Sipping through Halifax craft beer
Welcome to Halifax, where the salty sea breeze mingles with the aromatic hops of locally brewed craft beer. From historic breweries to trendy taprooms, Halifax offers beer enthusiasts an exciting array of options to tantalize your taste buds. Join me on a frothy adventure through Halifax's bustling breweries.
If you think of craft beer then you might think about the boom of IPA around 10 years ago, however, the craft beer scene in Halifax has been brewing since 1997 with Garrison Brewing Company being the first microbrewery opening in the city. Before that, Oland Brewery was the first brewery to open in the province. And of course, Alexandre Keith Brewery has been the main player since its opening in 1820.
Best Halifax Craft Beer
The city has around 15 breweries for you to choose from. Since your stay in the city might be short, we did the hard work for you, we tasted plenty of beers and we are bringing you a hand-picked section for you to choose from.
Garrison Brewing Company
The brewery is located in the historic Halifax Seaport District, right next to the Halifax Waterfront and the amazing Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. So once you finish visiting one of the best Canadian museums, you will want a cold one. The brewery is very colourful and has the classic brewery industrial look. If you are a dog lover you will have the chance to meet new four-legged friends. They also have a taproom at the iconic Oxford Theatre in the Quinpool neighbourhood.
Step inside their taproom and sample a pint of their flagship Irish Red Ale or indulge in the bold flavours of their Juicy! Double IPA with hints of tropical fruits. They offer a variety of year-round and seasonal brews, including their popular Tall Ship series. They also have their own soda line.
Propeller Brewing Company
Just a stone's throw away lies Propeller Brewing Company, another Halifax institution known for its classic lineup of ales and stouts. They have 5 different locations in the city each with its own vibe where they not only sell beer but also have craft cocktails and craft sodas. They even have a basement room full of different arcade games at their Gottingen location.
They are known for their diverse range of beers, including traditional ales, IPAs, and experimental brews. Revolution Russian Imperial Stout is a rich and robust stout often praised for its complex flavours of chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit, with a smooth and velvety mouthfeel. Their ESB is a best seller and Pumpkin Spiced Ale is a seasonal favourite. Their IPA was the first true IPA made locally in the province.
Good Robot Brewing Company
For something a bit more funky, venture into the North End of Halifax and discover Good Robot Brewing Company. I really enjoyed its quirky vibe with cool music and funky decor. Good Robot is the place to go for adventurous beer lovers. Try their El Espinazo del Diablo Mexican Lager, infused with lime and jalapeño for a fiery kick that'll wake up your taste buds. I liked their guava sour beer or you can try the F*ck the Pear-triachy. Their beers are vegan.
They have 3 locations each with huge terraces to enjoy the good weather during the Summer. They also serve food, burgers and nachos are part of their menu.
Their Robie St location is just 2 min away, you will find the delicious Kismet Bar so this could be a great way to do pre-dinner drinks.
2 Crows Brewing Co
If you are venturing into the North End, you can join the locals at hip breweries like 2 Crows Brewing Co., known for their innovative sour ales and barrel-aged creations. One of their best sellers is the Fantacity Pale Ale with its tropical fruit aromas, balanced bitterness, and smooth finish.
The brewery has a few board games and a cool laid-back atmosphere.
Tusket Falls Brewing Company
This brewery is originally from Yarmouth but they also have a location in Halifax. This brewery was one of my preferred stops, their pilsners and lagers are crisp and refreshing. They also have an amazing smoker and their food menu is delicious. Their brisket meat paired perfectly with their beers. I would highly suggest that you stop here to eat during your Halifax itinerary.
Nine Locks Brewing Company
This brewery has 2 locations, one in Dartmouth and one in downtown Halifax right next to the beautiful Public Gardens. They have a few seasonal beers that change with the seasons and their year-round selection is largely composed of lagers and IPAs. I found their beer to be well-balanced and with lots of flavour. In their Halifax location, they did a partnership with a Thai restaurant and the food looked very good, maybe next time I will have the chance to try it. They also have a line of their own vodka sodas.
Stillwell Brewing
This is a very trendy bar where they serve 3 of their own beers, a pils, a bitter and a dark lager. They also host a few other local beers on their tap. The place is well known for its burgers. I did not try them but they looked very good and everyone was having one around us.
Alexander Keith Brewery
Mel, this is not a craft brewery, why did you add it here? Well, you are right - partially. While this famous brewery is indeed a huge production and owned by InBev they still brew small batches and sell it only locally. Plus, the history of Halifax would not be the same without Alexander Keith.
The brewery was created over 200 years ago. You can embark on a tour of the brewery where you will dive into the history while learning about the small-batch brews, inspired by local Nova Scotian culture. On the tour, you will learn that Alexander Keith was a 3-time mayor of the city, taste their award-winning limited edition beers and enjoy live folk music. I’ve done a lot of beer tours and this is one of the best I have done. The tour costs around $30 and lasts around 1 hour.
Other notable breweries that we did not get a chance to taste or visit:
Brightwood Brewery
This is a smaller operation focused on producing high-quality, handcrafted beers. They often experiment with unique ingredients and brewing techniques to create distinctive flavours. Pulpit Rock Porter has rich and toasty flavours of chocolate and caramel, with a velvety mouthfeel and a slightly dry finish.
North Brewing Company
Head over to North Brewing Company, where experimental brews and sustainability go hand in hand. They focus on Belgian-inspired beers. Sip on a pint of their Priority Pale Ale, brewed with locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to environmental stewardship. The beer is a well-balanced blend of citrusy hops and biscuity malt character, making it a refreshing and easy-drinking choice.
Looking for more?
If you don’t want to hop around the city and you want to try as many different types of beers then you can check out these bars and pubs that have a large selection of local products. The Auction House, The Stubborn Goat Gastropub, and Battery Park Beer Bar are popular destinations for craft beer enthusiasts.
You can also buy a few beers to bring back home at stores like Bishop's Cellar, Harvest Wines & Spirits, RockHead Wine & Beer Market, and WestSide Beer Wine Spirits.
Beer events & tours
Events
The love of beer doesn’t stop at the breweries, the city celebrates the hops through multiple events.
Halifax Seaport Beerfest is an annual event typically takes place in August at the Cunard Centre on the Halifax waterfront. It features a wide selection of craft beers from local, regional, and international breweries, along with food vendors, live music, and entertainment.
Halifax Oktoberfest brings the spirit of the traditional German festival to Halifax with plenty of beer, bratwurst, and Bavarian-inspired festivities. It often includes beer tastings, live music, and traditional Oktoberfest games and activities.
Beer tours
If you want to experience several breweries in one day and you don’t want to do all the distance planning, then I suggest doing a brewery tour. The Halifax Beer Bus offers guided tours of several local breweries, providing transportation between each stop so participants can enjoy tastings without worrying about driving. The tour often includes behind-the-scenes brewery tours, tastings of flagship and seasonal beers, and opportunities to meet the brewers.
The Good Cheer Trail is a self-guided tour that highlights craft beverage producers across Nova Scotia, including breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries. While not exclusive to Halifax, the trail features several breweries in the Halifax region, allowing visitors to explore the local craft beer scene at their own pace.
Which stop will you go first on your next trip to Halifax? Let me know in the comments below!
Halifax is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. The people of the Mi’kmaw Nation have lived on this territory for millennia, and we acknowledge them as the past, present and future caretakers of this land. Historically, land acknowledgment is a traditional practice shared amongst Indigenous groups to recognize the Indigenous land and territory they are visiting. Today a land acknowledgement remains a way to express one’s gratitude to the Indigenous people for being stewards of the land that we live and work on.
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