Whether you are a noob or an experienced beer connoisseur, there is something for everyone in the world of craft beer. So why not take some time to discover all that these Toronto craft breweries have to offer – it’s sure to be an unforgettable adventure! Remember if you would like us to take the leg work out of planning a tour, feel free to contact us at any time
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