The Muskoka region is home to a wide assortment of activities for people of all ages – from hiking the many beautiful nature trails and swimming in Muskoka’s scenic lakes to checking out local museums, art galleries, and local shopping opportunities, there’s no shortage of things to do all year long. One of the most popular year-round activities enjoyed by many in the area is to take a tour of Muskoka’s impressive craft breweries, or just stop by for a quick pint. The region is home to some of Ontario’s most acclaimed craft breweries, including Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge, Sawdust City Brewing Co. in Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays Brewery in Baysville, and Clear Lake Brewing Co. in Muskoka Lakes.
Muskoka Brewery
In 1996, Muskoka Brewery was founded in Bracebridge, Ontario. Originally located in the downtown area, the 8,000 sq ft brewery has since moved to a much larger 40,000 sq ft space. Muskoka Brewery is one of Ontario’s most acclaimed craft breweries, offering a wide selection of great beer including perennial favourites like craft lager, cream ale, Mad Tom IPA, and Detor, one of Ontario’s first ISA’s (India session ale).
Along with its lineup of regular offerings, Muskoka Brewery offers a wide variety of seasonal favourites. Tours of the impressive brewery are available year-round, as are special events including live music, open mic nights, and much more.
Find out more about Muskoka Brewery.
Sawdust City Brewing Co.
Founded in 2011, Sawdust City Brewing Co. in Gravenhurst, Ontario quickly became renowned throughout the Muskoka region for its dedication to creating exceptional craft beer. Its 20,000 sq ft brewery opened in 2014 in downtown Gravenhurst, and business has been booming ever since.
Tours of the brewery are available by appointment from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM every Saturday, offering visitors the chance to check out the impressive facilities and get a behind-the-scenes look at how their favourite beer is made. Sawdust City’s tap room gives visitors a chance to try its wide assortment of craft beer, including favourites like Lone Pine, their West Coast IPA, Ol’ Woody Alt, an Amber Lagered Ale, Little Norway, a Pale Lager, and the always refreshing Golden Beach Session IPA.
For more information about Sawdust City Brewing Co., visit its website.
Lake of Bays Brewery
Opened in 2010, Lake of Bays Brewery has become a staple of the community of Baysville. Lake of Bays has a simple philosophy – to make great beer, stay down to earth, and have fun running the business. The Brewery has a wide selection of beer currently available, including the Northern Glow Brut IPA, Lift Lock Light Lager, Switchboard Pilsner, and Starboard New England IPA among other favourites. The Lake of Bays Brewery and retail store open year round, with brewery tours available by appointment on Saturday afternoons between 12:00 and 3:00 PM, and on Sundays by chance. In addition to brewery tours, visitors can enjoy Saturday winter music sessions and other regular events at the Brewery.
Find out more about Lake of Bays Brewery by visiting its website.
Clear Lake Brewing Co.
Founded in September 2016, Clear Lake Brewing Co. is the newest addition to the Muskoka craft brewery scene. Offering a full lineup of craft favourites including the Clear Lake Session Ale, Clear Lake American IPA, Clear Lake Cran Radler, and everything from pilsners to porters, there’s a little something for everybody at the Muskoka Lakes-based brewery. Clear Lake Brewing serves up cold beer, features a full restaurant, and hosts a variety of events and live entertainment. Clear Lake closes for the winter season, but the brewery is a summer hot spot for locals and tourists, and Clear Lake beer is available in a number of nearby Beer Store and LCBO locations. Learn more about Clear Lake Brewing Co. on its website.