Enhance your next excursion to Niagara with a touch of leisurely sipping
Pack the car, pick the road trip playlist and embark on a journey to Niagara. Here, amidst the charming locales of St. Catharines , four breweries await on the Niagara Ale Trail, brimming with an abundance of innovative craft brews to savor.
Sipping Stop 1: Merchant Ale House
Begin your tour in Downtown St. Catharines at the Merchant Ale House, where Niagara’s thriving craft beer scene has been brewing for more than 20 years. In addition to a wide selection of craft beer, you can pick up fun “merch” like branded hats and shirts and beer-scented soy candles.
Ready for a bite? Craft brewery touring is an endurance sport. Fuel up for the afternoon ahead with an Ale House Burger.
Sipping Stop 2: Cold Break Brewing
Just a quick drive down St. Paul Street West across the Burgoyne Bridge you’ll find Cold Break Brewing. Ask for a pint of their Sublime- Hazy IPA, a Cold Break staple. Juicy and fruity with a bright tropical taste and light bitterness. Or try the Endless Summer – Raspberry Sour. Light, tart and refreshing, this sour beer is packed with raspberries to give it a vibrant look and fruity taste.
Ready for a bite? sink your teeth into their “Vicious Fishious Tacos”
Sipping Stop 3: Decew Falls Brewing Company
Just a stone’s throw from your previous stop, you’ll find a tasty selection of beers at Decew Falls Brewing Company, each with a different story rooted in Niagara’s history. The 32K IPA, for example, pays homage to Laura Secord, who walked alone for 32 km through the wilds of the Niagara Escarpment to warn the British of an impending American attack during the war of 1812.
Ready for a bite? Try the Copper Beech Cheese Dip, made with the brewery’s red ale and smoked cheddar.
Sipping Stop 4: Lock St. Brewery
Make your way to Port Dalhousie, where Lock St. Brewery’s flagship Portside Pilsner is perfect for any craft beer purist on your list. It’s one of the few Canadian all-natural pilsners crafted in accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law.
Ready for a bite? The Truffle Tater Tots here are a must-try!
Are you worried fitting in four stops in one afternoon will leave you feeling rushed?
Enjoy a more relaxed pace by adding in an overnight stay. Excellent local hotel options that are nice and close to your Ale Trail stops include Holiday Inn and Suites Parkway Conference Centre, Comfort Inn St. Catharines, Hampton Inn St. Catharines, Canada’s Best Value Inn St. Catharines, and The Juniper Inn,
Please drink responsibly; Don’t drink and drive.
