As mentioned in an earlier blog, the sale of alcoholic beverages in Ontario is a virtual Government monopoly. Since there is no alternative source they feel little need to cater to the purchasers’ convenience.
It’s called the Liquor Control Board of Ontario or LCBO for short and it has the distinction of being the largest single purchaser of wines and spirits on the planet.
Stores are few and locations are scattered. They open late and close early. In other words, you’ve got to go to them! When the LCBO decides to close (most stores around 9 PM) you simply can’t buy alcohol anywhere!
Psst! That’s not exactly true……
There are a few Micro-Breweries and Brew Pubs in the city. They are licenced by the Province as “producers” of beer – NOT merely as a pub or tavern.
As a result, they can sell their product out the door as well as on the premises. The closest Micro Brewery is located just south of Toronto’s landmark CN Tower and you can see the tower from our front doorstep! They are open seven days a week, including most statutory holidays.
They sell beer in their bar or you can take a six-pack (or a case of 24 for that matter) home with you until 11PM on most nights. The “Steam Whistle Brewery” (located near the CN Tower) puts out a particularly tasty and popular product.
Cheers!
Steamwhistle Brewery
Drink in or take out!
Hi there – thanks for coverage about Steam Whistle on your blog. I am writing out of concern that some of your readers may be disappointed if they turn up here past 6pm most days and are not able to get beer as your blog suggests. The brewery’s retail store is open daily (Monday to Saturday from noon to 6pm; Sundays noon to 5pm) and during that time you can buy beer and wares. After 6pm most days of the week (about 250 days a year) we run private, corporate, cultural or charity events in our retail space combined with our Beer Hall. These events are not always open to the public, and if they are, there may be an entrance fee that would cover entertainment, food or bar, depending on the event. During the time that these rooms are operating as an event/party space, you cannot buy beer to take away as in the day time retail store hours. Hope this clarifies. We do encourage visitors and run lively brewery tours every hour while we are open. BEst to you!