Halo Brewery
247 Wallace Ave, Toronto, ON M6H 1V5
Monday-Wednesday 3pm-9pm
Thursday 3pm-11pm
Friday 12pm-12am
Saturday 11am-12am
Sunday 11am-9pm
We came on a Friday around 1:15pm
Limited Seating, Small Venue, Moderate Selection, Cozy Atmosphere, Residential Neighbourhood
Halo Brewery Entrance on the South Side of Wallace Ave.
Atmosphere
Fernanda: It's a small place hidden between houses. It appears to have a patio in the summer, which is nice. In size, the seating is limited. It appears to be a very clean and friendly brewery. There are several wooden decorations, but it's modern, and not rustic in look. A couple with their kids went there while we were there to have a drink and some chips, so it's definitely family friendly. It's kind of cool to see where they brew the beers, near the washrooms.
Scott: Located on an otherwise residential street, Halo Brewery is easy to miss amongst the houses. Inside, it's a small venue without a lot of seating. It's definitely not a place to come with a large group of people—pairs or solo are probably best. Even in the middle of the day, it was pretty full when we got there. It's a comfortable place with minimal décor and a wooden aesthetic. The patio wasn't open when we went, but there is one available for warmer seasons. Again, it's not too big. You can take a peek at the the brewing process if you head to the bathrooms behind the bar.
Food and Service
Fernanda: There's not much food. They offer a variety of dips and chips, or you can bring in your own food, or order in, which is kind of cool. The service is good. The bartender kept coming over to check that everything was okay without being too intrusive. He seemed happy to answer any questions we had.
Scott: Halo Brewery doesn't have a kitchen and they don't make any food in-house, although they will allow patrons to bring or order food in. What they do offer are vegan pepperettes and tortilla chips with various dips. While the jalapeño dip was quite nice, this definitely isn't a place to come for food. The bartender was friendly and helpful. There's no table service.
Beer
Tortilla Chips with Jalapeño Bean Dip
(L-R, Back-Front) Non-Newtonian No. 1 Lactose IPA, Test Pattern (Pacifica) IPA,
New Wave IPA, Blood Orange Shapeshifter Sour Lactose IPA
Fernanda: I sampled every beer that they had on tap, and I can truly say that I enjoyed all of them (even the IPAs). Each style had a unique flavour. There were a few sour beers that I hope they have in summer so that I can come back and have them on the patio. It's hard to pick, but my favourite (for now) is the Blood Orange Shapeshifter Sour Lactose IPA. It is well-balanced, a little tart, a little sweet, with a creamy start.
Scott: There's a moderate amount of beer available, but the selection isn't huge. There are a few IPAs, which I'm happy about. The rest of the menu consisted of a Pale Ale, two Saisons, and a Stout. On the whole, there isn't a lot of style variety, but they do the beers that they have well. I really enjoyed the Non-Newtonian No. 1 Lactose IPA, which was deliciously creamy and tasted a bit like Christmas with unexpected nugtmeg notes. The New Wave New England IPA was also nice, tasting strongly of orange juice. Cans are available to take home, if you ask for them at the bar.
Overall
Small and easy to miss, Halo Brewery is a cozy, hidden gem. The beer is good, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the staff are friendly. It's not a good place for groups, but it's definitely nice if you're looking for a quick drink with one or two others, or even alone. It's not a place to come to eat, but you can bring food in if you're hungry. It's also within a twenty minute walking distance from several other breweries, such as Burdock, Henderson, Woodhouse, and Bandit.
