With a cliff-top position above the St Lawrence River and captivatingly picturesque old streets, North America’s oldest French-speaking city is a gorgeous, seductive place. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. Just walking down the street here is an aesthetic treat. The city’s historic core is unlike anyplace else in North America, with hundreds of gorgeous mansard-roofed old stone buildings clustered inside a perfect frame of crenelated town walls. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques. Québec City has something else: the heart and soul of the province, the fiercest of grips on French-Canadian identity and the French language. It is something people here have fought and died for and something they treasure deep. Québécois grow up studying English, but because the anglophone minority here is so tiny – just 1.5% of the population speak English as their mother tongue! Québec City has always had a love affair with beer. From New France, Récollet priests, the Jesuits, and then Jean Talon, who founded the colony’s first brewery. Today, the artisans brewers of Québec City’s microbreweries are bringing new life into beer scene, delving into the local natural larder (blueberries, maple, pumpkin, and Labrador tea) to brew new creations! So lets explore the 20+ (June 2022) craft breweries in and around Québec City.
La Souche - Microbrasserie (Limoilou), 801 Chem. de la Canardière
A lovely and deceptively large neighbourhood brew-pub just north of downtown. Like the name indicates (its French for parent tree), wood is the key element here, rustic lumberjack vibe with tables in wooden panels, classic brewpub allure, the place is cosy and eclectic. Cool artwork on the walls which is for sale. 16 beers on tap, Stouts, IPA, Casks, Dry hopped special releases, name it, there have a lot of styles available. There is college next door so a lot of students. The atmosphere is great, the service is quick and good. The food menu is an eclectic pub fare, very interesting. Maybe be the best brewpub in Quebec City, a must visit!
La Barberie - Microbrasserie, 310 Rue Saint-Roch
Located in very plain surroundings (a viaduct, industrial mess, deteriorated road) off the tourist area of the city, this place is, nonetheless, worth a visit. It has a spacious, cosy interior and two large patios. A decent sized bar with a side room full of pews. It has the not quite dive-bar well worn character than can only be earned with age, and it suits it. 16 taps and a cask offer some good beers (all featured as flights in a carousel set) and some bottled beers, all brewed by the friendly staff. No food served at lunch time, but guests are welcome to bring their own. Otherwise snacks and appetisers. The staff are helpful and friendly. English is spoken.
INOX - Brewery, 655 Grande Allée E
The oldest operating microbrewery in Québec City, Inox is a Grande Allée institution that plays a central role in the street’s party vibe. Whether on the terrace, on the second floor or near the bar, the service is always quite fast and intentional. The beer and European hot dogs are excellent, the menu is affordable. If you are ever in Quebec city and need a pint definitely go here, the beer is amazing. You can even have a game of billiards.
Noctem - Artisans Brasseurs, 438 Rue du Parvis
A great place located in St-Roch hood, on a pedestrian alley. A large taproom with a large patio. The place has a very white, cat themed décor going on. IPA lovers can get their fill at Noctem and even pair their pints with delicious dishes featuring house-smoked meats. Flight are available. The food menu is small but good, if a bit pricy. Free wifi. Service is quite good, with knowledgeable staff.
Noctem Artisans Brasseurs—St-Malo, 1095 Rue Vincent-Massey Suite 8
A very unassuming taproom adjacent to its production site. Almost a hole in the wall if it wasn't for the large name and logo on the building. Inside is a small but very nice looking tap room and boutique, with two windows looking in the brewing room. They have 8 tap, which are great to try before buying, most of their brews are IPA's. It's a good place to try and buy their tasty beers and some brewery swag.
Griendel - Brasserie Artisanale, 195 Rue Saint-Vallier O
A welcoming and warm microbrewery with a bistro-pub, offering house craft beers, with no less than 24 taps and modern, seasonal pub fare. Located in the heart of the St. Sauveur district, maybe the most multicultural district in the city. This place was a former store, minimal decor but a few art works including a nice mural. The decor and layout is quite nice, lots of windows to see out on the street, nice seating options - the down-point for ambiance is the sound level; the concrete interior echoes really loudly when the place is full. Service is quite good and knowledgeable. The food menu is quite nice, some classic pub options with some fancier dinner choices.
Brasserie Alpha, 1510-A Rue Semple
A really good place in an industrial sector of Québec city. If your in town for a hopper beer, this is definitely the spot! They have a nice patio area with picnic tables and 2 food trucks (one taco, one poutine and meat) on weekends. Lots of space with lots of seating, friendly service and a good vibe specially. They sell some brewery swag and you can also grab growlers and cans for the go. You will really liked this hop forward brewery!
SNO - Microbrasserie Nordik, 250M Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, RC15
This is a nice microbrewery with a good choice of beer. The location is quite nice within Le Grand Marché de Québec it is situated in. That is not a tourist trap, but has many local and regional specialty shops, including a craft beer store. Its a medium size brewpub with a second story above the bar, a patio over looking the Centre Vidéotron. Modern pub look, excluding the COVID dividers. The staff and brewers are helpful and nice to talk to. Very good micro brewery beers served from 12 beers on tap, a bit of every popular style. Would recommend!
BSD - Brasseurs sur Demande, 1177 Chem. de la Canardière
So much to say about this brewery. A warm friendly venue furnished with wooden chairs and tables plus serving a typical brasserie-style menu. From lagers to porters to ipas and Even neipas! All of their beer is so câlice tabarnak delicious! Aside from their beer, the atmosphere is extremely friendly and inviting. The staff and guests immediately invite you to the bar to hang out. Located in Limoilou in an odd place? in which appears to be a shed like industrial building behind a house in a semi residential area.
BG Brasserie Générale, 1165 18e Rue
A pretty modern looking place, nice patio and smaller ultra modern taproom. Beers are solid, a flight of four is available. Food menu appeared fun and varied with burgers, soups and some poké. Service is very friendly.
BG - Brasserie Urbaine Charlesbourg, 400 Rue du Platine #3
This place is a microbrewery with a tasting room in a large warehouse setting with lots of cosy comfy seating, also with a cool courtyard. Very welcoming, the waitress knows all her beers perfectly as much in terms of taste as the complete manufacturing process. I highly recommend this place to all beer lovers especially try their special creations which can be very innovative. They have lots of swag on sale.
Korrigane - Brasserie Artisanale, 380 Rue Dorchester
A beautiful little brew-pub with an eclectic decor and lots of greenery (something you rarely see). A dozen beers on tap, including a guest. The beers are decent. A nautical theme. The food (poutine) is fine.The service is excellent. Friendly service. Located well outside the old city,but within walking distance.
Emporium - Microbrasserie, 5350 Boul. Henri-Bourassa
A cool microbrewery with a great beer selection and awesome pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy. Quite modern inside, quite big but cosy, with a steampunk vibe, a large central bar with 16 taps. Get there early if you want a seat on the patio, that is complete with a massive BBQ.. Friendly knowledgeable staff.
Brasserie MaltCo, 24-1750 Rue du Périgord
This industrial style microbrewery has one of the largest production systems in Québec City. Sample their beers on site while discovering interesting facts about Québec's brewing history. Original, somewhat eccentric, non-conformist, daring, Brasserie Maltco is an artisanal brewery that designs and distributes wonderful and ingenious products with local, urban, modern flavors.
La Voie Maltée - Brasserie Artisanale, 1040 Bd Pierre-Bertrand
This pub was the first Voie Maltée pub to open in Québec City. As a tourist visiting Quebec city, this was highly recommended for their craft beers. But the menus and beer list was all in French and no English menus. Huge place located near the 40 highway. Modern and industrial very far from the typical small brewpub. A huge restaurant with huge TV screens and with a patio on one side, there is also a store to buy merchandise It’s really not my style of place, but couldn’t be much better for this style. If it wasn’t for the beers......?
La Voie Maltée - Sainte-Foy , 2590 Bd Laurier
Located in Place de la Cité, between Laurier Québec and Place Ste-Foy. A nice bar/restaurant with very decent food, and it's own microbrewery, which alows you to try out their selection of house brewed beers. It is a popular place for "happy hour" thanks to nearby offices. Several dishes are designed using their beers in recipes.
Archibald Microbrasserie - Resto-Pub Sainte-Foy, 1240 Duplessis Hwy
As “Canadian “ as you are going to get! If you like hipster style beer you will like this place. Lots of choices. Inside the tables are affixed to structural steel I-beams which is a bit odd? The trophy heads on the walls and antler chandeliers, plaid decor and cool Canadiana over the walls throughout the walls. The food is really quite something unique. Plus a nice big patio and with occasional live music.
Les Maltcommodes (Resto par Brasserie MaltCo), 3333 Rue du Carrefour
Les Maltcommodes is a flashy gastropub which offers a unique experience where you can enjoy prime meats cooked on volcanic stones right at your table, plus microbrews. A large ultra modern space, lots of "booth" seating, plus a cool covered terrace, plus a lively lounge with live music.
La Souche - Microbrasserie (Stoneham), 22 1 ere avenue, Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury
Founded in 2017, La Microbrasserie La Souche took root in Stoneham, and its beer is now brewed in the forest. A microbrewery with a tasting room that is done up like a ski lodge, making it perfect for your après-ski. It is also a factory, a sugar shack, a hop farm and a restaurant that aims to offer a farm table and offers you products coming directly from its garden! Giving a new meaning to the words “farm to table.” Not too far from the city, you have a decent view of the mountains. Nearby the golf or any other sports that you can practice in the area. Also, so many beer that you can bring back home. This is the perfect place in nature to hang around with friends.
Microbrasserie de l'Île d’Orléans - Pub le Mitan, 2471 Chem. Royal, Sainte-Famille
A really beautiful place. You can see the brewery equipment from inside the restaurant. The big garage doors give you a view of the river from inside. The deck looks like it would be wonderful in the summer. A good menu with great poutine. The beer is top notch. The service is exemplary and the ambiance of the location is inviting! If you get the chance to go, then definitely sit on the balcony!
L'Esprit de Clocher - Microbrasserie, 287 Rue des Erables, Neuville
An awesome little microbrew. The decor is very interesting, plus a covered and heated patio with a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence River. This country retreat is the perfect place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a local pint of Sunnyside Hop. I would recommend anyone trying this great little place out. Staff are super friendly and excellent in every regard.
3 Brasseurs - Grande Allée, 650 Grande Allée E
"The Chain Goes Ever On!" Situated along the popular restaurant and bar strip of Grande Allée. Love or Hate them they are consistent in what they provide, always worth nipping in for one. The beer selection and overall quality means it's not likely a priority for most beer geeks?
3 Brasseurs Laurier, 2450 Bd Laurier Local G50
Large brewpub located in the downtown shopping mall. The place is huge and well decorated. Waitress had some good knowledge of beers being served. Food was actually quite good and reasonably priced.
3 Brasseurs La Capitale, 5401 Bd des Galeries Local # 107
One of the poorer locations only visit if passing, pretty horrible service! "The Chain Goes Ever On!"
A few beer stores to buy Beer downtown;
Dépanneur La Duchesse d'Aiguillon, 469, rue St-Jean
Great bottle shop. It's a small room but they have a ton of great beers from local breweries.
L’Axe du Malt, 601, rue d'Aiguillon
This place is amazing. Their beer selection is probably the best in Quebec City, their staff are friendly and helpful, and they make great recommendations.
La place, 699 rue Saint-Joseph Est
Fabulous fine grocer located just a couple of blocks from the train station. Gourmet products from around the world great beer selection.
Le Grand Marché de Québec, 250-M, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel
There is a lot of farmers and local producers with their original products for fair prices! They sell everything from hand made clothes, bio products, vegggies and fruits, maple syrup products, to cheese, meat, fish and of coarse beer.
Je bois local, 1033 Avenue Cartier
A magnificent place where you can discover beers from your favorite Canadian microbreweries.
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I hope you found my guide to the brewpubs and bars in Quebec City useful?
Now you just need to get yourself out there and start the beer adventure for yourself!
