Tapped in: Discovering Toronto’s craft beer scene

When I picture a craft brewery, I think of hipster vibes, exposed brick, and a bartender in a beanie pouring something I probably can’t pronounce.

As someone who previously didn’t drink much craft beer, I mostly went to breweries for the vibe. It was just a fun place to hang out with friends, not about the brew itself. I’d grab a pint for the plot, not the taste.

Admittedly, it took much of my adult life to start enjoying craft beer. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the fun and bustling brewery scene in Toronto, Canada, that I fell down the craft beer rabbit hole and came to love it. Read on – and I’m sure you’ll feel the buzz too.

Toronto and Craft Beer

Getting into craft beer can feel intimidating at first. What is the difference between an IPA and a lager? What is a hop? What makes a brew a ‘craft beer’? Honestly, I still don’t have all the answers, but the staff at Toronto’s breweries have made the whole experience feel approachable. True to the Canadian stereotype, they were all extremely helpful, kind, and fun.

What’s special about Toronto’s brewery scene is its large variety, with each spot having its own unique vibe. Some even leaning into fun themes like tropical hideaway, sports den, retro bar, and more. This makes a brewery crawl in Toronto feel like such an adventure.

The craft brewing community in Toronto area is thriving, with 50+ breweries and constantly expanding. In fact, the province of Ontario (where Toronto is located) has the largest number of craft breweries in all of Canada. Toronto is a big part of that!

Brewery Crawl Time!

So, you want to visit some breweries in Toronto. Where do you start?

Mill Street Brewing, in the heart of the Distillery District neighbourhood, is a great place to begin. This trendy neighbourhood is the epitome of brewery vibes – filled with red brick buildings and Victorian-era architecture. At Mill Street, their big menu selection makes it an easy intro to craft beer. Their selection is so massive, that you can even find wild flavours like a Cookies & Cream Stout or a Vanilla Coffee Porter (my review: both taste strangely true to their names).

If you want to venture out of the downtown core and experience Toronto like a local, a popular choice is Bellwoods Brewing. Despite being one of the younger breweries in the city, they’ve won 40+ awards for their brewery and beers. This brewery is nestled in the heart of the trendy shopping district of Ossington. If you’re wanting to have your hot-girl-summer patio moment, this would be the place. It has lively vibes, string lights, tons of outdoor seating, and great music to vibe to.

While this is just the tip of the Toronto brewery iceberg, the city does also host the Toronto Festival of Beer every summer to make sampling every beer in the city a bit easier. This annual event is one of the longest-running beer festivals in Canada and a big celebration of Toronto’s craft beer scene, featuring 400+ beers.

The award goes to…

Most Unique Brewery: Blood Brothers Brewing – located in a 100+ year old renovated horse stable in the Geary Avenue arts district with an edgy, gritty feel.

Brewery with the Best-Number-of-Dogs-Per-Square-Foot Ratio:Black Lab Brewing – this dog-themed brewery was inspired by the cartoon Snoopy. They allowed dogs both inside and outside, and have brews named after dogs. They even occasionally host ‘Yappy Hours,’ breed meetups, and dog birthdays.

Best Brewery to Cosplay Being on Love Island At: Bellwood Brewing – their great music, bustling vibes, and sleek-meets-chic exterior is giving Casa Amor meets craft beer.

Weirdest Bevvy I Loved Against My Better Judgment: Henderson Brewing, “Picklefest Blonde” – a pickle-infused brew created for Toronto’s annual Picklefest!

Final sips

After taking the time to explore Toronto’s craft beer scene, I’ve realized that Toronto isn’t just a city with breweries, it’s a city that speaks craft beer in every dialect. Breweries are truly part of the fabric of the city. With its wide variety of brews and welcoming vibes, it’s undeniably one of the most fun cities to explore craft beer in. Whether you’re a local, a traveller, a seasoned beer nerd, or it’s your first brew ever – Toronto’s craft beer scene invites you in, hands you a pint, and makes you feel right at home.