Traveling to Ottawa

LCBO Liquor Control Board of Ontario - you can product search and find by location:

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/jsp/ProductSearchNonVintages.jsp?language=EN

The Beer Store - only beer - product search:

http://www.thebeerstore.ca/

I will let the locals let you know about brewpubs etc but this will get you started.

Also, depending on your route, check out Beau's Brewery:

http://www.beaus.ca/

 

was there some time a go an the manx, in elgin street was a great place, good food and several local beers on tap.

 

Good luck. The downtown LCBO & South Bank locations have the best beer selection. If you are interested in session ABV beers you will find many options, but not much in terms of rarities.

 

also gatineau (quebec) is just across the bridge so maybe you can get more beer over there but i do not know where or how much is available.

 

here there's somethin: http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/2010/july/shoppingatbroue

 

Whenever I go to ottawa, I always hit this one as it has the biggest selection every time I go. You can also download the LCBO app and select that store to see what they have in stock right now.

Rideau & King Edward
275 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 5Y3
613-789-5226
monday to sat 9:30 to 10pm

 

The LCBO has some beers as singles (and no mix 6 deal) and some open 6's that can only be bought as 6ers...

As mentioned above, if you are near enough to downtown to go to the Rideau location you can find more Canadian craft (actually only Québecois brew due to regulations & IMHO of higher quality than the LCBO) in Gatineau (formerly Hull). Trappe à Fromage has a small selection of Québec brews including Trois Mousquetaires, DDC, St. Ambroise & many others. I have read great things about Marché Omni, but I have yet to go there on a trip.

 

I'm a tour guide and do beer tours in Ottawa. Free for BA's (just buy me a beer). Check out the ToursByLocals web site for more. Or beer mail me.

 

You'll find more across the river then on this side but here are some places I would recommend - Clock Tower would not be on that list.

• Brasseurs de Temps - brewpub 5 minutes from downtown on the QC side
• Trappe a Frommage or Broue Ha Ha to buy beer in QC
• LCBO on Kind Edward on this side
• Manx for a great pub with very good food
• Pub Italia for not great food but best beer selection in the city
• Arrow and the Loon for best Ontario brew selection on tap

 

Can also suggest some places depending on where you are staying and what you are looking for - let me know.

 

The new Mill Street Brew pub just on the western edge of downtown is also very good. They have a really good selection of their own beers and the food is really good too. I have to agree with pushkinwow that I would totally pass on the Clocktower. For most of the clocktower locations at least the three I have been to (Bank Street, Byward Market, and Westboro) you are in walking distance of somewhere with much better beer.

 

So Kel - have to disagree with you on this one. Its a great location, and its worth stopping in for a couple of their unique beers (think 2-4 are Ottawa only) and since your from out of town it can't hurt to sample the rest of their beers but the food is simply not worth it. Have been there 3 times now and each time some of the food was simply inedible - I say go there for a few sampler trays and then head to Brasseurs de Temps for food and more beer.

On a side note Millstreet did step it up at Bon Appetit recently (had a very tasty taco as their food) so maybe food will get better at the restaurant.

 

I don't know last time we went there the food was awesome. I just had a burger with the beer braized onions, my wife had fish and chips and my daughter had the kids meal chicken fingers. Nothing fancy but it was all very well done. The burger was one of the best I had had in awhile. And I don't know what they put in them, but I could not stop eating the fries. We had dessert too and the red velvet cake was really good too.

 

Hmmm - well maybe I will have to give it another chance - or at least go for a beer and try a bit of food. Two people ordered the burger last time and it was dried out, the fries were cold; beet salad had no dressing; charcuterie and cheese platter were not up to snuff at all (store bought mas produced cheeses and meat that included terrible chopped liver and store bought salami) - was not enjoyable. Regardless OP its worth it to try some new beer and get some ticks.

 

For Pints:

Arrow and Loon - usually a good selection and a couple of casks from Ontario brewers.

Wellington Gastropub - Expensive food but they carry alot of Ontario and East Coast Craft Brews. Good bottle selection. They usually stock stuff from Beau's Greener Future Series but it comes at a heavy price.

The Black Tomato - easily the best spot if you find yourself in the Byward Market. About 20 rotating taps all with craft brews from Ontario and Quebec. Food is a bit pricey but probably the biggest tap selection in town for good stuff.

Mill Street - Nothing mind blowing, but some solid beers and great menu/atmosphere

Brasseurs de Temps (BDT) - On the Gatineau side but not far from downtown Ottawa.

Chesire Cat - Quiet little place with good taps out on the west end of town (Kanata/Carp)

Pub Italia - A few local taps, but huge international selection on tap and in bottle

Manx - As mentioned above

Sir John A - Pretty good pub with a growing selection of local taps


Breweries: Kichesippi, Broadhead (NEW) only growlers and kegs, and if you have wheels, Beau's is only an hour and a bit east.

Stores: Definitely check out the Broue Ha Ha, just watch the dates if you are geting IPAs, I have forgotten a few times. Recommend having a look at what the LCBO has to offer and then looking to see which stores have it. Selection varies store to store.

 

No one mentions that Autre Oeil in Aylmer (a 15 minute drive from downtown) has 23$ Cantillon Mamouche?