Toronto brewery that was a community hub abruptly closes permanently
The popular Toronto outpost of an Ontario brewery has closed permanently after just four years in the city.
In an Instagram post shared on July 20, Something in the Water Brewery announced it would be closing its Toronto location for good. In the post, the brewery said the decision came after facing mounting hurdles that were "ultimately too great to overcome."
The Liberty Village brewery, known for its flights and tapped beer, first opened in 2022, marking the company's expansion from Kingston, Ontario, into the city.
Despite its relatively short run in town, the closure has sparked discussion among regular patrons and former employees alike. Some of the latter have also shared additional details about what they described as ongoing operational issues leading up to the shutdown.
A Reddit user claiming to be a former employee took to the platform and said "there were a lot of signs pointing to them not doing well," alleging problems including a lack of hot water behind the bar, a dishwasher that was never repaired, and even an Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario investigation during the recent 2026 World Cup, when the brewpub was allegedly operating well over capacity.
An image shared in the same Reddit thread, which appears to show an internal message from the owners to staff, offers further insight into the reasons behind the closure.
In the message, the owners acknowledged the challenges of operating the Liberty Village location, writing that "we certainly tried everything to make Liberty productive, but alas nothing bought the traffic required to make the location successful."
The abrupt closure of Something in the Water's Toronto location has disappointed the beer hotspot's regulars, who often gathered in the space for more than just what's on tap; the brewery was known for its bingo nights and community events that made it a local hub.
Saddened customers took to the comments section of the Instagram announcement with remarks like "I am so sad to hear this!! Your beer is really great," and "sad to hear. Loved your bingo nights!"
It's worth noting that Ghost Tacos, which operated at the brewery's Liberty Village location, is now also closed.
The owners of Something in the Water's Liberty Village location were not available for comment at the time of publication.
It's not all bad news, though: while the business has now said goodbye to its Toronto patrons, its original Kingston brewery remains open and operational. Something in the Water was formerly located at 151 E. Liberty St.
Hector Vasquez
