Co-founders Eric Portelance and Callum Hay push the craft beer envelope by adding unexpected ingredients to classic recipes. Find rose hips in a saison (Tokyo Rose), elderflower in a cider (Elder God) and strawberry and kiwi in a gose (Ion Cannon). Grab a growler from the bottle shop or stick around for a tasting flight in Halo’s bright, industrial taproom, where you might catch a glimpse of the brewers in action.
Sean Howard
This Roncesvalles brewery has a German beer hall vibe thanks to strings of fairy lights and picnic table-style seating. Branded after the city's crafty trash pandas, Bandit offers eight house-brewed beers on tap, rotating through core recipes and seasonal specials. The flagship Smoke on the Porter is derived from co-founder Stephane Dubois' homebrew recipe, while the Hassel-Hef is a bright, citrusy hefeweizen reminiscent of warm summer days on the patio.
Angela Savinon
This one-stop brew pub in the Junction pairs flavourful craft beer with refined food. The beer selection rotates regularly, featuring everything from saisons to pale ales to barrel-aged sours. There is a bottle shop next door, but the best way to experience Indie Ale House is to hit up one of the beer pairing dinners, in which guest chefs both cook food and create collaborative one-off beers to go with it.
Despite being open for just over four years, this west-end operation is considered a veteran in the city’s microbrewing community. Expect lineups outside the brewpub door, where patrons wait to sample tart, sippable sours like the Jelly King, or the hop-forward Jutsu, a cloudy pale ale with fresh, fruity notes. Treat yourself to a one-off reserve bottle like the Barn Owl #4, barrel-aged and bottle conditioned for a more complex beer drinking experience.
Celine Kim
Folly Brewpub tends to keep a low profile, which is surprising when you realize the long list of things it has going for it. To start, its tap line-up of Belgian-style saisons and farmhouse ales, which is right on trend. Then there’s the better-than-average pub menu of small plates and shareables cooked up in a sleek, open kitchen. And the unexpected bonus? An impressive back bar of over 400 whiskies.
You may not recognize the name Mike Duggan, but you’ve probably tried his beer. A 30-year brewing veteran, Duggan has had a hand in developing and advising dozens of different breweries both locally and internationally (including co-founding Mill Street Brewery). Duggan’s flagship beer, the No.9 IPA — a piney brew with a pleasant grapefruit finish — is a good place to start your exploration of what’s on tap at his Parkdale brewery. The brewery’s airy, industrial interior is a fitting match for its approachable menu of pub staples.
