Introducing: Tallboys Craft Beer House, a new Bloorcourt den for beer geeks

| September 18, 2012

The city’s ongoing love affair with craft beer has reached the point where it’s getting difficult to find a new bar that doesn’t stock at least a few local brews—but until now, none of them has focussed on that container so beloved of cyclists, the tallboy. Tallboys Craft Beer House is the first bar to do so. Founded by Kevin Kennedy, his cousins Tom and Phil Cacace and his old high school pal Craig Wong, the new spot is nestled in the no man’s land between Koreatown to the east and hipster central further west, and servers over 30 different Ontario craft beers in can or on tap.

While some may charge that craft beer is merely a fad, Kennedy insists, “It’s not because it’s trendy—it’s because it’s delicious!” On tap, the Junction Brewery Conductor’s Craft Ale has been a popular pick, while noteworthy tallboys include Wellington’s Dark and the Hockley Black and Tan. The boys are planning on increasing the selection even further in the near future. To go with the beers, Tallboys offers pub-friendly favourites like burgers and tacos alongside lighter fare like salads. The Koreatown Burger ($13) is a bacon- and cucumber-topped beef patty on a pile of kimchi, slathered in green onion mayo and accompanied by a portion of fries. Sulie’s Salad ($10) is built from a bed of fresh greens studded with roasted beets, chickpeas and julienned granny smith apple, dressed with a house honey vinaigrette (those concerned with appearing too healthy can add panko-crusted goat cheese balls for an extra $3). “Lots of bars want a casual environment,” Phil says, “but they forget about quality of service. We want to provide both.” That and brunch, which debuted last Sunday.