Self-proclaimed ‘leader of the craft beer dining revolution,’ Beertown, has finally made its way to the big city. In addition to a long list of craft beers, ciders and wines reflecting the ever-evolving Ontario craft beverage scene, this family-friendly joint offers an equally extensive food menu sure to please all ages and tastes.
Beertown’s rotational beer program is ever-changing, offering exclusive releases, and limited run beers you won’t find at your local liquor store. They work closely with brewery partners to be the first to pour Canadian releases, like the country’s first ever non-alcoholic beer on draught, Omnipollo’s Konx.
They also bring new beers to Ontario from abroad including – but not limited to – Duchesse Flanders Red Ale, Stone’s Arrogant Bastard and more. Try something new, like the Soleil Kettle Sour, brewed with blood oranges and vanilla in partnership with Storm Stayed Brewery out of London, ON. Or, stick to something closer to home like local fan favourite Bellwood’s Fruit Jelly King.
If cocktails are more your style, they have a partnership with Willibald Distillery in Ayr, Ontario to offer a fantastic cocktail on tap – the Farmhouse Limeade (featuring Willibald pink gin, freshly brewed hibiscus tea, lime, simple syrup and a splash of soda) in addition to more classic, signature and beer cocktails.
The food menu offers the same endless stream of variety, anything from fish tacos to pad Thai and all the typical pub food fare in between. Beertown has also developed stand-alone plant-based and gluten-friendly menus appealing to the full spectrum of dietary restrictions.
Owned by Jody Palubuski, former general manager of Toronto spot The Loose Moose, he has spent the past decade opening Beertowns in cities across the province including Barrie, Burlington, Oakville and London with Toronto being the latest venture, officially opening its doors mid-August of this year. Each Beertown location has the feel of an independent restaurant with the same focus on authenticity in food, drinks and service.
“As a group, we went into the pandemic with five Beertown locations and came out of it with eight,” says Palubski. A testament to their rock solid business model and passion for what they do.
An indoor-only spot with a capacity of 228, the Café TO program allowed Beertown Toronto to expand into a temporary patio, providing patrons an additional 28 seats outdoors.
Inside is an open concept layout complete with moveable glass walls that open directly to the sidewalk, providing an unobstructed view and connection to the lively Wellington and University Avenue street corner.
For maximum family-friendly appeal, the spot strikes a perfect balance between lively and comfortable, marrying industrial style elements with pops of colour to create a distinct look and feel. A long saloon style bar handcrafted from zinc is soldered, welded and riveted in place while handmade light fixtures hang from the exposed pipe-lined ceilings, paying homage to the Beertown team with numbers and letters hidden in the design.
In a city full of breweries, Beertown stands out because of its approachability. You can find local craft beers as well as some bigger names appealing to a broader audience. Their mission is simple: create a public house for the community.
“Some have described us as a “gateway beer bar” and we are happy to take on that moniker; we’ve created a public house for the community – a space where you can kick back, relax, and come together with friends to celebrate good drink and food.”
You can head to the 125 Wellington Street West location Sunday to Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to midnight.