Okay so I'm heading to Toronto for a couple days and I want to visit breweries and the like. Any Suggestions? I've heard they are starting to develop a large beer market.
Bellwoods, Great Lakes and Amsterdam (Brewery or Brewpub) are the go to for breweries in the city. Volo, Bellwoods, Barhop, beerbistro, Ces't What and WVRST are probably the best spots to go for some beers and food. If you are staying downtown (or somewhere on the subway line) they are all pretty easy to get to. Some better LCBO stores (Summerhill, Queens Quay) will have some decent beers on shelves currently, but nothing close to what you get in Illinois. I would also avoid The Beer Store locations unless you really want cases of Molson, Labatt and the like.
I'm going to add Indie Ale House to the list provided by @peensteen. It's over in the Junction area, and well wort the trip. Great beers, and really, really fantastic food.
Gonna piggyback on this thread. I will be in Toronto visiting wife's family from Friday Dec 20 until Jan 2. I already have Bellwood's Brewery on my list and plan to visit there for sure. Are there any days of the week that it is better to go than others? Also want to visit Great Lakes and Amsterdam Breweries (or brewpub). The last time I was in Toronto in '09, the only bars we went to were Volo (which was great), a pub called Sin & Redemption (decent), and a sports bar (nothing good) so I want to hit some of the bars you mentioned. Thanks for the suggestions as well!
You'll get better selection at any of the other places mentioned. Good beers, pricey food, and it essentially turns into a bar/club-scene type joint Thursday-Saturday evenings (after 9 or so). You're better off elsewhere.
Granite Brewery up at Yonge and Eg is good. Also Mill St in the distillery district. Niagara on the lake now has offerings as well.
