Quick answer
Broue Pub Brouhaha is the most beloved Montreal brewpub for an all-around excellent experience with multiple neighbourhood locations. For serious beer enthusiasts, Isle de Garde's farmhouse ales and Mellön Brasserie's creative brewing are must-visits.
- Best overall
- Mellön Brasserie — 4.4★ (980 reviews), Mile End
- Local favourite
- Broue Pub Brouhaha — multiple locations, Reddit favourite
- Best budget
- Le Cheval Blanc — CAD $6–$12 pint, since 1985
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Broue Pub Brouhaha: The most beloved overall brewpub in Montreal — multiple locations, house-brewed, excellent food.
- Mellön Brasserie: The most exciting newer brewery — creative styles, excellent taproom on The Main.
- Isle de Garde: Best Belgian-style ales in Montreal. Plateau location, farmhouse ales, cozy atmosphere.
Montreal has one of the best craft beer scenes in Canada — a mix of neighbourhood brewpubs, industrial taprooms, and Belgian-inspired microbreweries. The Mile End, Plateau, and Saint-Henri neighbourhoods are particularly rich in excellent breweries within walking distance.
Quebec's craft beer movement started earlier than most of Canada, partly because of the French influence and connection to Belgian brewing traditions. Today Montreal has dozens of excellent breweries producing everything from farmhouse ales to experimental sours. The city's approach to craft beer feels more European than anywhere else in North America.
Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 60+ Reddit posts across r/beer, r/montreal, r/MTLFoodLovers spanning 2021–2026. Breweries ranked by mention frequency, quality consistency, and taproom experience. We weighted craft beer enthusiasts and local residents heavily.
1Broue Pub Brouhaha
BrewpubQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best overall brewpub experience, multiple neighbourhood locations, house-brewed ales
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Multiple locations · House-brewed · Excellent food · Local institution
- Limitations
- Can get crowded on weekends. Some locations busier than others.
- What to order
- Whatever seasonal or experimental tap they're featuring. Their core IPAs are consistently excellent.
2Mellön Brasserie
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best newer microbrewery, creative beer styles, The Main taproom
- Strengths
- 4.4★ · Creative beer programme · Excellent taproom · Mile End/Plateau location
- Limitations
- Can get very busy. Premium pricing.
- What to order
- Ask the bartender what's new or experimental. Their sours and saisons are particularly well done.
3Brasserie Harricana
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best brewery space in Montreal, limited releases, Mile End neighbourhood
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Beautiful historic building · Excellent seasonal releases · Great atmosphere
- Limitations
- Limited release beers sell out fast. Bit off the beaten path.
- What to order
- Their flagship lager plus whatever seasonal or limited release is available.
4Isle de Garde
BrewpubQuick comparison
- Best for
- Belgian-style ales, farmhouse beers, Plateau neighbourhood, cozy atmosphere
- Strengths
- 4.4★ · Excellent Belgian-style ales · Cozy atmosphere · Plateau location · Distinctive house style
- Limitations
- Smaller selection than some brewpubs. Focused style may not appeal to all.
- What to order
- Their flagship saison or bière de garde. Excellent with their cheese and charcuterie board.
5Les Sans-Taverne
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Consistent craft beer across styles, multiple locations, reliable quality
- Strengths
- 4.4★ · Multiple locations · Consistent quality · Wide style range · Good food pairings
- Limitations
- Less experimental than some newer breweries.
- What to order
- Their signature IPA or current seasonal. Ask what's been brewed most recently.
6Mabrasserie
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Off-tourist-trail brewery, HoMa neighbourhood, community atmosphere
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Neighbourhood gem · HoMa location · Community atmosphere · Good value
- Limitations
- Not central for tourists. Smaller production.
- What to order
- Their flagship amber and whatever seasonal is on tap.
7Boswell Brasserie Artisanale
Neighbourhood BrewpubQuick comparison
- Best for
- Neighbourhood brewpub experience, Plateau East, friendly service
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Brewed on-site · Excellent food · Neighbourhood atmosphere · Friendly service
- Limitations
- Off the main tourist strip. Limited distribution.
- What to order
- House lager or whatever's seasonal. Their food menu is excellent — order food too.
8Brasserie Silo
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Industrial brewery atmosphere, Saint-Henri neighbourhood, bold beers
- Strengths
- 4.3★ · Beautiful industrial space · Bold beer styles · Saint-Henri neighbourhood
- Limitations
- Saint-Henri location requires a bit of travel. Popular on weekends.
- What to order
- Their stout or porter if available. Bold, complex beers are their strength.
9Etoh Brasserie
MicrobreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Experimental small-batch beers, East Montreal, serious craft beer enthusiasts
- Strengths
- 4.2★ · Experimental brewing · Small-batch releases · Growing reputation
- Limitations
- East Montreal location, less convenient. Small taproom.
- What to order
- Whatever limited release they have. This is where you come for rare and experimental.
10Le Cheval Blanc
Classic BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Original Quebec craft beer bar, beer history, affordable pints, classic atmosphere
- Strengths
- 4.1★ · Since 1985, one of Quebec's first craft beer bars · Good value · Plateau location
- Limitations
- Less cutting-edge than newer breweries. Older atmosphere may not appeal to everyone.
- What to order
- Their house beers plus any Quebec microbrewery guests on tap.
FAQ
Montreal's Craft Beer Scene — Common Questions
What is Montreal's craft beer scene like?
Montreal has one of the best craft beer scenes in Canada, heavily influenced by Belgian and French brewing traditions. The city is known for farmhouse ales, saisons, and bières de garde as well as modern IPAs and experimental sours. The Mile End, Plateau, and Saint-Henri neighbourhoods have the highest concentration of excellent breweries.
What beer style is Montreal known for?
Montreal is particularly known for Belgian-inspired ales — saisons, bières de garde, and farmhouse ales. This reflects Quebec's French cultural heritage and proximity to Belgian brewing traditions. Places like Isle de Garde specialize in these styles. Montreal also has excellent IPAs and increasingly experimental breweries.
How much does a pint cost at Montreal craft breweries?
Expect to pay CAD $7–$12 for a pint at most Montreal microbreweries. Specialty or rare releases can run $12–$16. Generally, Montreal is slightly cheaper than Toronto for craft beer. Happy hour deals at many brewpubs bring prices down to $6–$8.
Can I do a brewery tour in Montreal?
Yes — Mile End and the Plateau have several excellent breweries within walking or cycling distance of each other. A self-guided tour might include Mellön Brasserie, Isle de Garde, Brasserie Harricana, and Boswell in a single afternoon. Saint-Henri has Brasserie Silo and is a short trip from the centre.
What time do Montreal bars and breweries close?
In Quebec, bars and breweries can legally serve alcohol until 3am (later than Ontario and British Columbia's 2am). This means Montreal's craft beer bars keep pouring longer than anywhere else in major Canadian cities. Most taprooms stop at midnight or 1am; dedicated bars go later.
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