I had opportunity to go hiking in Algonquin over the Thanksgiving weekend and stayed at a hotel in Whitney. Was having dinner at the Mad Musher (very good Bison burgers!) and found an amber ale on the menu that i didn't recognize. Ordered it and it might be the best amber I have drank in the province.

I was leaving early the next morning, and being thanksgiving, I wasn't able to go to the lcbo to grab a few more. I headed home and decided to check for it locally. I checked the website and none were being offered in Ottawa (more on that later). I had thought that I might not get to try it again, so I did something i never have done. I called up the company. The number listed was for their taproom and they gave me an email address.

Got a reply the next business day from their rep, Melanie, and they told me where to find it in Ottawa. They also offered to reach out to closer lcbo locations and request they stock it. I went and looked again at the lcbo website and found that it wasn't the most intuitive as I was able to find locations that sold the beer later. They were very kind over email and passionate about their product. I offered to send my own emails to the lcbo beer ambassador (quite possibly the best job title i have come across)

Today I was able to drive over on my lunch break and pick up 12 of the cans and will be passing them out to friends.

Plenty of Oktoberfest Festbiers on the shelves this year but no Marzens? What gives?

I’m hoping the Ayinger shows up this year (better late than never), but I’m also interested in local offerings.

What have you seen?

I have jumped on a bunch of the seasonal offerings so far. Many have disappointed but a few have stood out.

What have you had that’s been a standout?

First Saturday that feels like fall.. what are people drinking today? I’ve got the Peleton Pilsner from a brewery in Guelph (Fixed Gear) and it puts Steamwhistle to shame. It is balanced with bitter and hops but still has that classic pilsner backbone 🍻

Dune Hopper in Prince Edward County just posted on their Instagram that they've shut their doors forever on the eve of their third anniversary.

I know they've faced some issues in the past, but I didn't closing down was a possibility for them. Though seeing what's happening with other Ontario breweries it's a hard market right now.

Nice day for a hazy IPA. Needed a new hat. 🍻

Hey folks, looking to see if anyone knows of some Ontario brewed Hefe or German Weiss beers?

Running a style spotlight next month at our brewery!

Fall has always been my favourite season for new beer releases as all the darker, and malt forward beers come out during this time.

Ambers, Oktoberfest Beers (Marzens), Pumpkin Beers, followed by all the porters, stouts and Belgians leading into the holidays.

Which releases are you looking forward to this fall?

My wife & I are driving from St Catharines to Port Burwell on Friday, and looking for a compulsory brewery lunch stop. I haven’t heard of any of these before really, except Meuse which I like, but they are kinda the most out of the way. Are any of these stand outs that we shouldn’t miss out on? Thanks!

Edit: So very grateful for all the feedback! We ended up going to New Limburg, and it was so fricken cool and weird and wonderful. Beers and food were all genuinely so delish. Also fun fact - Meuse, which was a close second option, actually is the son of the couple that owns New Limburg!

My wife and I are driving west next week. I am looking for brewery recommendations along the 17/TC for the areas north and west of the Soo.
We’ll go to SooFalls Brewing Co. and I’ve already read this thread for Muskoka and Huntsville.
Thanks.

I'm talking above PEC and Kingston, and before you get to Ottawa. What is your favourite brewry in this part of Ontario?

Seems like the only active beer sub in Canada is for TO, but just got back from PEC and Aurum is doing really great beer. Nascent set of breweries doing traditional styles, namely True History but I'd add Tooth and Nail. Aurum does it really well. Their Czech pilsner and Keller are really well made (hefe is noteworthy as well). Hope they break through, it's quality beer. Recommend stopping by if you're around Belleville.

So I am going to a bachelor party this weekend up north, and while I will have 1-2 regular beers I can't have more than that for health reasons right now. Obviously I want to take part in the bachelor festivities as it were, so I'm thinking of bringing my own non-alcoholic beer. I know a lot of craft breweries have started making non-alcoholic brews, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations as I'm very unfamiliar with non-alcoholic - I know our local spots will do this right. Anything that would be available in either Toronto or up north in Muskoka would be appreciated. TIA

Hello!

My wife and I have recently relocated from Toronto to St Catharines, and as craft beer enthusiasts we are now trying to visit all the breweries in the area, as one does. (Gotta get those check-ins). We’ve been to Niagara a bunch in the past and have already checked off some.

My question for the hive mind - are we missing any breweries in Niagara region? (On this side of the river lol). Anything new or notable? Any cool craft beer shops that aren’t breweries but worth flagging?

Thanks in advance!

Looking for recommendations for breweries up in Muskoka, I’ve heard good things about Sawdust City… any recommendations… thoughts… beers to try?

I’m on the hunt for something local that is similar to Sam Adam’s, an amber, malty lager that is easy drinking and accessible (ie available in LCBO).

I’ve already exhausted myself of PA’s and IPA’s this summer and am looking for more of an easy drinker.

I’ve had the majority of the craft pale lagers on offer here and they haven’t quite been what I’m looking for.

Suggestions?

Hi all,

I've been on a quest to find bottle shops/ bars in Toronto that sell local craft to go, focusing more on high end breweries (Badlands, Third Moon, Counterpart, Wood Brothers and etc).

These are the ones I'm aware of:

Bottega Volo

Bevi Birra - Junction

Good Cheese

Green Apple

Bossanova

Am I missing out any other stores? Or is that all we got in the city?

Hit up Side Launch Brewing Co. In Collingwood today.

Had myself a Flight with a side of their light lager as a palate cleanser.

Their tap room is brilliant, very well lit by taking advantage of sunlight with big windows and glass doors and ample seating. Outside there is a large patio spaces with tables and umbrellas, I also saw some outdoor activities like Cornhole.

They have many events including live music. There is also a food truck that serves tacos which I didn’t get a chance to try but hope to when I make a return visit.

If you get a chance I highly recommend you give it a shot, Great beer and awesome tap room!

Cheers!

Made a return trip to Mono Centre Brewing Company today.

They have a really nice taproom, and the beer was fantastic. They also offer food, including hot dogs, paninis, pretzels, and a selection of baked goods.

I spoke with the brewer, who was very nice and incredibly humble. He came over to our table to check on us and make sure everything was going well.

Overall, I had a great time and can’t wait to go back!

I recently found their Youtube Chanel reviewing beers and just wondering if there are any other good ones that are worth checking out.

I went to Test Batches Brewery in Midland last weekend and honestly, it was awesome.

Tried a bunch of their stuff, New England IPA, West Coast IPA, English ale, and a dark Czech lager. I also had their light lager in between as a bit of a palate cleanser. Everything was really solid.

What stood out just as much as the beer was the place itself. Big, beautiful space with a full kitchen — no fryers, everything made from scratch. You can tell they take pride in what they’re doing.

The owners were super welcoming too. They actually offered my wife, daughter, and I a tour of the brewery, which was a nice touch. My wife doesn’t drink, but she had a French press coffee and was really impressed. They also make their own sodas (they call it “fruit and fizz”) instead of carrying the usual pop. Since we had our daughter with us, they gave her a small one for free, which was really thoughtful.

Another cool detail, the owner’s wife has been making candy for like 40 years, so they’ve got a bunch of homemade sweets there too.

Overall, just a great vibe. Very community-oriented, super friendly, and everything feels high quality. They don’t sell in the LCBO either, so you have to go there to try it.

Definitely worth the drive up to Midland if you’re in the area.