Good beer to find in Ontario?

I live in ontario and my parents just got back from the states. My request was for them to bring me back some different beers. I asked for an imperial stout and a couple types of ipa's. I was impressed that they brought me back a 22 of stone's imperial stout and stone's ruination. They also brought back a 6 pack of sierra nevada IPA.

My real question here is what type of brews do you canadian's suggest to quench a home brewers needs? I used to be a budweiser drinker until I started homebrewing. Now I really don't care for anything less than homebrew or different types of microbrews, and I'm trying to find a couple reputable ones to try out. I find that there are many more different good micro brews in the states and not nearly as many here.

Any suggestions are appreciated

You'll probably do best by following the lovely Ontario beer expert Mirella Amato's website for information about Canadian micros.



http://www.beerology.ca/index.html

According to her there are approximately 40 craft and microbreweries in the province;

http://www.beerology.ca/en/news_links.html#ontario

She also hosts tours; http://www.beerloverstour.com/bio.html

Revvy said:

You'll probably do best by following the lovely Ontario beer expert Mirella Amato's website for information about Canadian micros.

http://www.beerology.ca/index.html

According to her there are approximately 40 craft and microbreweries in the province;

http://www.beerology.ca/en/news_links.html#ontario

She also hosts tours; http://www.beerloverstour.com/bio.html

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Thanks for the site. I found a couple beers I never knew they made. Most of the good ones are only made a couple times a season so you have to get them right away. So far one of my favorite micro's would have to be wellington. I tried their Iron Duke and I really really like it. Anyone else have thoughts/ suggestions of other beers to look for?

Beer Bistro in Toronto has one of the best beer selections I have seen in N. America. American, Canadian, imported and including a large number of vintage cellared beers.

Good food too.

I like Mill St. Brewing's selection. Their Tankhouse Ale is a nice IPA and their coffee porter is really good too.

Fingers said:

I like Mill St. Brewing's selection. Their Tankhouse Ale is a nice IPA and their coffee porter is really good too.

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I also really like both of those beers. I live about 10 minutes from the brewery also

Not sure if they have in TO or not but http://www.beaus.ca/ is all the rage around Ottawa.
God at least you can get a lot of beer we can't here.

This is easy. Creemore Springs (now, sadly, owned by Molson) used to be one of the best Vienna-type lagers in NA. It's still damn good.

Steam Whistle pilsner is probably the best pilsner in Canada.

Not from Ontario, but St Ambroise brewery from Quebec is excellent. Their oatmeal stout is one of the best examples in the world. Unibroue (now owned by Sleemans, who is now owned by Sapporo) used to produce excellent Belgian-style beers, but they have recently tried to "consolidate the brand" and produce far less varieties. Still, Blanche de Chambly, Maudite and Fin du Monde are excellent beers.

Batinse said:

This is easy. Creemore Springs (now, sadly, owned by Molson) used to be one of the best Vienna-type lagers in NA. It's still damn good.

Steam Whistle pilsner is probably the best pilsner in Canada.

Not from Ontario, but St Ambroise brewery from Quebec is excellent. Their oatmeal stout is one of the best examples in the world. Unibroue (now owned by Sleemans, who is now owned by Sapporo) used to produce excellent Belgian-style beers, but they have recently tried to "consolidate the brand" and produce far less varieties. Still, Blanche de Chambly, Maudite and Fin du Monde are excellent beers.

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Thanks for the recommendations. I have tried a 6 pack of creemore, and quite like it. The St. Ambroise stout is on my list to try, now that you have suggested it I will for sure be trying it soon. I just bought a 6 pack of fin du monde and have had 2. They are also excellent beers, and I will have to try the rest of their selection. Have you tried any of the wellington brewery beers yet? I just tried their iron duke which is was of my favorite store bought beers so far. They also make an RIS once in a while and they just got a batch ready so I am going to pick some up....haven't tried it yet but if it is the same quality as the iron duke I will be very happy.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far and keep them coming, I am always open to new beers

So I just got back from the Wellington brewery in Guelph. I picked up some wellington brewery RIS....just opened it up and all I can say is if you like RIS's and you live near guelph....GO GET SOME!!!!!

I live in a relative beer wasteland, but through the graces of some fellow members of the Members of Barleyment, have had the pleasure to drink St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout ( fantastic ) and also Mill St. Coffee Porter ( also fantastic ). I have had a few other Ontario based beers and have yet to try Beau's Lugtread, and have found them good.
Living in Guelph, I would think that you would have access to a wide variety of local and imported brews. Quite a few brews from Quebec would top any wish list for me.

If anyone's interested in the roots of Canadian Brewing, I have a thread that is a photo tour of the rebuilt original John Labatt brewey in London, from last summer.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f85/labatt-pioneer-brewery-128740/