The 8 Best Craft Beer Spots in Ottawa That Are All Worth Three Cheers
My weekends wouldn’t be complete without reaching for a can of beer from the fridge. But admittedly, I felt like there’s a whole world out there beyond my generic six-pack that I’m missing out on.
Coincidentally, I had a friend drag me into a craft brewery one Friday night. “Trust me, you’ll love it”, they said with the same conviction as someone recommending their favorite show.
Now, I’m not exactly a beer connoisseur, but by the end of my second tasting flight, I was swishing a glass of IPA while confidently saying, “This has subtle citrus undertones”.
After that eye-opening experience, I could never go back to grocery-store lager ever again. I discovered that Ottawa is an absolute playground for beer lovers.
From cozy taprooms to industrial breweries, allow me to drag you to the best craft beer spots in town, because life’s too short to drink boring beer.
1. Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
– Media credit: btpbrewing
Address: 250 City Centre Ave Bay 106
Contact Number: +1 613-668-2337
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Wed: 11:00am – 11:00pm
- Thu: 11:00am – 12:00am
- Fri – Sat: 11:00am – 1:00am
- Sun: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Must-Order: Dublin or Nuthin’
Beyond the Pale is always a barrel of fun for locals looking to explore its many craft beer offerings.
This brewery is known for its spacious taproom, which features a variety of beer options, including rotating taps, seasonal beers, in-house canned beers, and 16-oz year-round selections.
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed browsing and tasting flights, containing items like the Aromatherapy, which is a 6.5% IPA from the West Coast, and the Pink Fuzz grapefruit wheat ale.
There are also some low to non-alcoholic options worth trying out, like the blackberry raspberry-flavored Jelly King and the Belwoods Stay Classy IPA, which both still taste mildly like beer without the alcoholic content.
Possibly my favorite from their in-can series would be the Dublin or Nuthin’. It has this combination of chocolate and coffee flavors with a slightly creamy texture.
Pro Tip:
Enjoy over 20 of their craft beer products at home via their online store.
2. Dominion City Brewing Co.
Address: 5510 Canotek Rd Unit 15
Contact Number: +1 613-688-6207
Operating Hours:
- Tue – Thu: 3:00pm – 9:00pm
- Fri: 11:00am – 9:00pm
- Sat: 11:00am – 7:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
- Mon: CLOSED
Must-Order: Festbier
Dominion City is a well-known spot in the Ottawa craft beer scene owing to its bold and meticulously brewed creations.
A nice way to start off light is opting for one of their popular in-can options, like the Dominion City Lite. It’s a good and simple refresher with only 4% alcohol content.
Their core lineup also includes crowd-pleasers like Courageous IPA, a hoppy but approachable drink, and the Trans-Canada Glorious and Free, a concoction of pilsner malt, oats, and wheat.
However, my personal pick is the Festbier, which is a German-style lager made with pilsner and fermented with their house lager yeast. It has a hint of lemongrass taste and goes down smoothly.
If you’re looking for something to share with the gang, then you can go for one of their 20 to 30-liter kegs, with choices like Glorious and Free and River Hymnal.
Pro Tip:
Try out their curated selection of food-to-go items like Cape Cod Chips and Smartfood.
3. CRAFT Beer Market
– Media credit: craftbeermarket
Address: 975 Bank St
Contact Number: +1 613-422-7238
Operating Hours:
- Sun – Thu: 11:00am – 12:00am
- Fri – Sat: 11:00am – 1:00am
Must-Order: Fruli Strawberry Wheat Ale
If you want to have a great time with a big selection of drinks and good food, give Craft Beer Market a visit.
This lively restaurant in the Glebe makes for a nice atmosphere for tasting craft beer on any budget. From IPAs to dark lagers, you’re spoiled for choice here.
For every season, they partner with a community brewery to create a special beer to raise money for charity. One example of this is the Broadhead Fire Break Light Lager, which is smooth, crisp, and has a touch of floral bitterness.
They have a lot of solid options from their rotating taps lineup. In particular, I love the fruity blend of the Ernest Blueberry Cider and the Mascot Grape Drink.
And the thing is, that’s not even their main fruit-flavored samples. From their Fruit & Specialties category are unique choices like Fruli Strawberry Wheat Ale, which became my pick of the night.
Pro Tip:
Visit during their happy hours to get food and drinks at a lower price.
4. Tooth and Nail Brewing Company
– Media credit: megancameronphotography
Address: 3 Irving Ave
Contact Number: +1 613-695-4677
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Tue: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
- Wed – Thu: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
- Fri: 12:00pm – 12:00am
- Sat: 1:00pm – 12:00am
- Sun: 1:00pm – 7:00pm
Must-Order: Vim and Vigor
Tooth and Nail prides itself on its great craft beer selections, warm and welcoming atmosphere, and rich brewing history.
People often come here not just for the drinks but for the absolute vibes that make you feel like you belong, despite being a first-timer. It’s the perfect place to have a chat while downing one of their pilsners.
Speaking of pilsners, Tooth and Nail is one of the best spots to have them, with many folks saying that the Vim and Vigor is a must-try. I can confirm, it’s a great combo of hoppiness and just enough bitterness.
The unique flavor profiles that they can come up with are impressive to say the least, like that of the Rhapsody. It blends together a peach-flavored ale with Japanese green tea, which works so well.
Overall, their well-loved beers are a testament to their quality brewing. From the 15bbl brewing system to the months of fermentation for special ales, it’s no wonder that their creations taste so good.
Pro Tip:
Take home some of your favorite beers via their online store.
5. Bier Markt
– Media credit: thebiermarktottawa
Address: 156 Sparks St.
Contact Number: +1 613-780-7575
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Wed: 11:00am – 11:00pm
- Thu – Sat: 11:00am – 12:00am
- Sun: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Must-Order: Sweet & Sour Flight
Bier Markt is the go-to spot for locals wanting to try out an exceptional lineup of craft beers in a modern and rustic atmosphere.
A trip here will certainly leave you with tons of options, from hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts, that are just too many to drink in one sitting. It definitely happened to me and a couple of buddies.
With over 150 beers from around the world to choose from, they have an extensive list of North American beers, imports, rotating taps, lagers, ales, and pilsners made from top breweries.
To give you a good sample of their huge collection, I recommend trying one of their flights, like the Ontario Craft or the Crushable. I personally liked the Sweet & Sour flight for its fruit ales and rotating sour tap.
It’s also great that they offer gluten-free options like the Ernest Dry Apple Cider, Glutenberg Blonde Ale, and the well-known Spanish Daura Damm Lager.
Pro Tip:
Get to know their exclusive brews that rotate every season or during events like Oktoberfest.
6. Elgin Beer Project
– Media credit: elgin.beerproject
Address: 399 Elgin St
Contact Number: +1 613-656-6600
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Thu: 5:00pm – 2:00am
- Fri – Sun: 2:00pm – 2:00am
Must-Order: Calabogie Brown Cow Milk Stout
Elgin Beer Project combines expertly brewed craft beers with a chill and laid-back ambiance that’s worth returning to.
They’re known for having quite a lot of beer offerings that even we were surprised by. The first page of their menu alone already showcases 38 options, from lagers and pilsners to blonde ales and stouts.
Their Supersonic Puppy Dreams tastes just as unique and creative as its name. It’s a hard seltzer that’s a really nice blend of pineapple, mango, and creamsicle flavors, which I found quite brilliant.
I was looking for something a bit sweeter, so their Calabogie “Brown Cow” Milk Stout caught my attention. It was my first time trying a milk stout, and I instantly got hooked on its rich and dessert-like profile.
I liked the fact that you can take out any of their $8.41 cans in a 4-pack, 6-pack, or 8-pack for your own “moderate consumption” at home.
Pro Tip:
Pick a spot on their great patio area to enjoy your Elgin Beer Project experience to the fullest.
7. Flora Hall Brewing
– Media credit: florahallbeer
Address: 37 Flora St
Contact Number: +1 613-695-2339
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Thu: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
- Fri – Sat: 12:00pm – 12:00am
- Sun: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Must-Order: Bohemian-Style Pilsner
Flora Hall is an awesome place for beer lovers to gather and appreciate delightfully brewed creations in a classic setting.
From the tiles and bricks to the wooden furnishings, it feels rather cozy to down a few pints here, in my experience.
At first, I was wondering why there weren’t as many options as in other places. But after trying one of their hoppy and crisp Bohemian-Style Pilsners, I finally understood what it means to prioritize quality over quantity.
Having said that, they told me that their lineup actually changes pretty often, with around 8 to 12 beers of various core styles per rotation. This means you get a chance to try out many seasonal drinks from the same brewhouse.
If you’re just starting out, you can go for something light and super approachable, like their Cream Ale or Blond Ale. But remember, they’re not going to always be there year-round, so make the best of them!
Pro Tip:
Pair your beer with some of their delectable comfort dishes, such as seafood fritters, BBQ salmon, and Korean fried chicken.
8. Kichesippi Beer Co
– Media credit: kichesippibeer
Address: 2265 Robertson Rd
Contact Number: +1 613-728-7845
Operating Hours:
- Sun – Thu: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Fri – Sat: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Must-Order: 1855 Amber Ale
Kichesippi Beer Co. has been in the brewing game since 2010, making them one of the OGs of Ottawa’s craft beer scene.
Walking into the place feels less like stepping into a bar and more like joining a community gathering centered around beer. It’s local vibes all around, and it’s very approachable even for first-timers.
It’s great that they keep their beer lineup well-balanced, so there’s always something for everyone’s taste. I specifically like their classic flagship 1855 Amber Ale for its smooth and caramel-like flavor.
I wasn’t planning to get too tipsy this time around, so I also tried out one of their non-alcoholic IPAs. The Half Day Hazy by Harmon’s really tastes just as legit as its alcoholic counterparts.
Aside from the beers, I can’t say enough good things about their great patio dining. It’s quite spacious and sets the perfect mood for sipping under the sun with all your buddies.
Pro Tip:
Look out for food trucks and pop-ups in the scene if you’re also feeling a little snacky.