Montreal’s Best Microbreweries

microbrasserie-belles-bonnes-montreal

Craving a craft beer? Always! While moderation sometimes tastes good, these beers are so good that we can’t help but indulge. After all, we love beer in Quebec!

From the Molson brewery, founded in 1786 in Montreal, to the play “Broue”, which premiered in 1979, the history of Quebec is marked by beer. Today, a new chapter is being written as new microbreweries are emerging everywhere. The formula is simple, but very effective: brew your own beer and serve it to your customers in the same establishment.

If you’re looking for a night out with friends to enjoy refreshing and unique beer in a nice atmosphere while eating good food, we offer you our list of favourite microbreweries in Montreal. These beers are often more refined and sought after, and offer interesting alternatives to the big beer companies found in dépanneurs and grocery stores.

It is the welcoming atmosphere and the passion of the teams towards their products that converts the curious into regulars. Perfect for hot summer afternoons, evenings with friends or casual happy hours, our list of microbreweries should guide you in discovering this exciting and ever-evolving world, which not only allows you to quench your thirst but also encourages the local economy!

Note: this is not a list of all the microbreweries in Montreal, but simply our favourites.

Cheers!

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Wills

Goodbye Alexandraplatz, and hello Wills! The spot well known for its summer happy hours that stretched into the night is coming back to life thanks to cousins Alex and Ethan Wills (ex-Lawrence), who have also set up their eponymous craft brewery in the back of the bar, in the space formerly occupied by the Brasserie du Vieux-Montréal. Equiped with state-of-the-art Köenig Brewing System vessels, the brewery will start launching its beers on tap and to go this summer and at a few select shops around town.

6729 Avenue de l'Esplanade
Montréal

Projet Pilote

The particularity of Projet Pilote is to offer a wide variety of spirits prepared on site. Guillaume Drapeau, owner and distiller, loves to create gins and eaux de vie and his still gives him the freedom to let his imagination run wild. On the beer side, Projet Pilote offers products brewed on site by Martin Allaire, with kegs plugged directly under the tanks. Martin specializes in thirst-quenching beers, ideal for an evening with friends. In addition, Projet Pilote holds a craft beer production license, which allows minors accompanied by their legal guardians to be on site. So you can bring the whole family, because the food is great too!

980 Rue Rachel Est
Montréal

Brasserie Harricana 

Brasserie Harricana brews a dozen craft beers and adds new ones every week. While the variety of beers evolve, their offerings are always enjoyable. The establishment diversifies and completes their offerings with beers and ciders from other microbreweries as well. The decor is inspired by the breweries of the 70s and designed by Alain Carle, and is stylish and inviting. Great menu with some of mom’s recipes and other delicious items. We love this place!

95 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest
Montréal

Brasserie Le Réservoir

Since the trio of the late Hotel Herman took over Reservoir, the brewery has been on the rise. The house now offers delectable dishes in a super casual atmosphere. Just enough to feed you well while you drink your beer or sip your glass of wine. This little brewery offers eight beers, three of which are bottled. The place is once again in our favourite addresses. A great microbrewery to rediscover!

9 Avenue Duluth Est
Montréal
Brasserie Boswell bar montreal

Brasserie Boswell

Brasserie Boswell is another microbrewery that we love. The brewery on Mont-Royal Avenue offers a great choice of beers in a very nice industrial space. Good small plates served in a friendly environment. We highly recommend a visit.

2407 Avenue du Mont-Royal Est
Montréal
helm microbrasserie

HELM Microbrasserie

HELM – an acronym for hops, water, yeast and malt, (in French) – has been charming its patrons on Bernard Avenue for nearly 10 years. They offer several good beers and nice dishes in a lively atmosphere. Chicken wings, carpaccios, tartars, hot dogs, hot chicken, and burgers are some of their offerings, and the portions are quite generous. Take note that when they have live bands, or there’s a hockey game, the place fills up quickly!

273 Rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal

Benelux

An acronym for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Benelux is a microbrewery with Belgian inspirations. Several delicious beers and a few small sandwiches are offered. The place is very busy, especially with students, and the service can be a bit slow because of the traffic. We especially like the Euro-Dog with pepperette. Superb decor designed by Bruno Braën. This address was so popular that a second Benelux was opened in Verdun with a magnificent terrace at 4026 Wellington Street.

245 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal

Isle de Garde

Isle de Garde is one of our favourite microbreweries, with about 20 beers from Quebec microbreweries and several others from private importation. It is a small bar with a nice and friendly atmosphere, attentive and knowledgeable staff, and a nice terrace in the summer. The beer is satisfying, and the kitchen offers some delicious dishes.

1039 Rue Beaubien Est
Montréal
vices et versa

Vices & Versa

This neighbourhood bar in Little Italy offers beers from microbreweries across the province, but does not make its own beer. There are about thirty choices of beers (notably from the Dunham Microbrewery who own the bar), which change regularly depending on the mood and the season. A few ciders and wines are also available, but one comes here mainly to drink a good beer. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the menu unpretentious, offering burgers, poutines and other small and larger dishes to enjoy. Plus, they have a beautiful and lively terrace in the back!  

6631 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montréal

Messorem

Messorem Bracitorium, is a lively spot in the Sud-Ouest to enjoy refreshing craft beer—they specialize in hoppy and sour beers—brewed on site. Located a stone’s throw from the Lachine Canal, the microbrewery is a hidden gem tucked away in an old factory. Colourful picnic tables await you on their lively large terrace (where dogs are welcome), along with a simple but indulgent food menu (courtesy of Mitch Deli).

2233 Rue Pitt
Montréal

Pub Pit Caribou

Fans of local craft beers should be familiar with Pit Caribou products. This Gaspesian microbrewery offers a wide variety of beers on tap, as well as a food menu that includes platters showcasing Gaspesian products. The menu also features guest beers, most of them from Eastern Quebec.

951 Rue Rachel Est
Montréal

Mellön

A small, inviting address in Villeray, Mellön specializes in thirst-quenching beers: lagers, saisons, beers with a nice balanced bitterness, dry and sharp, that make you want to drink another one. In house, there are 8 taps, with a constantly evolving offer, as the place produces in small quantities. There’s also a variety of canned beers to enjoy on one of their long picnic tables.

7141 Rue Saint-André
Montréal

Birra

Birra is a friendly taproom located in Little Italy. The menu features some 15 beers, half of which are house brews (prepared at the MaBrasserie coop), and the others from various regions of Quebec. To accompany the beers, they also offer a concise, easy-to-share menu, all to be enjoyed in their warm, comfortable space, or on their large wooden terrace during the warmer months.

7129 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montréal
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