North Brewing Company Cole Harbour

North Brewing Company's Cole Harbour taproom pours beer brewed metres from the bar: 899 Portland Street on Dartmouth's east side, with a family-friendly kitchen running alongside the tanks. Flights and pints come from the onsite brewery, and the kitchen serves comfort food with a twist, Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. It is the rare brewery that works equally well as a parent's lunch stop and a beer nerd's afternoon, and it belongs on any tour drawn from our craft beer guide.

Brewed on Site, Poured Steps Away

The format is straightforward and good: beer made in the building, served in the building. Flights let you work across the range, pints settle the argument, and the seasonal rotation means the tap list you loved in July is not the one you will meet in February. North is a Good Cheer Trail member, so the taproom fits into the province-wide passport of breweries, wineries, and cideries that rewards drinkers for touring.

The kitchen is what separates this location from a bare tasting room. Comfort food with a twist means the menu leans familiar, with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options covered, so the table's non-beer-drinkers and the table's pickiest eater are both provided for. The space is family-friendly by design, not by exception.

Patio Season and Takeout

A seasonal patio extends the room in warm months, and takeout and delivery cover the days you would rather have the beer and the food at home. The Tuesday-to-Sunday schedule with Monday closures is the week to plan around; a Tuesday evening on the patio with fresh pints is the local move.

The Woodlawn and Cole Harbour location puts the taproom in Dartmouth's east side, minutes from the chocolate at Gourmandises Avenue and a straightforward drive from downtown. See our Dartmouth guide for the neighbourhood's full picture.

Planning a Visit

Address & Location — 899 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS B2W 2N4, in the Woodlawn and Cole Harbour area on the city's east side.

Contact — Call (902) 444-7765; hours and the current tap list are at northbrewing.ca.

Hours — Kitchen and taproom Tuesday through Sunday; closed Mondays. Patio is seasonal; takeout and delivery run during open hours.

Rating — 4.7 on Google, with the kitchen and the flights drawing consistent praise.

Good to Know — North operates a second location in Dartmouth; this page covers the Portland Street brewery and kitchen. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are on the menu.

For more tables and taps around the region, browse our Halifax dining listings.