I have a lengthy layover coming up in Toronto and am looking for recommendations for 1 or 2 spots to check out for beer + lunch. Additional info: - I have Nickel Brook Immodest and Driftwood Fat Tug on my list of Canadian beers to try. Will one or both of these be on draft somewhere? - would love to try some local/regional IPAs ... anything resembling the so called "Northeast style" Ala Tree House, Lawson's etc. in Toronto? Or any place with an IPA focus? Open to bar, restaurant, or brewery taproom - vegetarian food and/or a kids menu is a plus... even a place where our daughter could get some pizza would be great - wine is a plus (for my wife) - getting there from the airport via public transport with relative ease is also a plus... Thanks in advance for any input!
I would highly recommend Burdock; right by the Dufferin subway station (and close-ish to the UP Express Bloor stop). Their focus is on hoppy brews, wild farmhouse beers, and low-ABV fruit beers. The restaurant is quite nice, albeit on the pricier side for brewpubs. You won't find pizza (Indie Ale House is probably your best choice in the regard), but there will definitely be vegetarian options. They also have a very nice selection of Ontario wines, and collaborate with Ontario vineyards quite a bit.
Hello! Coming to Toronto soon. Will be around Toronto, as well as closer to Detroit. Are there any great bottle shops that I should hit up? Thank you much!
Ontario allows bottles of beer to be purchased for take-away from 4 different places. 1. The LCBO (Provincial alcohol 'monopoly'). The LCBO controls all beer imported into the Province. At the average LCBO, you'll find a broad assortment of Macro and widely available micro beers with a smattering of local craft. If you are in Toronto, the best location to visit is the LCBO at Yonge and Summerhill. It tends to have the widest assortment of Ontario craft, and usually carries whatever few limited beers are presently available. They also have the first, and I believe still only growler filling station. There are usually 3-4 beers available in growlers. The growlers are pre-filled and they will not fill outside growlers. The only really good thing about the LCBO is that because it has huge buying power, some great imports tend to be cheaper here than most other locales. For example: Rochefort 10 is C$4.40 per bottle (US$3.38 at today's exchange). 2. The Beer Store. The Beer Store is the only private beer only retailer in the province. they are almost wholly owned by the three biggest macro producers in the country; AB-Inbev, MolsonCoors, Sapporo. Craft beer options are more limited, and generally of lower quality than at the LCBO. For the type of beer lover that this site attracts, there will not be very much of interest at The Beer Store. 3. Select grocery stores. This is a new initiative. The selection is limited. likely not worth your time unless you want to grab something quick, and happen to be staying very near one when here. 4. Breweries. Breweries are your best bet at getting the best beer that Toronto has to offer. Most of the limited releases from the better breweries tend to be available only at the brewery. Some of the better ones with bottle shops include: Bellwoods: http://bellwoodsbrewery.com/ Great Lakes (No relation to the Ohio brewery): http://greatlakesbeer.com/ Rainhard: http://rainhardbrewing.com/ Folly: http://www.follybrewing.com/ Left Field: http://www.leftfieldbrewery.ca/ Burdock: http://burdockto.com/brewery/ Halo: http://halobrewery.com/ Indie Ale House: http://www.indiealehouse.com/#slideabout Muddy York: http://www.muddyyorkbrewing.com/ Junction: http://www.junctioncraftbrewing.com/jcb/ Blood Brothers: http://www.bloodbrothersbrewing.com/ Amsterdam: http://amsterdambrewhouse.com/ I'm sure I am forgetting a couple or few. If you can only go to one make it Bellwoods. If you are downtown and can only hit one beer bar I'd go to Bar Hop, either location (they are about a five minute walk from each other). : http://www.barhoptoronto.com/ If you really want the best local beer to take home with you, your best bet is to try to set up an IP trade while here. Send me a message if you are interested. I'm sure others can help out with stuff in Southwestern Ontario/Windsor. Cheers, and I hope you enjoy your visit.
