Summer has the Exchange District buzzing with life, and festival season is in full swing! These sunny days and vibrant events draw Winnipeggers from all over the city to enjoy live music, comedy, culture, and local flavours.
The Exchange is home to a creative production scene, with distilleries, brasseries, tea rooms, and breweries offering something special. These businesses prioritize innovation and feature unique food and beverages crafted in-house, right in the heart of the Exchange District. Before you head to a Fringe Festival show, Alleyways or plan your next patio tour, check out these must-visit spots for locally crafted concoctions.
Amsterdam Tea Room and Bar
The Amsterdam Tea Room is a purveyor of fine teas that features a licensed tea room with a street cafe culture and a menu infused with tea-inspired food and beverages. Their cocktail menu is crafted around their house-blended and bespoke teas rather than spirits, allowing guests to explore options based on tea types. The cocktails feature spirits infused with tea or use steeped strong teas as an ingredient. They play with classic cocktails, hot boozy tea drinks, and virgin cocktail options.
You’ll also find some menu items infused with their tea creations, like a Lapsang tea aioli on the steak sandwich or a cherry hibiscus tea jam on the cheesecake! From the shop, you can pick up house-made tea cocktail syrups, boozy maraschino cherries, and other tea-making supplies to aid your adventures at home.
Find them at 103-211 Bannatyne Ave.
Website: http://amsterdamtearoom.com/
Instagram: @amsterdamtearoomandbar
Little Brown Jug Brewing Co.
Little Brown Jug Brewing Co. began its journey in 2016 with a vision of crafting exceptional beer. In their open-concept brewery on William Ave., they started brewing the now iconic 1919 Belgian Pale Ale. Since those early days, they’ve expanded both their menu and facilities while continuing to focus on the intention and precision that got them started.
Head to the taproom to check out their rotating, seasonal assortment of house-made beer and cider. They focus on simple styles that showcase their meticulous process, ensuring each brew is crafted for consistency and quality. Their menu extends beyond beer and cider to include wine, cocktails, non-alcoholic options, grilled sandwiches, and shareable bites.
Little Brown Jug also boasts a gorgeous patio that often hosts live music, comedy, and other events. It’s the perfect place to enjoy their summer lager or the newly launched grapefruit shandy, a beer cocktail made with their hefeweizen!
Check them out at 336 William Ave.
Website: https://www.littlebrownjug.ca/
Instagram: @littlebrownjugbrewing
La Brasserie Nonsuch Brewing Co.
La Brasserie Nonsuch Brewing Co.’s gorgeous taproom on Pacific Ave serves award-winning craft beer and nationally renowned shareable dishes. Named for the Nonsuch ship, a small craft that made big waves in Manitoba, its four founders set out to make beer with the same prestige as wine. The result is a business that honours Manitoba’s past while helping to shape its future.
The taproom features ten rotating taps of Belgian and European Ales (with an affinity for elevated ABV) brewed in-house. Try classics like the Belgian Blonde and Prairie Common or something fruit-forward like the Raspberry Sour or Strawberry Kolsch.
Their dynamic menu showcases dishes meant for sharing among friends, featuring vegetarian and vegan options, daily specials, and locally sourced ingredients. Check out Nonsuch on First Fridays for a menu experience curated by a guest chef! Don’t miss Le Burger, named “Winnipeg’s Best Burger” by adoring fans.
Pay them a visit at 125 Pacific Ave.
Website: https://www.nonsuch.beer/
Instagram: @nonsuchbeer
Patent 5 Distillery
Patent 5 is a distillery and tasting room that produces award-winning gin, vodka, and whiskey in a converted 1890s stable. The tasting room exudes warmth with reclaimed wood and antique stained glass, while the craft distillery operates just steps away in the back. They focus on a progressive approach to production, which combines traditional techniques with new technology to create timeless spirits.
Embracing the ethos of craft distillation, Patent 5 prides itself on small, exclusive production runs. Their setup includes a 400-gallon-mash tun/stripping still, fermentation tanks, and a finish still with two 55-gallon tanks. From these, they meticulously craft a range of spirits, ready-to-serve cocktails, and liqueurs, all featuring ingredients locally sourced in Manitoba.
In their tasting room, you can try bespoke cocktails that utilize culinary techniques and unique ingredients. Their menu rotates based on the season, keeping their cocktail list fresh and exciting. Try some of their summer sips like the WPG Spritz, WPG Spaghett, or the classic Pimm’s Cup. Other highlights include spirit flights, low or no-alcohol options, and some light bites to snack on.
Find Patent 5 at 108 Alexander Ave.
Website: https://patent5.ca/
Instagram: @patent5distillery