As we toured the Muskoka region sharing our story, we made a habit of asking locals for recommendations — hidden gems worth a stop. One name came up not once, but twice: Quayle's Brewery. That kind of repetition always catches our attention.
Nestled in the forests and fields of Oro-Medonte north of Barrie, Quayle's is more than just a brewery. It's a farm-to-glass experience using on-site spring water and hops grown right on its 12-acre farm. Fourteen rotating craft beers on tap, a seasonal restaurant, an event venue and stunning hop fields lined with walking paths and accented with flowers. It was one of the only stops on our trip where the rain held off long enough to take it all in. Off in the distance, we even caught a glimpse of the owner out on a tractor, tending the land himself.
As we stepped into the towering timber frame of the recreated musical barn, we knew this would be something special.
The Barn
The blue barn with white trim stands four stories tall and was built to honour a 19th-century "Musical Barn" that once existed in the area. Musical barns weren't built for livestock — they were built for sound, as venues for concerts and theatre productions. Wooden floors, exposed beams and open rafters amplifying everything from bluegrass to chamber music. Quayle's lives up to that legacy.
Walking inside, you're immersed in warm wood from floor to ceiling.
The interior opens upward to a vaulted second story, giving the space a feeling of grandeur without losing its farmhouse charm. Large garage-style doors line the walls, hinting at how seamlessly the space opens up during summer. We took our beer upstairs and were surprised again by the size of the place. The wooden staircase led to a balcony overlooking the brew room, then up again to a full dining hall with its own bar and massive windows looking out over the hop fields and forested hills below.
The space just kept going. Everywhere you looked were nods to tradition — barn elements and rural craft woven through the interior design, shelves displaying upcoming musical lineups, awards earned, and the various hop varieties they grow and use. It felt like walking through a working tribute, not just to brewing, but to place, history and hospitality.
The Beer
I started with the most decorated on their list: the Line 12 Helles Lager. This Munich-inspired lager has earned three first-place and two second-place finishes in competition, and it's easy to see why. Malty, clean and golden, the 5.8% ABV pour was crisp, smooth and deeply satisfying.
Next came the Big Chute West Coast IPA — my favourite of the flight. Made with Simcoe, Mosaic and Centennial hops, it delivered bold flavor with stone fruit up front and a forest-like, piney finish. At 7% ABV it packed a punch but stayed balanced and bright.
I couldn't resist ordering the next one based on name alone: Two Monkeys in a Trenchcoat. This 4.5% American-style IPA was easy-drinking and light, with Citra and Simcoe hops adding a citrusy bite. Built for a summer afternoon — whether it's the Fourth of July or a lakeside day in Muskoka.
Last was the Fiddle & Field Pale Ale — almost tropical on the nose, very refreshing on the palate. A bright, sweet note to end the flight. In hindsight I would have moved it earlier in the tasting order, but it was a great example of the range Quayle's is brewing across.
The Sandwich
I'd be remiss not to mention the food — we didn't even know they had a kitchen until we sat down, and it turned out to be one of the best bites of the trip. I was tempted to order a second one for the road.
The Spicy Cajun Chicken Burger: Cajun-marinated chicken breast cooked sous vide, panko breaded by hand and fried to order, topped with dill pickle coleslaw and bayou sauce on a potato bun, served with fresh-cut fries. It arrived mid-flight alongside the Two Monkeys in a Trenchcoat and went surprisingly well with it. Even the fruit-forward Fiddle & Field played nicely against the spice.
Why It Matters
Quayle's offers cans-to-go and local delivery with online shipping available throughout Ontario. They host weddings, birthdays and community events, and the whole place carries a genuine family-friendly energy. They're filling the community-event-center niche while delivering excellent beer, food and music. It was too early for live music when we visited, but I'd love to return and see the barn packed and humming.
The locals always know best.
For travelers in and around Toronto it may seem like a drive, but it's worth every kilometre — and the road takes you through some beautiful lakeside forests along the way. As an unplanned visit, Quayle's turned out to be one of the best finds of the entire Roadshow. Keep an eye out for their beer across Ontario, and get out to the barn when you can.
Quayle's Brewery quaylesbrewery.com · Map Oro-Medonte, ON
