Steam Whistle
Brewing
255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9
Taproom and Tours:
Daily 11am-6pm
Biergarten:
Monday-Wednesday 11am-9pm
Thursday-Friday 11am-11pm
Saturday 11am-12am
Sunday 11am-6pm
Accepts Reservations
We came on February 28, 2020 at 12:45pm
Tours Available, Minimal Selection, German-Style Beer Garden, Historic Site
Steam Whistle Brewing Main Entrance in Roundhouse Park
Atmosphere
Fernanda: Steam Whistle is nice and cozy. It's decorated with plants hanging from the ceilings and big neon signs. The tables are communal. The biergärten is big enough for big parties, but it's not too big, on the whole. We didn't know that there was a separate entrance for the biergärten, so we went into the main steamwhistle entrance at first, and they told us to go to Bay 7, which wasn't a big deal, but remember that there are two entrances when you're going.
Scott: When I was young, I came with family for the tour. I don't remember it at all, now, but I'd like to take it again. It was fairly thorough, as I recall. Instinctively, the biergärten feels too far away from the main entrance to be part of the same brewery, but it is. Evidently, Steam Whistle is a popular lunchtime location, as it became pretty packed while we were there. It's well-lit and not too loud. I'd recommend coming with a smaller group or in a pair, seeing as there isn't much seating.
Food and Service
Pulled Beef Brisket
Fernanda: The service was good. Staff members were friendly. They did seem very occupied, but they still managed to give us good service. The food was okay, I thought. We got the spicy Brussels sprouts (Roasted Brussel Sprouts) the weekly special sandwich (Pulled Beef Brisket). I was not a fan of the sprouts. There were too many flavours in the dish, and I couldn't taste any of them specifically because of that. If I were to go back, I would try different food items, but I was not a fan of what we tried.
Scott: Considering that there were only two servers for the entire biergärten, they did a fairly good job, on the whole. When we arrived, we were visited at very reasonable intervals until we had ordered. While eating, I would have liked for someone to come by at least once, but when we finished, we were right back to being served. The food was very disappointing. I'd still like to try some of the other menu items, because many of them sounded good, but I felt that what we did get was lacking. The Pulled Beef Brisket tasted no different than any homemade roast beef sandwich. The Roasted Brussel Sprouts are missing an "s" on the end of "Brussel", but that's about the only thing missing. The hodgepodge of flavours felt random and uncomplementary, and while the pomegranite, beer nuts, and sprouts all tasted good on their own, but together they battled for prominence and none of them won. I also found the chicken to be dry.
Beer
Unfiltered Pilsner by Steam Whistle Brewing
Fernanda: There weren't many questions to ask about the beer, since they only have a small selection. I had the Unfiltered Pilsner, which I liked better than the regular Pilsner. I didn't think it paired well with any food that I ordered, but maybe that was just me. They did have some beer cocktails that I wanted to try, but with the food and beer we had already had, I was a bit turned off of trying anything else. I wish there were a few experimental beers, at least—something else beyond the two styles that they had—but it is what it is, I guess.
Scott: Steam Whistle has long been known for its one beer (the Pilsner), and I believe that it's a good one. Crisp, clean, smooth, and a little bit sweet, it's satisfying in summer, comfortable in winter, and pairs well with most savoury dishes. More recently, Steam Whistle has branched out and brewed a Pale Ale and Unfiltered Pilsner. The Unfiltered Pilsner offers an interesting combination of wheatiness and almost-bubblegum sweetness, allowing it to stand out as dramatically different, and possibly better, than the brewery's other beers. The Pale Ale, on the other hand, tastes a fair amount like the Pilsner, which means that, while it is light and pleasant, it is nothing like what I want when I order a Pale Ale. Having so few of their own options, Steam Whistle also offers a few guest beers, as well as wines.
Overall
Effectively only open in the afternoon, Steam Whistle Brewing offers a solid place to come for a light lunch during the week, and a good option for beer lovers who are looking to take a brewery tour, maybe on the weekend. The biergärten may not serve the best food in the city, but they do have a bit of variety, and diet-sensitive options. The location is great, situated in the middle of a historic site (so make sure to leave yourself time to take some pictures). It's also a short walking distance from the Rogers Centre, CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, Scotiabank Arena, Amsterdam BrewHouse, The Rec Room, Harbourfront Centre, and Lake Ontario.
