10 of the Best Craft Breweries in Canada

Currently home to over 1,100 craft breweries, Canada is becoming a mecca for ingenious, bold and delicious beers – and Canadians are fully supportive, spending nearly $2 billion each year on craft brews found locally.

We know tastes are subjective – but here are our picks for the top ten craft breweries in Canada! Stay tuned for upcoming blogs where we’ll include more breweries, restaurants, natural wonders and more you should be checking out across Canada.

Found only on the island, Copper Bottom Brewing keeps a strong year-round selection of classics like Pale, Red and American ales while sprinkling in adventurous seasonal and one-offs that explore the more experimental side of brewing.

Started by two born-and-raised Saskatoonians who discovered a love of craft beer stateside, High Key beers are approachable with inventive touches that set them apart from the crowd – like their Irish Red Ale, brewed with oak chips and conditioned with dark rum for a deep, unique flavour profile.

The craft beer scene in Newfoundland and Labrador is starting to grow and Rough Waters is definitely leading the pack. With high-quality flagship beers and creative labels that highlight Newfoundland culture and history, our only disappointment is that they can’t be found outside Deer Lake!

Focused on creating craft beers that appeal to everyone, Trans-Canada Brewing keeps their four core beers simple while experimenting with special releases like their County Sour series. TCB lived up to their name with the 2019 release of their Confederation Ale No. 152, using ingredients from all 13 provinces and territories.

What started as a small brewpub has grown into a multiple-facility project putting out creative projects that rarely miss the mark. Often heavily featuring fruit flavours and vintage-weird labels, Bellwoods bottled beers are perfect to have on hand for when you need that perfect sip to cap off a long day.

Brewed with hops grown on the property and certified organic, Big Spruce beers run the gamut from easy- drinking golden ales to hefty Imperial stouts. Not content to stick to only beers, Big Spruce hard seltzers and barley wines make a regular appearance – perfect for those looking to support local and mix it up a bit!

Hoyne rarely disappoints fans with their core and limited release beers. All beers are focused on one thing – having a great time with a great drink, whether on your own or with others. While traditionally brewed, the team doesn’t shy away from trying new tricks to elevate even the basics to the next level.

Inspired by the land surrounding them, Blindman uses local ingredients to create full-flavoured beers in nearly any style you could think of. Rotating patron favourites and experimenting with barley wines and fruited beers, there truly is a beer for every person, every mood and every occasion at Blindman.

Operating since 1998, Dieu du Ciel! started as a brewpub in Montreal, later expanding to include the microbrewery in St-Jerome. Many of their regular and seasonal beers pack a one-two punch with inventive flavours and high ABVs, perfect for slow days in the sun and evenings around the campfire.

Winners of the Cream Ale category in the 2020 Canadian Brewing Awards, Tire Shack keeps a tight roster of exceptional beers in rotation – and leaves room to experiment with exciting new flavours and techniques to push their own boundaries (with delicious results)!

Don’t worry – we know the territories are home to great breweries too! In the Yukon, Winterlong Brewing produces a little bit of everything delicious, while NWT Brewing is features northern-named and inspired beers to share with friends. Nunavut is home to just one brewery, NuBrewCo, and has the honour of being the most northern brewery in Canada!

Keep the Canadiana going when you crack a beer this weekend with our Hockey Stick Bottle Opener hand-made from hockey sticks featuring all the game-play scuffs, scrapes and scratches from Canada’s favourite sport.

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