A guide to the best Montreal breweries (by a local)
Montreal offers a world-class beer scene with more than 20 craft breweries scattered around the city. While big brew companies can be found anywhere and everywhere, craft beer can be a little harder to find, especially if you are looking for small breweries that you can only find in one city. These microbreweries have an eclectic selection of beers, the brewers are knowledgeable, and creative but above all, passionate about beer. I took on the hard labour of tasting some of the best breweries in Montreal and compiled it into this hand-picked guide. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did tasting all these beers for you!
Get ready to sip and hop around the city! Here is your Montreal craft beer guide.
Brasserie Harricana
This chic tavern vibe has white tile floors, wooden ceilings and homey accents and hockey memorabilia. The brewery was designed to have a small-town tavern feeling. They have between 15 and 20 beers and are known for their sour beer and beers aged in oak barrels. Their beer menu changes rapidly and they are constantly creating new recipes. We tasted a raspberry sour and a white beer with Amos (a town in Quebec) pepper that was delicate with a hint of spice. On the other lines, they always have oneQuebec Cider, sparkling water, and craft hard liquor.
They classified the beers into colour label categories, white, black, pink and green. Each category has a different beer style, the white label has classic style beers, the black label has special ingredients or different techniques, the pink label has all the aged beer and the green label is are their special edition and small batches. For example, sour beer is in the black category. All beers are served at different temperatures and with different carbonization. If you are a beer geek, this is the place for you to geek out. The staff is very knowledgeable about beer and think of themself as beer sommelier.
The food in the bar is also very good and a lot of the recipes are family recipes from the owner, adding to this welcoming ambiance. The menu changes as often as the beer does. When we visited we took a lobster roll and a burger. They also offer a buffet lunch, perfect to take a break after visiting the city.
Isle de Garde
This Montréal craft brewery specializes in German-style beers. When you taste them you are immediately transported to Germany with their traditional brewing methods that have been perfected for centuries. Lovers of light beers, also take inspiration from other European brewing methods from the Czech Republic, Belgium and the UK. They thrive to offer the best quality and they also tend to redo recipes to master them to perfection. The brewer does a lot of research on yeast and sees what are all the possibilities that a certain type of yeast can offer. Besides perfecting the recipes they also change their selection often. Here, you can expect a lot of blonde and brown ale beers.
Isle de Garde is also a restaurant with great food. They serve a mix between comfort food and high-end recipes. When we visited, we took a tasty duck tartare with fries. The bar is located in Rosemont, the up-and-coming Mecca of craft beer neighbourhood in the city. Heads up, they don't take any reservations and the place gets very crowded so I would suggest going during of hours.
Beer lovers will love this stop!
Boswell Brasserie Artisanale
This artisanal brewery is located at the east end of the Plateau, Boswell offers more than 15 on tap beers. Lovers of change, they are constantly changing their beers and their food menu. They have a small production so their beers don’t last more than 2-4 weeks, this gives them the chance to be very creative.
This neighbourhood bar hosts many events and is part of a lively community. They also display local artists along the walls of the bar. The brewery does interesting and out-of-the-box collaborations. During our visit, we tasted a beer that was made with the renowned Crémy doughnuts. The beer was macerated with lemon crullers which resulted in a lemony beer with a sweet aftertaste, delicious!
On the food side, they have high-end comfort food, like mouthwatering vegetable gnocchi and burger. They try as much as possible to use locally sourced ingredients from the province.
4 Origines
Pointe-St-Charles’ first microbrewery was the newcomer to the Montreal beer scene in 2018. The brewery located in an old industrial building will make you feel that you are in a tasting room in Vermont. They have an eclectic selection of beers ranging from cappuccino stout, English ale to apricot-tea pale ale. They have a set of 12 brews with half of their selection that stays year-round and the other half constantly rotates and you can also taste their latest innovations.
What’s in a name? The name comes from Montreal’s four main European settlers which are apparent in the city’s flag. It also hints at the 4 main beer's ingredients and the other 4 allusions like the 4 cardinal points.
While there is no kitchen, you can bring your own food or order in, they will give you the names of the nearby restaurants. The family vibes are what they are looking for with the long communal tables and their board games. People can also bring their dogs here! They also are an integral part of the community and like to give back as much as possible. The bar is in the southwest borough, on the other side of the Lachine Canal. While getting to the bar, enjoy your walk on the Canal and look for the iconic Five Roses neon sign. They also have a nice terrasse to enjoy in the summertime.
L'Espace Public
Located in the Hochelaga neighbourhood, this microbrewery aims to be a place for gathering and of course to enjoy a few beers. They offer a wide selection of beers but their specialty is the sour beer that is easy to drink, simply refreshing. Trust me, you will be wanting for another one before you even finish your first. Like the other brew bars, they change their selection constantly so on each visit you will be surprised with a new beer. Their beers are funky like rice sour or spicy gose.
Their branding revolves around the concept of the pigeons and the city. The pigeon is an urban animal that hangs in gangs, and they are in all public spaces (public space is the translation of espace publique). The names of their beer are also very urban like balcony beer or back-alley beer. The concept is that we are all pigeons looking to gather around our favourite drinks. They also display art by local artists on their walls and have several live music events.
Since they are in a low-income neighbourhood they keep the prices low so that they want to keep them affordable to everyone. They are very involved in the community and like to give back.
This Montreal beer pub opened a second location, also in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve you can now go to their tasting bar or to their original broue-pub. The new location has a great terrace and has several events throughout the year. Both locations have very small food options so if you are looking to eat here, you better do other plans.
Birra bar à bières maison
Located just at the end of the Little Italy neighbourhood, this brewery offers around 10 craft beers that are locally made by the owner and brewer. My favourite beer is Horace, a season made with oat and Ginger. The brewery offers all kinds of styles from lager to IPAs. The beer menu also features 17 barrel products from all over Quebec to complete the brewery's 10 craft beers.
The brewer takes inspiration from German and Czech beers and he likes to master all the recipes by doing them over and over again.
The brewery also has a food menu featuring nice dishes, perfect to match with your beers. Indeed, the menu has everything from Nachos to vege burgers. All the ingredients come from the local market next door, the Jean-Talon market. The bar is luminous, all their menus are written on the chalkboard and one of the walls is decorated with colourful old frame windows.
The brewery offers activities to its customers such as a musical quiz, held once a week during Fall and Winter, to test your musical knowledge. This could be a great opportunity to mingle with the locals!
Avant-Garde Artisans Brasseurs
If you are looking for a brewery near the Olympic stadium, then Avant-Garde is your next stop. A short 5 min drive or a 20min walk from the big O. The brewery is one of the biggest in the city and in 2022 celebrated its 6th anniversary. It not only has beers from Avant-Garde but it also has beers from Jukebox, an ideal combo. Jukebox offers beers that are more American while Avant-Garde beers are more European inspired.
Located in an old hangar, the bar is tastefully decorated with a big mural with white, green and black colours, all colours reflected in the furniture. The brewery has 24 types of beers on tap and 8 types of beers from the cellar. These are beers that are in barrels. The beers change often not a single style predominates the menu, the only thing constant is the imagination of the brewmasters running wild. We took 8 taster size beers to taste the variety from a white beer infused with jasmine, coriander and kaffir lime leaves to Songe Epicé, a spiced beer that will take you directly to the glühwein in the German Christmas markets. One of my favourites was Octobre en Avril, a barley wine Beer in a bourbon cask.
To pair your beer, the bar offers Neapolitan-style pizza made in a pizza oven. There are 12 types of pizza on the menu. The pizza is thin and made with the best quality ingredients. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff for pairing suggestions with the beer and pizza, this will take your dinner or lunch to another level.
Brewskey
Old Montreal often feels like a tourist trap but sometimes, there are true gems that even Montrealers love to go and Brewskey is one of them. The Brew pub is located in the historical building of Marché Bonsecours. For more than 100 years, the building was home to the main public market in the Montreal area and is designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Now, this historic building houses shops, cafes and a bakery and the Brewskey brewery, its taproom and restaurant. The bar’s stone walls are typical of the new France architecture. In terms of beers, they offer a wide variety from the delicious brewjuice, a smoothie style beer to bakery stout passing by the hazy IPA to one of their best-seller oat cream. My personal favourite is the brewjuice, especially the ones with mango or passion fruit. The hubby is a big fan of their pastry stouts that are made sometimes in collaboration with their bakery La Cave à Manger (their breads are as delicious as their beers!). Their beers change often and always have a new ingenious flavour for your delight.
As you might have noticed, the name also implies Whiskey. In fact, they offer a big selection of Canadian spirits, mainly gin and whiskey. Don’t worry, to absorb all the beer, the brewpub has also an exceptional kitchen serving quality comfort food made with local ingredients and local flavours.
WILLS
WILLS is the new kid in town, the brewery is located in the new trendy neighbourhood of Mile-Ex. The brewery opened in 2022 under a sleek and elegant design in an old industrial brewery complex, this is not your usual bar, it feels more sophisticated just like their beers. The retro–chic logo composed of multiple W (from wills) is inspired by designs of the 1960s and 1970s when Montreal held the Olympics and world fair. The brewery is a family business owned by two cousins and focuses on quality and perfect execution. The beers are easy to drink yet offer the perfect taste notes and balance. On tap, they have 10 beers that can be sampled in the bar or you can taste another 4 beers by buying them, at their shop on the premises. The brew house doesn't focus on novelty beers so don't expect to see a new beer every week or so on tap, they will focus on mastering the recipes to perfection. They focus mostly on lagers and IPA. In the Summer, you can enjoy a cold one on their big outdoor patio and have a bite at the food truck le Nouveau Palais, same as the restaurant. On their year-round menu, they have snacks and small plates such as pretzels and tartare. They also host several events like cool DJs and art exhibitions. You can buy beers to go on their on-site boutique or at some beer specialty stores.
Dispensaire Microbrasserie
Dispensaire (Dispensary Brewery in English) is a neighourhood favourite. Located in the heart of the Plateau, this low key brewery is the perfect spot for a cold one in their pretty terrasse in the Summer. Whether you are admiring the beautiful murals on the Main, grabbing a smoked meat nearby or just enjoying the plateau architecture, you should stop here.
The taproom rotates beers on 8 different lines with styles including juicy IPAs and pale ales, stouts and porters, fruit sours, wheat beers and crispy lagers, so there is bound to be a brew that is perfect for your taste buds. The beer changes regularly as they are always experimenting with new ingredients and new methods. On the food side, you have some snacks and grilled cheese stuffed with bacon and caramelized onions. The summer menu will be expanded serving seafood entrées and a classic hardy burger with fries, cooked at the neighbouring O.Noir restaurant.
sunny biergarten with some surprises like live music or BBQ pop-ups. The inside of the brewery is small but cozy and the service is friendly and fun. The Dispensary also offers beers to go in cans so you can bring them with you back home or enjoy some at the park.
Other breweries
If you are looking for craft beers from another region of the province, then I would recommend Pit Caribou. They come from Gaspésie region, one of my favourite places in the province with its maritime way of life. The brewery is located on the Plateau Mont-Royal on the busy rue Rachel. Another popular stop could be Broue Pub Brouhaha, they have 2 bars to try their productions. Le Cheval Blanc was one of the first microbreweries in the province and has now entered a larger scale production. Messorem Bracitorium is for hoppy beer lovers, this is a brewery that I yet need to visit. Soeurs Grises is another popular brewery location in Old Montreal.
Vices versa is the last stop in our beer guide. The bar- not a brewery - specializes in Quebec craft beer and it is located just a few blocks away from Birra. They offer more than 50 beers and they constantly change their selection. This is your chance to taste rare bottles and to taste beers that are from across the province. If you don’t have time to bar hop across the bars in this guide, this is the one-stop brewpub.
Beer experiences in Montreal
Beer Passport
There is an app for that too! Passport je bois local , is a beer, cider and beer bars passport through the province of Quebec. You choose 12 producers from more than 100 options! At each location, you can choose a pint, tasting paddle or non-alcoholic option. The app lets you wander outside the city as well, there are plenty of beers to try across the bridge too! The app has a little description of every bar and all the beverage menus and if they have food options too. Don't worry, you don't have to select them all at once and you can even remove some when you want.
How does it work? You download the app, pay $44.99 CAD, and select the 12 breweries of your choice. With the app, you get a coupon, and in exchange, you get a pint or 3 tasting glasses at each establishment you have selected. You will need to show your confirmation page to the staff and they will propose you a selection.
Why do we love it? This is a great deal since a pint is usually around $8, you get a chance to drink more cold ones for your money! The app is easy to use and very intuitive. It also has some news related to breweries and other fun news in the province, like where to find food trucks in Montreal. Also, the passport never expires so if you did not go through all your beers, you can keep some for the next time you come to Montreal.
Montreal brewery tour
The city has around 4 beer tour companies that will drive you around through a selection of beer bars in the city. There is one tour that stands out from the others, City Brew Tours. The tours are a one-stop shop, meaning that they drive you from brewery to brewery in their branded mini-van, provide the drinks, food samples and of course, an expert guide. The tours take a maximum of 13 people to provide a more intimate experience. This craft beer tour takes you through the beer fabrication process and gives you a brief history of beer. Did you know that beer was invented more than 5000 years ago?
The tour provides the right balance between fun, entertainment, and learning about the breweries and thus a little about Montreal. City Brews takes you through off the beaten path, to lesser-known breweries and neighbourhoods. We took the tour with 3 breweries around the Southwest borough. The 3 breweries were Les Sans Taverne, located in Pointe Saint-Charles, Benelux in Verdun and 4 Orignes (you can read more about it at the middle of the article). Benelux was a good discovery for me as their beers are really good! Every purchase that you make, gives back to an organism that specializes in taking the kids out of the streets and other difficult situations. The tour also provides you with tips on how to taste beer and how to distinguish flavours.
How to book? Visit City Brews Montreal . The company has 2 tours, Montreal Original Brew tour and Sip of Montreal Brew Tour. We took the later one. The tours run from Thursday to Sunday.
Tour Price? $99 or $77 depending on the tour.
What’s Included? between 16 and 12 glasses of beer with food to share.
How long? Around 4 to 5 hours.
La Cuvée
If you want to try Montreal breweries and other local craft beers from the province in one place then La Cuvée is the festival for you! The festivities are held for 3 days in April in an old church in the Little Burgundy neighbourhood. Not only is the decor beautiful but you can try more than 100 products of our Belle Province. The event has been held for 9 years. La Cuvée offers not only a great beer selection but also has different products like cocktails, natural wines and ciders, all from Quebec. If you get hungry from all the drinking, there is also a street food stand that serves Poutine, Bao Buns & Tacos.
As for the admission, you have the choice of different packages: the Admission + Plastic glass (1 day admission + Plastic glass for $15.00), Admission + Glass (1 day admission + Glass glass for $22.00) and the 1 day admission + Glass signed by the artist Mathieu Potvin for $27.00. Each beer costs between 3 and 6 tickets, each ticket is the equivalent of $1.
This a great way to enjoy craft Quebec products without taking a road trip!
So which cold one are you going to taste first from this list? Cheers! 🍻
BRB acknowledges that Montreal is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodian of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples.
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Disclaimer: All the Montreal breweries named in this guide and the beer passport contributed to the article A big thank you! All opinions are my own.
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