Distilleries & Wineries

BREWERIES, CIDERIES, DISTILLERIES & WINERIES

drink

This section contains listings for properties from around Nova Scotia that are open to the public with a retail store or tasting room. The province is also home to producers that don’t host visitors; find their products at local bars, restaurants, and stores.

BREWERIES

2 Crows Brewing Company 1932 Brunswick St., Halifax 902-422-0222 / 2crowsbrewing.com Owned by a husband-wife team and their brewer friend. Modern brewing with a focus on quality. Seasonal brews.

Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery 1496 Lower Water St., Halifax / 902-455-1474 / keiths.ca Tour the original brewery of Nova Scotia’s first brew master, who was also a three-time mayor of Halifax. All ages. Tours daily from June 1–Oct. 31, scheduled tours on weekends Nov. 1–May 31. Book tours during the week for large groups. Admission charged. Retail store open daily, year-round.

Annapolis Brewing Company 302 George St., Annapolis Royal 902-286-2080 / annapolisbrewing.com Cozy wood trimmed taproom offers a wide array of styles of house-made beer, plus favourites from other Nova Scotian breweries.

32 | Greater Halifax Visitor Guide 2020 Breton Brewing

PHOTO: BRETON BREWING

Backstage Brewing 37 Bridge Ave., Stellarton facebook.com/BackstageBrewingCo Petite taproom offering pints, growler fills. Occasional live music. Open Monday–Wednesday, noon–6pm; Thursday–Friday, noon–midnight; Saturday, 10am–midnight; Sunday, noon-5pm.

Big Spruce 64 Yankee Line Rd., Nyanza / 902-295-2537 / bigspruce.ca Certified organic brewery and farm offering growlers, bottles, and cans to go. Taproom offers pints and flights, plus a food truck slinging burgers, hot sandwiches, and fries.

Boxing Rock Brewing Company Brewery: 8 Ohio Rd., Shelburne Legendary Taproom: 218 Water St., Shelburne 902-494-9233 / boxingrock.ca Award-winning beers. Ohio Road location offers brewery tours. Taproom serves light snacks and hosts axe throwing.

Breton Brewing 364 Keltic Dr., Sydney / 902-270-4677 / bretonbrewing.ca Four flagship beers: Red Coat, Sons of Hector Brown Ale, Black Angus IPA and Stirling Hefeweizen. Tasting room, retail shop, brewery tours, events, live music.

Brightwood Brewery 35 Portland St., Dartmouth 902-466-6006 / brightwoodbrewery.com Laptop-friendly taproom offering snack, pints, and growler fills, plus guest taps from other local brews. Open daily.

Chill Street Craft Beer & Market 269 Hwy. 214, Elmsdale 902-259-2553 / chillstreetbrewing.com Small-batch beer and cider produced on site with imported concentrated liquid wort. Cans and growlers. Open daily.

Church Brewing 329 Main St., Wolfville / 902-542-2337 churchbrewing.ca Brewery and farm-to-table eatery within a former church. Serving an array of house and guest-made beers. Large patio. Open daily.

FirkinStein Brewing 673 King St., Bridgewater / 902-530-5400 firkinstein.ca Uses reclaimed dairy tanks for its mash tun and kettle and filters water through slow sand filtering. Taproom offering growler and crowler fills, plus pints and guest taps.

Gahan House Nova Centre 5239 Sackville St., Halifax / 902-444-3060 halifax.gahan.ca Features a large food menu and a variety of ales and lagers on tap, plus bottles, coolers, cider, and gluten-free options. Crowlers, growlers.

Garrison Brewing Brewery: 1149 Marginal Rd., Halifax / 902-453-5343 Oxford Taproom: 6414 Quinpool Rd., Halifax 902-431-0501 / garrisonbrewing.com An exceptional range of premium, distinctive beers full of flavour. Keggers, growlers and “growlitos”, event space, and $2 beer tasters. Taproom and patio hopyard.

Good Robot Brewing Company 2736 Robie St., Halifax 902-446-1692 / goodrobotbrewing.ca An ever-changing selection of beer, including gluten-reduced options. Frequent guest brewers. Tasting room, retail store, patio. Kitchen offers eclectic eats.

Half Cocked Brewing Company 1290 Hwy. 245, Antigonish 902-318-3317 / facebook.com/halfcockedbrewing Small-batch brewery emphasizing local ingredients. Open Thursdays, 4pm–7pm.

Harbour Brewing Company 7955 Hwy. 7, Musquodoboit Harbour 902-410-8919 / facebook.com/craftharourbeer Musquodoboit Harbour’s first and only brewery. Growler fills and seasonal patio.

Hell Bay Brewing 38 Legion St., Liverpool 902-356-3556 / hellbaybrewing.com Unfiltered, small batch beer that harnesses the proper body and flavour for its style. Staple beers are English Ale and Dark Cream. Seasonal specialties.

Heritage Brewing Co. 250 Main St., Yarmouth 902-881-2777 / heritagebrewing.beer Taproom brewery serving sample boards and pints, plus growler fills. Seasonal food-truck; dogfriendly patio. Live music year-round.

Hill Top Hops Brewhouse 7232 Hwy 14, Newport 902-757-3510 / hilltophops.ca Hop farm founded in 2016, brewery in 2019. Cozy, rustic tap room. Six classic styles. Growler fills. Open Wednesday–Sunday. Check website for hours.

Horton Ridge Malt and Grain 2504 Ridge Rd., Wolfville 902-266-6258 / horton-ridge-malt-grain.myshopify.com Six rotating taps of local craft beer in the taproom; six individual malts for purchase. Retail store, event space.

King Street Beer Company 463 King St., Bridgewater 902-541-4757/ kingstreetbeer.ca This sunny taproom is an outpost of Saltbox Brewery. Cans, growlers. Patio with fire pit.

Lazy Bear Brewing Company 120 W. Old Post Rd., Smiths Cove 902-440-0880 / lazybearbrewing.ca Artisanal hand-crafted ales, frequently experiments with new creations. Growler nights every Thursday (off hours by appointment).

Lunn’s Mill Beer Company 515 Carleton Rd., Lawrencetown 902-584-2217 / lunnsmill.beer Sizable tap room serving up pints and finger foods including nachos, flat bread and burgers. Rotating taps of house-made and guest beers, plus growler fills, cans, and bottles.

Meander River Farm and Brewery 906 Woodville Rd., Ashdale 902-757-3484 / meanderriverfarm.ca Sustainable, environmentally friendly brewery. The first Nova Scotian brewery offering a community shared brewery program. Beer tastings, sales in kegs, bottles, and growlers. Brewery and hopyard tours.

New Scotland Brewing 91 Alderney Dr., Dartmouth 902-406-2337 / newscotlandbrewing.ca Taproom and brewery focusing on traditional beer styles and meads. Local music.

Nine Locks Brewing Mic Mac Place, 219 Waverley Rd., Dartmouth 902-434-4471 / ninelocksbrewing.ca Year-round and seasonal craft brews. No filtration, pasteurization, or preservatives. Cans and growlers.

BREWERIES, CIDERIES, DISTILLERIES & WINERIES

North Brewing Bottle shop: Battery Park, 62 Ochterloney St., Dartmouth Brewery/taproom: 899 Portland St., Dartmouth 902-444-7765 / northbrewing.ca Belgian inspired beers. Bottles and growlers to go. Taproom features Side Hustle Snack Bar, serving an eclectic menu of globally inspired fare.

Off Track Brewing 275 Rocky Lake Dr., Bedford 902-835-9292 / facebook.com/offtrackbrewing Spacious taproom with a projection TV for game days. Offering novel house styles like chocolate peanut-butter stout. Patio and live music.

Paddy’s Pub 460 Main St., Wolfville / 902-542-0059 46 Aberdeen St., Kentville / 902-678-3199 / paddyspub.ca Irish brewpub and restaurant. Live entertainment. Craft beer brewed on site. Growlers to go.

Painted Boat Beer Company 230 Ford St., Stellarton An offshoot of the Nova Scotia Spirit Company. Tasting room, cans to go. Food trucks often on site.

Propeller Brewing Company 617 Windmill Rd., Dartmouth / 902-422-7767 2015 Gottingen St., Halifax / drinkpropeller.ca Large selection of award-winning beers. Halifax location features retail area, taproom and basement arcade, plus special Friday cask releases.

Rare Bird Craft Beer 75 Ferry Ln., Guysborough 902-533-3904 / rarebirdbeer.com Uses Canadian-grown malted barley. Awardwinning seasonal Pumpkin Ale. Taproom open June–late September.

Rock Bottom Brew Pub 5686 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax 902-423-2938 / rockbottombrewpub.ca Beers are hand-crafted on site—a mix of regular brews and seasonal creations. Walk-in growler fills.

Roof Hound Brewing Company 2580 Ridge Rd., Digby 902-245-8121 / facebook.com/roofhound By Master Chef Canada finalist Les Barr. Best known for its Big Stink IPA, a gold-medal winner for Atlantic Canada in 2017. Wide variety of brews with a vast selection of flavours.

Route 19 Brewing 16030 Central Ave., Inverness / 902-550-2739 route19brewing.com Six core brands available in cans and growlers. Three-floor restaurant with an ocean view. Wheelchair accessible.

Rudders Brew Pub 96 Water St., Yarmouth 902-742-7311 / ruddersbrewpub.com Seafood restaurant and brew pub; squealers,

growlers, party kegs. Full-bodied craft ales in five signature styles.

Saltbox Brewing Company 363 Main St., Mahone Bay 902-624-0653 / saltboxbrewingcompany.ca A focus on distinctive taste and aroma. Comfortable tap room, sampling of the variety of brews on tap.

Salty Dog Brewing 615 Prince St., Truro / saltydogbrewco.ca Core styles include IPA, pale ale, blueberry wheat, and session ale, plus seasonal selections. Brewed with concentrated liquid wort. Growler fills.

Schoolhouse Brewery 40 Water St., Windsor 902-472-4677 / schoolhousebrewery.ca Brewery and taproom serving flights, full pints, guest taps, recess snacks, bottles and growler fills.

Sea Level Brewing 980 Terrys Creek Rd., Port Williams 902-542-5544 / sealevelbrewing.com Never compromises quality for quantity; distinguished flavours in each handcrafted recipe. Local ingredients.

Shipwright Brewing Co. 82 Montague St., Lunenburg / shipwrightbrewing.com Above the Grand Banker Bar & Grill. Two core beers plus an array of one-offs. Four seat taproom.

Smokehouse Nano Brewery 170 Cottage Ave., Berwick / 902-680-5243 facebook.com/smokehousenanobrewery Tiny brewery offering can sales from the brewery on Monday afternoons and at the Berwick Farmers’ Market.

Sober Island Brewing Company 22478 Hwy. 7, Sheet Harbour 902-719-9463 / soberislandbrewing.ca Four core English-style brews (oyster stout, IPA, mild bitter) plus seasonal brews. Cans, growlers, crowlers.

Spindrift Brewing Company 21 Frazee Ave., Dartmouth 902-703-7438 / spindriftbrewing.com Mid-sized brewery offering cans, growlers, kegs, and swag in the retail shop. Discount on all draft products to serving and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Tanner & Co. Brewing Brewery: 50 Angus Hiltz Rd., Chester Tasting room: 59 Duke St., Chester Garage-based brewery offering growler fills and bottles. Seasonal vineyard patio.

Tatamagouche Brewing Company 235 Main St., Tatamagouche 902-657-4000 / tatabrew.com A butcher shop turned brewery creating smallbatch of organic brews. Hippie Dippie English pale ale is a perennial favourite. Growlers, fills, cans, kegs, and taster flights.

BREWERIES, CIDERIES, DISTILLERIES & WINERIES

Tidehouse Brewing Company 2-5187 Salter St., Halifax / 902-407-2550 facebook.com/tidehousebrewingcompany “Small-batch brewing with big flavour.” Growlers and fills; diverse selection of beer. Tiny Tap room serving pints and samples, seats 12.

Trider’s Craft Beer 46 Anson Ave. #3, Amherst 902-614-8983 / triderscraftbeer.ca Family-run brewery focusing on easy-drinking beer. Regular line-up consists of six styles, plus seasonals with tastes of maple, blueberry, or pumpkin. Sample flights; bottles and growlers to go.

Truro Brewing Company 53 Inglis Place, Truro facebook.com/trurobrewco Women-owned nano brewery with a cozy taproom, offering growler fills to go.

Tusket Falls Brewing 20 Slocomb Cres., Tusket 902-648-3340 / facebook.com/tusketfallsbrewing Core styles include: golden ale, smoked ale, and stout. Cans and growlers. Taproom and patio. Open daily.

Two Islands Brewing 169 Main St., Parrsboro / 902-728-2221 Small brewery within a bakery offering ales and lagers “reflecting the taste of the community.” Open Wednesday–Sunday.

Uncle Leo’s Brewery 2623 Nova Scotia 376, Lyons Brook 902-382-2739 / uncleleosbrewery.ca Cans, squealers, growlers, kegs and an Oktoberfest sampler offered for a limited time in select NSLC stores. Samples are available and a look into the life of a brewer can be viewed through the windows in the tasting room.

Unfiltered Brewing Company 6041 North St., Halifax / facebook.com/Unfilteredbrewing Hoppy brews and an edgy attitude. Growlers, kegs, cans. Charm School Pub next door serves pints, samples, and snacks.

Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse 612 Windmill Rd., Dartmouth 902-407-4344 / upstreetbbqbrewhouse.com Local transplant of a popular P.E.I. brewery with a full menu of Southern barbecue and sharable snacks.

Wayfarers’ Ale Society 1116 Kars St., Port Williams / 902-542-7462 / wayfarersale.ca Brews by a collective of local craft-beer enthusiasts, including blonde, Irish red, Scottish ale, and IPA. Brewery tours on Fridays and Saturdays (contact the brewery to book).

9zero2 Brewing 5963 Rte. 245, Arisaig / 902-863-5530 facebook.com/9zero2 Brewery off-shoot of Steinhart Distillery. Kegs and growlers. No taproom. Open Monday–Friday.

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CIDERIES

Annapolis Cider Company 388 Main St., Wolfville / 902-697-2707 / drinkannapolis.ca Ciders are made from Annapolis Valley apples in a variety of flavours. Cidery is open daily, offering tastings (samples and flights) and tours.

Boars Back Cider 2 Crocker Rd., Harmony / 902-321-0150 boarsbackcider.com Long-term cold fermentation and barrel-aging creates funky, unique ciders. Hours vary; phone ahead.

Bulwark Handcrafted Cider Muwin Estate Wines, 7153 Hwy. #12, New Ross 902-681-1545 / bulwarkcider.com Four core ciders, plus seasonal offerings, artisan crafted and freshly pressed on-site. Organic and committed to local ingredients with an ideal balance of sweetness, acidity and natural tannins.

Chain Yard Urban Cidery 2606 Agricola St., Halifax 902-407-2244 / chainyardcider.com A selection of house and guest-made ciders, plus local craft beer. Seasonal menu offers local fare in small plates and mains.

Elderkin’s Cider 10362 Hwy. 1, Wolfville / 902-542-7198 facebook.com/Elderkins Crisp traditional cider sold at a farmers’ market and u-pick.

Lake City Cider 35 Portland St., Dartmouth / 902-466-7818 / lakecitycider.ca Traditional-style ciders made from fresh-pressed Nova Scotian apples. Bottles, cans. Downtown Dartmouth tasting room open daily.

Malagash Cidery Vista Bella Farms, 2859 Malagash Rd., Malagash 902-257-2288 / vistabellafarm.com Family-run heritage farm featuring 100+ apple varieties and an apiary. Bloom-to-bottle cider making.

Maritime Express Cider 325 Main St., Kentville / 902-681-5105 maritimeexpress.ca Inside the Cornwallis Inn, a historic railway hotel. Four housemade ciders plus Nova Scotian craft beer. Menu features snacks, sandwiches and charcuterie boards. Bottles and growlers.

Noggins Corner Cider 10009 Hwy. 1, Wolfville 902-542-5515 / nogginsfarm.ca/cider Many of the apples used in creating cider are rare, heirloom varieties. Perry (pear cider brewed with three varieties of autumn pears) is also popular.

Sourwood Cider 5576 Cornwallis St., Halifax / sourwoodcidercider.com instagram.com/sourwoodcider Raw, funky, unfiltered, and unpasteurized ciders. Retail shop and tap room serving Jewish cuisine. Cans available to go. Sizeable summer patio.

DISTILLERIES

Authentic Seacoast 75 Ferry Lane, Guysborough 902-533-3904 /authenticseacoast.com The first distillery and brewery in the world to be located on a golf course. Tasting room open June–late September. Call ahead for tours.

Barreling Tide Distillery 1164 Parkway Dr., Port Williams 902-542-1627 / barrellingtidedistillery.com Named for the nearby tides that rise over 10 metres, this distillery produces and sells craft spirits. Vodka, rum, gin, and liqueurs; shot glasses.

Caldera Distilling 65 River John Rd., River John / 902-351-2035 / caldera.ca Whisky and rum; grains grown on site. Variations have subtle differences in flavour year to year and are “distilled for a lingering taste and smooth finish.” Summer distillery tours.

Coldstream Clear Distillery 87 Main St., Stewiacke 902-956-3393 / coldstreamclear.com Vodka, rum, and liqueur collections with a range of flavours including homemade apple pie, holiday candy cane and salted caramel vodkas. Tasting room and retail store.

Compass Distillers 2533 Agricola St., Halifax 902-446-0467 / compassdistillers.ca Craft spirits produced in the heart of the North End. Bar and B&B on site.

Glenora Distillery 13727 Route 19, Mabou 902-258-2662 / glenoradistillery.com Produces North America’s first and Canada’s only single-malt whisky: Glen Breton Rare. Tours in picturesque setting; stay a while in the hotel.

Halifax Distilling Co. 1668 Lower Water St., Halifax 902-431-0505 / halifaxdistillingco.ca Handcrafted spirits in a small-batch copper still. Tour, tasting bar, retail store.

Ironworks Distillery 2 Kempt St., Lunenburg 902-640-2424 / ironworksdistillery.com A variety of spirits. Tours for $15, adults; $5 youth 12 and up. Designated Drivers get a free beverage.

Steinhart Distillery 5963 Rte. 245, Antigonish 902-863-5530 / steinhartdistillery.com Hand-made daily in small batches, never using artificial flavours or chemicals. Visit for a short tour or stay a few days in one of the chalets.

Still Fired Distilleries 9548 Hwy. 8, Annapolis Royal 902-471-7083 / stillfireddistilleries.com Hand-crafted premium spirits, double-distilled and triple-filtered to ensure purity and a smooth finish. Corn-based flavoured vodka, gin, and moonshine.

Tangled Garden 11827 Hwy. 1, Grand Pré 902-542-9811 / tangledgardenherbs.ca Some 1.6 hectares of sloping land to wander, plus an array of fruit and herb liquors to taste and take home. Tasting tours by appointment.

WINERIES

Avondale Sky Winery 80 Avondale Cross Rd., Newport Landing 902-253-2047 / avondalesky.com Taste award-winning wines, tour the vineyards and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. Wine club membership with a number of benefits.

Bear River Vineyards and Winery 133 Chute Rd., Bear River 902-467-4156 / wine.travel Estate-grown wines developed with minimal intervention, expressing the region’s terroir. Classic vinifera varieties along with hardier coolclimate hybrids. Daily vineyard tours and onsite guest suite.

BREWERIES, CIDERIES, DISTILLERIES & WINERIES

Beavercreek Winery 496 Carleton Rd., Lawrencetown 902-825-9463 / beavercreekwinery.com Some 21 varieties of fruit wines; Naked Mead made with pure honey. Winery open fulltime from May–December and features an outdoor wineand-cheese café.

Benjamin Bridge Winery 1966 White Rock Rd., Wolfville 902-542-1560 / benjaminbridge.com “Canada’s most acclaimed sparkling wine house.” Located in the Gaspereau Valley with a climate similar to France’s Champagne region. Fresh, minerality and fragrant florals; home of the staple Nova 7 wine.

Bent Ridge Winery 4499 Hwy. 14, Windsor / 902-441-3530 / bentridgewinery.ca Small-batch winery and pico-brewery, located in a popular u-pick orchard. Samples, tours, and woodfired pizza and small plates.

Blomidon Estate Winery 10318 Hwy. #221, Canning 902-582-7565 / blomidonwine.ca Wines that reflect the Maritime climate and coastal terroir. Private tours and wine tasting offered in the spring.

Casa Nova Fine Beverages 2635 Clementsvale Rd., Bear River 902-467-0363 / casanovafinebeverages.com Winery and vineyard tours, tasting bar; vineyards feature several varieties of grapes. Red, white, fruit, dessert, and rosé wines. Onsite cidery and intimate outdoor concerts.

Domaine de Grand Pré 11611 Hwy 1, Grand Pré 902-542-1753 / grandprewines.ns.ca Distinct Nova Scotian grapes; relax on the pergola after wandering rows of unique vines. Partnered with Agriculture Canada for one of the widest selections of N.S. grape varieties.

Eileanan Brèagha Vineyards 5349 Marble Mountain Rd., River Denys 902-756-3533 / eileananbreagha.ca Nova Scotia’’s northernmost estate winery. Soil infused with marble and limestone contributes distinct flavours: dark berries, fruity aromas, with hints of vanilla and caramel.

Gaspereau Vineyards 2239 White Rock Rd., Wolfville 902-542-1455 / gaspereauwine.ca Taste, tour, and explore the vineyards. Home of a double-gold winning Tidal Bay white wine. Specializes in fruit-forward whites and earthy reds; high acidity and low tannins.

Grand Pré Winery 11611 Hwy. 1, Grand Pré / 902-542-1753 / grandprewines.com Family-owned winery offering award-winning wines, award-winning restaurant, cobblestone courtyards, beautiful gardens, and vineyard tours.

Jost Vineyards 48 Vintage Ln., Malagash / 1-800-565-4567 / jostwine.ca Nova Scotia’s largest winery offers wine tastings, vineyard tours, dining at Seagrape Café and an extensive selection of award-winning wines.

L’Acadie Vineyards 310 Slayter Rd., Gaspereau 902-542-8463 / lacadievineyards.ca Crafted by the Méthode Traditionnelle as used in France since the 16th century, L’Acadie’s wines reflect the rich cultural and agricultural history of the Annapolis Valley. Certified organic; sparkling.

Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards 11143 Evangeline Trail, Wolfville 902-542-7774 / lightfootandwolfville.com Classic vinifera includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and other German styles. Popular wedding venue.

Luckett Vineyards 1293 Grand Pré Rd., Wallbrook 902-542-2600 / luckettvineyards.com Wine and Dine package, pairing a tasting menu with the winery’s highlights. Reds, whites, and icewines crafted from an array of fruits.

Lunenburg County Winery 813 Walburne Rd., Mahone Bay 902-644-2415 / canada-wine.com Located at Hackmatack commercial u-pick blueberry farm; selection of fruit wines: rhubarb, peach, pear, and cherry; mead.

Mercator Vineyards 88 Dyke Rd., Wolfville / 902-542-7770 / mercatorwine.ca Old World style wines and local meat and cheese plates. Vineyard tours and bottles sales. Open May–December.

Petite Riviere Vineyards 1300 Italy Cross Rd., Crousetown 902-693-3033 / petiterivierevineyards.ca Elegant, complex wines. Venue rentals, tours and is one of the over 50 members of the Nova Scotia Good Cheer Trail.

Planter’s Ridge Winery 1441 Church St., Port Williams 902-542-2711 / plantersridge.ca Varietals such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Frontenac Blanc, Dornfelder, Baco Noir, Viognier, Seyval Blanc and Muscat Ottonel. Mead and cider.

Sainte Famille Wines Ltd. 11 Dudley Park Ln., Falmouth 1-800-565-0993 / st-famille.com A grower of 12 grape varieties. Twenty awardwinning wines. Wine tasting room, gift shop, and patio.