Ranging from traditional to inventive, craft breweries in Canada are working hard to meet increased demand of thirsty beer lovers. The country even recently opened its first teaching brewery, Niagara College, where the beer will be flowing just like the falls.
Montreal is not only one of the most affordable cities in the world to drink beer, but it also offers an impressive array of bars and breweries you can visit to indulge in the best and newest craft beers.
The following five locations, a mix of breweries and craft beer-friendly eateries, are must stops along your Montreal brew tour.
Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years and has five years of experience in the marketing world. She is currently a lifestyle blogger and has been featured on Tripping.com and LifeHack.org.
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Brutopia
Located on Montreal's world-renowned Crescent Street, Brutopia is a three-level microbrewery known for homegrown seasonal brews. Their beers are all-natural, traditionally brewed ales and their brewing system is a single infusion mash system. In other words: they allow the naturally occurring malt enzymes to produce the raw materials the yeast needs to make beer.
Brutopia offers eight house beers on tap with five classics that remain year-round: IPA, Honey Beer, Nut Brown Ale, Extra Blonde and Raspberry Blonde. The other three seasonally rotate.
If you're hungry, Brutopia offers a globally inspired menu and an affordable happy hour, featuring deals on house beers and live nightly entertainment.
Photo courtesy of Brutopia
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L'amere a Boire
Known for their delectable tapas and seasonal menus, L'amere a Boire is located along Saint Denis Street in Montreal. They brew ales and lagers inspired by traditional European beer, offering 22 house beers to try.
The craft brew selection ranges from stouts and ales to lagers and IPAs. The inviting pub offers small bites including duck wings and housemade pretzels, making it a perfect pit stop on your brew tour.
Photo courtesy of L'amere a Boire
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Vices et Versa
Vices et Versa is a friendly brewpub that offers craft beers on tap and in casks, and acts as a showcase for local producers and artisans. In addition to irresistible local beers, you'll also find locally sourced food, concerts and acts.
They offer 35 craft beer choices on tap, all from Quebec's surrounding microbreweries, and serve eight cask beers—beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurized with minimal carbonation—if you want to try something different. Note that they recommend trying beers on tap before the cask versions.
Their extensive menu, ranging from sandwiches and pizza to bison burgers and fries, makes it a great last stop to top off the day with a delicious dinner.
Photo courtesy of Vices et Versa
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Les Soeurs Grises
Also known as The Grey Nuns, Les Soeurs Grises is located on McGill Street in Old Montreal and is an upscale pub grub and craft beer spot. They offer 10 cask varieties including blondes, ales and special bitters—both imported and brewed on-site.
This renovated former nunnery offers a menu of eclectic items including cubes of boar, rabbit wings and braised octopus—and when else will you have a chance to drink beer in a nunnery?!
Photo courtesy of Les Soeurs Grises
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Dieu du Ciel!
Open seven days a week until 3 a.m., Dieu du Ciel! is located just south of St. Denis Street on Villeneuve. There's no doubt that it's a contender for top beer spot in the city—largely due to the fact they have a beer menu that's updated constantly, with up to 17 different craft styles rotating on tap at all times.
Ranked No. 2 on TripAdvisor for nightlife in Montreal, Dieu Du Ciel! offers a beer for every taste and a limited food menu offering a few small bites to snack on between sips. For anyone looking to sample Canada's best craft beers, Dieu Du Ciel! is the spot.
Photo courtesy of Dieu du Ciel