Craft Beer, Ice Wine & Spirits

In the last 15 years, Canada has experienced a craft beer revolution that rivals the American one — plus a unique wine and spirits culture.

🍺 Craft Beer

Over 1,200 craft breweries nationwide — every city has its local heroes:

• Vancouver: Brassneck Brewery, 33 Acres, Parallel 49 — Vancouver's craft beer scene is among the best in North America
• Montréal: Dieu du Ciel! (legendary Belgian-inspired beers), Unibroue (Fin du Monde, Maudite), Brasserie McAuslan
• Toronto: Bellwoods Brewery, Left Field Brewery, Blood Brothers
• Victoria (BC): Phillips Brewing, Category 12 — Victoria has the highest brewery density in Canada

🍷 Wine & Ice Wine

Canada's wine regions produce top-quality wines:

• Okanagan Valley (BC): Canada's best wine region — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling. Over 200 wineries, many offering tastings and restorations.
• Niagara Peninsula (Ontario): The second major wine region. Famous for Ice Wine — grapes are frozen on the vine in winter, then harvested and pressed at at least -8°C. The concentrated, sweet juice produces one of the world's most exclusive dessert wines. A 375-ml bottle costs 30–80 CAD — unbeatable as a souvenir.

🥃 Spirits

• Canadian Whisky: Crown Royal, Lot 40, Pike Creek — milder and more accessible than Scotch or Bourbon. Canadian whisky is often equated with rye whisky (though it doesn't necessarily have to be made from rye).
• Screech Rum: Newfoundland's iconic rum — cheap, strong, part of the "Screech-In" ceremony for newcomers. Not for refined palates, but a must for the experience.
• Caesar: Canada's national cocktail — like a Bloody Mary, but with Clamato (tomato-clam juice). Sounds strange, tastes surprisingly good. Available in every bar, from 10 CAD.