Food & Beer Culture

Where do you get beer in Ontario? For a long time, there were two routes: The Beer Store for beer by the case, in packs of 12 or 24 bottles, and the LCBO for wine and spirits. That changed in 2024. Since September 5, 2024, all licensed corner stores have been allowed to sell beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink cocktails, and as of October 31, 2024, newly licensed supermarkets and big-box stores as well. Government figures put the number of corner stores affected at around 6,700, plus 1,800 supermarkets.

The role of the old channels is shifting too. The LCBO remains the wholesaler and the sole retailer for high-proof spirits. The Beer Store belongs to a consortium of major brewers, with Labatt holding a 49 percent stake. Under the 2024 plans, the rules that gave it sole rights to sell 12- and 24-packs were set to be phased out.

A case of 24 bottles is called a "two-four" in Canada, and in Ontario, there's even a holiday named after it: the May Two-Four, the long weekend before Victoria Day in May, when many Canadians kick off summer. With 24 bottles at 341 milliliters each, that adds up to a good eight liters of beer.

To eat, Toronto offers things like the peameal bacon sandwich, a bun with fried pork loin rolled in cornmeal. Hearty beers with malty sweetness pair well with it. A visit ends on a sweet note with butter tarts, small shortcrust pastries filled with butter, sugar, and egg.

In summer, Ontario drinks outdoors, on the patio, in beer gardens, and along the lakeshore. The menu is short, the beer is cold, and the round is usually bigger than planned.