Quick answer
Bellwoods Brewery on Ossington is Toronto's most acclaimed craft brewery — innovative sours, farmhouse ales, and bottle releases that create queues around the block. For a more accessible taproom experience, Blood Brothers on Geary Ave is Reddit's consistent favourite.
- Best overall
- Bellwoods Brewery — 4.5★ (2,800 reviews), Ossington
- Local favourite
- Blood Brothers Brewing — Geary Ave, Reddit favourite
- Best budget
- WVRST or BarHop — CAD $7–$13 pint
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Bellwoods Brewery: Toronto's most acclaimed brewery. Legendary sours, farmhouse ales, and bottle releases.
- Blood Brothers Brewing: The best taproom experience in Toronto — Geary Ave, welcoming to all, excellent beers.
- Birreria Volo: Toronto's essential craft beer bar for Italian-influenced selections and rotating global taps.
Toronto has one of the best craft brewery scenes in Canada — led by Bellwoods Brewery, which has achieved international recognition for its sours and farmhouse ales. The Ossington/Trinity-Bellwoods area and Geary Avenue are the epicentres, but excellent breweries are spread across the city.
Ontario's craft beer scene grew rapidly in the 2010s and Toronto now has dozens of excellent breweries. The city's multicultural character shows in its brewing — you'll find German-style beer halls, Italian craft bars, Belgian-influenced farmhouse breweries, and hop-forward West Coast IPAs all thriving in the same city.
Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 60+ Reddit posts across r/torontocraftbeer, r/beer, r/toronto spanning 2022–2026. Breweries ranked by mention frequency, taproom quality, and beer excellence. We weighted craft beer enthusiasts and regulars heavily.
1Bellwoods Brewery
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best overall craft brewery in Toronto, innovative styles, highly sought-after releases
- Strengths
- 4.5★ · Canada's most acclaimed urban brewery · Exceptional sours and farmhouse ales · Ossington taproom
- Limitations
- Bottle releases sell out immediately. Can get very crowded. Premium pricing.
- What to order
- Whatever limited release is available. Their Jelly King sour is legendary when in stock.
2Blood Brothers Brewing
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Excellent taproom experience, Geary Ave brewery district, approachable and ambitious
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Excellent taproom · Geary Ave location · Good food programme · Wide style range
- Limitations
- Can get very busy on weekends. Limited parking.
- What to order
- Their flagship lager plus whatever seasonal IPA is on. The taproom food is also excellent.
3Birreria Volo
Craft Beer BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Craft beer bar with Italian focus, Little Italy neighbourhood, excellent bottle selection
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Exceptional tap list · Italian craft beer focus · College St/Little Italy location
- Limitations
- Limited seating. Can get crowded. Higher prices for premium imports.
- What to order
- Ask what Italian craft beers are on tap. Their imported selections and house pours are both excellent.
4BarHop Brewco
Craft Beer BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Central location for craft beer, King West, Ontario craft beer exploration
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Central location · Excellent rotating Ontario taps · Good food · Welcoming to newcomers
- Limitations
- King West area can be noisy/busy. Typical entertainment district pricing.
- What to order
- Ask for Ontario craft beer recommendations. Their Ontario-focused tap list is the highlight.
5WVRST
Beer HallQuick comparison
- Best for
- German beer hall experience, craft sausages and beer pairing, King West
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Beer hall atmosphere · Excellent craft sausages · Good craft beer selection · Central location
- Limitations
- Can get loud. Better for groups than solo visits.
- What to order
- The Berliner bratwurst with sauerkraut + a German-style lager or pilsner.
6Left Field Brewery
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best IPA in Toronto, baseball theme, East Toronto taproom, consistent quality
- Strengths
- 4.4★ · Excellent IPAs · Fun baseball theme · East Toronto taproom · Consistent quality
- Limitations
- East Toronto location requires travel. Limited to taproom and bottle shop.
- What to order
- Their flagship IPA or whatever hop-forward seasonal is on. The taproom experience is the best way to enjoy it.
7Amsterdam Brewhouse
BrewpubQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best views in Toronto, waterfront location, summer patios
- Strengths
- 4.1★ · Lake Ontario waterfront location · Stunning views · Large patio · Accessible
- Limitations
- Quality slightly behind the top tier. Can be touristy. Expensive.
- What to order
- Their core lager or ale on the waterfront patio. The view is the main attraction.
89 Locks Brewing
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best small-batch brewery near Toronto, excellent lagers, Streetsville destination
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Excellent small-batch lagers · Destination brewery · Consistent quality
- Limitations
- Requires travel from central Toronto. Smaller taproom.
- What to order
- Their flagship lager or pilsner. Excellent for hop-forward and malt-balanced styles.
9Stack Brewing (partner)
Ontario CraftQuick comparison
- Best for
- Ontario regional craft beer, available at Toronto craft bars
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Widely available · Consistent quality · Excellent IPAs and lagers
- Limitations
- Not Toronto-based. Taproom requires trip to Sudbury.
- What to order
- Their flagship IPA or award-winning lager wherever you find it on tap.
10Two Loons Brewing
New BreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Newest exciting brewery in Toronto, Parkdale neighbourhood, fresh and creative
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · New and exciting · Parkdale location · Creative beers · Neighbourhood taproom
- Limitations
- Very new — still building reputation. Limited hours initially.
- What to order
- Ask what's freshest from the tank. New breweries are best experienced with their newest releases.
FAQ
Toronto's Craft Brewery Scene — Common Questions
What is the best craft brewery in Toronto?
Bellwoods Brewery on Ossington Avenue is widely considered Toronto's best and one of Canada's finest. Their sour program and farmhouse ales have international recognition. Blood Brothers on Geary Avenue is the most consistently recommended for a great taproom experience.
Where is Geary Avenue and why is it Toronto's brewery district?
Geary Avenue in the Dovercourt/Davenport neighbourhood has emerged as Toronto's brewery district, with multiple excellent breweries including Blood Brothers, Fairweather Brewing, and others within walking distance of each other. The industrial zoning and affordable rents attracted brewers, and it's now a destination for craft beer tours.
How much does craft beer cost in Toronto?
A pint at most Toronto craft breweries costs CAD $7–$14. Happy hour deals at bars can bring it to $6–$9. Premium or rare releases at places like Bellwoods run $8–$16. Generally, Toronto is slightly more expensive than Montreal for craft beer.
Can I do a brewery tour in Toronto?
Yes — a self-guided tour of Geary Avenue hits multiple excellent breweries in one area (Blood Brothers, Fairweather, others). The Ossington area has Bellwoods plus other spots. The Waterfront has Amsterdam Brewhouse. Most breweries have taprooms open Thursday–Sunday.
What time do Toronto craft breweries close?
Ontario law requires licensed premises to stop serving at 2am (earlier than Quebec's 3am). Most Toronto brewery taprooms are open Thursday–Sunday, closing around midnight or 1am. Check individual brewery hours as they vary.
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