10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Pickering

"Bellwoods Brewery opened up in April of 2012, and is not shy about admitting the hardships of managing their growing brewery because they believe the beer tastes all the better for it. The brewery's popularity comes down to their beers - crisp, fruity pale ales and bold, hoppy IPAs - and they are particularly proud of their imperial stouts, farmhouse ales (saison) and barrel-aged brews. Bellwoods Brewery has won numerous awards from Ratebeer Best, a global community of beer snobs, and the Golden Tap Awards, an annual beer awards events held in Toronto to celebrate Ontario's best craft beer and microbreweries."

"Distance from downtown: 12 minutes Let’s get Bellwoods over and done with because we all know they are the reigning MVP of Toronto craft breweries, enticing Ossington hipsters with killer beer, chic pub food, and fairy lights since 2012. The Bellwoods crew have created a Torontonian craft brew empire with two breweries, retail stores, bottle shops, and lovingly handcrafted beers ranging from imperial stouts to hoppy, fruity pale ales. In recent years they’ve also started to focus on farmhouse ale using wild yeast and bacteria.Best Brew: Jutsu, an American pale ale made with a blend of two different yeasts."

"There’s usually a lineup to get into Bellwoods’ white-picket-fenced patio, but it’s well worth the wait to knock back the beloved beers in a prime people-watching spot. It’s famous for its limited releases and collaborations with international breweries, but you’ll always be able to count on mainstays like the frothy sour ale Jelly King – and its fruity editions, like strawberry rhubarb and pink guava – and the potent American-style IPA Witchshark."

"A photo posted by amsterdambeer (@amsterdambeer) on Nov 22, 2016 at 7:37pm PST. Right on the waterfront, Amsterdam Brewery serves up scenery alongside its fine beers. This two-storey brewhouse is massive and is the perfect place to chill or watch a game after your 30-minute tour."

"Bars and pubs Harbourfront. What is it: Another longtime brewer in Toronto’s craft scene is Amsterdam Brewery, which opened in 1986. The massive waterfront outpost overlooking Lake Ontario seats over 500 folks."

"Located very close to Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower, and the Rogers Centre, Steamwhistle has been a tourist magnet and popular brand in Toronto and Canada for two decades. Founded back in 1998, Steamwhistle finds its home in the Roundhouse – an old red-brick railway repair depot used back in the day. These days, you can tour the brewery or just belly up to the bar for a pint of the classic pilsner that has made them one of the most well-known beers in Canada."

"If it weren’t for the up-close view of a Toronto landmark, you’d think you were in Munich at Steam Whistle Biergarten. The German-style beer hall at the base of the CN Tower serves up traditional German fare — think pretzels and schnitzel — alongside its own beer. Outdoor seating has an expansive view of the skyline beyond the string lights and umbrellas for shade."

"If you are planning to have a blast, Steam Whistle Brewery is the choice to make. Located right at the base of CN Tower – one of the top tourist attractions of Toronto – this place is made better with friendly staff. The Steam Whistle Brewery has been around since two decades and has earned the title of being Canada’s largest and most beloved independent breweries."

"Burdock has a lot going on – it’s a restaurant, a music hall and it also happens to be brewing some of the best beers in the city. Go to catch some live music or sit down to a meal made with local, seasonal ingredients; but stay for the beer (or grab some to go from the bottle shop). Burdock brewed their first batch of beer in July 2015 and have been going strong ever since."

"Burdock Brewery is far from your conventional brewery, which is why it lands on a list of the best bars in Toronto. The owners aren’t just interested in beer, but also in wine, cider and the whole works. In fact, if you’ve visited, you’ll know that they’re often blending their passions, quite literally (apparently beerwine and beercider are things)."

"Burdock combines wine and beer to make beautiful, fruity hybrids. They source local Ontario fruit, and they age their beers using leftover grape skins!. Their space includes a brewery, restaurant, and a music hall, and they’ve even got a chic patio to enjoy your freshly-brewed beer."

"When Chris asked his fellow Toronto bloggers to write on their favourite Toronto breweries, it was a complete no-brainer for me. If you haven't heard about Left Field Brewery on the east side of town, I fear that your Big Smoke brewery tour has a glaring omission. Nestled in a cosy little space on Wagstaff Drive just off of Greenwood Avenue, Left Field first blessed Toronto with its beer in April of 2013 and hasn't looked back since!"

"Started by a homebrewing husband-and-wife team who turned pro in 2013, this baseball-themed Leslieville brewery quickly rose through the ranks of the local Toronto craft scene. Now, Mark and Mandie Murphy make an entire roster of beer worth cheering for (or with – Go Jays!), from hoppy IPAs to rotating seasonals. Try: The Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale, one of the brewery’s all-time fan favourites."

"Baseball is the water of life for many Torontonians, so if you’re stopping in the city, why not go with the flow?. Left Field Brewery brews with intense Blue Jays fervor. It’s dubbed ‘Beer for Champions,’ and each iteration nods to the game."

"Distance from downtown: 17 minutes This family-owned brewery was born out of two brothers’ desire for total control over the creative brewing process, and the need to “brew outside the box.” What you’ll find at Blood Brothers is the adventurous beer drinkers’ paradise in a menu packed with experimental flavours, balanced with enough approachable styles for the casual beer drinker to pick up a four-pack and head to the park for some late autumn rays.Best Brew: You can never go wrong with the golden sour Paradise Lost series (currently pouring Guava in the tap room), but if you came to push the limits of brews outside the box, grab a bottle of White Lies with Riesling, a sour ale brewed with Riesling grapes; $8 per 500-milliliter bottle and $6 for 12 ounces."

"This sibling-run microbrewery has generated quite the cult following since it first opened in 2015, spurred on by the brother brewmasters’ innovative offerings, small-scale batches, and somewhat hidden Geary Ave. location. As a result, their bottles go fast, but they’re well worth the extra effort it takes to track them down. Try: The Paradise Lost series, an ever-changing selection of kettle sours."

"What is it: Boundary-bending craft beers can be hit-and-miss, but brewer brothers Dustin and Brayden Jones have a knack for developing curious brews that are consistently sure bets. The Paradise Lost and White Lies sour series are our go-tos for tart brews. Why go: Blood Brothers Brewing’s location on the industrially-hip Geary Ave. strip makes it an even more happening brewery to hit."

"Tucked away behind a row of houses on a dead-end street just off Queen East, Saulter is the east end’s best-kept beer secret. The brewery’s cherry-red barn doors open to a taproom full of happy beer drinkers, some with babes-in-arms (there’s plenty of stroller parking) or pups on leashes (it doesn’t get more dog friendly than this). The thing to get here is the flagship Riverside Copper Pilsner, a crushable Czech-style brew that’s a little bit malty, a little bit spicy and entirely refreshing."

"It takes effort to find this brewery – head all the way down its namesake residential street, then turn left onto a shady lane covered by spreading trees. What awaits: a small red-doored building outfitted with a no-frills taproom that lets in plenty of sunshine from the laneway. The Czech-style Riverside Copper Pilsner is the flagship beer here, but they’ve also begun branching out with options like a lightly tangy lime witbier."

"This tour's first bus leaves from Yonge-Dundas Square and the pass is good for three consecutive days. Stay aboard for the full two-hour tour, or if you're itching to tackle Toronto , hop off at one of the 21 stops, which include many of Toronto's top attractions, such as the CN Tower, the Eaton Centre, Art Gallery of Ontario, Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum. Consult with the guides for optimum planning and when the busses will be stopping at certain locations. Don't miss the boat tour at the Harbourfront, which is included in your ticket."

"The last area of the day is Dudas Square which is like a mini Times Square. Here you’ll find the Eaton Centre, the city’s largest mall and plenty of restaurants. Across from the Eaton Centre there are some restaurants a few storey’s up where you can grab a place on the patio and overlook all of the action in the square."

"The TIFF Lightbox is one of those places that helps to solve the conundrum "I'm bored!" without turning to your Smartphone. This building is set up to allow you to watch all of the film festival favorites, as well as the fantastic films that slip under the radar when the next Avengers movie dominates the box office. There are snacks (guacamole instead of popcorn should become a thing everywhere) and they do not frown at people who see wine as a perfectly viable concession snack."

"A must see for all film buffs, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is the official home of the Toronto International Film Festival. Inside you’ll find a museum which celebrates all things film and if you really want to geek out be sure to check out the film archives which houses the worlds largest collection of film resources. Sometimes the touring exhibitions are free so check the website before visiting."

"Home of the Toronto Film Festival, as well as other visual arts celebrations, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is a building dedicated to Toronto's film world. Theaters, libraries, galleries, offices, lecture halls, as well as a swank members' lounge and..."

"This classic Parkdale bar and grill is also home to a patio so massive that you can actually park a stroller without fear that it’s blocking a server or fellow guest’s route. While baby enjoys an afternoon nap, you can enjoy one of the bar’s 25 craft beers and watch the action on Queen W. All that space, a menu that has something for everyone, and a low-key vibe also makes this a great space to organize a meetup with those friends who you haven’t seen in forever."

"A Quebec-City institution, the 175-year old, family-owned department store offers an easy-to-navigate site with brands for every price point including designer labels like Carven, Elizabeth and James and Theory. This article was originally published in July 2013. FILED UNDER:BeautyFashionShopping"

"This 175 years old, family-owned department store offers an easy-to-locate site with brands for every budget. Shop for one of your favorite brands like Levis, Nike, Vagabond, and more."

"Yakitori izakaya is absolutely ideal for groups because there are so many items that everyone can pick and try a couple things, and portions are small enough for kids. Head to this Cabbagetown restaurant for a classic representation of a typical Japanese experience."