Mascot Brewery -
King Street
220 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M2
Sunday-Wednesday 3pm-12am
Thursday-Saturday 3pm-2am
Accepts Reservations
We came on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 6:30pm
Casual, Underground, Decent Beer Selection, Snacks/Light Meals
Mascot Brewery
Atmosphere
Fernanda: It has a casual feel to it. There are two TV screens. One of them was playing The Simpsons and the other was playing the Grammys. Both screens were on mute and pop music was playing in the background. The space seems suitable for large groups. A good place to hang out with friends and catch up.
First impression, I thought the place was closed. The lights inside the entrance are very low so it was hard to tell. Once I went inside, the place was empty except for a group of 5 people sitting in a corner.
Scott: Lowly-lit and underground, Mascot has the feel of a secret hideaway. The room is spacious, but doesn't have a lot of tables, which might be worth keeping in mind if going there during peak hours. The place has a fairly casual, relaxed atmosphere about it. Going when it was totally empty might have been part of this, but I definitely didn't feel rushed. The reggae music probably contributed to the calm feel of the taproom.
Food and Service
Pickled Vegetables
Fernanda: The service was great. It is hard to judge when half of the time you are the only table there but the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. They kept coming by and checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. The food menu seemed good. I didn't have a big appetite so I ordered the pickled vegetables. They were solid, there was nothing special about them but I would order them again if I come back.
Scott: While I did find it a little strange that the servers were sitting at the bar and eating while we were there, they were also friendly, helpful, and always smiling. They clearly had a good idea of the line between being helpful and being overbearing. The menu seemed fairly simple, focussing mostly on snacks or light meals, with one or two options that sounded a little heavier. The pickled vegetables were exactly as advertised, nothing more or less.
Beer
Beer Flights at Mascot Brewery
Fernanda: They have a good selection of beer. The bigger selection is by the bottle or can, but I wanted to try their draught beer so I got a flight of four beers for 4oz each. I got and Ale, Saison, Sour and Stout, they all tasted great and as they should. The place also featured guest taps from other local breweries.
Scott: On the whole, the prices aren't spectacular considering that you're getting them from the source. The 32oz for $13.27 is a good deal, however. I stuck to my standard and tried four IPAs: Haze IPA, Deuces IIPA, Frosthammer Kveik IIPA, and New Rituals West Coast IIPA. I enjoyed all of them, each with nuanced differences from the others. The New Rituals especially surprised me with its caramel notes. They cover a wide range of styles here, not all with as much variety as they had for IPAs, but there should be something for everyone. They have cocktails, wines, and liquor, as well.
Overall
Mascot Brewery is a solid place to check out for a variety of craft beers, with enough selection for everyone. It's probably best suited for groups, as although they don't have many tables, most of the ones they have are fairly large. I wouldn't expect to eat much here, but the location is rife with restaurants and bars where you can have a full meal before coming. Considering that it's underground, you might want to wait until nighttime to come here, unless you're trying to avoid the daylight.
