Bier Market - Esplanade

BrewSomerville

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I like The Bier Market. It's a nice place to go to on a nice summer's afternoon. You can sit out on the patio and enjoy a good Beer. The place does get a bit too crowded for the staff to manage at times though. I personally would not go there in the evening , mainly because I just don't like over crowded places where you can't hear your friends. But a lot of people do like that ,obviously, or they wouldn't get that crowded.

The Bier Market has probably the best offering of Trappist Beers that I have ever seen on one list. Their Beer list (or book) is very infomative which helps when you are trying to make a decision with so many choices at hand.

I usually go there if I'm spending a day in To. and want to kill some time before I go someplace a little more quiet for dinner.

05-02-2007 21:29:00 | More by BrewSomerville

Caesar1pup

Georgia

3.59/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$$

This place has a really good atmosphere but I think the key is to get here early unless you are hoping to visit a trendy nightclub. We arrived at about 8pm and bellied up but after sitting there for a while the place went from being a really nice bar with a great beer selection to a place to go and “be seen”. To the point where we were told that we had to give up our barstools because they clear those out to make more standing room for the flood of people they were expecting. That was our clue to move our show on over to C’est What.

The staff was friendly enough but not like other places that we visited. The beer selection was good with many options both local and imported but you have to know what you are up against when you visit this place based on the time of day.

01-16-2007 19:42:23 | More by Caesar1pup

Niniimaa

Kentucky

2.05/5  rDev -44.6%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 1.5 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$

Not sure if the change has been recent but I went there January 6th and it was full swing into being a technoclub.

There were quite a few beers on tap (maybe 15) but it was hard to tell because it was a crush of people inside, dark, hot and the music was thumping so loud that the barkeeps couldn't hear anything ordered (not that the barkeeps came by more than once in an hour to serve anyone). I couldn't have more than one beer from the tap since the servers didn't come back.

The line to get in was 30-40 deep earlier in the evening. I went to next door to Fionn MacCool which has a few irish brands on tap; and a very good live band. Had an awesome pint glass to the head (ala Begby in Trainspotting) right next to my table.

01-09-2007 23:44:58 | More by Niniimaa

assurbanipaul

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

Located just around the corner from C'est What?, I almost missed this place entirely and would have surely regretted that. Although the atmosphere does seem just a little new, corporate and sometimes clubby, it's one superb beer bar and restaurant.

Large dining area with an outside patio and a bar area deeper within the building, quite spacious all around even when crowded. The menu is limited but the food is excellent. Servers are also very well-trained and prompt, even when busy. Zagat rated.

About 40 taps and 100 bottled offerings, all kept in absolute pristine condition. Whomever owns this place seems fanatical about keeping the best beers in the best serving condition possible. Excellent worldwide selection, all with proper glassware and (surprisingly) even proper coasterware.

This place has the best beer menu I've ever seen. It's full color with photos, spiral bound, complete descriptions of beer listed both by national origin and by beer style -- the menu has a freakin' index! When was the last time you saw that? Do not overlook the "last call" listings on the back page, a list of limited editions or leftover bottles.

06-20-2006 21:47:59 | More by assurbanipaul

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -18.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3 | $$$

The inside of the establishment is quite large, with seating broken into 3 or 4 large sections. A huge bar runs the length of one wall and a full stage is present in the back. There is also a large patio in the front, often quite full during the warmer months. The beer selection seems to have suffered over the past year or so, with a heavier mix of macros on tap (Keith's, Sterling, etc.) as well as mostly common imports and some quality local micros. There are still some gems among the bottles though, with a good selection of Trappists. However, Belgium seems to be the only foreign country that is well represented, with the rest of the line-up consisting mainly of light lagers and very few darker beers of any style. All beers seem to be served a little on the cold side. Beer lists aren't updated regularly either, with many kegs going out of rotation without notice. Service is really hit or miss here. Out of one visit with great service, there will be another three visits where I leave frustrated with poor service. I often end up ignored for long periods, even when there are plenty of servers and few patrons. Servers are generally cordial, but their beer knowledge is very limited and extends mostly to pushing the latest trendy offering. Prices are a little on the high side compared to other downtown locations, especially for pints of local beer. Overall, a trendy and slightly expensive place to hang out and have a beer. I'm a bit disappointed with this place now... the first few times I came here I was quite impressed. But lately it just seems a bit overrated.

07-07-2005 02:16:24 | More by DrJay

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -20.3%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $$$$

The beer market or whatever its called is a playground for yuppies and yuppies in training. Its way too dark and the music is obnoxious pop and technocrap played way too loud. The clientele tend to be snobby and shi shi or loud and jocky, quaffing stella, becks or if they are super adventurous, Kronenbourg. The gray (fake?) marble and black curtains that make up the decor makes this place feel cold and unwelcoming.

The beer menu looks pretty good with lots of international brands and an emphasis on the Belgiums. The English section is pathetic with nothing you cant find at the LCBO, and the American Section is limited to only Anchor Liberty and Steam (They used to have some Rogue and Victory beers, but these were dropped because of lack of popularity... shameful). The taps are the big three Interbrew 'specialty beers' and some Ontario micros and international macroswill. They do have Sargent Major which is my favorite Ontario beer.

I can understand a beer bar being out of a few or several selections but the amount of MIA beers on the beer market menu is ridiculous. Literally the first 7 beers I ordered (Rocheforts, Goudenband, Maredsous, Delerium etc) werent in stock, it was embarrassing for me and the bartender. The prices are also much higher than other beer bars in toronto. The beer I finally settled on was a Cantillon Bio Gueuze for 15 dollars (I stupidly ordered it before looking at the menu). At Volo this is 10 dollars.

The bartenders are friendly but not very knowedgable, my Gueuze was served in a snifter. Im not a glassware snob but a snifter? come on. They were also swamped by Stella swilling yuppies so the service was very slow.

Youd think that a place with this name would be focused on beer. its not; Its focused on the novelty of beer, in fact I saw as many mixed drinks as beers being served and half the beer menu wasnt in stock. This is just another trendy nightspot with a 'unique' theme.

09-15-2004 21:31:26 | More by CAMRAhardliner

baiser

Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Went on a Thursday night, with a live band and music that was way too loud. Lighting was too dim, and this was more of a club on this night than it was a beer bar. Wasn't at all the setting to enjoy some of the fine beers they offered.

Most of their stuff is available at the LCBO, but a good portion of their belgian selection is not. Selection at this time of year wasn't as good as I've seen during other times. Particularly, selection from the States was very poor (only Anchor Steam and Liberty). In the past, they had stuff from Rogue, Victory, Smuttynose, SN etc. Maybe I'll go back later in the winter.

Service was good, as was their attention to glassware, although they tend to pour all the beer into dripping wet glasses, which bugged me.

My advice, if you want to enjoy the beer, rather than have a rowdy good time, is to sit either in the dining area or outside on the patio. One of the better bottled selections in town. Prices are higher than places like Volo caffe and C'est what, but less than Smokeless Joe.

09-10-2004 22:16:50 | More by baiser

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$$

Very expensive but worth it as a special treat. Very good place for a business party that you can write off owing to the large capacity. Much attention to service but the waiter/waitresses are really not knowledgeable about the beers. LIghting was not too dim. A small tasting session set two of us back $67 CDN ($50 USD) with a tip. We were able to get some brews we haven't seen elsewhere, so there is private buying. 90% of their stock is available in the LCBO but they will buy up some of it (so Ontario BA Group: these guys are waking up a bit earlier or have good connections with LCBO store managers, likely the latter). Busy and noisy all the time.

12-19-2003 19:56:24 | More by northyorksammy

fattyre

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

A nice place to go to grab a pretty good dinner and oggle the large beer list. They have a smallish yet very good food menu and a pretty large list that took some looking over to come to a decision. They offer samplers of their beers which (it being July) was Summer beer when I went.
I went twice this trip, the second was with a friend who is a fellow beer geek to finish the evening off. The service was pretty good on the first go round but that evening I think we may have had the mentally challenged waiter who forgot our order and seemed to have some difficulty bringing our Rochefort 10s to us with a tulip glass. My friend went and retrieved them from the bar. Having said that the price for that beer was pretty impressive considering it was in a restaraunt/bar-$9canadian. I saw that same beer in Rochester at a beer store for $10 american-go figure.
Very busy and fills up quickly around 4:30 and seems to stay that way until closing. Very nice to sit on the patio, particulary in the evening.

07-29-2003 03:51:35 | More by fattyre

Popsinc

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

It had been a few years since my last visit to the Bier market but seems as if things have changes somewhat.

On Friday eveing the after-work crowd is huge. The place is pretty much packed by 6pm. The tables are full and people are standing at the bar and everywhere in between. And it's loud.

On this particular day we stayed for dinner which was better than in the past. I had the schnitzel and my wife had the mussels. And of course there were a couple orders of frites involved here too. The entire meal was very good. The frites have improved greatly.

The beer seelctio was not the best around but it was hard to argue with what they were offering. My only complaint, i ordered a Rochefort 10 and they were all out.

A great Belgian sytle bar/restaurant to visit but be careful on wknd evenings & nights. It gets so busy, there may be a line up out the door. And be prepared for NOISE. This turns into more of a meatmarket then a bar on wknds. For a more relaxing, strictly beer drinking experience, head to Smokeless Joe.

06-21-2003 06:23:56 | More by Popsinc