Best Ontario Brewery?

From my observations (as a person who has never tried their beer), Innocente seems to be the ultimate "homer" brewery right now. People from the KW (and surrounding) area seem to think everything they do is amazing and most other people seem to think their stuff ranges from decent to terrible. Homerism in beer is nothing new, even in Ontario, but to the extent that I am seeing with Innocente it is going to a whole new level.

I really need to pick up a few growlers from these guys to form my own opinion...

 

I'd hardly call the opinions from my post an attack.

As I said 'Ontarians seem to be pretty hop shy and not overly knowledgeable about what contitutes great beer' not because I'm scapegoating the province but because whether you're talking Ontario, England, Australia, Scotland or wherever that is the reality with the vast majority of beer drinkers everywhere. The discriminating beer drinkers, like you would find in Beer Advocate, rate beer or this thread for that matter are still in the minority. What I was alluding to was my hope that by now that would be different in Ontario and more enlightened across the board.

I was born and raised in Ontario. Years ago I drank everything available (in stubbies) at Brewers Retail and the LCBO. I remember well the brutal bland domination of the likes of O'Keefe, Labatt and Molson (and the continuing mark they left on the Ontario palate) and the birth the Ontario micro movement in the 80s. I drank all of it and it was pretty thrilling at the time despite what I know now. If that's before your time then count your blessings because you don't know how lucky you have it today. Things are better. There has been at lot of very encouraging progress in Ontrario over the last couple of years and I hope that continues. But I don't buy it there has been a province wide beer revelation because I don't believe that's true. I always hoped by now that Ontario would be like California. It isn't. Coors Light and Canadien remain some of the biggest sellers. Just like Tennents is in Scotland.

 

Isn't Budweiser the biggest seller in California?

In any case, I can't speak to the history of ON's IPA scene - but I've been incredibly impressed with what little IPAs I've sampled from bellwoods and great lakes. Easily on a par with the best BC has to offer, which at it's peak is world class in my opinion.

Keep up the good work ON!

 

I'm sure you're right about Bud in California. Walked into that one. Point was that California craft beer has more of a profile and quality than any other state or province in North America.

Thirty years ago Labatt IPA was the only IPA brewed in Ontario. And it was shit. Though it did have some remnants of head retention and at least one line of beading per glass. which is more than can bee said for almost every other beer brewed in Ontario at that time.

I'm really glad that Ontario's beer future is looking brighter. Its about time.

 

BELLWOODS.

 

Bellwoods and Great Lakes for sure.

I just wish it was easier for me to get Great Lakes' non-LCBO releases, and also wish their LCBO Tank Ten releases were in cans instead of bombers. Can't complain too much though, I guess

 

I'm not a huge fan of Flying Monkeys and I find that Beau's gets maybe a little too much love but for my money, I really enjoy Bellwood's, Indie AleHouse, Great Lakes & Muskoka. Every now and then Amsterdam pulls off a nice one as well.

 

Block 3 Brewing out of St. Jacobs has some great one-offs. They just celebrated their 1 year anniversary and released a Abbey-style dubbel, Florida Olde-Ale and an APA. Great stuff. If you're ever in the grand river region I would highly recommend checking out their brewery.

 

Had their saison last week and it wasn't that good. Under-carbonated and way too sweet for the style. More in the American Wheat Ale type of categorization, but still poor even as that...

 

Wasn't a huge fan of their Saison either to be honest. I'd give their other beers a try though

 

As an outsider looking into the Ontario beer scene picking the best is like asking someone from California what is the best brewery. You have plenty of outstanding breweries it would be hard to pick a top 5. But i will give it a go.

• Bellwoods ( many reasons why this made the list for many )
  
• Sawdust City (new fun quality beers )
  
• Beau's ( approachable quality beers )
  
• Steamwhistle ( do one thing and do it well 'nuff said)
  
• Indie Alehouse (yeah love this place )
  
• Muskoka ( again quality beers )
• Great Lakes ( last years brewery of the year...'nuff said )

*list is in no order id gladly guzzle every drop i get my grubby beer warmers on.

 

Probably already been said (late to the party) but Bellwoods tops my list. I give Amsterdam and Great Lakes a chance when i see them but i prefer there one-offs which don`t always make it to the LCBO and thus, i often miss out.

 

Best Brewery huh...well for me it depends on what you would treat as "Best"

As far as pushing the envelope - Mill St. Brewery - They've been brewing every style under the sun and actually distributing it in their seasonal mix packs. They're also probably the largest "Craft" breweries in Ontario. As far as quality, depends on the offering.

As far as straight up quality (German) - King Brewery - I've not had a bad beer from King, and all their stuff stands up. The problem though, is that they only brew 4 beers with any regularity (possibly even 3, as I haven't seen the Pilsbock around for a while).

As far as straight up quality (English) - Wellington Brewery - Apart from Trailhead (of which there's nothing wrong with it, it's just generic Lager) and that brief, god awful Silver Wheat, I have never been disappointed with a Wellington Brew.

As far as overall - Muskoka Brewery - All of the seasonal offerings I've had are awesome, I can't say enough good things about the Spring Oddity. I'm not a big fan of them running 3 IPA's recently (Mad Tom, Detour and Double Mad Tom) but they've never disappointed me.

A couple mentions that I'm sure some will feel is a travesty for me not mentioning.

Great Lakes - I'm told is great and is pushing the envelope even further then Mill St, if you live nearby. Being from Hamilton, we only ever see their LCBO offerings, which are always the same seasonal offerings. Orange Peel, Green Tea, Pumpkin, Winter, Crazy Cannuck and Devil's Pale ale. They also hold the dubious distinction of being the discount pub ale in many bars here with Golden Horseshoe and Red Leaf.

Beau's - I still hold Beau's in high regard, and I applaud them especially for being a gruit brewer, which I feel not enough breweries are doing. That being said, I recently ran into a string of awful Beau's beers. Their Saison didn't do it for my, and their Kisingmeyer Nordic Beer got drain poured. Their staples are still solid, and they push the envelope (and have finally started appearing in Hamilton LCBO's) but I'm just in a bad rut with them right now.

On one final note, there is a very large void as far as Belgian style beer being brewed in Ontario. I guess because Unibroue does it so well and they are starting to appear here more. However, I'd like to see a brewery a bit more dedicated to Belgian beer in Ontario.

 

I'm honestly a little surprised about all the love for Steamwhistle. I mean, outside the beer, they do tons of cool stuff sure. Their fleet of old trucks, their support for music, their brewery events, their bottle openers, their environmental commitments.

That all being said though, they brew a better then average pilsner and that's it. It pales in comparison to King, Mill St and many others. Not to say I don't like their beer, but to say a brewery is one of the best when they make one single decent product, but not overwhelmingly exceptional product, just strikes me as odd.

 

Muskoka does quality stuff, I absolutely love their seasonal brews (can't wait to get some of that Winter Beard again!). Also Detour is great easy drinking IPA.

Flying Monkeys got me started in craft beer and their Netherworld and Smashbomb are still among my favorites.

Mill St. has really been pushing their stuff to bars and restaurants in the area and I can now get Tankhouse ale pretty much anywhere in the GTA.


I haven't even heard of Bellwoods before. I took a look at their offerings and definately have to drop by and buy all the beer next time I'm in Toronto.

 

In BC the only brewery we see is Muskoka in the government and private stores and this summer we had Detour that's about it.

 

Then how do you explain Farmery?

 

Bellwoods for me, and I feel like it's standing almost alone at the top, even if I really like GLB and I feel like they are second best.

I just have the impression that Bellwoods nails absolutely eveything, and does so while taking risks. Their beers are quite often very ambitious or very original, yet it always works. I'm a huge huge fan of their "Stay classy" session hoppy ale, and I have to admit this might be my favorite session "ipa" ever, on par with a one-off session IPA from Vermont's Lawson's finest. Bright hoppy aroma, light bitterness, and a decent mouthfeel for a beer that is incredibly refreshing at 2,8%. I would drink 2 of those everyday...

And while they nail such light, sessionable beers, they also rock at doing red-wine barrel-aged belgian quads with bretts, and other extravagant stuff. Farmhouse styles, belgian styles, hoppy stuff, dark barrel-aged beers. Congrats bellwoods...

 

Absolutely spot on. Making a great beer is one thing, keeping it consistent is quite another - but both of those, plus experimental beers, across practically any style you can think of? A remarkable feat, and one to be celebrated.

 

I have not yet had a bad beer from Bellwoods - one of the few breweries I would trade for first off unknown releases. Plus I enjoy reading their blog - I don't understand why other breweries are not doing something similar. Awesome to see what is coming around the corner and to hear about their experiments (and failures).