Taste 30 varieties of carefully-crafted beer – or pick from a dozen kinds of hard cider. Four breweries, two cideries, 100% Northumberland and mostly family-run. Use our Google map to direct yourself to them all.
33 Mill St, Port Hope
905-885-9029
Pair artisanal beer with an inspired taproom menu at this large and inviting riverside brewery. The Ganaraska Brewing Company is the newest kid on the craft beer block here, but certainly not a rookie. With a brewmaster who trained in Scotland and has created great beers at other noted Ontario breweries, you can be confident ordering anything from their Marquee pilsner (called “dangerously drinkable”) to their Nickels and Dimes dunkel (dark and nicely satisfying). Match your choice with any of Chef’s Z imaginative east coast or international specialties.
888-524-2337 (888-524-BEER)
Get comfortable at the large bar with ringside seats to the beer kettles. Flights of beer are always available. William Street Beer Co.'s wonderful what-goes-great-with-beer menu changes regularly. Sean will be happy to fill you in. Or call ahead to book your own personal tour. Some of William Street's popular offerings include North Shore Ale (crisp and delicious), Cliff Top Pale Ale (Sean's salute to the traditional west coast pale ales with its malt foundation), and Red Sky Amber Ale (caramel notes with balanced light hop bitterness).
1024 Division St., Cobourg
289-435-2004
Big 650-ml longnecks are king at Northumberland Hills Brewery. Partners Rick, Michael and Graham focus on adding local ingredients and take a grassroots approach to beer making. With 20 years of brewing experience, Rick has worked on perfecting flavourful craft brews. Varieties can change but some examples of past favourites include: Super Continental Ale (a best seller with nice malt flavour finishes and hop flavour), Honey Badger Wheat Ale (wonderful maple flavour resulting from local maple syrup), and Kodiaks Lacrosse Lager (light, crisp and satisfying).
4741 Northumberland 45, Baltimore
289-629-3300
Located in Baltimore, Rice Lake Hard Cider is the newest cider company in Northumberland County. Inspired by cottage life on Rice Lake, these ciders are meant to be refreshing, and go down easily. The company’s two varieties, their Original Dry Hard Cider and Apple Cranberry, can be picked up in packs of 6 or in cases of 24. Your order can contain both for some variety. Order first via their online store, then pick up at 4741 Northumberland 45, in Baltimore.
262 Orchard Dr., Colborne
905-355-2574
Located beside the Big Apple, the 401 Cider Brewery is an easy stop off the 401's Colborne exit (497). Bottling eight varieties of hard cider, the 401 Cider Brewery uses 100% Ontario apples. Stock up on other treats at the nearby bakery and candy shop. Three popular hard ciders include Premium Craft Apple Cider (crisp with the full flavour of Ontario orchard apples), Cranberry Apple Cider (orchard apple taste with a nice tinge from the bog), and Caramel Apple Cider (orchard apples with caramel notes).
1678 County Rd. 38, Campbellford
1-877-314-2337 (877-314-BEER)
As Northumberland's first microbrewery, Church-Key Brewing opened in 2000 in a former Methodist church (c. 1878). At Church-Key, you'll see lasting traces of the 19th Century, right down to the old keys hanging in John's establishment. Having made over 50 quality brews, here are three award-winning ales to try: Northumberland Ale (signature blend with flavours of fresh bread, cereal, caramel and honey), Holy Smoke Scotch Ale (rich flavours of smoke, peat and coffee), and West Coast Pale Ale (crisp, floral hops with a bright citrus bite).
Some establishments serving Northumberland brews:
Barley Days Pub, 262 Orchard Rd., Cramahe
Capers Taphouse, 28 Bridge St., Campbellford
George & Orange, 67 Orange St., Cobourg
Olympus Burger, 55 Mill St., Port Hope
The Mill Restaurant and Pub, 990 Ontario St., Cobourg
The Social Bar and Table, 26 Ontario St., Port Hope
Timber House Resort, 116 Cedardale Rd., Brighton
Trattoria Gusto, 1 Walton St., Port Hope
The Whistling Duck 75 Harbour St., Brighton