Best Ontario Craft Beer: Where To Buy

Ontario is home to a wide variety of craft breweries and cideries, with a concentration in and around the cities of Hamilton and Niagara. For those looking to sample some of the best craft beer in the province, there are plenty of options to choose from. From the award-winning offerings of Sarnia's Imperial City Brew House to the historic charm of Old Flame in Port Perry, craft beer enthusiasts can explore the unique flavours of Ontario's local brewers. In addition to physical locations, online retailers such as Wine Online offer a convenient way to purchase craft beer for delivery to your doorstep.

Where to buy craft beer in Ontario

Award-winning craft breweries and cideries in Ontario

Ontario is home to a growing variety of top-quality, small-batch craft beer and cider, with awards and accolades stacking up for these dedicated craft beer and cider makers. Ontario brewers consistently do well at the Canadian Brewing Awards, Canada's annual blind-tasting competition that awards excellence in over 50 different beer categories.

There is a concentration of innovative craft breweries and beer makers in and around the cities of Hamilton and Niagara, as well as communities in Norfolk and Haldimand counties. Brad Clifford, owner and namesake of Clifford Brewing, had been crafting award-winning home brews for years before opening a brick-and-mortar facility and taproom in Hamilton's east end. Clifford Brewing has won awards for its Dark Streets of London English-style bitter and Chain Link Vienna Lager, and was named Brewery of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards.

For a whimsical "beer garden of Eden", head to Second Wedge Brewing in Uxbridge, just half an hour north. Sarnia's Imperial City Brew House also came out on top with a chocolate milk peanut butter porter and an herb and spice beer. The Ashwood Inn in Bayfield offers a selection of local craft brews on tap, including those from nearby breweries such as Farm League, which won gold for its German-style Kölsch, Big Ticket.

If you're craving a refreshing cider, head to Evergreen Brick Works, home to Brickworks Ciderhouse 1904, Toronto's first cidery. For something a little different, head to Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery just north of Bala, in the heart of Muskoka. Famous for their signature cranberry wines, cider lovers will be delighted to sample Cliff Jump Cranberry Cider, which combines Ontario apples with Muskoka-grown cranberries. Holding its own among wine-making heavyweights in Prince Edward County, Loch Mór Cider Company has been producing beautiful European-inspired ciders since 2017. Named after the nearby Lake Erie, this boutique, family-owned winery crafts small-batch wines and ciders, including the hard cider, Dog House.

Where to buy craft beer in Toronto

Toronto is home to a wide variety of craft breweries, cideries, and taprooms, as well as bottle shops where you can buy craft beer to take home. Here are some of the best places to buy craft beer in Toronto:

Bandit Brewery

Located in the west end of Toronto, Bandit Brewery is a popular spot for locals to enjoy craft beer and food with friends. They have a small bottle shop that offers a range of their much-loved brews to go, open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can pick up their beers in 2-liter growlers and 500-milliliter bottles, along with branded merchandise like beer glasses, t-shirts, and toques.

Left Field Brewery

This small craft brewery in the Junction Triangle neighborhood has a well-reviewed bottle shop offering creative beers in cans, bottles, and 750-milliliter swing-top growlers. They also host food pop-ups in collaboration with local vendors. Be sure to consume the swing-top beers within five days, as they need to be kept cold.

Amsterdam Brewery and Amsterdam BrewHouse

With two convenient locations, Amsterdam offers a range of craft beers in various sizes, including 473-milliliter cans, 355-milliliter bottles, seasonal brews, growlers, and kegs.

Granite Brewery

Granite Brewery specializes in handcrafted, all-natural ales produced in small batches. They offer a range of growlers and kegs of different sizes, along with bottles, branded merchandise, glassware, coasters, and gift boxes.

Rainhard Brewing Co.

Located in Toronto's Stockyards area, Rainhard Brewing Co. has a bottle shop and a taproom. You can stop by the shop to grab whatever beers are available or stay for a pint and enjoy their selection.

The Drake Hotel and The Broadview

These trendy hotels, located on Queen West and in the east end of Toronto, respectively, offer rooftop lounges where you can enjoy a craft brew with a stunning view of the city.

Online Options

For those who prefer to shop online, websites like The Bodega offer a wide range of craft beers, including some that may be exclusive to the Canadian market.

Craft beer in Ontario's Lake Huron

Craft beer enthusiasts are spoilt for choice in Ontario, with a growing variety of top-quality, small-batch craft beer and cider available across the province. There is a concentration of innovative craft breweries and beer-makers in and around the cities of Hamilton, Niagara, and Toronto, as well as communities in Norfolk and Haldimand counties.

For those specifically looking in the Lake Huron area, there are several options within a 45-minute drive of Goderich, a historic village just 20 minutes from the lake. Cowbell Brewing Co. offers an immersive craft beer experience with a state-of-the-art production centre, an indoor restaurant with an outdoor patio, and an accessible merch and entertainment space. They offer a range of craft beer, cocktail-inspired seltzers, and cider, including the award-winning North American-style lager, Shindig.

River Road Brewing & Hops is Huron County and Bayfield's first farm-based brewery, located just outside of Bayfield, Ontario. Visitors are welcome to wander the hop yards and farm fields to view the craft beer-making process from start to finish. The nearby Stone House Brewing Company is another small, charming brewery nestled in Huron County, just five kilometres east of Bayfield.

For those craving cider, East Street Cider Co. in Goderich is Huron County's first craft cidery, while Half Hours on Earth in Seaforth offers small-batch, Belgian-inspired Farmhouse Ales and American Wild Ales.

Best craft breweries in Ontario, according to TripAdvisor

Ontario is a Canadian powerhouse when it comes to craft beer, with over 70 breweries in Toronto alone. Almost every neighbourhood in the city boasts a unique craft brewery, and there are over 250 licensed breweries in the province.

The Second Wedge, Uxbridge

The Second Wedge is the only brewery in Uxbridge, founded by a husband-and-wife team who wanted to create beautifully brewed beers. The brewery has a great selection on tap, including Elgin Blonde (American blonde ale) and Rain Maker (Porter). The rotating local artwork and vinyl records at the foot of the bar add to the small-town vibe.

Counterpoint Brewing, Kitchener-Waterloo

Counterpoint Brewing is one of the newest breweries in the area, but it's already making a name for itself with its unique beers. From strawberry sours to German chocolate cake stouts, you’ll be impressed by these flavourful beers.

Collective Arts, Hamilton

This Hamilton-based brewery has a mission to promote artists and raise creative consciousness through craft beer. They create unique craft beers to match the creativity of the artwork on their labels, and have produced and compensated over 650 artists and musicians for their limited-edition cans and bottle labels.

Halo Brewery, Toronto

This independent craft brewery and brewpub has an interesting origin story, with the brewmaster title being passed down through generations. They experiment with new yeasts and brew styles, and their website includes the full recipes and brewing process for their beers.

Avling, Toronto

Avling has an industrial yet inviting feel, with soft pastel colours. They prioritise regenerative production methods and grow hops for their beers on their 4000 sq. ft rooftop farm, along with fruits and vegetables for their restaurant.

Other notable mentions include Paniza Brewing, Toronto's first and only space-themed brewery, and The Refined Fool Brewing Company, a craft brewery in Sarnia filled with brews for every taste bud.

Ontario also has a growing variety of top-quality, small-batch craft beers and ciders, with breweries and cideries located in over 110 communities across the province.

Buying craft beer online

There are a variety of options for buying craft beer online in Ontario. One option is to use a delivery service such as the Ontario Beer Delivery Index, which offers free delivery to select locations in Ontario for orders over a certain amount. Another option is to use a mobile app such as The Beer Store, which offers home delivery, in-store pickup, and curbside pickup for beer orders. The Beer Store carries over 1,000 brands of beer, including craft beer options, and services Ontario addresses only.

For those looking for a wider selection of craft beers, Wine Online offers an extensive collection of budget-friendly and luxury craft beers, wines, and liquors available for delivery across Ontario. They supply high-quality craft beers from small breweries in Canada and worldwide, including Italian Pilsners, Golden Ales, and IPAs. Eat Local Farm is another online retailer that offers craft beer delivery in Ontario, with options such as Charlotteville Brewing Co.'s Hopsy Dazey India Pale Ale and Local 519 Pale Ale.

Additionally, some craft breweries in Ontario offer direct online sales and delivery. For example, Collective Arts, Bellwoods, Nickel Brook, and Great Lakes are some of the craft breweries that offer same-day delivery for orders placed through their websites. The Bodega, an online craft beer shop based in Toronto, also offers a unique selection of craft beers from top brewers worldwide, including some that are not available anywhere else.

Overall, there are numerous convenient options for buying craft beer online in Ontario, whether through dedicated alcohol delivery services, mobile apps, or direct online sales from craft breweries. Each option offers its own unique selection of craft beers to suit a variety of tastes and preferences.

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