Halifax 
Photo Credit: Canadian Tourism Commission
Nova Scotia is the home of many great breweries, wineries, and a growing number of cideries. You can enjoy many different types of beer at the brewing establishments, from traditional ales to unique craft beers that are made with local maple syrup, pumpkin or jalapenos. Relax and enjoy a trip to these amazing breweries and wineries across Nova Scotia.
Alexander Keith’s – Halifax
Photo Credit: Canadian Tourism Commission
Opening it’s door over 200 years old, Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery is one of North America’ s oldest working brewery.
Learn all about the history of Alexander Keith’s legacy, and get behind the scenes look at the brewing process. The tour ends at the Stag’s Head pub, where you can sample limited edition beers, and enjoy live music from some of Halifax’s most talented local musicians. Alexander Keith’s
Propeller Brewing Company – Halifax
In 2017, Propeller Brewing Company celebrated being open for 20 years. Nova Scotia’s best-selling microbrewery and a popular Halifax landmark, the Propeller Brewing Company is a ‘must’ visit for all craft beer lovers. Their craft beers are all natural and many have won international awards. Many restaurants, bars, and liquor stores across Nova Scotia carry the Propeller craft beer ales and lagers. It is interesting to note that they also make all natural sodas, which are Root beer and Ginger beer flavored.
In 2017, the Propeller Brewing Company celebrated being open for 20 years.
The brewery also has a special event every Friday night in their Gottingen Street Tasting Room. The event starts at 5:00 when they open a special cask beer and serve savoury pies from Humble Pie Kitchen. Propeller Brewing Company
Hell Bay Brewing Co. – Liverpool
This small brewery was established in 2011 in one-third of a 150-year-old barn in Cherry Hill. Hell Bay Brewing Co started out brewing only 60 litres per week, but has grown in the last 7 years to produce over 3,500 litres per week. They brew a line of well-balanced beers, and don’t follow current brewing trends in favour of producing quality brews. Their long fermentation process produces bold malt flavours. To protect this flavour, their brews are 100% non-filtered.Hell Bay Brewing Co
Big Spruce Brewing – Nyanza
An on-farm, certified organic craft brewery, Big Spruce Brewing offers unfiltered and unpasteurized beers. Each beer takes between 18 and 30 days to brew. You can stop by the farm and pick up a growler, or you can find them at the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market. Their tasting patio is the perfect place to enjoy samples and take in the brewery’s surroundings because the view of Bras D’or Lake is breathtaking.
There are Farm to Fork Food Truck Weekends from the end of June to Labour Day at the brewery, so you can enjoy great food, beer, and live music. Big Spruce Brewing
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Good Robot Brewing Company – Halifax
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Offering full pints and amazing food from local restaurants, the Good Robot Brewing Company welcomes everyone to their brewery. Their outdoor space is called ‘Gastroturf’ and is the perfect place to stop and sit back, relax, and enjoy your beer. There are oddball events that many visitors head to throughout the year. If you decide to visit the Good Robot Brewing Company, you should be prepared for Halifax’s Most Questionable Brewing Experience. Good Robot Brewing Company
Rare Bird Craft Beer – Guysborough
Atlantic Canada’s oldest brewer starting in 1659, Rare Bird Craft Beer is committed to making beer the authentic seacoast way in small batches with no preservatives. Along with their traditional brews, they also make seasonal beers that celebrate fresh, local ingredients like maple and pumpkin. So, you should take a break in their tasting room to sample the craft brews or pick up a growler and bottles to take home with you.Rare Bird Craft BeerSea Level Brewing – Port Williams
Opening in November 2007, Sea Level Brewing was the first microbrewery in the Annapolis Valley and was one of nine in Nova Scotia at the time. Each of their brews is hand-crafted to create unique flavors, while using as many local ingredients as possible. The ground floor is the production, sales and tasting area where all the brewery’s products are on display and you can purchase them on-site. If you prefer to do a more in-depth sampling of their beers, you should definitely head on over to the attached Port Pub Bistro, which serves amazing food and samples of the Sea Level beers. Sea Level Brewing
Blomidon Estate Winery – Canning
Just 15 minutes from Wolfville, nestled on the Minas Basin shore near Canning, is one of the Annapolis Valley’s most famous wineries. Along with a tasting of the wines and a cheese board on the patio, you can enjoy the gorgeous views of the Bay of Fundy and the Annapolis Valley. All the wines made at Blomidon Estate Winery are made with 100% Nova Scotian grapes, which have won the winery numerous national and international awards and acclaim. Blomidon Estate Winery
Avondale Sky Winery – Newport
Avondale Sky Winery and D’Vine Morsels Restaurant overlook the ever-changing Avon Peninsula. Named the Atlantic Canadian Winery of the Year in 2015 and 2016, it is no wonder that people come from across Canada to enjoy a glass of wine at this prestigious vineyard. You can try the wine on the amazing outdoor patio or in a stunning former church that has been re-purposed as their tasting room. The D’Vine Morsels Restaurant serves mouth-watering dishes that pair perfectly with the wines that are produced by the winery. Avondale Sky WineryJost Vineyards – Malagash
On the beautiful Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia is the ever-popular Jost Vineyards, which is currently the largest of the Devonian Coast Wineries’ vineyards. The Jost Vineyards were established in 1983, and continue to produce world-class wines made with premium North American grapes today. You can go on a daily tour that will take you through the whole wine-making process. After the tour, you can sample their wines and enjoy a gourmet lunch made with local ingredients at the Seagrape Café & Deli on their newly renovated patio. On Saturdays, you’ll find live music on their patio and there is always something new at their monthly Events and Festivals. Jost VineyardsLuckett Vineyards – Wolfville
Luckett Vineyards has become an iconic location in the Annapolis Valley with the stunning views over Blomidon and the Minas Basin and its red phone box. The Crush Pad Bistro is an open-air dining patio serves up amazing dishes and the delightful wine produced by the vineyard. For special occasions, their private Barrel Cellar is an impressive space with an extraordinary menu. Every day, weather permitting, tours take place at 11am and 3pm. Luckett Vineyards
L’Acadie Vineyard – Gaspereau
The first certified organic winery and Nova Scotia’s premier producer of sparkling wine, L’Acadie Vineyard owner-winemaker Bruce Ewert has over 25 years of winemaking experience. His experience and creativity has earned him silver medals for 2007 Prestige Brut in 2011 and 2015 at the Effervescents du Monde in France. You can taste their delicious organic wines at the vineyard from May to October.
Rudder’s Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub – Yarmouth
Great food and hand-crafted ales are served daily at Rudder’s Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub. This is the only micro-brewery restaurant on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Just a short five-minute walk from downtown, this restaurant and brew pub has become a local favorite for good times, delicious dinners, and amazing ales. The thick plank floors, the 18th century beamed ceilings and the spacious wrap-around deck overlooking Yarmouth’s waterfront are part of this establishment’s charm that attracts thousands of locals and tourists annually. You should be sure to ask about the specialty beers on tap.
Rudder’s Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub
Chain Yard Urban Cidery – Halifax
The first and only urban cidery in Halifax, Chain Yard Urban Cidery uses 100% Annapolis Valley apples to make their traditional and unique ciders. The taproom has 12 taps, which offer local cider and beer from Chain Yard Urban Cidery, other Nova Scotian ciders, along with craft beer. The Unchained Kitchen serves up great snacks like burgers, fried chicken and frites that you can enjoy with your tasting samples. Chain Yard Urban CideryAnnapolis Cider Company – Wolfville
All about serving up local, the Annapolis Cider Company uses hand-picked apples from the nearby orchards and turns them into cider right on Main Street in Wolfville. When you visit the cidery, you get to watch the cider making process by peering into the cellar from the tasting room. The cidery also has a spacious retail shop on-site that carries art featuring breathtaking Annapolis Valley scenery. The cidery is open 7 days a week with tours and tastings available. Annapolis Cider Company
Malagash Cidery at Vista Bella Farm – Malagash
From bloom to bottle, the Vista Bella Farm and Malagash Cidery offers unique cider made with mostly the fruit they grow on-site. They grow over 100 varieties of fruit on this farm for cider, including apples, pears, plums, currants, and cherries. On the weekends at the barn “farm store”, you can sample up to eight different ciders. You can explore the orchards, view the flowers and the fruit trees, pick your own fruit or just relax at the farm store. Malagash Cidery
GUIDED TOURS
Beer Bus Tour – Halifax
Hop on the Halifax Beer Bus tour to learn about and taste what the growing craft beer scene in Halifax has to offer. The first beer stop is the Chain Yard Urban Cidery and is where you meet up with the beer guide and the other beer enthusiasts. There are 3 to 4 other beer stops around Halifax and Dartmouth. The tour includes transportation, samples, and tasty snacks at each stop on the tour.Halifax Beer Bus tour
Wolfville Magic Winery Bus – Wolfville
The double-decker bus that can be spotted in downtown Wolfville is the Wolfville Magic Winery Bus. This one-of-a-kind tour takes you to five of the most popular local wineries. At each winery, you can enjoy an hour or so of tasting and exploring before the bus arrives for those who wish to move on to the next incredible destination. You will enjoy exploring these breath-taking wineries, along with tasting the wines and dining on delicious food. The bus offers three tours a day from Thursday to Sunday every week.Wolfville Magic Winery Bus.