Hi everyone, I'm visiting Niagara Falls in a couple weeks for a few days. I plan on taking one day and visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. I'd like to visit a couple breweries on that drive from NF to Toronto. I've looked over some Toronto threads and it looks like Bellwood is a given. Is there any other brewery you could recommend to visit on that drive (Merchant Ale House in St. Catharine's???), or just in Toronto as well? I'm not interested in a beer bar; I'm more of a brewery person as is my spouse. We like Belgians, big stouts, and hoppy IPA's. Oh and dark fruit sours, but they're hard to find. Thanks for any help.
Here's a link to the LCBO product search if you were going to buy beer at an LCBO, check what they have first and where. http://www.foodanddrink.ca/lcbo-ear/jsp/ProductSearchNonVintages.jsp?language=EN Bellwoods is the only brewery I go to regularly. There is also Great Lakes Brewery in Etobicoke, and Amsterdam Brewery on the East side of the city. Definately avoid Mill St and Steamwhistle. I highly recommend getting coffee at Crafted across from Bellwoods or at the Pilot Tasting Bar. Also Soma has a chocolate bar shop near King St. and Spadina Ave. Soma is in the top 5 in North America.
If you are willing to drive around Toronto a little, the following might be nice to add to your list of possible places to think about in addition to Bellwoods and Great Lakes, the stars of the Toronto scene: Left Field has a nice tasting room, good atmosphere and solid beer (and a great looking Basset Hound): http://www.leftfieldbrewery.ca/ Similarly, in the west end, Rainhard is a nice place to visit. Good IPAs and a nicely set-up tap room: http://rainhardbrewing.com/ Not much going on in the surrounding area of either of these places though. Places with a sit-down restaurant set-up that are worthwhile visits include: Burdock. They do a lot with brett and local yeasts in Belgian/Belgian inspired styles. http://burdockto.com/bottleshop/ Folly. Another brewery with a Belgian focus and good reviews: http://www.follybrewing.com/ While I find both Oast House (http://oasthousebrewers.ca/) and Silversmith (http://www.silversmithbrewing.com/) underwhelming, they are in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and hence very close to Niagara Falls. A newer entry into that scene is Exchange (http://exchangebrewery.com/) and is right on the main drag in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake if you plan on visiting there. Not too far off the highway between Toronto and Niagara are Collective Arts (http://collectiveartsbrewing.com/home/) and Nickel Brook (http://www.nickelbrook.com/), both of whom make good beer. I'm sure others can chime in with more suggestions. I hope this helps. Cheers.
Yeah, you can see Great Lakes from the highway, and they often have interesting stuff in their fridge. Definitely Bellwoods... be prepared for a line if you go for dinner.
