For a town that prides itself as a “city of neighbourhoods,” Toronto has always lacked local breweries. Perhaps it was the East Coast origins of the Molsons and Labatts that kept Torontonians in some sort of regional obligation to mass-produced suds—until now.

Today, there’s a curiosity about craft beer, not unlike microgastronomy. The local food obsession has spread to libations as restaurants and bars race to outdo each other with beers produced closest to home. Here are three microbreweries in the city that depend on their sense of place, as much as yeast and hops.

Kensington Brewing Company

Brock Shepherd, owner of Kensington Market’s Burger Bar and a veteran mixologist, launched this brewery last spring with the instantly popular Augusta Ale—a hopped-up Pacific Northwest pale ale with floral notes kept honest by plenty of malt. (319 Augusta Ave.; 416-922-7423)

BarVolo

BarVolo is run by father and son team Ralph and Tomas Morana. House Ales is the bar's nano-brewery project where only 80 litres are brewed at a time. This year alone, they brewed 50 different varieties. Try the Notorious IPA and Run ESB from the Hip Hop series. (587 Yonge St.; 416-928-0008)

Indie Alehouse Brewing Company

Opened last month in the Junction, Indie Alehouse pours five house beers in a part of the city that was a “dry” zone until 2000. Owner Jason Fisher has vowed to focus on "adventurous” brews packed with big flavour and aimed at a sophisticated palate. (2876 Dundas St. W.)

Brew Crew

More microbreweries where you can pour yourself a tall cool one, or two

Big Island Brewhaus (Waimea, HI)

Hawaii’s newest brewery pours a wide variety of local styles and international favourites. Don’t leave without trying its take on Mexican-Hawaiian dishes in the restaurant.

Moon Under Water Pub & Brewery (Victoria, BC)

This latest addition to Victoria’s kinetic beer scene offers five session beers—not too strong, nor alcoholic. Affordable pub grub and an industrial location draw an unpretentious Vancouver Island clientele.

On the Tracks Brewery (Carlsbad, CA)

Light beach beer, this ain’t. With the slogan, “Welcome to the darker spicy side,” this fairly new kid on the SoCal-microbrew block specializes in Scottish- and English-style beers. And the tasting room wouldn’t look out of place in Leeds.