Check Out These Great Cideries and Breweries in Prince Edward County!
Move aside, wineries! Prince Edward County is home to some great breweries (and cideries) that make beer (and cider) lovers very happy.
Having been to The County many times for wine and exploring Sandbanks (living nearby-ish in Kingston), we didn’t really realize just how many breweries had popped up over the years.
Wanting to learn more about the PEC breweries – their beer, their backstory, how they support other local businesses, etc. – we set out to visit as many as we could and write about our experiences. Eric is a big beer lover, so it was an easy idea to get behind.
So, from popular breweries to lesser known and new ones, here is a rundown of some of the great breweries and cideries in Prince Edward County (that we have visited).
Just so you know: We haven’t written about ones we haven’t visited yet. We will update this article once we visit: Midtown Brewing, Prince Eddy’s, 555 Brewing Co., Gillingham Brewing Company, Apple Falls Cider, Strange Brewing Company, Matron Fine Beer, and Crimson Cider Company!
Note: In the winter months, be sure to check the official brewery websites to double-check opening hours and tasting room availabilities. Some breweries might operate on a seasonal schedule.
Parsons Brewing Company
Address: 876 County Rd 49, Picton, ON K0K 2T0, Canada
Starting strong, of course, we headed for Parsons Brewing Company. To be fair, friends and family who have also visited passed along word of mouth about Parsons so we had to check it out.
Located to the north (a short drive) from downtown Picton, this brewery has made a statement in the ears since they popped up in the County.
Onsite, they have a taproom/restaurant and then a bottle shop with beer and merchandise if you want to grab something on the way through.
We sat outside for a light lunch and had the guacamole with chips and ceviche with chips (summer menu) which was a great bite to accompany with a Prickly Pear Perfection.
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The grounds are massive with lots of green space, tables, tetherball, and they even have an ice rink in the winter for skating and shinny!
Fun side story: A TERRIBLE almost-tornado thunderstorm went through while we were there and people were running for shelter and protecting their beer (as one should). It was hilarious chaos and everyone (staff included) laughed about it later.
Overall, we liked Parsons for the food, the beer, and the social atmosphere. We can definitely see why some might not love it and opt for a smaller operation in the County and to each their own. We’ll be back for sure.
Read More: We suggest a brewery tour as an Ontario weekend trip idea!
Lake on the Mountain Brewing Company
Address: 11369 Loyalist Pkwy, Prince Edward, ON K0K 2T0, Canada
Another place that we had heard about – kind of on accident – is Lake on the Mountain Brewing Company. The brewery is located to the northeast of Picton at the edge of the County in Glenora where the ferry crosses to the mainland again.
The brewery itself is located down the road from the actual Lake on the Mountain (a lake, located up on a higher elevation with a small Provincial Park by the same name). Once we arrived, we headed right inside for some tastings.
The place is small and you can see the brewery through the glass behind the taps which is cool. We chose our four (see below) and also grabbed a small bucket of popcorn (which is free!) to take outside.
Out back, they have a large green space with trees, volleyball, and lots of Muskoka chairs and picnic tables to sit at. They weren’t too busy (it was a weird time on a weekday) so we had lots of places to choose from.
Honestly, we liked everything we had. We should have written down exactly WHAT we had… but we didn’t. Sorry about that.
As a rule of thumb, we generally go for a pale ale, a pilsner or lager, an IPA, and then something dark (usually a stout) to try different styles if we have never been to a brewery before. That is basically what we did here.
The staff was great in helping us choose given that we were new. Overall, we really liked Lake on the Mountain – especially for all the trees and shade in the backyard.
We would highly recommend a stop – especially since visiting Ontario breweries is a top activity in Ontario.
The County Cider Company
Address: 657 Bongards Crossroad, Waupoos, ON K0K 2T0, Canada
Of course, you can’t visit the County without realizing they grow quite a bit of fruit there – and that apples become great cider!
So for a classic PEC stop, you should head for The County Cider Company. Located in Waupoos, The County Cider is about a 15 minutes drive from Picton. It’s up on a hill overlooking the lake so it’s a lovely spot to check out!
Once you arrive, you will have two options: the tasting room in the barn or the restaurant. We headed for the tasting room with several taps, bottles to buy, gifts, and merchandise.
The staff were great – walking us through the different ciders on tap and chatting as we went.
We ended up doing a “Drop-in” tasting and got a Full Tasting Flight of 8 Ciders. Honestly, it was worth it because they all sounded super delicious.
We were familiar with the Waupoos Premium Cider you see in the LCBO but didn’t know there were so many other varieties. Ultimately, the Pear Cider won our hearts that day. Also, it should be noted that Lisa drank most because Eric was driving. Safety first.
We didn’t eat in the restaurant but we’ve heard good things. It also smelled really good when we visited. The outdoor patio space overlooks the water so just another reason to make a visit.
Related Articles
If you’re exploring Prince Edward County in more depth, you might want to check out these other posts:
- Great Prince Edward County Wineries to Check Out
- Other Things to Do and See in Prince Edward County
- Where to Stay in Prince Edward County – Accommodation Guide
- PEC is a Nice Day Trip from Toronto
- Sandbanks Provicial Park Detailed Guide (+Our Experience)
And there you have it – a little rundown of a few of the cideries and breweries in Prince Edward County!
Of course, we have more to visit and these places are always popping (and closing, RIP Barley Days) up so we’ll be sure to head back soon to tell you all about it. Always down to try new beer and support local businesses!
As always, Keep Exploring, eh?
– E&L
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