Toronto and Ontario Brewery Tours: The Complete Guide to the Province's Craft Beer Scene

September 15, 2026

Ontario's craft beer scene does not get the same spotlight as its wine country, but it should. Toronto alone has dozens of independent breweries scattered across the West End, the Junction, and the East End, and cities like Ottawa are quietly building some of the best beer communities in the country.

The hard part is not finding good beer. It is figuring out which breweries are worth your afternoon, how to get between them without driving, and which tour format actually fits your group. Here is what a guided Ontario brewery tour looks like in practice, and how to pick the right one.

What to Look for in a Brewery Tour

Not every "brewery tour" is the same experience. Some are a minibus with a guide who has relationships at each stop. Some are self-guided pub crawls. Some are on a bike, and a few are on the water. The right pick depends on your group size, how much walking you want to do, and whether you are drinking with beginners or people who already know their IPA from their gose.

Round-trip transportation matters more than people expect. A guide who can get your group a tasting flight and a quick brewery walkthrough, instead of just a table, also makes a real difference.

The Toronto Brewery Tour

Canadian Craft Tours' flagship Toronto Brewery Tour runs as a public minibus tour with round-trip transportation from Keele Subway Station. It visits three breweries in Toronto's West End, Junction, or East End, with a 4x5oz tasting flight at each stop. Public tours are $110 per person, and private tours with custom pickup and drop-off locations are also available.

What a Typical Tour Looks Like

Tours meet at 4:45pm for a quick orientation before heading out by 5:00pm sharp. The group visits three breweries between 5:00pm and 8:00pm, each with a short introduction, a brewery walkthrough where available, and a tasting flight with notes from the guide. There is time built in to order food at most stops, and the guide keeps things moving with a bit of trivia and background on Ontario's craft beer industry along the way. The tour wraps up around 8:15pm back at the drop-off point.

More Ways to Drink Your Way Through Toronto

If a minibus tour is not the vibe, Canadian Craft Tours runs two seasonal alternatives worth knowing about, both of which typically run through the warmer months rather than year-round.

Toronto Party Bike

The Toronto Party Bike is a 14-passenger pedal-powered bike that visits three breweries over about two hours, with a Bluetooth stereo and a Beer Geek guide along for the ride. Tours are $39 per person, though the cost of beer itself is not included. It is a seasonal, weather-dependent option, so it is best treated as a summer plan rather than something to count on in the fall or winter.

Toronto Craft Beer Boat Tour

For something different, the Toronto Craft Beer Boat Tour takes private groups of 8 to 12 out on the water by licensed boat, with stops at the Toronto Island Marina Upper Dock and Island Riviera for a beer at each. It runs from May 1st to September 30th, so it is a tour to plan for next summer rather than a fall booking. Pricing starts at $185 per person for a 2.5 to 3 hour outing.

Beyond Toronto: Ottawa's Craft Beer Scene

Toronto is not the only Ontario city worth a brewery tour. Ottawa has become one of the province's fastest-growing craft beer destinations, and Canadian Craft Tours runs a dedicated Ottawa Brewery Tour that visits three of the city's top breweries in about four hours, starting at $110 per person.

The rotating brewery lineup draws from names like Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, Tooth and Nail Brewing Company, Dominion City Brewing Co., Bicycle Craft Brewery, Vimy Brewing Company, Overflow Brewing Company, Broadhead Brewing Company, and Flora Hall Brewing, with one behind-the-scenes brewery experience included when available. Unlike the seasonal Toronto add-ons, the Ottawa tour runs privately year-round, with a minimum of 8 guests on Saturdays and 6 guests Sunday through Friday.

Don't Forget Niagara and Collingwood

If your trip touches other parts of the province, Canadian Craft Tours also runs guided brewery tours in Niagara and Collingwood, both built around the same small-group, round-trip transportation format as the Toronto and Ottawa tours. If wine is more your speed on the same trip, the Niagara region also has dedicated wine tour packages worth pairing with a beer day.

Planning Your Ontario Brewery Tour

• Best time to book: The Toronto Brewery Tour and Ottawa Brewery Tour run year-round, so fall and winter are both fine. The Party Bike and Boat Tour are seasonal (roughly May through September).
• Group size: Public Toronto tours work well for solo travellers and small groups. Ottawa private tours need a minimum of 6 to 8 guests depending on the day.
• What is included: Round-trip transportation, a guide, and tasting flights at each brewery are standard across the Toronto and Ottawa tours. Beer itself is not included on the Party Bike.
• Food: Breweries typically have limited food options, so plan to eat before or after, or check ahead on group tours.

Book Your Toronto Brewery Tour

Whether you are planning a bachelor party, a birthday, a corporate outing, or just a good afternoon with friends, a guided brewery tour takes the guesswork out of exploring Ontario's craft beer scene. Book your Toronto Brewery Tour here, or browse the full lineup of Ontario brewery tours to find the right fit for your group.

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