With one Drake-sized exception, Toronto doesn’t exactly excel at self-promotion. It comes as no surprise, then, that Toronto’s young yet booming beer scene remains mostly off the radar. Modesty aside, a tough regulatory system has made it difficult to import international beers, which made quality brews hard to come by for many years. But rather than contenting themselves with suitcases stuffed with cans and bottles from trips abroad, the city’s beer obsessives started brewing their own.

The archaic liquor laws have stimulated a new drinking culture, says Tomas Morana, the owner of Birreria Volo, which boasts one of the best beer lists in the city. “We can make beer here that we like, and sell it in our own beer stores.”

Just like Toronto’s restaurants are a sampling of tastes from around the world, its craft beer scene is a reflection of brewing traditions from all over, from tart Flemish sours to juicy New England-style IPAs. Most of these producers have only been around since about 2012, which makes for an industry defined by innovation and experimentation. Out-of-towners might not recognize many names on a Toronto beer list. But that’s okay. For newbies, there are two ways to get a taste of what local brewers are up to: Embark on a west-to-east brewpub crawl, or grab a stool and sample from the tap list at one of the city’s best bars. Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t order a Labatt Blue.

The Brewpubs: Bellwoods Brewery

Celine Kim

Bellwoods's flagship location on trendy Ossington Street and constantly changing lineup of left-of-center creations (not to mention wicked label art) inspired a cult following. The outdoor patio is the place to be on a pleasant day, and you can snack on pierogies, falafel, or even ceviche to go with your beer.

Order the: Jelly King, a dry-hopped sour brewed with seasonal fruit; or Witchshark, a hazy 9 percent IPA that is one of the brewery’s hallmarks.