10 Ontario Craft Breweries for the Perfect Day Trip

A Slow Beer Trail Through Caledon & Beyond — With an Overnight Stay at The Liberty Inn

Ontario’s brewery scene has matured into something truly special. What once felt like a handful of city taprooms has quietly evolved into a network of farm breweries, boutique brewing houses, rural beer gardens, and design-driven spaces where the experience matters as much as what’s in the glass.

Some of the best brewery days in Ontario don’t involve rushing from stop to stop. They unfold slowly — a gravel road here, a long picnic table there, a late afternoon pour as the sun drops behind a field of hops. And nowhere does that kind of gentle, unhurried brewery culture come together quite like the Headwaters Region and Caledon.

Below is our curated list of 10 Ontario breweries that make for exceptional day trips, with five located right in and around the Caledon region — an area that quietly boasts one of the most beautiful beer trails in the province.

The Caledon Beer Trail

Right Outside the Doors of The Liberty Inn

This is where Ontario beer really slows down. Fields replace traffic. Picnic tables replace bar stools. And the drive between breweries becomes just as memorable as the stops themselves.

GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co. — Caledon

GoodLot feels like the heart of rural Ontario craft beer. Set on a working farm, it blends hop fields, outdoor wood-fired food, live music, and a wide beer garden into one easygoing experience. It’s the kind of place where you arrive for “one pint” and leave hours later, sun-tired and smiling.

Sonnen Hill Brewery — Caledon

Sonnen Hill’s focus is on beautifully made lagers and farmhouse-inspired beers. The setting is peaceful and understated: open land, picnic tables, and a tap list that rewards repeat visits. It’s calm, intentional, and quietly exceptional.

Badlands Brewing Company — Caledon

Badlands has built one of the strongest reputations in the province for hop-forward beers. What began as a small rural operation now draws serious beer lovers from across Ontario. It’s intimate, low-key, and always worth the stop if IPAs are your thing.

Caledon Hills Brewing Company — Palgrave / Alton

With its German-style brewing roots and cozy small-town feel, Caledon Hills brings a different energy to the trail. It’s a perfect midday stop — approachable beers, relaxed pace, and easy conversation.

Elora Brewing Company — Elora

Right at the centre of one of Ontario’s most scenic villages, Elora Brewing pairs a strong core beer lineup with a full food menu and views over the Grand River gorge. It’s ideal for a full day of wandering, beer tasting, and late lunches.

Bellwoods Brewery — Toronto

A cornerstone of Ontario craft beer, Bellwoods remains a destination for hop lovers, sour enthusiasts, and bottle collectors alike. The Ossington location captures the energy of the city’s brewing culture at its most influential.

Collective Arts Brewing — Hamilton

Where beer and visual art collide. Collective Arts brings together rotating artist-designed labels, live events, and experimental beers in a large, energetic taproom setting that feels equal parts gallery and brewery.

Bench Brewing Company — Beamsville, Niagara Escarpment

Bench sits in the middle of wine country but holds its own as a farmhouse-style brewery with estate hops and a restored schoolhouse taproom. It’s an easy way to blend beer tasting with a slower Niagara countryside drive.

Cowbell Brewing Company — Blyth

A true destination brewery with an on-site restaurant, expansive tasting room, and full tour program. Cowbell is the kind of place you plan a road trip around.

How to Plan the Perfect Brewery Weekend in Caledon

The beauty of the Caledon beer trail is that it doesn’t require a carefully scripted itinerary. A relaxed approach works best:

Arrive late morning.
Choose two breweries to start.
Have lunch on a patio.
Add a third stop in the afternoon.
Then drift back through Caledon as the light softens.

With The Liberty Inn located right in the heart of this countryside, it becomes effortless to turn a brewery day into a complete weekend experience. Guests often describe it as the best of both worlds — a full day outdoors, followed by spa heat, cold plunge, and a quiet, deeply restorative night.

It’s not about squeezing in as many breweries as possible. It’s about giving each stop the space it deserves.

A Different Way to Experience Ontario Beer

Ontario’s best brewery experiences aren’t loud. They’re not rushed. And they’re rarely found on the busiest streets.

They live on back roads.
On farm properties.
In small towns.
Near rivers and trails.
And in places where the people pouring the beer often brewed it themselves.

The Headwaters Region and Caledon quietly embody that spirit better than almost anywhere else in the province — making them not just a great beer destination, but one of Ontario’s most rewarding slow-travel regions.