The Ontario Craft Beer Guide - Robin LeBlanc, Jordan St. John (2016)
Recommended Ontario Craft Pubs
Bracebridge
Griffin Gastropub
9 Chancery Lane, Bracebridge
(705) 646-0438
@griffingastro
www.thegriffinpub.ca
Run by Curt Dunlop and Jed Corbeil, who are in charge of Toronto’s annual Session craft beer festival, the Griffin features twelve rotating taps, among which Sawdust City is a regular pour.
Burlington
Rib Eye Jack’s Ale House
4045 Harvester Road, Burlington
(905) 633-9929
@RibeyeJacks
www.ribeyejacksalehouse.com
Rib Eye Jack’s has a healthy taplist featuring a number of Ontario beers on draught and a bottle list longer than your arm. Macro beers seem to be priced at a premium and require you to order from the “Beginner’s List.” Nice.
Rib Eye Jack’s has recently opened a new location in Mississauga. Located at 6531 Mississauga Road (905-820-6300), it features the same ambience, menu, and beer selection as the original Burlington location.
Cambridge
Beertown Public House
561 Hespeler Road, Unit 1-A, Cambridge
(519) 629-0288
@beertownph
www.beertown.ca
This three-location chain of pubs features a mix of Ontario craft products, imports, and macro beers. The modern decor and eclectic menu of pub food and bistro fare make for a good destination for those new to craft beers or for craft beer drinkers with friends who haven’t made the switch yet.
Fonthill
Iggy’s Pub and Grub
115 Highway 20 E, Fonthill
(905) 892-6667
@Iggyspub
www.iggyspub.com
With its large selection of frequently updated craft beers listed in bright colours on a chalkboard, Iggy’s is a favourite of the brewmaster students from Niagara College. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I’m not sure what would be. The menu focuses on bringing farm-to-table cuisine to a traditional pub menu.
Guelph
Baker Street Station
76 Baker Street, Guelph
(519) 265-7960
@BakerStStation
www.bakerstreetstation.ca
This relatively young pub’s menu features a number of truly interesting fusion items in addition to a series of frequently rotating brewery-dedicated taps. The second-floor balcony patio is a real draw in summer. Try the duck and waffles.
Woolwich Arrow
176 Woolwich Street, Guelph
(519) 836-2875
@WoolwichArrow
www.woolwicharrow.ca
A legendary Guelph pub, the Wooly is a great place to try beers from the Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo region. It also periodically hosts interesting tap takeovers from out-of-town breweries.
Hamilton
Augusta’s Winking Judge
25 Augusta Street, Hamilton
(905) 524-5626
@winkingjudge
www.winkingjudge.com
The Winking Judge is a holdover from the first wave of microbreweries in Ontario and feels not unlike an English front room. The selection of beers on offer is wholly made up of Ontario craft brews, with the majority coming from Hamilton or nearby.
The Ship
23 Augusta Street, Hamilton
(905) 526-0792
@ShipTwits
www.theship.ca
The Ship features a well-curated thirteen-tap lineup of craft beers and ciders in addition to a limited number of cans. The late-night-eats menu makes it a natural choice for an evening out on the lash in Hamilton.
Kingston
The Alibi
293 Princess Street, Kingston
(613) 767-1312
@alibikingston
The Alibi is the sister pub of the Brooklyn. By way of contrast, the Alibi has a more relaxed atmosphere, suited to trivia nights. With beers from east and west of Kingston, it might have one of the most diverse tap lineups in the province, geographically speaking. The Alibi also hosts occasional interesting tap takeovers.
The Brooklyn
14 Garrett Street, Kingston
@brooklynktown
www.brooklynktown.com
The Brooklyn features a taplist best encapsulated by its motto, “No crap on tap.” It features American selections as well as Ontario craft beers. The pub also functions as a live-music venue and on some nights has a busy dance floor.
Red House
369 King Street E, Kingston
(613) 767-2558
@RedHouseKtown
www.redhousekingston.com
Red House has a small number of craft taps available, but the selection is rock solid. In terms of food, the variety might be best categorized as down-home bistro.
Kitchener
The Bent Elbow
2880 King Street E, Unit E, Kitchener
(519) 208-0202
@haroldkroeker
www.thebentelbow.ca
The Bent Elbow features thirty-nine taps, the vast majority of which pour Ontario craft beer. While the rest of the selections are from other countries, they’re still really good. The pub menu has a daily burger that changes according to the chef’s whim.
London
Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium
420 Talbot Street N, London
(519) 601-4447
@PubMilos
www.pubmilos.com
Featuring a selection of Ontario craft beers and the house’s Beer Lab products, Milos’ is a real favourite in London, and Milos himself is one of the few remaining examples of a real publican.
Morrissey House
359-361 Dundas Street, London
(519) 204-9220
@morrisseyhouse
themorrisseyhouse.wordpress.com
The Morrissey House features seventeen taps of Ontario craft beer and cider. The converted mansion provides an interesting ambience and there is a pleasant patio with a courtyard feel in the summer.
Poacher’s Arms
171 Queens Avenue, London
(519) 432-7888
@Poachers_Arms
www.poachersarms.ca
The Poacher’s Arms is just starting to diversify into craft beer, but provides a number of options both on tap and in bottles.
Mississauga
The Crooked Cue
75 Lakeshore Road E, Mississauga
(905) 271-7665
@crookedcue
www.crookedcue.ca
The Crooked Cue is a great place to play pool and enjoy an Ontario craft beer. The Mississauga location is one of the few places where you can find Old Credit’s beers on tap. Why not enjoy one or two on the patio?
Newmarket
Hungry Brew Hops Public House & Eatery
211 Main Street S, Newmarket
(905) 235-8277
@hungrybrewhops
www.hungrybrewhops.com
A destination on Newmarket’s main street, Hungry Brew Hops boasts thirty-two taps, which include a number of Ontario choices along with quality international selections. The impressive beer list and the contemporary menu can be enjoyed in a bar area with a unique rustic, industrial feel. The authors recommend the pork rinds.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Garrison House
111C Unit 2 Garrison Village Drive, Niagara-on-the-Lake
(905) 468-4000
@tghnotl
www.thegarrisonhouse.ca
A gastro-style tavern, the Garrison House has six taps with Ontario beer. The real attraction here is chef David Watt’s menu, which features his take on modern Canadian pub fare, including a fun black lager beer-a-misu for dessert.
The Olde Angel Inn
224 Regent Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
(905) 468-3411
@oldeangelinn
www.angel-inn.com
Standing since 1789, the main draw of the Olde Angel Inn is the ambience. Its cozy rooms with low ceiling beams make the pub a nice place to enjoy a craft beer and a ploughman’s lunch.
North Bay
The Raven and Republic
246 1st Avenue W, North Bay
(705) 478-6110
@RavenandRepubli
www.ravenandrepublic.ca
The Raven and Republic has sixteen taps focused on local breweries and serves upscale pub food. As well as offering delicious beer and great food, the pub hosts a beer-101 course taught by the owner on the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month. Delicious, but also educational.
Oshawa
Buster Rhino’s Southern BBQ
28 King Street E, Oshawa
(905) 436-6986 ext. 3
@busterrhinosbbq
www.busterrhinos.com
Buster Rhino’s features completely legit Southern BBQ, chicken and waffles, an extensive selection of craft beers, and a whisky menu longer than many grade school primers. It now has a second Oshawa location at 30 Taunton Road E, Unit 6 (905-436-6986 ext. 2), as well as one in Whitby at 2001 Thickson Road S (905-436-6986 ext. 1).
Ottawa
Arrow & Loon Pub & Restaurant
99 Fifth Avenue, Ottawa
(613) 237-0448
@ArrowAndLoon
www.arrowandloon.com
Originally a part of the Neighbourhood Pub Group, the Arrow and Loon continues to supply Ontario-made beer and local foods to the people of Ottawa. The authors heartily recommend the bison chili.
Brother’s Beer Bistro
366 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa
(613) 695-6300
@brosbeerbistro
www.brothersbeerbistro.ca
Located in the ByWard Market, Brother’s features a selection of European beers in addition to the local brewery choices that are exploding onto the Ottawa scene. The cheese and charcuterie boards offer fantastic selections.
Cheshire Cat
2193 Richardson Side Road, Carp
(613) 831-2183
@cheshirecatpub
www.cheshirecatpub.com
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes (having suffered a catastrophic fire in recent memory) is this Ontario craft beer institution that features continually rotating taps and casks. Absolutely everyone is glad to have it back.
Pub Italia
434½ Preston Street, Ottawa
(613) 232-2326
@pubitalia
www.pubitalia.ca
An Italian restaurant combined with an Irish pub, Pub Italia is a beer bar that provides an excellent selection of craft and imports, and offers customers the opportunity to order them in a 38-ounce “Holy Grail pint,” a Pub Italia exclusive. The can and bottle list is extensive.
Wellington Gastropub
1325 Wellington Street W, Ottawa
(613) 729-1315
@thegastropub
www.thewellingtongastropub.com
One of only three pubs on the list to have begun brewing out of their own location, the Wellington specializes in bistro fare. The brewery is temporarily on hiatus but will rebrand as Stalwart.
Sudbury
Hardrock 42
117 Elm Street, Sudbury
(705) 586-3303
@hardrock42G
www.hardrock42.com
Featuring a wide range of craft beers from both inside and outside Ontario, this gastropub also boasts a selection of poutines and more gourmet burgers than you can shake a patty at.
Laughing Buddha
194 Elgin Street, Sudbury
(705) 673-2112
@buddhasudbury
www.laughingbuddhasudbury.com
In addition to a carefully chosen list of Ontario beers in cans and bottles, Laughing Buddha has beer from all over the world. It may be the only pub in the world with a sandwich named after the star of the 1970s Canadian TV series The Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
Toronto
Bar Hop
391 King Street W, Toronto
(647) 352-7476
@barhopbar
www.barhoptoronto.com
Since opening in 2012, Bar Hop has established itself as one of Toronto’s can’t-miss beer destinations. Expect a comprehensive bottle and tap selection along with unique food offerings and a commendable spirits list.
Bar Hop Brewco
137 Peter Street, Toronto
(647) 348-1137
@barhopbar
www.barhoptoronto.com
Bar Hop Brewco is Bar Hop’s second location. Taking up two floors, it has over thirty-six beers on tap, exquisite food by chef Mark Cutrara, and its own brewing facility.
Bar Volo
587 Yonge Street, Toronto
(416) 928-0008
@barVolo
www.barvolo.com
A pub that has proved instrumental in pushing the Ontario beer scene out of its complacency, Bar Volo features over thirty taps, as many as six casks at a time, and a selection of bottles it imports under its Keep6 label.
Beerbistro
18 King Street E, Toronto
(416) 861-9872
@beerbistroTO
www.beerbistro.com
Started by chef Brian Morin and beer writer Stephen Beaumont, beerbistro remains a sundown destination for the Bay Street crowd. While the bottle selection may have lost a step since a change in ownership, the taps are still well-curated and include the house beer from Shillow Beer Company. The Belgian frites are a favourite of the clientele.
Castro’s Lounge
2116E Queen Street E, Toronto
(416) 699-8272
@CastrosLounge
www.castroslounge.com
Castro’s Lounge features a selection of Ontario craft beers on tap, from the cask, in bottles, and in cans. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly. The decor is of the Communist-Socialist persuasion in this cozy little pub.
The Ceili Cottage
1301 Queen Street E, Toronto
(416) 406-1301
@TheCeiliCottage
www.ceilicottage.com
As properly Irish a pub as one can fit into a modified garage, the Ceili features oysters and daily dinner specials in addition to a selection of Ontario beers and a whisky selection worthy of Brendan Behan.
The Craft Brasserie and Grille
107 Atlantic Avenue, Toronto
(416) 535-2337
@thecraftliberty
www.thecraftbrasserie.com
Catering to the Liberty Village condo crowd, the Craft features over 100 different taps, many of which feature Ontario craft brews. The eclectic menu includes upscale takes on pub classics and interesting bistro fare.
The Loose Moose
146 Front Street W, Toronto
(416) 977-8840
@LooseMooseTO
www.theloosemoose.ca
The Loose Moose features something for everyone, with a significant number of craft beers on offer in addition to macro lagers for the sports crowd in downtown Toronto.
Morgan’s on the Danforth
1282 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
(416) 461-3020
@morgansonthedan
www.morgansonthedanforth.com
Morgan’s has a small but dependable selection of Ontario beers, with rotating taps and an interesting bottle selection. The kitchen boasts chef Anne Sorrenti, who won Chopped Canada in 2015. The authors’ standard recommendation is the Hoisin chicken wings.
The Only Cafe
972 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
(416) 463-7843
@TheOnlyCafe
www.theonlycafe.com
The Only’s frequently rotating taps and seventies’ rec room feel make it a comfortable hangout on the Danforth. Bonuses include the spacious patio, seasonal beer festivals, a decent music selection, and the fact that it’s within stumbling distance to Donlands subway station.
The Queen and Beaver Public House
35 Elm Street, Toronto
(647) 347-2712
@QueenBeaverPub
www.queenandbeaverpub.ca
The Queen and Beaver serves pub fare of the extremely old school. British fare includes an excellent lamb curry, devilled kidneys, and mushrooms and Stilton on toast. A good place to catch Ontario ales on cask.
The Rebel House
1068 Yonge Street, Toronto
(416) 927-0704
@rebelhouse_ca
www.rebelhouse.ca
A Rosedale institution, the Rebel House isn’t just for the rich folks. Its selection of beers is also quite inclusive. On tap is a well-curated selection from Ontario brewers with bricks-and- mortar facilities. There is also a limited selection of cans. In summer, the patio is an excellent hideaway from the real world.
The Rhino
1249 Queen Street W, Toronto
(416) 535-8089
@TheRhinoBar
www.therhinobartoronto.com
The Rhino is a Parkdale institution. It features a great selection of Ontario craft beers and ciders on tap in addition to an interesting cellar. The patio is an excellent place to people-watch in summer.
Stout Irish Pub
221 Carlton Street, Toronto
(647) 344-7676
@stoutirishpubTO
www.stoutirishpub.ca
Situated in Cabbagetown, Stout has all the trappings of a traditional Irish pub but a vastly better beer list, made up of both standards and seasonal taps. In summer, the alley patio is a popular spot for a beer in the shade.
Tall Boys
838 Bloor Street W, Toronto
(416) 535-7486
@tallboysbar
www.tallboyscraft.com
Tall Boys likely features the largest number of Ontario craft beers available in a single location. While the taps rotate periodically, the real attraction here is the vast number of different canned beers, many of which aren’t available anywhere else in the GTA.
Tequila Bookworm
512 Queen Street W, Toronto
(416) 504-2334
@tequilabookworm
www.tequilabookworm.com
Tequila Bookworm is a popular destination for those seeking Ontario-made beer and cider. Its “upshtairs” event space, used to host tap takeovers and allow breweries to show off their new products, is an added attraction and is available for private bookings. A patio on the second floor at the rear is a quiet sanctuary from bustling Queen Street.
Wise Bar
1007 Bloor Street W, Toronto
(416) 519-3139
@WiseBarToronto
www.wisebar.ca
With a masterfully curated beer list, courtesy of owner Tamara Wise, Wise Bar is a small and relaxed hangout. Along with its impressive drinks menu, Wise Bar also has simple, unpretentious snacks for grazing. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Wvrst
609 King Street W, Toronto
(416) 703-7775
@wvrstbeerhall
www.wvrst.com
Specializing in duck-fat fries and a variety of sausages from different parts of the world, Wvrst is a good place for communal dining and stein hoisting. Their cellaring program will eventually produce interesting results. From the sausage menu, the authors recommend the Boerewors.
Waterloo
Kickoff Sports Bar and Cafe
170 University Avenue W, Waterloo
(519) 888-9699
@kickoffwaterloo
Supporting a diverse lineup of beer from across the province and across its borders, Kickoff is a laid-back sports bar with great beer. A perfect place to watch the footie and probably also the football.
Windsor
The Barrel House Draught Co. & Grill
3199 Sandwich Street, Windsor
(519) 977-5334
@BHWindsor
www.facebook.com/barrelhousedraughtco/
The Barrel House serves a variety of Ontario beers on tap and is a contender for the hotly contested title of best burger in Windsor.
Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House
131 Elliott Street W, Windsor
(519) 962-8843
@rinoskitchen
www.rinoskitchen.com
Located in a converted one-hundred-year-old house, Rino’s carries only Ontario and Quebec beers, and the menu is dedicated to showcasing Essex County on a farm-to-table basis.
Rock Bottom Bar & Grill
3236 Sandwich Street, Windsor
(519) 258-7553
@RBwindsor
www.rockbottom.ca
Rock Bottom has Windsor’s best selection of Ontario beers on tap (thirty-one) and a total lack of pretense. It is the kind of bar in which peanut shells crunch underfoot — a refreshing change in an age of often unnecessary refinements.