When Steve Waugh, Rick Tanton and Mike Lee decided to begin their brewery journey in March 2020, they knew it would be out of the ordinary. But they didn’t know just how unexpected the experience would be. They just knew they wanted to celebrate ‘incredibly uncommon’ occurrences, paying homage to the cliché “there’s something in the water.”
Navigating the beer world for two years during a global pandemic allowed them to perfect flavours, and to take their time with the biggest leap yet: a brick and mortar brewery, complete with a patio and local snacks, in trendy Liberty Village. Something in the Water Brewing officially opened its doors to the public on May 24, celebrating with a week of pop-ups from local restaurants including Rodney’s Oyster House, Roll this Way Sushi and grazing boards from The Olive Box.
The brewery also boasts a patio, perfect for summer nights or a quick pint before or after a Toronto FC game. On it, patrons can enjoy Something in the Water’s one-of-a-kind brews on tap or in the bottle shop, including the Pancake Bay Sweet Brunch Stout and the Lee River Blackberry Vanilla Sour Beer. Local snacks are available to munch on while sipping on a brew, too, with offerings including Niagara Popcorn’s Shriner’s Creek Kettle Popcorn, a rice crispy treat from The Whimsical Crispie Co., and more.
Inside the European-inspired space, there are a few swings at the bar, bright colours and, of course, a huge bar and brewery, all made possible because the space became available during the pandemic, and the design was realized during restaurant closures.
The brewery aims to be community-oriented, too. In addition to supporting local businesses, Something in the Water donates five cents from every can sold to charities like Swim Drink Fish, which encourage clean water initiatives. The brewery even sponsors ten beaches across Canada.
Something in the Water Brewing is located at 151 East Liberty St.