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Top Brewpubs in Canada

Discuss beer or anything else that comes to mind in here.

Moderators: Craig, Cass

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markaberrant
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Top Brewpubs in Canada

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JeffPorter
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Post by JeffPorter »

Wow! I must say I'm a little surprised to see where the Lion/Huether is!!!

It's a fabulously gorgeous building and spent many nights in the "cellars" during university, but I don't really remember the food or beer, better than, say, house ales/volo
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Derek
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Post by Derek »

Huh... some interesting choices.

I love C'est What, but is it really a brew pub? What about other restaurants that have their own branded brews, would you put them on the list (assuming they were any good)?

I should have checked out the Rogue's Roost... I only spent time in Nash's pubs. And Keith's?

Dockside has one of the best patios in the country and Canoe is quite nice too... but there's certainly places with better brews.

JasonTremblay
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Post by JasonTremblay »

Weird list.

The gotta' try beer from Volo / House Ales is a one-off brewed last summer.

Jason

Bytowner
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Post by Bytowner »

Clocktower? Alexander Keith's??? This list is le crap.

At the top of my list would be:
Benelux
DDC
Howe Sound
Spinnakers

JeffPorter
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Post by JeffPorter »

Derek wrote:Huh... some interesting choices.

I love C'est What, but is it really a brew pub? What about other restaurants that have their own branded brews, would you put them on the list (assuming they were any good)?
I know back in the old days they used to bill themselves as a "brew pub". Also, no love for the Granite? Certainly a pioneer in both Toronto and Halifax, no?
"What can you say about Pabst Blue Ribbon that Dennis Hopper hasn’t screamed in the middle of an ether binge?" - Jordan St. John

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spinrsx
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Post by spinrsx »

clocktower #7 and no mention of benelux?

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Tapsucker
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Post by Tapsucker »

I'm surprised to see Spinnaker's so far down the list. it would have been in my top 5.

Also, L'Amère A Boire deserves a mention. Good beer in a modest setting
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Tapsucker
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Post by Tapsucker »

Derek wrote:Huh... some interesting choices.

I love C'est What, but is it really a brew pub? What about other restaurants that have their own branded brews, would you put them on the list (assuming they were any good)?

I should have checked out the Rogue's Roost... I only spent time in Nash's pubs. And Keith's?

Dockside has one of the best patios in the country and Canoe is quite nice too... but there's certainly places with better brews.
Rockbottom easily outclasses Rogue's Roost for the beer and the atmosphere, but I liked hanging out in both. Sadly, both have the typically crappy Halifax pub food, though.
Brands are for cattle.
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The herd will consume until consumed.

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markaberrant
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Post by markaberrant »

Yeah, I have no idea what criteria they used to come up with this list.

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NRman
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Post by NRman »

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Baulz
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Post by Baulz »

markaberrant wrote:Yeah, I have no idea what criteria they used to come up with this list.
Strange to see The Publican in Peterborough on the list. It is a brewery with a plan to open a brewpub next door. They have a patio, but no food.

But I can't complain, our little town has 2 on the list!

rejtable
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Post by rejtable »

Tapsucker wrote:Rockbottom easily outclasses Rogue's Roost for the beer and the atmosphere, but I liked hanging out in both. Sadly, both have the typically crappy Halifax pub food, though.
Man, I have HATED the Rockbottom atmosphere since Day 1, have hated it since it was the Tickle Trunk a million years ago.

Different strokes...

They each have their own pros and cons. At Rockbottom, I have had way more misses from Nash's stuff than hits, but the hits are probably awesome. Rogue's roost has at least tried to stay with the times and have moved off their longstanding brown/blonde/pale/red lineup early. I have never had a great beer there, but have never had anything terrible. Atmosphere can be nice if the place is packed, and you can get a seat along Spring Garden.

If I'm heading to Halifax for a pint and it has to be in a brewpub, I'm going to Henry House's basement for sure. By far the most authentic atmosphere in the city, although it can be incredibly steamy in the summer.

Hart and Thistle also has to be considered, but if there's one place I hate sitting in more than Rockbottom in Halifax (brewpub variety) it's that place. It'll always feel like a food court to me.

Kel Varnsen
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Post by Kel Varnsen »

Tapsucker wrote:I'm surprised to see Spinnaker's so far down the list. it would have been in my top 5.
Yea I have been to 4 of the places on that list and I was surprised to see Spinnakers show up so low. I was actually there last week. The food and the beer were awesome and the location was great. The service was pretty bad though. That said Clocktower isn't even the best brewpub in Ottawa (and Brasseurs du Temps in Gatineau is nowhere to be found), and it is 11 spots above Spinnaker's? That makes no sense.

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JerCraigs
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Post by JerCraigs »

I Was at Rogue's Roost at least twice a week when I was at Dalhousie. The beers were all serviceable, the IPA was probably the best thing brewed east of Quebec at the time. Rock Bottom didn't exist then, and Shippey's had just closed sadly.

The food wasn't amazing, but decent. I ate an awful lot of their wraps!

Some interesting inclusions and omissions on that list to say the least.

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