Housed in Toronto's historic Roundhouse, Steam Whistle Brewing is a Canadian brewery with a focus on quality and tradition. Its address shows homage to its roots, once serving as home to the steam locomotives that connected the nation. Using only four all-natural ingredients, Steam Whistle crafts its signature product—a classic Pilsner-exemplifying the same commitment to craftsmanship and purity evident throughout the industrial era's focus on quality.
The trip of Steam Whistle began in 1998 when three friends—Greg Taylor, Cam Heaps, and Greg Cromwell—embarked on a canoe trip into Ontario's wilderness. Sitting around a campfire, the three, at one time billing themselves as the "Three Fired Guys," dreamed of starting a brewery. All three had previously been employed at one of Canada's finest microbreweries, which had been closed down following a corporate buyout—the same fate suffered by many of Ontario's independent breweries at that period. Propelled by that common experience and their love for beer, they opted to construct a brewery that would last a lifetime, with a product capable of competing with the best in the world.
That very powerful, yet simple, philosophy governs the approach to brewing at Steam Whistle, "Do one thing really, really well." This guides their whole process of just perfecting one style of beer, which is Canada's Pilsner. Brewed with only four all-natural ingredients—pure spring water, malted barley, hops, and yeast—Steam Whistle's Pilsner pours gold in color and is marked by a fresh-baked bread aroma with subtle bitterness from Saaz hops. This dry, crisp, refreshing beer has won the hearts of many a beer aficionado.
It is proud and passionate, from the beer in question right down to the pride of its team, known as "The Good Beer Folks." What started with a vision for three friends has grown into a tight-knit family of beer lovers working fiercely to deliver an exceptional product. It is this sense of community and shared purpose that is reflected in the quality of beer and experience Steam Whistle offers its visitors at its iconic Toronto location.
Steam Whistle still celebrates its roots and the heritage of Canadian craft brewing with each new batch. Following the founding principles, embracing the spirit of innovation, the brewery has emerged over time as a cornerstone of the craft brewing scene in Canada by delivering a product that salutes tradition, quality, and indeed shared joy with a great Pilsner.
