10 Best Breweries 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 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."

"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."

"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."

"The dog in Black Lab’s logo isn’t just cute branding: This east-end brewery rolls out the red carpet for furry patrons and hosts its share of doggie birthday parties and rescue fundraisers. If you are a biped with kidneys that can metabolize alcohol, good news: They also pour everything from an excellently toasty black lager to the aptly named Underdog Oat Pale Ale, which packs a surprising punch of bitter, piney hop flavour."

"What is it: Dog-crazed, beer-loving Torontonians finally have a place to indulge in both obsessions: Black Lab Brewing. While the production area is off limits for hounds, dogs are free to roam around the 3,600-square-foot taproom while their humans enjoy hazy APAs and imperial IPAs. Why go: With strict food safety laws prohibiting animals entry at most Toronto venues, we welcome Black Lab with open arms (and paws)."

"A post shared by Black Lab Brewing (@blacklabbeer) on Apr 14, 2019 at 8:21pm PDT. Chris from travelingmitch:. “Black Lab Brewing Inc. was only founded in March 2018, so it’s new to the Toronto brewery scene, but it’s certainly made a name for itself…and fast."

"If you didn’t have a good reason to stroll, run or cycle the West Toronto Railpath before, you do now. Henderson Brewing Co., just steps from the trail in the Junction Triangle, is the best excuse to do something active…so you can cool off with a beer. There are some solid mainstays—Food Truck blond and Henderson’s Best amber, to name a couple—but we especially like the Ides Of series, a new monthly brew that’s often an ode to Toronto (like the End of Honesty lager, a shout-out to Honest Ed’s)."

"Despite only being founded in 2014, Henderson’s Toronto roots run deep, from its name – an homage to Robert Henderson, the city’s first brewer – to its award-winning Henderson’s Best, a modern reimagining of a classic Toronto bitter. But that’s not all: they also release a new 6ix-inspired beer monthly as part of their limited-edition Ides lineup. Try: Henderson’s Best, a beer that lives up to its name, and then some."

"Bar Volo has been an institution for the past 30 years so, and they’ve carried their reputation to the new location on Nicholas Street. The biggest attraction here is probably the 26 rotating taps that they have, often with some unique and unusual beers that aren’t widely available at other Toronto bars. It makes them a favourite for die-hard Untappd users who are looking to pad their check-ins."

"Techie-turned-brewer Callum Hay takes traditional beers and adds spin with ingredients like rose hips, ­sarsaparilla, tangerine and prickly pear. If you like what you drink—and if you’re an aspiring or experienced home brewer—all of Halo’s recipes can be found on their website. If not, a visit to the taproom for a pint of something super juicy, sour or hoppy is in order."

"Tiny Halo Brewery is tucked away on Wallace Ave. in the Junction Triangle and the tap room makes good use of its small space. A few snacks, like soft pretzels and scones, are on offer but otherwise it’s all about the beer. Callum Hay and Eric Portelance began as homebrewers and are now making creative beers for the masses."

"Nugateau is an all-eclair patisserie known for authentic French baking techniques and high-quality products with no artificial flavourings. Nugateau has a brilliant selection of creative flavours like Roseabelle (Raspberry Rose & Mascarpone Cream, Raspberry Compote, White Chocolate Glaze, Dried Raspberry and rose petals, Candied Almonds) and Belleviolette (Cassis cremeux,Violet glaze, Fresh Blackberry) meaning their eclairs are guaranteed to delight."

"A post shared by Nügateau Patisserie (@nugateau) on Mar 5, 2020 at 10:15am PST. While this french pastry shop is mostly dedicated to eclairs, cakes are to be found on the menu, and they’re made with just as much care as the tinier offerings. Made with no artificial flavourings, each of these works of art is decorated so elaborately that you almost won’t want to eat it."

"After a period of celebrating the jack-of-all-trades, it is nice to see some specialization in the dessert world. Nugateau is a bakery that uses French baking techniques to result in fantastic eclairs, and only eclairs. This doesn't mean that creativity is out of the window."

"The cakes at Rahier can be described as modern, chic and scrumptious!. The nouveau style of decorating has attracted quite the following since it opened in 1996. The croissants are also laminated to perfection, making them as flaky and buttery as the ones found in Paris."

"McEwan enjoyed the Mata Hari cake, with mango and coconut mousse. “The gooseberry is pretty but perhaps misleading as I couldn’t taste this through the cake. It complemented the flavours well, however.” McEwan was particularly fond of the papaya compote and texture."

"Best Croissants In Toronto For: Authentic, classic French pastries. Technically, pain perdu translates to “lost bread” in reference to how French toast saves stale bread from being “lost.” However, in this context, Pain Perdu is a bakery known for purveying glorious, classic French confections. This quaint St. Clair West spot is lauded by locals as a hidden gem to find the best croissants in Toronto with a rich buttery flavour and flaky texture."

"Pain Perdu is renowned for its Parisian baked goods like croissants, quiche, eclairs and mille-feuille. Located in the St. Clair West neighbourhood, the décor is quaint and the staff is on point. This combination makes Pain Perdu a must-try for anyone who wants to pretend they’re in Paris for an afternoon."

"2 Bloor Street East, Eaton Centre at 220 Yonge Street, Dominion Centre at 66 Wellington Street West. Purdys Chocolatier is one of the most popular Canadian West Coast sweet shops. Starting in 1907, Richard Carmon Purdy found great success selling premium chocolates in British Columbia and Alberta."

"Futura Granita + Gelato first opened in September, 2019 on St. Clair Avenue West and is owned by Lois Kim and Carlo Diano. Diano explains the Toronto gelato shops unique name, “Lois’ background is in graphic design, and Futura is a famous typeface. In addition, Futura is a song by an Italian singer/songwriter named Lucio Dalla who is from Bologna, where we learned the craft of gelato and granita-making."

"We used to frequent this spot after soccer games so it’s a nostalgic one for me. Founded by the Aben family back in the 80s, Dutch Dreams is a Toronto institution when it comes to ice cream. Their flavours are Kosher, can only be found at their parlour and are always made with fresh cream."

"Husband and wife team Theo and Dina Aben are the owners of Dutch Dreams. The popular Toronto ice cream parlour most certainly wins top prize for the best decorated exterior. Skip over to Dutch Dreams and you’ll find a spacious outdoor patio, which sits below an eye-popping brick wall."

"What: One of the most popular ice cream shops in Toronto, this place is a family business. The Aben family opened it in the 1980s and their menu features Dutch recipes passed down for generations. The Dutch ice cream tradition is to start every recipe with fresh cream."