Burdock Brewery
1184 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2
Sunday-Thursday 11am-12am
Friday-Saturday 11am-1am
No Reservations
We have come on several occasions and at different times
Classy, Intimate, Light Beer, Snacks and Small Meals
Burdock Brewery
Atmosphere
Fernanda: Burdock Brewery is a small and compact place, good for small groups, but best for dates. The lighting is dim. At night, it is usually lit with candles. It can get loud if the bar is full. I've gone there mornings and nights, and they're different experiences. Mornings are more relaxed and food-focussed; at night, you would go there to have drinks and a light snack.
Scott: The atmosphere is somewhere between cosy and classy. Especially at night, it feels like the kind of place you should dress nicely to attend. In the summer, the patio is a great option, and particularly suits the types of beers served there. There is a mild degree of pretentiousness to the place, as though it and its patrons are truly of a higher-calibre of beer drinker. Despite being a brewery, it doesn't focus on its beers, and tries to create more of a restaurant feel.
Food and Service
Beef Tartare
Fernanda: The service is hit-and-miss. Sometimes you get good servers who will greet you and help you find the beer you're looking for. Other times you get one who won't come to your table until you need the bill. The food is okay, but overpriced, in my opinion. There is nothing special about it, although they produce their own honey and make their own cultured butter, which are the highlights of the menu.
Scott: In my experience, servers are friendly but regularly absent. Maybe it's an understaffing issue, although this seems to be the case even when the place isn't particularly busy. It's not the best place to go if you're in a rush. Their food menu is very limited, and they don't have any particularly large meals. They seem to want their menu items to appear "upscale", and even the fries are treated with a strange, sweet coating. The beef tartare is worth trying if you're looking for a small snack.
Beer
Vermont Blond Blonde Ale (front) and July Saison (back)
Fernanda: The bottles and cans list is small, the draught list is even smaller. I usually find limited options in terms of styles, although I can't complain too much since the tend to have Sours and Saisons available all year long. The way I like to describe their beer is: a good starter for people who don't drink beer, or for those who usually prefer wine. The flavours are light and crisp. Their style is to age their beer in wine barrels, which I don't think adds much flavour to it (but maybe I just don't have the palate). Their prices are expensive in comparison to other breweries in Toronto. I do enjoy their magnum beer features, which are easier to drink and a better price value.
Scott: If you're looking for variety, this is definitely not the place for you. I find that most of their beers have generally the same flavour profile. I'm no fan of Sours or Saisons, and these comprise the majority of their beer menu. Even within these styles, however, there is a great amount of similarity across their brews. In fact, even the few ventures they make into other styles, such as their Pale Ale NULA, have the tartness of a Saison. They do have a very small selection of guest beers from other breweries, which is the closest they come to variety. I suppose that they subscribe to the principle of doing one thing well rather than many things to a lesser quality. However, this also means that you have to like that one thing to like the beer there, thereby eliminating scores of potential drinkers, including myself.
Overall
Burdock Brewery is a place for classy adults who are looking for something light and simple. Bring a date here if you want an intimate outing. It doesn't lend itself well to large groups or early-twenties party-seekers. If you love light beers, you will definitely want to try Burdock. Don't expect a full meal. If you're hungry, make sure to eat before or after coming at one of the nearby pubs or restaurants, such as Sugo or The John.
