When you think of traveling to Canada, you probably don’t think of beer. But the province of Quebec is currently nurturing a booming craft beer scene. In fall of 2017 I took a five-day trip split between Montreal and Quebec City and sampled a few local brews along the way. Here is everything that I tried:
Brasseur de Montreal
Montreal, QC
Seated to catch a Habs hockey game at La Cage sports bar on Old Montreal’s Rue St. Paul, I went with my bartender’s perfect recommendation of the light and refreshing La Réserve Blanche Witbier by Brasseur de Montreal. The beer was satisfying for a craft beer fanatic but light enough to keep me in good shape even after some locals at the bar bought me 3 rounds of jagerbombs!
Unibroue
Chambly, QC
- Blanche de Chambly – I was so excited recently to find this on distribution at a small craft beer vendor near my home in Philadelphia. I tried this one in the super cute terasse of Montreal Poutine on Rue St. Paul. Blanche de Chambly has bragging rights of being the first refermented white beer brewed in the Belgian tradition to be bottled and marketed in North America.
- La Fin du Monde – At D’Orsay Pub in Quebec City I tried La Fin du Monde, a blonde ale and Unibroue’s international flagship beer. At 9%, this beer left me feeling pretty happy. Which is how this bear chair selfie came about:
Boreale
Blainville, QC
I don’t dislike red ales, but they are not usually my brew-of-choice when I sit down in a bar. Once I had a taste of Boreale’s Rousse at the Saint Alexandre’s Pub in Quebec City, that’s all I wanted to drink for the remainder of my time in Canada. I remember making a special trip out on my last night in Quebec City just so I could have one last indulgence! It had a very distinct taste that I haven’t been able to find in a red ale since. I hope they start distributing in the U.S.!
3 Brasseurs
Multiple locations throughout Quebec and Ontario
After unsuccessfully trying to get my hands on a cheap ticket to the Habs preseason game at the Centre Bell, I ventured onto the nightlife-notorious Rue Crescent and ended up in 3 Brasseurs, one of a series of microbreweries throughout the region that were initially established by descendants of three brewers in Lille, France who joined forces to create one of the most important French breweries.
Sleeman
Guelph, ON
Ok, so I didn’t actually try this one despite seeing it all over the place. But my Unibroue Blanche de Chambly was served in a Sleeman glass at Montreal Poutine, and made for a great picture paired with my steaming platter of poutine. Jealous?
Have you ever tried a good beer brewed in the province of Quebec? Tell me about it in the comments below!
C to Shining C 