12 craft breweries to discover

Beautiful summer days, long weekends, well-earned vacations—To get your taste buds tingling, we decided to introduce you to 12 of our favourite microbreweries. Ready for a “hopped up” tour of La Belle Province? Let’s go!

  

1. BRASSERIE ARTISANALE MALTSTROM

Notre-Dame-des-Prairies 

The artisans at Maltstrom have been sharing their authentic, hand-brewed creations with beer enthusiasts since 2016. With filtration kept to a minimum and no added flavours or chemicals, you’ll enjoy the pure and natural taste!

• Our favourite beer: I.X.P.L. des Prairies
• Excuse for a visit: In January 2018, it was ranked among the 10 “Best New Brewers in the World” according to RateBeer. Not bad!

2. MICROBRASSERIE LE BILBOQUET

Saint-Hyacinthe 

Located in downtown Saint-Hyacinthe, Le Bilboquet has plenty of room in its outdoor courtyard or Irish-style pub, where you can choose from a dozen premium quality beers brewed on the premises.

• Our favourite beer: Coup de canon
• Excuse for a visit: With its bistro concept, the Bil Pub offers a varied menu perfect for a snack with friends as well as a wide selection of wine and spirits.

3. MICROBRASSERIE NOIRE ET BLANCHE

Saint-Eustache

You’ll find the Noire et Blanche microbrewery in the heart of Old Saint-Eustache in a bicentennial building with character-rich stone walls. It boasts a nice assortment of house brews on tap and a selection of some 40 private imports.

• Our favourite beer: La Sainte-Moustache
• Excuse for a visit: In addition to the pub, there’s a restaurant with a varied and sophisticated menu―perfect for a gourmet stop with friends or family.

4. MICROBRASSERIE L’ESPRIT DE CLOCHER 

Neuville 

Beer and good times! That’s the credo of this village microbrewery like no other. In Neuville, the team at L’Esprit de Clocher await with their “bouillons,” as they like to call their creations. The microbrewery offers a dozen craft beers brewed and served on site.

• Our favourite “bouillon”: La Soif à Mourir
• Excuse for a visit: Come enjoy the covered and heated 52-seat terrace—and the nice pub-style menu that comes with it.

5. MICROBRASSERIE SIBOIRE (JACQUES-CARTIER)

Sherbrooke

In Sherbrooke, the Siboire Jacques-Cartier is a magnet for hop enthusiasts, and famous for its untranslatable catch phrases! The location is the second of three (with one in Montréal and another in Sherbrooke). It offers more than ten onsite brews and a quality restaurant menu.

• Our favourite beer: La Capricieuse
• Excuse for a visit: Located at the back right next to the brewery, the Siboire Corner Store will fill up a small jug with your favourite beer. It’s quite the experience!

6. MICROBRASSERIE LE PROSPECTEUR

Val-d’Or 

A visit to the gold-mining town of Val-d’Or wouldn’t be complete without discovering the treasures on offer at Le Prospecteur microbrewery. It’s well worth the stop. In addition to the regular brews on tap, you can also enjoy seasonal beers and a selection from other microbreweries. So stop searching―you’ve struck liquid gold!

• Our favourite beer: La Tête de Pioche
• Excuse for a visit: Sample the delicious bistro menu featuring home-made creations made with local products and Le Prospecteur beer. A real treat!

7. MICROBRASSERIE-PIZZERIA HOPERA

Jonquière 

Keep your eyes and ears open. The HopEra microbrewery & pizzeria has put together a symphony of flavours for you. Choose from a great selection of beers brewed with passion on site—everything from classics to eclectics, not to mention seasonal offerings. It's beer as art form!

• Our favourite beer: American Jesus Pale Ale
• Excuse for a visit: An incredible selection of homemade thin crust pizzas cooked in a real wood-burning oven—the perfect culinary complement to great-tasting beer.

8. BIRRA BAR À BIÈRES MAISON

Quartier Petite-Italie (Montréal)

Birra as in “beer” in Italian. What better name for a beer bar in the heart of Little Italy? You will find more than 15 craft beers, half of them house brews crafted according to proprietary recipes at the MABRASSERIE coop in Rosemont. All the more reason to go back! We guarantee you’ll love it.

• Our favourite beer: La Francesco
• Excuse for a visit: The beautiful wood-lined patio on Blvd. Saint-Laurent is a must. It’s the perfect place to try the tasty dishes served with home brews.

9. BRASSERIE ARTISANALE LE SAINT-BOCK

Quartier latin (Montréal)

At Le Saint-Bock, you have plenty of choices. This brew pub in the heart of the Latin Quarter boasts 20 heavenly home brews and an equal number from other Québec microbreweries. With its quality selection, the place is always “hoppin’” (if you’ll pardon the pun).

• Our favourite beer: La Monastique
• Excuse for a visit: Enjoy the lively pub’s friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy the many craft beers on offer.

10. BRASSERIE ARTISANALE LA SOUCHE

Quartier Limoilou (Quebec City)

Québec City residents know it well: La Souche (the “Stump”) has become something of an institution in Limoilou. The lively, welcoming brew pub has a nice selection of onsite brews plus  beers from other Québec microbreweries. You’re sure to stay longer than  expected—so pull up a stump and enjoy.

• Our favourite beer: La Tourbière
• Excuse for a visit: In addition to its bold-tasting beers, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the bistro-style menu. The house specialities are jaw-dropping. Literally.

 

11. MICROBRASSERIE DE L'ÎLE D’ORLÉANS

Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans (Quebec City Area)

Visiting Québec City without touring Felix Leclerc’s island is unthinkable, especially considering you would be missing the Île d’Orléans microbrewery and its dozen onsite brews. You can even enjoy them while you eat and admire the St. Lawrence River views from the beautiful patio. It’s a must!

• Our favourite beer: Abel Turcault
• Excuse for a visit: Each of its beers is named after an important figure who once lived on Île d’Orléans. You can read their stories on each bottle. It’s a lovely way of diving into the unique island culture.

12. MICROBRASSERIE LE BOCKALE

Drummondville 

A welcoming atmosphere, a smiling team, delicious home brews: Le Bockale is one of our favourite microbreweries for all kinds of reasons. But one stands out: Bockale’s non-alcoholic IPA beer La Découverte. Very few microbreweries have dared go this route, but these artisans have successfully created a delicious non-alcoholic beer. Bravo!

• Our favourite beer: La Découverte (non-alcoholic IPA)
• Excuse for a visit: It’s a chance to sample the delicious non-alcoholic IPA, which has become the official beer of the 28-Days Sober Challenge.  Le Bockale makes a great stop if you’re pregnant or just trying to cut back. Cheers!

That concludes our 12-stop Québec microbrewery tour. We hope these destinations will inspire a summer itinerary full of discoveries.

Of course, we advise you to never drink and drive. A stroll back to your charming inn is much more pleasant. If you don’t have lodging nearby, ask about safe Drive-You-Home services like Tolérance Zéro, call a taxi, or simply ask a friend. Have a great summer and happy travels!