CLOSURE: Toronto brewery announces it’s closing after 8 years in business
Published June 18, 2025 at 11:11 am
The east end of the city has lost another watering hole.
Today, a Riverside brewery announced that after almost a decade serving residents and visitors from its Queen Street East and Saulter Street location, it’s closing up shop for good on June 30.
“After 8 unforgettable years, Saulter Street Brewery will be closing its red doors for the last time on June 30, 2025,” the operators said in a social media post.
“We opened this little brewery with the simple hope of making great beer and sharing it with our community. What we didn’t expect was how much heart would grow within these walls. It began with beer, but over time, this space became something deeper, a gathering space.”
Over close to 10 years, the brewery became known for its local brews, including the Riverside copper pilsner, the Riverside gold lager, the Paradox IPA and its fun (and festive) Krampus-branded series of beverages.
Rumours of an impending closure began swirling on Facebook and Reddit earlier this year, but they went unconfirmed (at least publicly) until now.
Saying that the brewery has witnessed everything from weddings to casual get-togethers, the operators added that they’re “incredibly proud of all the beers that they’ve brewed and even more grateful for their customers.
“Your support, laughter and loyalty turned walking down an alleyway truly into something special,” they wrote.
The news comes just a few months after another east end brewery, The Aviary Brewpub, announced it was selling the business, citing a difficult economic climate following the immensely challenging pandemic years.
The Aviary officially closed in February.
Fans of the brewery shared their disappointment on social media.
“Wish you all the best. You are great neighbours and Riverside will miss you. I am partly to blame…as I get older I seem to consume less and less alcohol. Sorry to see you go but [know] your best is yet to come,” one poster wrote.
Others thanked the hotspot for the memories and said it will be missed.
“So much great memories slinging dawgs in your great space! All the best for your next adventures,” another poster wrote.