Best Ontario Brewery?

I think Bellwoods benefits from their extremely limited distribution. Yes, they make great beers, but I have a feeling that if they started selling in LCBO public opinion of them would take a bit of a hit

 

I finally had a chance to grab some Bellwoods brews (Lost River and Witch Shark) and they're definately contending for the top brewery spot now. Have to have some more stuff from them to confirm though. Going to stop by and buy a couple of everything around a week before christmas, as I will be in Toronto to grab a ham from a crazy estonian bakery. Hopefully they have some of their imperial stouts in stock at the time.

I guess that would make the top 3 for me:

1. Muskoka
2. Bellwoods
3. Flying Monkeys

If the rest of the Bellwods brews are good as the two I've had so far they'll drop Muskoka to 2nd place. FM is hanging around on 3rd spot mostly with their seasonals and Netherworld. I've yet to find a better readily available black ipa from (or even in) Ontario.

Overall it's ridiculous how hard it's is to actually find any of the more interesting beer in Ontario. For example Great Lakes has a ton of stuff I would love to try but probably would have to stop by at their brewery to get any. All the LCBO and Beer Store ever have is the 666 and Devil's Pale Ale.

I tend have some Mad Tom or Double Mad Tom (or both as I do right now) in my fridge at all times, so that's actually a big plus for me. Great and easy to find? Yes please!

A wee bit late response, but is that about the farmery lager they make for someone else in abuttfucknowhere? (sorry) Never had that don't know if I ever will.

 

Rarity cannot explain their appeal around here. In the GTA Bellwoods are very much an everyday beer stop. Accessibility rather than rarity is what is making them so successful. Just look at their website. The website is updated all the time and shows whats on tap and in the bottle shop. The brewpub is just one short streetcar ride away from Ossington or Osgoode subway stations. I have no problem stopping by the brewpub whenever I make a trip downtown.

 

It's amazing how different opinion can be on a subject like this. For me, Muskoka and FM are both in the 3rd tier of Ontario craft breweries, and wouldn't even be considered for my top 5, maybe not even my top 10.

 

I was there this weekend and I had Skeleton Key and BOYD. I take back everything I said. All hail Bellwoods