The Best Microbrewery in Toronto

The best microbrewery in Toronto stands atop a crowded pack. Not long ago the discerning beer drinker was limited to the exotic flavours of Carlsberg and Heineken. And if local was your thing, well, then you'd had better develop a taste for the highly carbonated streamlined flavours of the Big Two. But as beer culture has exploded across North America, craft brewing has offered new variety to enthusiasts.

Today Mill Street is just about as common in a downtown bar as any Molson product and Steam Whistle is constantly expanding its reach, delivering all the way to the Pacific.

That a list can even be assembled of the 15 best microbreweries in the Toronto area, and that there can be a number of decent breweries that didn't make the cut speaks volumes about how far we've come. And not only can we celebrate the diversity and sheer number of small batch brewers, these brewers are being recognized on an international scale. So, who are the best microbreweries in Toronto? Let's see:

Duggan's Brewery

When word got out that former Mill St. brewmaster Mike Duggan was starting up a brand new microbrewery, expectations were high. After all, the man who introduced Tankhouse to the world had a lot to live up to. Of course, when Duggan's Brewery finally did open its doors at the end of last year any fears were laid to rest. The brewery's signature beer, the #9, has the complexity and aggressive hop flavour of a surefire winner, which it is - taking home gold in the Pale Ale category at the Ontario Brewing Awards.

Mill Street Brewery

Ask any in-the-know person around town what their favourite local brewery is and there's a good chance they'll say Mill Street. From the Tankhouse to the Organic to their latest runaway hit the Lemon Tea Beer, Mill Street took microbrewing to the next level in this town, brought great beer to the masses and thankfully, we're all basking in the rewards.

Steam Whistle Brewing

"Do one thing really, really well." That's the motto Steam Whistle Brewing has operated under since opening its doors in 2000 and their pilsner is done really, really well. But to say that's all they do is a little misleading; they also do branding really, really well. In the decade they've been around they've grown to be one of the biggest breweries in the province, without ever sacrificing their unique, crisp flavour.

The Amsterdam Brewing Company

There was a time when Amsterdam was about as ubiquitous in Toronto as a Leafs fan. They were one of the first, but as competition has crowded the market the brewery has had to retool over the past couple years. That retooling of course, has more to do with marketing than brewing. Their Framboise remains one of the best fruit beers on the market and their seasonal selection is as good as any in town.

Black Oak Brewing Company

Known best for their Nut Brown and Pale Ale, Black Oak might be one of the most underrated breweries in the city. Without the retro-sheik design aesthetics of some of the other establishments on the list, Black Oak relies on beer and beer alone to make their case. While their signature brews are among the best of their respective styles, seek out their tenth anniversary limited edition Double IPA Ten Bitter Years for one of the finest brews this side of anywhere.

Great Lakes Brewing Company

There was a time when the Toronto beer landscape was as barren and boring as say, the Toronto political landscape (jab!). One of the first to challenge the reign of the Labatt's and Molson's of the world was Great Lakes. Today they're best known for their adventurous seasonal flavours like Pumpkin, Green Tea, and Orange Peel, although many of them have become popular enough that you can find them year round.

Wellington Brewery

This Guelph-based brewery is the oldest independently owned microbrewery in the country. Taking it's name from the man who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo - Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington - this southern Ontario staple fills out their favour with hints of sweetness. While today's brewers go hop-wild for bitterness, the wisdom at Wellington leans towards balance. Their beers are rich and flavourful with a signature malty aftertaste.

Cameron's Brewing Co.

When I first moved to Toronto I thought this was brewed by the Cameron House - it's not. It is available there, which you must understand, for a naïve 20-year-old, is a convincing argument in itself. What Cameron's does best is brew smooth drinkable session beers. In fact, two to eight pints of Cameron's Cream Ale, perched at the Cameron House bar, is a pretty great way to spend an evening.

Granite Brewery

The sister brewery to the original Halifax location, Granite is one of those breweries that you should see more of. Their flagship Peculiar Ale is a genuine class act and the rest of the line follows suit. Much of their line pays tribute to the bitterness of hops, something they understand very well there. Stop by the brewpub for seasonal selections as well.

County Durham Brewing Company

This Pickering brewery is best known for their C'est What Homegrown Hemp Ale, more of a gimmick than anything else. But don't let that sway you from their Signature Ale, which is perfectly balanced with a brief but distinct bitterness that leaves just a hint of an aftertaste. It's a great go-to when The Beer Store selection is feeling a little stale.

Church-Key Brewing

Named for the century old Methodist church in which the brewery is located, Church-Key brews their flagship Northumberland Ale as well as the Holy Smoke Scotch Ale, an interesting and unique brew that has a very distinctive smoky flavour, and that's not smoky like a wine might be smoky, we're talking smoky like a campfire.

Black Creek Historic Brewery

The goal at Black Creek Pioneer Village, located at the northwestern edge of Toronto, is to give visitors a glimpse of life in Ontario back in the 1860s. It's a place most of us who grew up around here remember from school trips when we were young. What I don't recall from those trips is the Black Creek Historic Brewery. They do everything the old-fashioned way without stainless steel and refrigeration (not to worry, the pub serves it cold if that's your thing) and what do you know? The beer is fantastic.

Denison's Brewing Company

At Denison's they're cautious - very cautious. Since 1989 they've been producing perhaps the finest local examples of Bavarian Weissbier and Dunkel around, but it wasn't until 2003 were you able to get it anywhere other than their brewery--and even then if you wanted to take it home, you had better make sure you were equipped with a draught line. Fortunately for us consumers, the folks at Denison's have decided this whole 'canning' fad is here to stay and their Weissbier is now available in single serving sizes.

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Flying Monkeys used to be known as Robert Simpson Brewery. Back then they bottled beer with names like Robert Simpson Confederation Ale. It was decent beer, with an understated, responsible flavour profile. Then something happened, I can't say what exactly, but I blame drugs, and soon Flying Monkey was born. Today their flagship Ale is the Hoptical Illusion, a bold, dry-hopped brew that is more Otto than Simpson.

Magnotta Brewery

For a place known primarily as a winery, Magnotta does beer pretty well. Their True North series runs the gamut from dry, bitters like the True North India Pale Ale to rich and malty full-bodied brews like the Copper Altbier. Each distinct, but still tasting remarkably Magnotta; according to their website they do spirits too - Magnotta Martini?

See also: The Best Beer Selection in Toronto