Sip and Savour

Craft Gin Trail

The Craft Gin Trail invites you to explore up to six different distilleries located in Waterloo Region, Perth County, and Wellington County in Southwest Ontario. An hour’s drive from the GTA, this brand-new experience takes you to the historic towns of Guelph and Stratford, the heritage town of Elora, and the quaint villages of Arthur and Ayr. Meet the people, hear the stories, and open up to new experiences in the world of Gin! Explore our rural heritage, enjoy great hospitality, and stamp your passport along the way for a chance to win!

The distilleries include Elora Distilling Company, Silver Fox Distillery, Willibald Farm Distillery and Brewery, Junction 56 Distillery, Dixon's Distilled Spirits, and Spring Mill Distillery!

www.craftgintrail.com

*New* Gin Trail Tours

First Annual Craft Gin Festival in Elora

The Ontario Craft Gin Trail held its first annual Craft Gin Festival on June 10 at the grounds of the Elora Centre for the Arts. The afternoon hosted samples of craft gins from across the region as well as artisan makers, live music, food vendors, and more! View photos of the event here. 

Happy Hour

Craft breweries have evolved to become true community meeting places while craft distillers are bringing back an almost lost tradition to the local beverage scene. Experience the best of Guelph-Wellington beverages:

Distilleries  Cideries and Winery  Craft Breweries  Non-alcoholic Beverages

Distilleries

Gin, vodka and whiskey are back on the menu and the distilleries are worth a visit!

Dixon's Distilled Spirits

The first local distillery of craft spirits to arrive in Guelph, Dixon's award-winning small batch distillery offers a variety of gin, vodka, moonshine, and coolers. Local Ontario farmers supply them with the finest grains they harvest. You can find Dixon's spirit-infused bbq sauce, mustard and maple syrup at their distillery store, as well as local retailers. Visit them for a tasting and tour, or rent their space for an event. Locally made, unbelievably smooth.

Guelph | www.dixonsdistilledspirits.com

Elora Distilling Company

A small batch, grain-to-glass distillery focusing on flavours created with local ingredients. Elora Distilling Company offers hand crafted gin, vodka, rye, liqueurs, and cordials made with ingredients right from their market garden. Their distillery offers an in-house cocktail bar and lounge, cocktail classes and tours, as well as space rentals for your next event. Visit them in the heart of downtown Elora and see why local makes world-class products.

Elora | www.eloradistillingcompany.com

Silver Fox Distillery

This award-winning distillery offers a wide variety of gin, vodka, moonshine, rye, liqueurs and gift items. Some of their flavours include Sugar Shack Maple, Lavender, and 4 Peppercorn. Silver Fox's museum-like showroom is worth a visit boasting antique cars, Doctor Who, and other memorabilia. Tours and spirit tastings available. Seasonally, they are offering slushies for those under age. Come see why this distillery has 26 awards in its first two years.

Arthur | www.silverfoxdistillery.ca

Cideries and Winery

Take your own picnic or sample wine and cheese at the fireside or sip small-batch ciders in a forest-edge tasting room.

Cox Creek Cellars

Cox Creek has been open since 1998 and has consistently produced award-winning grape and fruit wines made with low-impact production methods on a picturesque farm. This multigenerational company combines the beauty of Wellington County and the taste of locally crafted wines and ciders. Book an indoor or fireside tasting where you can visit and try their products while exploring the on-site orchard.

Guelph/Eramosa | www.coxcreekcellars.com

Heartwood Farm and Cidery

Heartwood Farm and Cidery make delicious small-batch craft ciders, using ingredients from the farm and local community - apples from the forest garden, maple syrup tapped from the trees, and other ingredients like currants and peaches (and even hot peppers!) for signature flavours or seasonal offerings. Heartwood ciders are sophisticated and somewhat adventurous, but still accessible, like a craft cider should be. Book a patio table and visit the farm store to purchase some of your favourites from the tasting!

Erin | www.heartwoodfarm.ca

Revel Cider

Revel started in 2014 as a solo passion project that evolved into a great and growing wine and cider business. Whether you are into classic, funky, fruited, or botanical ciders, Revel Cider has something for you. Their characterful native yeast fermentations explore the endless flavours Ontario has to offer. Keeping it local means they get to continually stretch creativity, all while helping the native ecosystem thrive. All blends are spontaneously fermented and have zero residual sugar. They are sold online and in-person at the cidery.

Guelph | www.revelcider.ca

Craft Breweries

Go for samples, visit the bottle shop and stay for tours, live music and events.

Brother's Brewing Company

Brothers Brewing Company is an art and experience focused beer brand founded by twin brothers. You will find a brewery, a bar, a bottle shop, and a community hub - all under one roof. They offer 12 taps of house brewed craft beer, host communal workshops, food pop-ups, and local bands and entertainment. Reserve a bench indoors, or enjoy their outdoor biergarten. Order online from their ever-changing line up of classic, seasonal, and one-off craft beers for pick-up OR local Guelph delivery.

Guelph | www.brothersbrewingcompany.ca

Fixed Gear Brewing Company

Fixed Gear Brewing Company is a fresh small batch craft beer store and bar located in Guelph. With at least 10 draught beers on tap, Fixed Gear Brewing is always able to satisfy any beer lover with IPA’s, Lagers, and Stouts. You can also try one of their non-alcoholic lemon or honey hop waters. Their famous outdoor patio provides a unique setting that is both family and dog friendly with specialty nights like Tuesday and Friday Live Music, Wednesday Trivia Nights, and Thursday Bingo. For those in a hurry, the express beer store is always loaded with fresh cold beer with ice available to go.

Guelph | www.fixedgearbrewing.com

Elora Brewing Company

Surrounded by century old heritage, the Elora Brewing Company provides a true craft beer experience, accompanied by some of the best 'farm-to-table' food in the region. They started as a group of guys who loved beer and turned into the go-to place to eat, drink, and hang out with friends in downtown Elora. Now known as a gastro pub, brewery, bottle shop, and music venue, Elora Brewing Company is a bustling environment to enjoy a cold beer and take in the live entertainment and events. They offer both year-round classic beers as well as seasonal brews.

Elora | www.elorabrewingcompany.ca

Royal City Brewing Company

Royal City Brewing is a small batch brewing company and Beer Hall located in the heart of The Ward neighborhood in Guelph. They focus on fresh, interesting yet approachable beers. Drop by the Beer Hall, their menu has been engineered with specific interest in the furthering of Beer Hall vibes; it's entirely intended to be paired with freshly poured pints and has been painstakingly optimized for conviviality, think pretzels, schnitzels, sausages, tacos, and more! The Bottle Shop will keep you stocked with all your favourites to take home, or order online for delivery or pickup.

Guelph | www.royalcitybrew.ca

Sleeman Retail Store and Taproom

In 1988, John W. Sleeman reopened the family’s brewery in Guelph, Ontario, with brews based on the original, handwritten Sleeman recipe book. John and the team worked hard and used some crafty thinking to make Sleeman the third-largest brewery in Canada - one bottle at a time. Today, Sleeman’s team of brewmasters has over 100 years of combined brewing experience. In the spirit of the family’s brewing tradition, they continue to use a small-batch brewhouse to develop and master new, unique beer styles and flavours. The Sleeman Retail Store and Taproom has a large selection of packaged and draught beer options that are sure to please all beer enthusiasts. Check out their tasting room and be sure to pick up some Sleeman branded swag along with your beer purchase.

Guelph | www.sleemanretailstore.ca

Wellington Brewery

Wellington Brewery is one of Canada’s original craft breweries known for producing award-winning beers with a focus on quality, sustainability, and creativity. Founded in 1985 in Guelph, they are creatively transforming Ontario’s brewing culture to stand for people and planet. With beer products such as year-round brews, small batch and seasonal flavours, and non-alcoholic options, there is truly something for everyone to appreciate.

Guelph | www.wellingtonbrewery.ca

County Cocktails

Explore the thrilling history of bootlegging, prohibition, temperance, and alcohol production in Wellington County AND get a behind the scenes look at some local distilleries and cideries! Local business partners have created a signature cocktail inspired by the history of each township in Wellington County. Learn to make a signature cocktail inspired by your community, take a peek behind the scenes of our local distilleries, and hear fascinating stories about the history of alcohol in Wellington County in this video series – all from the comfort of your own home!

Learn more about County Cocktails

Queen of Craft

A group of passionate women who use their diverse talents to teach others about beer. They provide a safe space for those seeking to increase their knowledge of and experiences with beer by offering bold, fun and informative events that keep beer education approachable, build and support community, empower and celebrate women on their beer journeys, and create lasting impressions and friendships! Try their 10th Anniversary Queen of Craft juicy IPA. It has bright citrus hop aromatics, a flavourful wave of mandarin, orange, and grapefruit pith with a delightfully dry finish that will have you reaching for more!

Learn more about Queen of Craft

Local Non-alcoholic Beverages

Heartwood Farm and Cidery

Made with 100% organic apples, Heartwood's non-alcoholic sparkling cider is bursting with fruit character and apple aromas. It's entirely free of added sugars or preservatives; all you're tasting in your can of Sparkle is the fresh-pressed apple blend, harvested right off the tree.

Erin | www.heartwoodfarm.ca

Hitchhiker Beverage Company

Hitchhiker Beverage Company consists of a mother and daughter team; Leanne and Brooke. Their delicious flavours of lemonade, cold tea, and Hard Hitchhiker are a labour of love, which are carefully crafted for Canadian Life.

Guelph | www.hitchhikercompany.com

Laza Food and Beverages

Laza Food and Beverages is an Ontario based company founded in 2009 and is the developer of unique lines of hibiscus tea and frozen treats. The beverages line consists of two distinct flavour profiles, hibiscus tea and lemon, and built upon them with zesty flavours like ginger, turmeric and mint. 

Guelph | www.lazafandb.com

Lighthouse Lemonade

Lighthouse Lemonade is crafted using the simplest of ingredients and the original recipe from the 1800s. They sell original lemonade cordial and lime-lemon cordial.

Fergus | www.lighthouselemonade.com

Planet Bean Coffee

Planet Bean began roasting coffee in downtown Guelph in 1997. It was the first roastery in the city for at least half a century. From the beginning the focus was on certified Fairtrade and organic gourmet arabica coffee. The scent of the coffee roastery became a part of the downtown experience and was an aromatic beacon for anyone with a fine sense of flavour.

Guelph | www.planetbeancoffee.com

Wellington Brewery

Looking to enjoy the refreshing taste of locally grown Ontario hops without the alcohol? Try Wellington Brewery's Sparkling Hop Water in both Cascade and Chinook hop versions. They are a refreshing non-alcoholic treat that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!

Guelph | www.wellingtonbrewery.ca