Ontario craft breweries you need to visit
Picton | Parsons Brewing Company
From hazy IPAs to crisp lagers, small-batch brewers across the province are racking up awards at the Canadian Brewing Awards and beyond—proving that great beer doesn’t have to come from big names.
Even with all the accolades, Ontario’s craft brewers remain refreshingly down-to-earth, pouring their passion into every pint and leading the way in sustainable brewing practices.
Here’s a list of standout breweries worth the trip. For even more local gems, check out Ontario Craft Breweries.
Northwest Ontario
Lake of the Woods Brewing Company
Tap into the culture of the north at Ontario’s northernmost brewery, creating craft beer inspired by nature.
Location: 350 2nd Street South, Kenora
Dawson Trail Craft Brewery
Proudly brewing premium craft beer with only fresh ingredients, Dawson Trail is your destination for food, fun and great brews.
Location: 1181 Golf Links Road, Thunder Bay
Sleeping Giant Brewing Company
Known for the distinctive line-up of full-flavoured, balanced and easy-drinking brews, this Thunder Bay brewery features a storefront, taproom and patio.
Location: 712 Macdonell Street, Thunder Bay
Southeastern Ontario
Beau’s Brewing Co.
A local favourite, Beau’s is an award-winning, employee-owned, certified organic, independent brewery open daily for tours and tastings.
Location: 10 Terry Fox Drive, Vankleek Hill
Spearhead Inc
The collab between three flavourful and innovative Kingston-based breweries, Spearhead, Park and Signal, is exciting news for beer lovers.
Location: 675 Development Drive, Kingston
Parsons Brewing Company
Inspired by the history, culture and essence of Prince Edward County, the property features carefully restored heritage buildings and an expansive beer garden.
Location: 876 County Road 49, Picton
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
Clifford Brewing Company
Owner and namesake Brad Clifford had been crafting award-winning home brews for years before realizing his dream of opening a brick-and-mortar brewing facility and taproom in Hamilton’s east end. Awards have included Brewery of the Year and gold for the Chain Link Vienna Lager.
Location: 398 Nash Road North #1, Hamilton
Collective Arts Brewing
Experience the culmination of art, music and craft beer at Collective Arts.
Location: 207 Burlington Street East, Hamilton
MERIT Brewing Company
Adventurous beer drinkers are rewarded by what’s on tap at MERIT. This Hamilton brewery has celebrated wins in the experimental category.
Location: 107 James Street North, Hamilton
Cameron’s Brewing
East of Hamilton, Cameron’s has snagged bronze for Beste Bock, a traditional German bock and gold in the American-style India pale ale category for their well-balanced Jurassic IPA.
Location: 1165 Invicta Drive, Oakville
Niagara Region
Silversmith Brewing Company
Enjoy heavenly-tasting craft beer in a rustic timber-beamed, brick-walled church building over 135 years old.
Location: 1523 Niagara Stone Road, Virgil
The Exchange Brewery
Browse flagship brews and seasonal specials at the tasting room. Gluten-free options are available.
Location: 7 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Bench Brewing Company
Not only has this brewery scored gold for its Lincoln Lager, but it also embraces sustainable brewing practices, achieving zero wastewater and is a certified B-Corp organization.
Location: 3991 King Street, Beamsville
Greater Toronto Area
Paniza Brewing
Jupiter, the gold-winning European-style lager from Toronto’s first and only space-themed brewery, is out-of-this-world good. Look for Paniza brews at an Ontario craft beer festival near you.
Indie Alehouse Brewing Co.
Junction neighbourhood’s favourite brewery has won awards for the Vine Song grape ale and Barnyard, an American Belgo-style ale.
Location: 2876 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Shacklands Brewing Co.
Fans of Belgian-style brews are in for a treat at this west-end small craft brewery specializing in ales and fusions.
Location: 100 Symes Road #101, York
Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Amsterdam has received accolades for the Double Tempest barrel-aged stout and Fracture IPA and Bord du lac, a French-style Saison.
Locations:
- 45 Esandar Drive, Toronto
- 245 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Burdock Brewery
For pilsner drinkers and music lovers, check out Burdock Brewery and Music Hall for fresh beer and live music.
Location: 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Henderson Brewing Co.
Tapping into the history and culture of Canada’s biggest city for inspiration seems to be the secret of success for Henderson Brewing Co.
Location: 128A Sterling Road, Toronto
York, Durham and Headwaters
Old Flame Brewing Company
Old Flame is housed in a historic building dating back to 1874, whose many functions have included a horse-drawn carriage manufacturer, a wood and blacksmith shop and a textile factory, before being converted into a brewery in 2013.
Free tours tell the fascinating story of the place. Don’t leave without a couple of cans of Red Vienna Lager, a gold winner, or their Brunette Munich Dunkel Lager, which took home a silver.
Location: 135 Perry Street, Port Perry
Rouge River Brewing Company
Award-winning craft beers, local food vendor pop-ups, live music and fun events like trivia, line dancing and paint nights make this a spot you’ll want to frequent.
Location: 50 Bullock Drive #8, Markham
All or Nothing Brewhouse & Distillery
Try the award-winning Dunkel from Oshawa’s All or Nothing Brewhouse & Distillery, which received gold in the Canada Beer Cup.
Muddy York Brewing Co.
Muddy York’s flagship Gaslight Helles Lager is a favourite or sample the multi-award-winning Haberdasher Hefeweizen.
Location: 50 Innovator Avenue, Unit 1, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Town Brewery
Savour the diverse and ever-changing beer lineup at Town Brewery in Whitby and head to their nearby beer garden to enjoy brews in the warm months.
Location: 1632 Charles Street, Whitby
Brock Street Brewing
Stop in at the relocated Brock Street Brewing in Whitby for small-batch all-natural premium brews and a bite at 12welve Bistro.
Location: 244 Brock Street South, Whitby
Second Wedge Brewing
Second Wedge Brewing features a whimsical “beer garden of Eden” perfect for sipping away a warm afternoon.
Location: 14 Victoria Street, Uxbridge
Kawarthas and Northumberland
Focal Brewing Co.
Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, fresh pizza (on weekends) and high-quality core, seasonal and special brews at this friendly rural brewery in Hastings.
Location: 73JC+QG Hastings, Trent Hills
Southwestern Ontario
Oranje Son Brewery
Micro but mighty, this small batch garage brewery has snagged gold for a traditional German-style Bock.
Location: 118 Sutherland Street West, Caledonia
Meuse Brewing
Plan to spend some solid time relaxing in the beer garden at this brewery farm and market in Norfolk County.
Location: 1903 Windham Road 3, Scotland
Concession Road Brewing Co.
Located in an old fire hall, this is the type of place that will easily become a frequent hangout spot for its award-winning beer on tap and fun atmosphere.
Location: 17 Talbot Street East #4, Jarvis
Anderson Craft Ales
Not much in this life outshines a fine Cream Ale.
Nestled in London’s historic Old East Village neighbourhood, Anderson Craft Ales is a family-operated brewery that specializes in small-batch, carefully crafted beer, including an award-winning cream ale.
Location: 1030 Elias Street, London
Toboggan Brewing Company
Enjoy the flagship or seasonal brews and great food at the Toboggan Brewing Company brewpub in London.
Location: 585 Richmond Street, London
Railway City Brewing
Book a tour and taste the refreshingly authentic small-batch ales, IPAs and more that pay tribute to the industrial heritage of St. Thomas
Location: 130 Edward Street, St. Thomas
Caps Off Brewing
Caps Off Brewing is another great spot in St. Thomas, proving this area is well worth the pilgrimage for craft beer enthusiasts.
Location: 168 Curtis Street Unit C, St. Thomas
Upper Thames Brewing Co.
Upper Thames was the first craft brewery in Woodstock. It’s a bonus that this microbrewery is in the heart of Oxford County, Ontario’s dairy capital, because a great ale loves a great cheese.
Location: 225 Bysham Park Drive #9, Woodstock
Sons of Kent Brewing Co.
About an hour east of Windsor, Sons of Kent Brewing Co. in Chatham is worth a visit to sample award-winning brews like the German-style Banana Hammock or Mammoth, a wood and barrel-aged strong beer.
Location: 27 Adelaide Street South, Chatham
Walkerville Brewery
Located in the same historic Windsor quarters as Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd, the distillery that put Canadian whisky on the map, this spot is now garnering fame for fine IPAs and Stouts.
Location: 525 Argyle Road, Windsor
Banded Goose Brewing
Under an hour south of Windsor in Kingsville, Banded Goose produces locally sourced craft brews, including an award-winning American-style sour ale.
Location: 15 Main Street East, Kingsville
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Cowbell Brewing Co.
Located in a historic village just 20 minutes from Lake Huron, Cowbell makes craft appreciation an immersive experience with a state-of-the-art production centre, indoor restaurant with outdoor patio and a certified accessible merch and entertainment space.
Choose from a variety of craft beer, cocktail-inspired seltzers and cider. If you’re a lager lover, try Shindig, an awarded North American style lager.
Location: 40035 Blyth Road, Blyth
Torched Brewing
Beach and beer are always a winning combination. After a day at the beach, swing by Grand Bend’s first and only craft brewery.
Location: 36 Ontario Street North, Grand Bend
Bad Apple Brewing Co.
Another edgy little brewery well worth a visit, Bad Apple is a family-owned and run brewhouse, store and taproom. Just look for the barn with the apple skull along the lake from Bayfield to Zurich.
Location: 73463 Bluewater Highway, Zurich
Imperial City Brew House
Join fellow beer enthusiasts on the large patio or in the spacious taproom to explore this collection of bold, premium brews.
Location: 1330 Exmouth Street, Sarnia
Farm League Brewing
Although Farm League likens itself to the minor leagues as the place for up-and-comers, it’s playing in the major leagues now after winning gold recently for Big Ticket, a German-style Kölsch.
Location: 295 Ainslie Street South, Cambridge
Fixed Gear Brewing
Comedy, games, live music and small-batch craft beer make this friendly spot in the heart of the Guelph Junction a fast favourite.
Location: 5 Edinburgh Road South, Guelph
Four Fathers Brewing
If your brew of choice is an IPA, this destination brewery in Cambridge has won awards for The Starter Pale Ale, one of its four core brews.
Location: 125 Guelph Avenue, Cambridge
Waterloo Brewing
In addition to the mainstay line-up, small-batch experimental brews are perfect for the adventurous palate.
Location: 400 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
Wellington Brewery
One of Canada’s original craft breweries is still going strong, consistently producing quality beers with a growing collection of award hardware to prove it.
Location: 950 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph
Bruce, Grey and Simcoe
Thornbury Craft Co.
This popular cider and brew house was originally an apple storage building for the crates of apples destined for Toronto by steam train.
Fresh local ingredients and old-world techniques result in premium craft cider and beer, including the gold-winning Grodziskie.
Location: 90 King Street East, Thornbury
The Collingwood Brewery
Stop by for a pint, like the gold-winning India Pale Ale, from a carefully curated selection proudly brewed in Collingwood.
Location: 10 Sandford Fleming Drive, Collingwood
Barnstormer Brewing
Barrie’s original brewpub features a full restaurant, including a kids’ menu, along with an exciting selection of local craft beer.
Location: 384 Yonge Street, Barrie
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
See how your favourite beers are brewed. The free weekend tours at this funky brewery are always a good time.
Location: 107 Dunlop Street East, Barrie
Couchiching Craft Brewing Co.
A recent merger with Brewery Bay Food Co. means you can enjoy great local beer, including gold-winning Black River dry stout, with upscale brewpub fare.
Location: 162 Mississaga Street East, Orillia
Formosa Springs Brewery 1870 Inc
One of the oldest operating breweries in Canada, Formosa has been crafting beer in the valley of Formosa for over 150 years.
Location: 1120 Bruce Road 12, Formosa
Ottawa Region
Flora Hall Brewing
Flora Hall is a brewery, bar, and restaurant located close to Ottawa’s downtown core that is locally recommended. Ottawa’s residents know a thing or two about good beer. Proof is in their gold-winning American-style Foeder Aged Brett Dubbel.
Location: 37 Flora Street, Ottawa
Big Rig Brewery
Ottawa’s largest craft brewery is located in the Kanata neighbourhood. The taproom is open for lunch and samples throughout the week, with tours of the brewery available every Saturday.
Location: 103 Schneider Road, Kanata
Stray Dog Brewing Co.
Fun events like taproom trivia and open-mic nights are best enjoyed with a flavourful pale ale or stout.
Location: 501 Lacolle Way Suite 6, Orléans
Ridge Rock Brewing Company
Just west of downtown Ottawa in Carp is a cozy craft brewery and brewpub that received accolades for the Electric Mayhem DDHIPA.
Location: 421 Donald B. Munro Drive, Ottawa
Northeastern Ontario
Full Beard Brewing Co.
Established in 2016, Full Beard Brewing Co. brings finely crafted brews to the city of Timmins along with live music shows and a fun schedule of weekly events.
If you’re looking to sample something different, The Bearded Prospector is a smooth cream ale which has won awards in the historic and regional beer category.
Location: 219 Wilson Avenue, Timmins
Whiskeyjack Beer Company
Located between North Bay and Timmins in Temiskaming Shores, thirsty visitors and friends are treated to refreshing, naturally brewed craft beer and a locally inspired menu.
Location: 485 Ferguson Avenue, Haileybury
Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound
Trestle Brewing Company
With a roster of fun events, a waterfront patio overlooking the Seguin River and the CPR Trestle Bridge, a delicious menu of shareable and pairable dishes and an exciting variety of craft beer, this will easily become one of your favourite Georgian Bay destinations.
Location: 9 Great North Road, Parry Sound
Muskoka Brewery
Marking the seasons, Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge brews fun specialty beers and the recent gold-winner, Tread Lightly, a calorie-reduced lager.
Location: 1964 Muskoka Beach Road, Bracebridge
Sawdust City Brewing Co.
This award-winning craft brewery and fully-licensed saloon in Gravenhurst is a local favourite with seasonal releases and year-round beers.
Location: 397 Muskoka Road North, Gravenhurst
Lake of Bays Brewing Company
Fans of Lake of Bays Brewery will be pleased to know they’ve expanded from the Baysville taproom to a secondary Huntsville Brewhouse location and are making waves for their award-winning low-alcohol beers.
Locations:
Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma
Outspoken Brewery
In addition to exceptional craft beer, Sault Ste. Marie’s original brewery is a hub for community, camaraderie and conversation.
Location: 350 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
Northern Superior Brewing Company
Located in the heart of downtown Sault St. Marie, Northern Superior Brewing is the place to go for great food paired with premium lagers and ales.
Location: 50 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Boshkung Brewing Co.
Boshkung Brewing in Minden is a popular stop to stock up en route to cottage country or the backcountry. Pick up the gold-winning Angry Chipmunk specialty IPA.
Location: 20 Water Street, Minden
Haliburton Highlands Brewing Company
Located at Abbey Gardens, a nature-based organic community garden and food hub, craft beer made from local ingredients using sustainable practices makes this award-winning brewery a must-visit for beer lovers.
Location: 15543 Highway 35, Algonquin Highlands
Calabogie Brewing Company
Named after its hometown, Calabogie Brewing Company is dedicated to producing craft beers that honour the authenticity and adventure the destination is known for. Try gold medal Dry Stout or the original Font Porch Kolsch.
Location: 12612 Lanark Road, Calabogie
Cold Bear Brewing Company
Explore a tasty selection of quality beers celebrating a pride of place and brewed from local ingredients.
Location: 100 Madawaska Boulevard, Arnprior
Dog House Brewing Company
This father-son, veteran-operated brewery celebrates the history and culture of Petawawa and the Ottawa Valley and pays homage to the historic Garrison Petawawa.
Location: 1 - 3067 Petawawa Boulevard, Petawawa
Bancroft Brewing Co.
Crafted from the Canadian Shield, stop in for a pint at the brewery or enjoy a meal at the brewpub.
Location: 4 Hastings Street North, Bancroft
Last updated: June 11, 2025