Ottawa's craft beer scene has quietly become one of the country's most interesting, with dozens of breweries spread from Hintonburg's industrial strip to Gloucester's business parks to the farm country west of Kanata. This list draws on public reviews, brewery websites, and reporting on the local scene to surface ten taprooms actually pouring beer in the Ottawa area right now.
1. Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
Area: Hintonburg, with a second location on George Street in the ByWard Market · Rating: 4.4 on Google (930 reviews) · Since: 2012
Beyond the Pale helped kick off Ottawa's modern craft beer movement and is still one of its anchors. The Hintonburg taproom pours 16 taps alongside a Smoquehouse BBQ kitchen and one of the city's biggest dog-friendly patios, and reviewers consistently single out the beer selection and staff knowledge even when opinions on the food or ordering system are mixed.
2. Tooth and Nail Brewing Company
Area: Hintonburg · Rating: 4.7 on Google · Yelp 4.2 (25 reviews)
Tooth and Nail occupies a century-old former machine shop, with exposed brick and warm lighting that regulars call one of the best atmospheres among Ottawa breweries. Its rotating tap list draws praise for traditional styles done well, especially a pilsner that comes up again and again in reviews as one of the city's best.
3. Dominion City Brewing Co.
Area: Gloucester, on Canotek Road · Rating: 4.7 on Google (527 reviews) · Since: 2014
Founded as Canada's first Kickstarter-funded brewery, Dominion City is frequently cited by local beer writers as Ottawa's strongest brewery on quality alone, particularly its hazy IPAs and crisp lagers. The taproom shares its site with a beer garden and a community vegetable garden that donates produce to a local food bank.
4. Kichesippi Beer Company
Area: Bells Corners, in a former VW dealership on Robertson Road · Rating: 4.8 on Google (385 reviews)
Kichesippi runs a retail store, an indoor taproom, and an outdoor beer garden alongside food trucks, and it's built a reputation as a family-owned mainstay of the west-end scene. Reviewers highlight the extensive patio, the pet-friendly setup, and a beer lineup that draws repeat visits from regulars.
5. Flora Hall Brewing
Area: Hintonburg, on Flora Street · Rating: 4.6 on Google (1,188 reviews) · Tripadvisor 4.2 (72 reviews)
Flora Hall pairs a wide-ranging beer list with brewpub food that gets called out almost as often as the beer itself, an unusual combination for a brewery this size. It's one of the highest-volume-reviewed breweries in the city, which points to a spot that draws both beer tourists and neighbourhood regulars.
6. Big Rig Brewery
Area: Kanata, with additional locations around Ottawa · Tripadvisor 3.6 (466 reviews) · Since: 2012
Big Rig started on a 10-barrel system in 2012 and has grown into the largest craft brewery in Ottawa, now brewing beer and craft spirits alongside a casual food menu. Reviews point to approachable brewers happy to talk shop and consistently flavourful IPAs, with the Alpha Bomb mentioned most often.
7. Ashton Brewing Company
Area: Ashton village, in the Ottawa Valley west of the city · Restaurant Guru 4.8 (1,524 reviews) · Tripadvisor 4.0 (186 reviews)
Run by the Hodgins family, Ashton Brewing operates out of an old mill in the small village of Ashton, a setting reviewers describe as a genuine destination rather than just a taproom. It suits anyone up for a drive out of the city, with a pub menu and beer selection that's earned it repeated mentions as a hidden gem.
8. Overflow Brewing Company
Area: Ottawa, on Kaladar Avenue · Tripadvisor 4.2
Overflow bills itself as a live-music and event venue as much as a brewery, with a dog-friendly outdoor patio and a food menu alongside its beer lineup. It's a good pick for a night out built around more than just drinking, with a broad tap list backed by a large base of Untappd check-ins.
9. Brasserie du Bas-Canada
Area: Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa · Tripadvisor 4.5, ranked #48 of 375 Gatineau restaurants (24 reviews)
Brasserie du Bas-Canada combines a taproom and retail shop with a bistro menu that gets nearly as much attention as the beer, including dishes like chicken and waffles and lamb vindaloo. Reviewers call out strong IPAs and boozy stouts, plus attentive service, making it worth the short trip across the Ottawa River.
10. Whiprsnapr Brewing Co.
Area: Nepean
Whiprsnapr is a family-run operation that has brewed more than 150 different styles over a decade-plus in business, with a new beer released roughly every week. It also serves craft pizza and house-made sodas from a pet-friendly patio, making it a good fit for regulars who want to try something different on every visit rather than a fixed flagship lineup.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, brewery websites, and customer reviews on Google, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Untappd. It is not a paid placement, and no business on it is affiliated with ottown or its operator. Ratings and review counts are as found at the time of research and may have changed since. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Sources: Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, Tooth and Nail Brewing Company, Dominion City Brewing Co., Kichesippi Beer Co., Flora Hall Brewing reviews, Big Rig Brewery, Ashton Brewing Company, Overflow Brewing Company, Brasserie du Bas-Canada, Whiprsnapr Brewing Co..
