One of the great urban wilderness surprises of Toronto is located out on Lake Ontario. It’s a 5km stretch of land known as Tommy Thompson Park, or the “Spit”.
The park is only accessible on weekends and holidays. With a strict no dogs policy it has turned into a urban haven for wildlife and birdlife. You can easily spot herons, egrets, cormorants, geese, swans, ducks, falcons and other birds here. You can spot beaver huts and if lucky – maybe coyotes or other more elusive creatures. Definitely one of the best places in Toronto for wildlife viewing.
American Mink in Toronto
I was lucky to stumble across a hungry American Mink (Neovison vison), also called an Eastern Mink or Little Black Mink, as it is the smallest subspecies of mink. He was darting along the shoreline in search of food. He scampered across the rocks, stopped for a nice big yawn, then dove into the water. The mink is the largest member of the weasel family in this part of the world.
He swam out about 30m before diving down and disappearing for a couple of minutes. When he finally emerged, swimming back to shore, I saw he had caught some dinner. It was some strange looking blobby fish that had a white fin. As ugly as that meal looked, the mink sure liked it and hid behind some rocks to devour his tasty meal back on the beach.
Mink stopping for a yawn before diving into Lake Ontario for a meal
If you’ve ever wondered “what do minks eat?”, well apparently ugly fish is on their menu! Judging by the shell piles on the beach, this mink had a steady diet of mussels as well, which I had expected him to find on this swim.
It’s the first time I’ve come across a mink in Toronto, but hopefully not the last. Great to see such a cool creature only a short hike away from the Toronto skyline!
Mink swimming back to shore at Tommy Thompson Park with an ugly fish for a meal
I’ve known about the Beer Makes History Better tour for a number of years, but never had the timing right to join the tour myself, until recently.
Run by Tour Guys founder, and fellow beer lover, Jason Kucherawy, this isn’t your typical beer tour, it’s more of a light history tour of Toronto with beer stops thrown in. It’s actually a great mix of fun and learning, as everyone – tourists and locals – are bound to walk away with a few interesting tidbits of information on beer or Toronto.
St. Lawrence Market – a stop on the Beer Makes History Better tour
I have recommended this tour to friends visiting town many times, but always felt a bit guilty as I hadn’t done it myself. Well, now I can finally recommend this tour with confidence! Jason entertained us with Toronto beer history and Toronto city history, as well as teaching us all a bit about the styles of different beers.
Kicking off at the Hockey Hall of Fame, he impressed everyone with his top secret tip of how to spot the Stanley Cup, without having to pay to enter the Museum. (Take the tour to find out!) Then we moved on down the street towards the Flatiron building, learning about the history of Gooderham & Worts. Smartly, before we had to consume too much education, we were at our first pub for some beer consumption.
Yeast Farts and Alcohol Sweat at C’est What
Too much to choose from, the impressive C’est What beer Menu
As we perused the impressive list of local beers at C’est What, Jason gave us our first beer lesson. A quick recap of the difference between top fermented ales and bottom fermented lagers and a review of the beers on the menu. He put effort into trying to determine appropriate beers for each person’s tastes. As we began to enjoy our first drinks, Jason eloquently spoke about the key ingredients of beer, in particular yeast. As he put it, the yeast eats up the sugars in the beer, and farts out CO2 and sweats alcohol.
Bet you hadn’t quite thought of beer in that way before, huh?
We had some great discussions over the first beers, including talking about whether farming of certain grain crops was started to make bread, or actually started to make beer? Hmmm.
Beer + Mustard = Good Eats. Choosing some mustards at St. Lawrence Market.
As we moved on to our next stops, Jason pointed out some interesting parts of the city. Old water fountains with separate drinking bowls for humans, dogs and horses; and signs commemorating historic places of Toronto.
The LCBO and St. Lawrence Market
Buying beer in Ontario means one of two things – visiting the Beer Store or the LCBO. As our tour friends from Denmark, the US and UK listened on, Jason pointed out how the government controls most of our access to alcohol. In some ways, good, in other ways bad, we all agreed that at least it wasn’t as bad as it used to be – the original LCBO stores required you to have a liquor buying license and were not allowed to display any products in plain sight!
Getting the low down on the LCBO during the Beer Tour
Learning a little more about Toronto, as we meandered around St. Lawrence Market, the Beer Makes History Tour, took a beer break and we sampled some fine Niagara wines, local mustards and other treats. The market is really a must stop for anyone who is coming to Toronto, not just for the foodie aspect of today, but for it’s important role in the early days of Toronto.
Half Full, or Half Empty? Beer at Betty’s.
The Betty Ford Beer Connection
Munching on some nachos and enjoying some more local beers, our little tour group was gelling quite nicely, enjoying the casual vibe of Betty’s. This Toronto bar has quite a history to it apparently, as Jason was eager to point out. Most people found it quite amusing that the bar was originally named Betty Ford, but had to change their name for somewhat obvious reasons.
Betty’s is your typical neighbourhood dive bar. Nothing fancy, just comfy and simple. They do stand out though by offering a better selection of beer than most little bars.
Some Final Learnings and Final beers…
After a couple of hours, and a handful of beers, the last stop of the tour was in sight. We ventured towards the Distillery District and learned a little more about the Gooderham facilities and buildings that still stand today. We saw all the pipes that still connect the building, which one used to carry alcohol. It was a perfect place to end the tour, as we were now at the home of the Mill Street Brewpub, and new Mill Street Beer Hall.
Historic Distillery District in Toronto
After enjoying some final samples in the retail shop, our group split up. Some buying some Mill Street beers to take back home, and others stopping to enjoy a few final beers, and some food, at the Mill Street facilities.
The tour took just a little longer than 3 hours, but didn’t feel rushed at all. We had plenty of time to drink some beers at each stop and also take some photos and learn about the development and history of the city of Toronto. All around, probably the best walking tour I’ve done in the city!
Apparently a lot of TBEX participants coming in to Toronto are excited to try some local beers. I love it. I’ve been getting messages on Twitter and Untappd for beer recommendations and suggestions recently and thought a little quiz might be fun.
For most people who visit Toronto their limited experience of the local beer scene usually includes a visit to Steam Whistle and/or Mill Street breweries. While they both provide thirst-quenching tours and tastings, they don’t give you a balanced view of just how exciting the beer culture of Toronto is.
I know the TBEX and Travel Blogging crowds are keen to dig deeper and do more research than your average traveller, so, here is a little educational quiz to get you in-tune with the finest beers, bars and brews of Toronto!
Oh ya, and if you get a perfect score on the leader board below, I’ll buy you a beer at #TBEX Toronto!*
Get ready for the Toronto Beer Quiz. A simple 12-pack of Toronto beer-related quiz questions. Think you can get them all right?
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Question 1 of 12
1. Question
Which Toronto Brewery was recently named Canadian Brewery of the Year for 2013?
Correct
Yes! Great Lakes picked up top honours for 2013! They also won awards for the following individual beers:
Gold – Karma Citra India Pale Ale
Gold – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Robust Porter
Gold – Harry Porter
Silver – Crazy Canuck Pale Ale
Silver – Maverick & Gose (Collaboration with Amsterdam Brewery, ON)
Bronze – 25th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout
Incorrect
Ouch. Nope…better luck on the next question!
Hint
This brewery recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary.
Question 2 of 12
2. Question
One beer, and one beer only. One Toronto Brewery is focused solely on a single beer. Which brewery?
Correct
Oh ya, you got it! See you at the Roundhouse beer buddy!
Incorrect
Damn. I thought you’d get that one. Chin up, you’ll get the next one…
Question 3 of 12
3. Question
Name the Toronto brewery whose first beer was inspired by Hawaii – a hoppy beer brewed with pineapples!
Correct
You know your beers. Time for a Hawaiian Style Pale Ale?
Incorrect
Bananas in pajamas! You missed the pineapple boat on that one. It’s ok, you can pretend you don’t like fruit, or beer.
Question 4 of 12
4. Question
Do you love baseball? Do you love beer? Then you must seek out the 6-4-3 Double IPA from which new Toronto brewer?
Correct
Go Jays Go! Touch ’em All Joe, that’s a homerun and correct answer for you, my friend. (I know your name isn’t likely Joe, but if you get the reference, you’re a true baseball fan.)
Incorrect
Strikeout! Time for you to hit the showers and have a shower beer I think.
Hint
Visualize the Green Monster and that’ll be the only hint you need.
Question 5 of 12
5. Question
The 3rd best new microbrewery in the world is here in Toronto. What is it called?
Correct
That’s some nerdy knowledge of beer you’ve got there, nice one!
Incorrect
Maybe you don’t like beer. Maybe you go by the slogan “if you’re not first, you’re worst”. Either way, you’re wrong.
Question 6 of 12
6. Question
Bierschnapps! The first-ever in Canada, now being served at the Beer Hall by which Toronto Brewery?
Correct
Schnap-tastic, smart selection there beer nerd.
Incorrect
Did you check the hint? That was an easy one…
Hint
The brewery behind this new drink treat is in the aptly named Distillery District of Toronto.
Question 7 of 12
7. Question
Cockpuncher, Jump the Shark and Broken Hipster are beer names from which Toronto craft brewer?
Correct
Sweet puppy Jesus, you’re in-tine with the beer news around town, impressive!
Incorrect
Sorry friend, but you should’ve guessed Indie Alehouse. Go download the Untappd beer app and learn a little.
Question 8 of 12
8. Question
Two Toronto bars have recently decided to get into the nano-brewing scene. One is already brewing beers, the other will soon. Which bars?
Correct
Un-beer-lievable! You must do a lot of beer bicep curls or something to get that one right.
Incorrect
Nice try, but no. This was a tough one for out of towners. But, easy if you read the beer articles I mentioned at the top of this post!
Question 9 of 12
9. Question
What is the name of the Toronto brewery that launched with a railway themed logo and beer last year?
Correct
Choo-choo, all aboard the beer train! Well done.
Incorrect
Not a fan of riding the rails? You should head to the Junction and get a little Toronto history, and beer lesson.
Question 10 of 12
10. Question
Which of these cities is also the name of a real brewery in Toronto?
Correct
Yes! And did you know they brew “Dam good beer”, too?
Incorrect
Stay thirsty my friend, as you’ve gotten this one wrong.
Question 11 of 12
11. Question
Augusta Ale and Baldwin FishEYE PA pay homage to street names in what district of Toronto, which also happens to be the name of the brewery that makes these beers.
Correct
Solid guess, or smart selection. Either way, Kensington Market, and the Kensington Brewing Company, is correct!
Incorrect
Wrong part of town. Grab a map and head to the home of the hippies, Kensington Market.
Question 12 of 12
12. Question
The home of House Ales nano-brewery and argued by many to be the #1 Beer Bar in Toronto, is?
Correct
BarVolo it is! See you there on Monday for $5 pints?
Incorrect
All these options are great beer destinations in Toronto, but only BarVolo is correct.
How did you stack up to other Toronto Beer Quiz participants? Check the leader board below!
*The first five people who get a perfect score qualify for a free beer…good luck!
Last year I wrote about the Evolution of Breweries in Torontoand how a handful of new brewers had popped up like Indie Alehouse and Bellwoods (named the 3rd best New Brewer in the World for 2012 by ratebeer.com). Those guys are all still doing great things, but the friendly competition has gotten even tougher since then.
It’s safe to say that the craft beer scene has been amped up big time, thanks to more new breweries and a huge influx of contract brewers. The established guys are, in some cases, now brewing so many contract beers that they’re running three shifts, brewing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Since the evolution began a couple of years ago, a few new twists have recently started to happen, which are making the Toronto beer scene even more exciting.
Maverick & Gose by Amsterdam & Great Lakes Breweries
Existing Toronto Breweries have Stepped up their Game
The biggest names here are Amsterdam Brewery and Great Lakes Brewery, which was recently named the best brewery in Ontario by ratebeer.com and 2013 Canadian Brewery of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards. They’re both pumping out one-off beers and limited edition beers on what seems a near-weekly pace. From Wheat Wines to Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stouts, it’s actually become impossible to keep up as a consumer – which is great! Amsterdam Brewery moved operations in the past year, and they have some big plans, including opening a new brewpub on the waterfront. Not to be outdone by these two brewers, Mill Street Brewery has also recently done an expansion in the Distillery District of Toronto, opening a Beer Hall and serving up Bierschnaps!
Invisible Contract Brews are more Common than Ever
With little risk and no overhead, utilizing the downtime at local breweries is a no-brainer for everyone in Toronto. I say invisible contract brews here, because I’m talking about beers with no store front, bar, distributed kegs or sales force. If you blink, you’ll miss their beer.
As long as a brewery has the capacity and staff on hand, they’re getting money to fund their own operations and growth plans from these invisible guys; while these little one-off contract brewers can focus on creating a unique beer with top quality ingredients for us – the consumers – to enjoy. It’s a win-win-win relationship! The best example of this is Radical Road and their Canny Man, a Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale. Radical Road doesn’t really exist anywhere except in the form of their bottles of beer. They’re a nano-brewery that got a product on the shelves of our provincially controlled liquor stores, the LCBO. That’s a pretty sweet feat!
Passion and Pride in Brewing
Something that has become apparent over the past year is that the Toronto beer scene is a tight one. The growing number of bars supporting craft beer, and brewers themselves, are all supporting each other. We’re even seeing the transformation of some stagnant sports bars into thriving, new havens for craft beer. People are literally excited to know what the ‘other’ guy is doing, as new ideas are sparking more interesting beers to show up in the marketplace. This passion has always been there, it’s just becoming more and more apparent to consumers now who are benefiting from more tap takeovers, tastings, beer events and overall access to craft beer around the city.
On the consumer side the most exciting change I’ve noticed over the past year is that people are talking about, and looking forward to, new local beers. A couple of years ago every craft beer drinker in Toronto would be lamenting about our lack of selection and how so many other cities in the US had it better than us. Not so much any more.
Left Field Brewery of Toronto, launched in 2013.
I know from experience that if you’re a day or two behind checking your Tweets or Facebook posts, you’re quite possibly going to miss out on the best, new Toronto beer as small batch brews are selling out the day they hit the shelves at local breweries. Fun times indeed.
More Collaboration Beers
An offshoot of the pride and passion is that brewers and breweries are teaming up more and more, to create unique collaboration beers. Amsterdam and Great Lakes recently came together to produce a gose beer, dubbed Maverick & Gose, a la Top Gun movie. A visit to beer bars around town and you’ll often see something from locals like Black Oak or House Ales that are mixing it up with brewers from outside Toronto or even beyond our borders, outside Ontario.
The fact that brewers from beyond are excited to work with the beer people in Toronto just goes to show how much excitement is coming out of the local beer scene.
The Quasi-Craft Movement
It was inevitable, as the craft beer scene has grown so fast around Toronto. The big guys want their piece of the action. To some, it’s sacrilege to drink anything from the big macro breweries, but I say try them all. Six Pints falls under this category and if the big guys have to set up new ‘craft beer’ companies to re-capture some of their sales, it’s fine by me – I’ll drink good beer from any brewery.
So Who are the Newest Breweries in Toronto?
Since last summer, the following breweries have come into existence. Some of them tiny operations that haven’t yet produced anything. Others are up and running with solid lineups of beers already on the market! Be sure to check them out…
Radical Road Brewing – mentioned earlier, this is a nano-brewery that has so far put out one stellar beer. Let’s just say if you like scotch, you’ll love their first beer.
Get Well Nano-Brewery – this Toronto bar started on the craft beer wagon and kept on rolling straight into their own nano-brewery! In similar fashion, The Only Cafe recently announced they’ll start up their own nano-brewing operation soon too.
Left Field Brewery – a smartly marketed baseball themed line-up of beers, which are tasty too. The high hopes of Blue Jays baseball in Toronto could help these guys soar to success.
Liberty Village Brewery– I got turned on to these guys when I saw they were experimenting with a Gummy Beer. Yes, a beer brewed with gummy bears! How cool is that? Sadly, no they did not decide to go with this beer at their official launch party.
Shacklands Brewing – These guys kind of caught me by surprise. They contract brew at Junction Craft and have gotten their initial beers into a few good bars around town like Bar Volo and Bryden’s.
The Only Cafe Nano-Brewery – what, another nano-brewery? yes! One of the finest beer bars in Toronto is also getting into the brew scene. They’ve grown and are taking beer even more seriously, with an ageing cellar and expanded tap list. Once just a dive bar with good beer, this is a now a true craft beer destination. No in-house beers yet, but coming soon.
Six Pints Beer Academy – this is the new craft beer arm of Molson Coors. Don’t let that scare you though, it’s a cool place that is brewing some tasty beers. Perhaps not as adventurous as many others, but they are worth keeping an eye on.
Look for beers from these new guys, as they’ll be showing up at more and more bars, or on the LCBO shelves, in coming months and don’t forget about the six other new brewers in Toronto that I wrote about last year!
If you are looking for the best places to grab a pint or hard to find bottle of beer in Toronto, then here is the list for you!
Slowly and steadily the beer scene in Toronto has been growing over the past decade. There was a time when local craft beer selection was limited and beer bars were rare, but thanks to a crop of new local breweries and efforts from some long-standing bars, good beer is here to stay in Toronto.
This is a beer listing above all else, with price, service and location factors only marginally influencing selections. As long as you’re looking for a great pint of local craft beer or something different – like a lambic, double IPA or barleywine – these destinations will please your beer palate.
Patio at the Bier Markt on King Street in Toronto
The Bier Markts
600 King St. W. / 58 The Esplanade / 7 O’Neill Rd. thebiermarkt.com
With multiple locations, the Bier Markt brand has been around in Toronto for more than a decade. With a slight beer hall feel and heavy German, Belgian and European beer menu you can usually find something special here. They often have interesting feature menus such as a popular Game Meat festival. Just know that not everyone comes here for the good beer selection, just as many people consider the Bier Markts to be ‘meat markets’. Weekends here can have loud music and line-ups to get in. They’re in more clubby and nightlife areas so that can be a plus or minus depending what you’re looking for. Another bonus is that The Esplanade and King Street locations have great patios, perfect for a day of drinking and people watching.
This is one of the stalwart beer bars in the city. With a subdued, hippy style to it, you go here to relax and enjoy some pints of craft beer from Ontario. They have their own beers too, including a Hemp Ale. The basement location and a cozy fireplace make this a winter destination, as the lack of outdoor seating makes it a dead spot in summer. You don’t go here for imports or bottles, they specialize in pints of local beers, including a selection of cask ales.
Beer Bistro has exclusive stock of many beers in Toronto, including Mephistopheles Stout
This is as good as a beer bar gets in Toronto. Right downtown, with an upscale but welcoming vibe, you can get some real treats here. Their draft list usually has some nice Belgian ales mixed in with a wide variety – although somewhat generic – list of Canadian brews. Where Beer Bistro shines is in their bottle selection and food. In my opinion, the best mussels in town are served here. Their bottle list is somewhere around 100, with many US micro brews, Canadian and European beers. Don’t be surprised to find some interesting options here from less famous beer destinations too, such as Italy.
Prices at Beer Bistro can be high and many of their bottles are 650/750ml meaning you’re paying upwards of $30 a bottle. The easy solution is to not drink alone and share those big bottles. The bar staff here are among the friendliest you’ll find too. If you want a real treat, grab something from their beer cellar menu, featuring some rare vintages and exclusive offerings found nowhere else in Toronto, including a number of Cantillon brews.
Opened earlier in the year, this brewery is one of the exciting newcomers to the Toronto beer scene and is already gaining big praise. That praise is well deserved. A welcoming atmosphere and scene that exudes beer, this isn’t your average bar. They have a mix of foods to appeal to both veggie lovers (grilled peaches) and meat lovers (duck hearts).
The food selection is just complementary to the beer selection though. Their beer options are often changing and have ranged from Saisons, to an Imperial IPA, a Baltic Porter, Berliner Weisse and a Belgian Dubbel – all served in proper glassware.
Stubbies and bottles are sometimes available at their on-site retail store as well. Their current beers and planned beers show that when it comes to a Toronto brewpub, Bellwoods isn’t scared to experiment and push the limits.
With a lively patio and packed bar, Mill Street seems to always draw a crowd. Their Tankhouse Ale is a personal favourite of mine and is one of the best beers in Ontario. While their beer selection may sometimes seem to be resting on their laurels and riding that Tankhouse and Organic Lager wave of success, they have begun to offer more seasonal and interesting brews, many of which you can only get at the Brewpub. The food is pretty standard, with something for everyone, but the location in Toronto’s Distillery District gives it an extra incentive to make it worth a visit.
Arguably the hottest beer bar in Toronto. The owner here has gone to great strides in the last few years to run Cask Ale and IPA competitions. They have their own in house brews called House Ales and offer Toronto’s best selection of Canadian craft beers on tap. Expect a number of Quebec beers here you may not get elsewhere, the same goes for some west coast Canada beers. Their bottle menu is just as impressive as their draft list. The place is small so getting a table or spot near the small bar area can be a challenge, but well worth it. It may be over-hyped by some, but any visiting beer lover to Toronto would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn’t stop in here, especially if you enjoy cask ales, as they’ve always got some flowing at Bar Volo.
Smokeless Joe
New Location for Smokeless Joe = More Beers on Tap!
Once the quaintest little smoke-free basement bar in Toronto, Smokeless moved to College Street this year. They’re in an area near Kensington Market, which is fast becoming the best beer area in Toronto. More space means Smokeless Joe can now offer more beers on tap and keep a fresh, inspired list of bottles ready from around the world. Their new location maintains that friendly feeling, where couples, friends or solo beer lovers are all welcome. Note: Sadly, Smokeless Joe’s closed down in October 2013 as the owner (Joe) has had to focus on some health issues instead of running a bar. Thankfully many more beer bars still exist in the city.
Over on the east end of town there are a handful of bars catering to lovers of good beer, but this is the stand out from the crowd. A cozy (small) bar on the Danforth, The Only has a great variety of bottles available. their tap list usually has a surprise or two as well, with local breweries happy to give them some seasonal and special beers. Good prices in a friendly little bar. Grab some food elsewhere before you arrive, as this is not a place to go for a dining and drinking experience, just good quality beers.
The newest entry on this list, Bar Hop came into existence recently and quickly became a hotspot for beer lovers in the downtown / King West corridor. With 20+ craft beers on tap, this bar is the brainchild of former Smokeless Joe stalwarts, so it has a similar simplicity and menu concept. (Think oysters and minimal TV distractions.) It’s in a clubby part of the city, so weekends may get a bit loud here as this place is destined to grow in popularity.
Ciro’s House of Imported Bier
1316 Bloor St. W.
From the east to the west ends of the city. In an area that was once dodgy and could still use a facelift, Ciro’s is a beer oasis. Their selection is impressive, but not huge, with plenty of Belgian beers on tap and in bottles. You’ll get your Coronas and other macro brews here too, but the low prices on the good stuff are what makes this place special. Staff are friendly and the decor is simple, so go without high expectations and just enjoy a few quality beers. While you likely won’t find anything too rare here, they may have some Belgians that are sold out elsewhere at prices that can be 1/2 that you’d pay down town.
Honourable mentions….
If you want more of a noisy pub atmosphere then check out The Victory Cafe, which suits almost everyone and has an above average beer selection including cask ale. Castro’s Lounge in the beaches is a worthwhile stop, while the Ceili Cottage in the east end of town has a lively Irish atmosphere to it, making it a great spot for some sticky pudding or a pint of Ontario cask ale. The Rhino is a popular spot on West Queen West with cheap prices, a great summer patio and cavernous space inside and can cater to almost any beer taste.
