While Quebec is already well-known for its refined gins and wine, the province’s craft beer scene is booming too. With over 150 microbreweries, several summer beer festivals, and a special passport to help promote beer tourism, the province has plenty to offer craft beer-lovers.
Here are just a few of Quebec’s microbreweries to discover:
• The Brewers of Time (Gatineau): A tourist, cultural and social destination, The Brewers of Time keeps downtown Gatineau humming in Quebec’s Outaouais region. At this historic resto-brewery on the banks of the Gatineau River, an extensive selection of craft beers can be sampled from three-ounce tasters to shareable pitchers, while diners indulge in hearty, home-cooked Québécois fare. Visitors to this 18th century landmark can also learn about brewing traditions closely tied to the region’s economic and social history at the beer museum inside.
• The Malty Way (Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean): Crafting natural ales, lagers, IPAs, and sours made with fresh mineral water from the Laurentian Park, The Malty Way in Chicoutimi in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is the first microbrewery in Quebec distinguished by its culinary approach to beer. Known as the “Ambassador of Beer Cuisine,” The Malty Way uses its craft beers as ingredients to enhance the flavours and aromas of the dishes served at its restaurants, including their signature tartares.
• Noctem Artisan Brewers (Quebec City): Opening humbly in 2015, Noctem quickly transformed into a trendy, feline-themed brewpub in Quebec City’s hip Saint-Roch neighbourhood. Here, IPAs are king, but stouts, ciders, and wheat beers with loveable names like “Catnip” and “Velvet Paw” are also available. The small yet decadent menu puts smoked meats in the spotlight, but the “Small Noctem Chili” is a fan favourite. At the microbrewery’s tasting room, visitors can stock up on canned brews, branded apparel, and accessories.
• HELM Microbrewery (Montreal): HELM – an acronym for Hops, Eau (water), Levure (yeast) and Malt – takes its cue from the laid-back and artsy vibe of Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood. Visitors can saunter into this lively brewpub embellished with colourful artwork and dangling vines to sample 15 different craft lagers, ales, sours, seasonal and barrel-aged beers brewed on site, some of which are named after streets in the neighbourhood.
Summer craft beer festivals
Throughout the year, many of Quebec’s microbreweries participate in province-wide craft beer festivals where visitors can sample countless distinct brews during the weekend-long festivities. Here are some of Québec’s craft beer festivals taking place this year.
• Beer World (May 18-21): Billed as the largest beer festival in North America, Beer World 2023 will feature 336 new beers from over 100 breweries and microbreweries, epicurean cuisine, and plenty of entertainment at the historic Windsor Station and Rio Tinto Courtyard in downtown Montreal.
• Le Festibière craft beer festivals (May to August): Le Festibière is hosting its craft beer festivals across three locations in Québec. Exhibitors are yet to be announced, but visitors can look forward to craft beer tents as well as food trucks, pool parties, live music and more:
o Sherbrooke Beer Festival, May 26-28 in the Eastern Townships
o Lévis Beer Festival from June 29 to July 2 in Lévis, just a 12-minute ferry ride from Québec City
o The Beer Festival of Quebec, Aug. 17-20 in Quebec City
• Laval Beer Festival (July 14-16): At this year’s Laval Beer Festival, up to 85 exhibitors, including 40 province-wide microbreweries, cider houses and restaurants will showcase their local agri-food products at the Laval Nature Centre, approximately 30 minutes north of Montreal. Festival programming also includes food and beer pairing workshops, concerts, and live performances.
Beer passport
Visitors to Québec can sample from over 100 participating microbreweries across the province’s regions with the ‘I Drink Local’ passport, activated and utilized through the Je bois local app. Sold on an individual basis, passports come equipped with 12 credits, with one credit granting one pint or tasting per microbrewery. Passport holders are encouraged to gather their friends and embark on a curated beer route, from urban pub-crawling to rural day trips to full-fledged beer-themed getaways. For passport info, click HERE.
With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:
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