Getting a gift for the holiday season is fantastic, but having something on hand to buoy your spirits as the nights get longer is equally good. Whether you’re looking for something to stuff in a stocking or something to share on a long cold night, we’ve got you covered with some of Toronto’s best beer-related gifts.
Seasonal Stepped Strength Stout Strategy
Rainhard Brewing Co.
Coffee Sweetback’s Milk Stout with Cold Brew Coffee
The lush integration of chocolate and dark fruit that this Peruvian single-origin roast from Morning Roast imparts in this Milk Stout may be an optional extra compared to the basic model, but it will prove just the thing for a bleary New Year’s Day brunch.
$3.54, 355 ml, 100 Symes, unit 108, rainhardbrewing.com
Left Field
Blackburne Imperial Stout
A Black Friday release, Blackburne comes with two variants this year: Rum Barrel and Chocolate Orange. The basic model is elegant rather than bruising and not as muddy as its namesake. Bitter chocolate, vanilla, sugar plum and toffee.
$4.95 (Chocolate Orange); $5.95 (Rum Barrel), 355 ml, 36 Wagstaff, leftfieldbrewery.ca
Amsterdam
Barrel-Aged Double Tempest
This beer is the gold standard for super heavyweight imperial stouts in Ontario and was best in the world at the World Beer Awards in 2020. The Calm Before The Storm event that launches it on November 26 is a phenomenal value ($25, or $85 with a 4-pack) and allows you first crack at this year’s model.
$17.95, 650 ml, 45 Esandar, amsterdambeer.com
Belgian Specialties
Abbaye Des Sept Minutes
Gift Pack
A collaboration between Godspeed and Tooth & Nail (two of Ontario’s best breweries), these monastic-style beers will prove a nice change of pace for the lover of Belgian beers in your life who has worked through all the LCBO gift packs over the years.
$18, 4 x 355ml, 242 Coxwell, godspeedbrewery.com
Shacklands
Tripel
This can-conditioned specialty won gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards this year, and its restrained bitterness and delicate spice profile is immensely food-friendly. Just as well then, Shacklands has partnered with Muddy Crops on free delivery with a minimum $50 purchase.
$5.50, 473 ml, 100 Symes, unit 101, shacklands.com
Advent Calendars
Muddy York
12 Beers of Christmas Gift Pack
A perennial contender for best brewery in Toronto, Muddy York has saved you the effort of choosing from amongst their wares. They’ve even saved you the effort of finding a ribbon and a to/from tag. They’re really looking out for you.
$39.95, 22 Cranfield, muddyyorkbrewing.com
Eastbound Brewing
Feastbound Sam & Dave Annual Christmas Dinner
A four-course seasonally-themed dinner highlighted by a specialty collaboration beer with Sawdust City and prepared by Chef Tara Lee. Bright, cheerful and soulful, Eastbound’s Feastbound events ought to be legendary.
$78, gratuity included, December 2, 700 Queen East, eastboundbeer.com
Bellwoods
12 Days of Beer Box
Twelve days, 12 beers, 12 surprises! A great gift for any recipient who appreciates good beer – and any gifter who doesn’t want to be tasked with curating a lineup. Availability November 16.
$100, 20 Hafis & 126 Ossington, bellwoodsbrewery.com
World Atlas of Beer, 3rd Edition
Co-authored by Toronto based beer writer Stephen Beaumont, the 3rd edition is completely revised in order to provide up-to-date information about beer across the planet. With international travel opening up, this is the time to plan your next journey.
$43.99, chapters.indigo.ca and other bookstores.
Toronto Brewing
Beer Advent Calendar
It’s an early present, but this advent calendar is curated by one of Toronto’s best bottle shops. The order you’ll be opening the beers in is a surprise, but the quality is standard throughout. Plus, they’re planting a tree for every one sold.
$149, 24 beers of various size, 211 Geary, torontobrewing.ca
