Although the brewery scene in Ontario has been beset by a lack of places serving draught, a public health crisis of unprecedented proportions, and that one week when we all just decided to stay home, breweries continue to open across the province. Some are making the leap to physical space from contract brewing. Some older facilities have given way to new ownership. From Corruna to Ottawa, here are the newest breweries in the province of Ontario. May they pour many a pint.
Braumeister Bierhalle
Ottawa (late summer 2021) Now open in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood, Braumeister focuses on traditional styles from German trained brewmaster Sheldon Scrivner. The new Bierhalle serves classical European food like pierogies, sausages, and cabbage rolls to go along with the festhalle vibe and quality lagers. Braumeister.ca
Broken Rail Brewing
St.Mary’s (summer 2021) Opening with a small number of beers on tap, part of the appeal of Broken Rail is the space in the disused Junction Station and the wide variety of food trucks that supply the brewery with disparate and interesting fare on weekends. Try Tesla’s Revenge IPA and wonder whether Broken Rail and Bell City’s Edison’s Peepshow will have beef. BrokenRailBrewing.ca
Daft Brewing
Kingston (spring 2021) Located on Princess Street in a repurposed garage, Daft features beers named after pop culture references and the pink flamingo as a thematic motif. Popular locally for their array of complex yet quaffable sours, they also have a focused kitchen with something for everyone. Try the Velvet Thunder; perhaps the only beer named after Raymond Holt. Daftbrewing.com
Dragan Brewing and Wine
St.Catharines (summer 2021) Making the leap from contract brewing after a lengthy search for a space, the Golden Horseshoe’s newest brewery is now open with a focus on Pale Ales and IPAs. The pop up menu from Twenty Restaurant features some sophisticated fare like a Whipped Ricotta dip and a Bison Tartare. DraganBrewingAndWine.com
Farm League Brewing
Galt (summer 2021) Located in the old Galt Knife Factory (once home of Grand River by way of Magnotta) Farm League will have opened their taproom by the time of publication. In the meantime, they’re making a variety of IPAs and collaborating on brews with local bottle shop Old Galt to get a little extra exposure. Hopefully you’ll rate them AAA. FarmLeagueBrewing.com
Haven Brewing Company
Peterborough (spring 2021) More a rebrand than a launch, Haven (now operated by Niagara College grad Andrew Anker) replaces Smithavens Brewing while retaining the nod to traditional German styles the original brewery started with. The pleasant taproom retains all the broad beamed charm of an Alpine hunting lodge and the Kellerbier is tasting better than ever. HavenBrewing.ca
New Ritual Brewing
Oshawa (spring 2021) The newest addition to the Durham scene, New Ritual’s instagram is a riot of tropical fruit and fanciful attire. The focus on contemporary juicy IPAs is immediately evident, and there’s already hype surrounding New Ritual’s ability to summon up a whole bunch of myrcene and jam it into a can. Occult? Maybe. Hazy? You bet your ouija. NewRitualBrewing.com
Nickel Brook Etobicoke
Etobicoke (summer 2021) When Nickel Brook purchased Big Rock’s Toronto production facility for 2.1 million, they decided to include a taproom. A great place to sample the new IPAs and sours that are constantly emerging from the Nickel Brook lineup. There’s a quiet oasis of a patio and plenty of parking for those of you looking to skip the LCBO and Beer Store. NickelBrook.com
Shillow Beer Company
Ottawa (Summer 2021) Finally making the transition to a physical location, Shillow Beer Company has also made the transition to a new city. Best known for years as the house tap at Toronto’s beerbistro, Jamie Shillow now has the space to play with additional styles and has branched out significantly. Plus, all of the beer is as kosher as matzoh. Shillowbeer.com
Turkey Shoot Brewing Co.
Keswick (summer 2021) With experience under their belts from helping launch Smithers Brewing in B.C., Turkey Shoot is Georgina’s first craft brewery. The selection of beers at time of writing leans a little old school, but the converted pallet beer garden is sure to delight. No Turkeys were harmed in the building of the brewery. TurkeyShootBrewingCo.com
Two Water Brewing
Corunna (summer 2021) Located in Lambton county on the St. Clair river just south of Sarnia, Two Water launched with five beers in August including a blueberry ale. With weekly music and trivia nights, Two Water is sure to be a great addition to the local community. TwoWaterBrewing.com
Wishbone Brewing Company
Waterford (summer 2021) Norfolk County’s newest brewery, Wishbone, sits in a tastefully appointed building with a patio boasting views of Shadow Lake. The beer menu bravely bridges territory from Dark Mild to Black Cherry Punch Seltzer to Pineapple Weisse. There’s something for everyone and pretzels to boot. WishboneBrews.com
Wrinkly Bear Brewing
Grand Valley (summer 2021) Occupying a space in a public school built in 1892, Wrinkly Bear is content to serve five of their own beers while bringing in guest taps from other local breweries and cideries. Try the Thundercub IPA with the Aloha Burger. Sure, there might not be bears on Oahu, but it’s going to pair pretty nicely. WrinklyBearBrewing.ca
