Island View Retreat
Big Gull Lake / Things to Do / Breweries & Distilleries

Craft Beer Country

15+ breweries and distilleries from lakeside microbreweries to award-winning farm operations and Ottawa's best taprooms. The Sip & Savour Lanark County trail connects them all.

15+
Craft Producers
3
Distilleries
1784
Oldest Farm (MacKinnon Bros)
200 km
Trail Range
Close to Home

Lakeside & Local

The closest craft producers to Big Gull Lake — no highway driving required.

Bon Echo Brewing

20 min from the cottage
Cloyne / Bon Echo area

Custom small-batch brewery founded by Reed Schwenger (Master’s degree from Doemens World Brewing Academy, Bavaria; formerly of Goose Island, Chicago) and Claire Griffin. Specialises in personalised, one-of-a-kind beers. Not a traditional taproom — contact for availability.

Small BatchCustom BeersCraft Brewery
The Sip & Savour Trail

Lanark County

The heart of Eastern Ontario's craft beverage scene — Perth, Almonte, Carleton Place, and Westport. The Sip & Savour Lanark County trail connects them all.

Perth Brewery

1 hr 30 min from the cottage
Dufferin St / Hwy 7, Perth

Operating for nearly 30 years. Flagship: Last Duel Lager (named after the last fatal duel fought in Canada, which took place in Perth in 1833). Tasting room and brewery tours available.

Craft BreweryToursHeritageLast Duel Lager

Bridge Master Brewing Company

1 hr 30 min from the cottage
Beckwith St, Perth

Located next to the heritage swing bridge near Crystal Palace. Beers include Walk Don’t Run Pilsner. Views of the Tay Canal from the patio.

Craft BreweryPatioTay Canal Views

Top Shelf Distillers

Must-See
1 hr 30 min from the cottage
Warren Cres, Perth

Craft distillery producing Perth Canadian Whiskey (Gold Medal, 2020 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition), vodka, gin, and liqueurs. Tastings and tours.

DistilleryAward-WinningWhiskeyTastingsTours

Dairy Distillery

Must-See
1 hr 30 min from the cottage
34 Industrial Drive, Almonte

State-of-the-art craft distillery producing Vodkow — vodka made from unused milk sugar (lactose). Tasting room with craft cocktails, tours available. A genuinely unique Canadian innovation.

DistilleryTastingsVodkowInnovation
Mon–Thu 10am–5pm, Fri 10am–8pm, Sat 9am–9pm, Sun 9am–5pm

Stalwart Brewing Co.

1 hr 30 min from the cottage
10 High Street, Carleton Place

Craft brewery with events like taco nights and games. Located in the charming downtown core.

Craft BreweryEventsTaco Nights

Braumeister Brewing

1 hr 30 min from the cottage
19 Moore Street, Carleton Place

Hosts trivia nights and live music. German-inspired brewing tradition.

Craft BreweryLive MusicGerman-InspiredTrivia
Kingston Area

Kingston & South

An 8th-generation farm brewery worth the drive — stop on the way to or from Kingston.

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing

Must-See
1 hr 30 min from the cottage
1915 County Rd 22, Bath

Farm brewery on an 8th-generation family farm (settled 1784). Grains grown on-site. Taproom in a restored century-old barn with farm-field patio. Beers: Red Fox Ale, Crosscut Canadian Ale, Philly Light, and more.

Farm BreweryLive MusicPizza8th Generation Farm
Open 11am–5pm (Thu–Fri to 7pm)
The Capital

Ottawa & Gatineau

Ottawa's craft beer scene is one of the best in the country. Cross the bridge into Gatineau for a distinctly Québécois take on craft brewing.

Beyond the Pale Brewing Company

Must-See
2 hrs from the cottage
250 City Centre Ave, Ottawa

Two locations: City Centre (16 taps, open brewhouse view, massive summer patio) and ByWard Taproom (historic ByWard Market). Diverse beer selection including IPAs and unique flavours. Mushroom poutine and mac & cheese.

Craft BreweryPub FoodPatioTwo Locations
Open daily from 11am

Lowertown Brewery

2 hrs from the cottage
73 York St, Ottawa

Craft beers paired with scratch-cooked comfort food and smoked meats. Full band karaoke and open mic nights. In the heart of ByWard Market.

Craft BrewerySmoked MeatsLive MusicByWard Market
Mon–Wed 11:30am–12am, Thu–Sat 11am–2am

Brasserie du Bas-Canada

Must-See
2 hrs from the cottage
455 Bd de la Gappe, Gatineau

Highly rated (4.8 stars) Gatineau brewery with taproom, shop, and bistro fare. Known for excellent IPAs, boozy stouts, and seasonal menus. Vinyl Saturdays. Cross the bridge into Quebec for a distinctly different vibe.

Craft BreweryBistroQuebecIPAs
Tue–Wed 4–10pm, Thu 4–11pm, Fri–Sat 12–11pm, Sun 12–8pm
Highlands

Calabogie

Craft beer at the golf resort — pair a round or a hike with a pint in the hills west of the cottage.

Calabogie Brewing Co.

2 hrs from the cottage
Calabogie Highlands Golf Resort, 981 Barryvale Road

On-site craft brewery at the Calabogie Highlands Golf Resort. Available on tap at the resort’s pub and restaurant.

Craft BreweryGolf Resort
North

Bancroft

A friendly taproom in cottage country — an easy detour when you're headed toward the Haliburton Highlands.

Bancroft Brewing Co.

1 hr from the cottage
59 Hastings St. N, Bancroft

Handcrafted beers including Blueberry Wheat, Prospector’s Ale, Miner’s Pick, and York River Stout. Full taproom open daily.

Craft BreweryTaproomSmall Town
Open daily 11am–8pm
Rideau Village

Westport

Village craft beer on Upper Rideau Lake — combine with Spy Rock, boutiques, and a meal at The Cove.

Westport Brewing Company

1 hr from the cottage
Westport

Local craft brewery in the heart of Westport village.

Craft BreweryVillage
Across the Region

More Craft Producers

Trail overviews and other stops that don't sit in a single town bucket — still worth adding to your route.

Sip & Savour Lanark County

Must-See
1 hr 30 min from the cottage
Across Lanark County

A curated craft beverage trail connecting breweries, distilleries, and cideries across Lanark County. Includes Perth Brewery, Top Shelf Distillers, Dairy Distillery, Stalwart Brewing, Braumeister Brewing, Cartwright Springs Brewery (Pakenham), and more.

Beverage TrailCraft BeerDistilleriesRoad Trip
Planned for You

Sip & Savour Trail

The ultimate craft beverage day trip through Lanark County — breweries, distilleries, and world-class chocolate. Designated driver required.

1–2 hours each wayBest for: Craft beer lovers, foodies, couples or adult groups
10:00 AMLeave the cottage. Drive to Perth.
11:30 AMPerth Brewery — tasting room and brewery tour. Try the Last Duel Lager.
12:30 PMTop Shelf Distillers — award-winning whiskey, gin, vodka tastings.
1:30 PMLunch in downtown Perth — Café Hideaway or North Folk Café.
2:30 PMDrive to Almonte (40 min). Hummingbird Chocolate factory tour and tasting.
3:30 PMDairy Distillery — Vodkow tastings and craft cocktails.
4:30 PMStalwart Brewing Co. in Carleton Place (15 min) or head home.
6:00 PMHead home. Back at the cottage by 7:30 PM.

Sip & Savour Lanark County Trail

A curated craft beverage trail connecting breweries, distilleries, and cideries across Lanark County. Trail map available online — a perfect framework for a full day of tasting.

Visit savourlanark.ca →
Explore Further

More Day Trips & Guides

Heritage Towns

Perth, Westport, Almonte, and Merrickville — charming villages with craft food and artisan shops.

View Guide →

Kingston — The Limestone City

Fort Henry, 1000 Islands cruises, waterfront dining, and MacKinnon Brothers on the way home.

View Guide →

Ottawa — Canada’s Capital

Parliament Hill, world-class museums, the ByWard Market, and Rideau Canal cruises.

View Guide →

Golf

10+ courses from a local 9-hole on the Canadian Shield to championship layouts in Perth and Calabogie.

View Guide →
Start Planning

Your Brewery Trail Starts Here

Island View Retreat is the perfect base camp for exploring Eastern Ontario's craft beverage scene. Book your stay and we'll help you plan the rest.