I don't always get to go on a tour when I visit a brewery; sometimes the facilities are closed, the brewery is under construction or tours aren't offered (so I smush my face against the glass wall to take in the glorious tanks). Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge was one of those breweries I was unable to tour because they have been working hard to expand and perfect their new brewing space. Their retail store and tap room were still open though and I took full advantage of the draft taps and muskoka chairs.
Located on Taylor Road, close to the main street in Bracebridge, the tap room is quite welcoming and feels like a cottage but better because it has every Muskoka brew on tap and bottles of seasonals ready to be popped.
During my visit the Harvest Ale, one of Muskoka's first seasonals now in its 4th year, just became available and I sampled it ..a lot. This English Pale Ale is dry hopped and brewed with ingredients local to the Muskoka area to celebrate the harvest season. It has an incredible floral/citrus hop aroma and a bitter citrus taste that is balanced by sweet malt. Delicious and perfect for a hop head like myself.
I left the store with a box full of bottles of Harvest Ale and a few of the remaining bottles of Legendary Spring Oddity (you have to catch them when you can). I'll be returning to Bracebridge shortly to scratch Muskoka Brewery off my "to tour" list and buy a muskoka chair. I can fit that in my Pontiac Sunfire, right?
Muskoka Brewery
13 Taylor Road
Bracebridge, ON P1L1S6
