While you can find many independently owned bars and restaurants in downtown Oshawa, once you move into the outskirts it becomes clear chains reign supreme. However, a new space that recently opened its doors in the city’s north end shines bright.
The Torchbearer Taproom, located at the southwest corner of Harmony and Taunton, opened its doors on Dec. 6, 2024, and offers a range of craft beers and wines from local brands alongside non-alcoholic options.
“We’re both very passionate about craft beer,” said Kyla Munro, co-owner of the taproom. After a failed attempt at brewing their own beer, she and her husband, co-owner Colin Simic, decided to “leave the brewing part to the experts.”
The opening comes after a year of planning and development. “I designed it myself,” Munro said. When it came to finding a location, she said they settled on north Oshawa because the downtown market was saturated and there was a lack of independently owned bars in the area.
“We wanted to stand out,” she said. “The main [feature] for us was [incorporating] private karaoke rooms.”
These rooms, where guests can create music playlists and sing their hearts out with their friends, feature individual themes. In the pink room, where everything – from the chairs to the lights – is a shade of pink. There will be a variety of options for people with different tastes.
Speaking of tastes, the taproom offers a wide variety of craft beers on their menu from Muddy York, 5 Paddles and Blood Brothers along with cider from Slabtown Cider Co. and more.
However, they have made a concerted effort to provide non-alcoholic options as well, especially in January, nicknamed “Dry January” to recognize those who don’t drink.
With non-alcoholic cocktails and various sampling events taking place throughout the month, their goal is to cast their net as wide as possible.
“Our customer base is so diverse that we wanted to be able to offer something for everyone,” Munro said.
In October 2024, Statistics Canada published a report about alcohol consumption among various age demographics and split between male and female respondents. This report included a chart, which found that 67 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 18 – 22 did not consume alcohol in the last seven days, with eight percent saying they consumed seven or more drinks per week.
When compared to those aged 65 or older, 57 per cent of respondents claimed they did not consume any alcohol over the last week, with 15 per cent reporting seven or more consumptions in the same span of time, nearly double that of the younger demographic.
This means young adults aren’t drinking as much as their parents or grandparents did. It also aligns with the taproom’s effort to offer non-alcoholic options and cater to all customers, not just the craft beer lovers.
“We also offer varieties of coffees [and teas],” she added, allowing guests to use the space to study or simply enjoy a break.
As the business grows, Munro and Simic hope the student crowd will use this space for get-togethers, game nights, study spaces and more. With various events throughout the week, such as open mic, trivia and euchre nights, there’s something for everyone.