The Montreal Craft Beer Tour / Brewpub Experience

Montreal’s Latin Quarter makes a fine setting for a beer tour because the stops are tied together by a walk through one of the city’s most historic areas. You taste eight beers at four brewpubs, with poutine, snacks, and chocolate filling out the afternoon. I especially like the mix of beer and city history, plus the chance to see Place des Arts and the BAnQ Grande Bibliothèque along the way.

I also like the friendly, social format. Guides such as Shane, Francoise, and Gabriel have been praised for keeping the history clear and the mood relaxed, and a small group can make this feel more like a shared outing than a formal tour. The main caution is value: at $88.57 per person, the experience depends heavily on your beer preferences, the food on the day, and how much you enjoy walking between bars.

Key things to know before booking

• Four brewpubs, eight tastings: You receive two beers at each stop, with a different feel at every bar.
• A Latin Quarter walking tour: The route adds local history, Place des Arts, and the BAnQ Grande Bibliothèque to the beer tasting.
• Poutine is included: The first stop pairs two beers with Montreal’s famous fries, cheese curds, and gravy dish.
• Small groups are possible: The maximum is 18 people, though some departures have been as small as three.
• The final stop includes chocolate: Benelux pairs two local favorites with something sweet.
• English-language guiding: The tour is offered in English and lasts about three hours.

Starting with Montreal history on Saint-Denis Street

You meet at Le Saint-Bock, also identified as Bazaar Microbrasserie, at 1749 Rue Saint-Denis. This puts you right in the Latin Quarter, an area where the tour can begin with more than a quick introduction to beer.

Your guide leads you through the history of the Quartier Latin as you move between stops. The city commentary is an important part of the experience because it gives the tasting a sense of place. You are not simply moving from one bar to another without context. The route includes sights such as Place des Arts and the BAnQ Grande Bibliothèque, so you get a short orientation to this central Montreal district along with your drinks.

I would consider taking this tour early in your stay if you want a gentle introduction to the area. One person who took it on a later day wished it had been the first activity of the visit, since the route helped make the city easier to understand. That is useful advice, especially if you are new to Montreal and want an easy way to connect streets, cultural landmarks, and local food.

The group limit is 18 people. That is not an especially tiny group, but it keeps the size manageable for a walking tour and shared tastings. Smaller departures can be much more personal. One outing had only three people, while another had a small group that allowed some choice in the beers served.

Le Saint-Bock and the first taste of local beer

The opening stop lasts about 35 minutes at Le Saint-Bock, or Bazaar Microbrasserie. Here you receive two craft beer tastings and poutine, with the tasting and food included in the tour price.

Starting with poutine is a smart Montreal touch. It is filling, salty, and distinctly local, so it gives the first stop more character than a few small bar snacks would. The dish may not suit every palate, and one poor experience focused on the quality of the poutine. I would keep expectations sensible: this is included tasting food, not a full restaurant meal.

The beer itself is meant to be made on location by Montreal breweries. That matters if you are booking because you want local products rather than generic Canadian beer. At the same time, beer is personal. One unhappy participant found the beer selection disappointing and questioned how local it was, while the tour operator stated that the beers served are made at the participating Montreal breweries. The practical lesson is simple: expect a local brewpub selection, but do not book this as a guarantee that every beer will be your style.

You may receive different kinds of beer during the stop, depending on what is being served. The available information does not promise a set list of labels or styles. If you are curious about an unfamiliar beer, this is a good moment to ask the guide for a plain explanation of its taste and brewing method.

L’amère à boire adds snacks and a second pair of beers

The second stop is Brasserie artisanale L’amère à boire. You spend about 40 minutes here, taste two more beers, and receive snacks on the side.

This is the longest stop, which gives you a little more time to compare what you have already tasted with the next pair. The tour is not built around long brewery lectures or a full meal. Instead, it uses short visits and guided sampling. That makes the pace easy for people who want an introduction rather than a technical beer class.

The snacks help keep the afternoon comfortable. Eight beer samples over three hours is not the same as drinking eight full pints, but food still matters. The tour includes snacks and poutine, though any extra food or drinks are your responsibility. If you want to continue eating or order something beyond the included items, bring a little room in your budget.

The guide’s role is especially useful here. Shane has been singled out for his clear explanations and friendly manner, while Francoise has been described as charming and engaging. Those details point to the real strength of the tour: the person leading it can make a familiar beer tasting feel more informative and social.

Bar Pamplemousse and the walking gap

At Bar Pamplemousse, the tour pauses for about 20 minutes and serves two local craft beers. This is the shortest stop, so expect a quick tasting rather than a long stay.

The walking route becomes more noticeable around this part of the tour. The first two bars are close together, but the third stop may involve a 10 to 15 minute walk. That is not a problem for most people, and it gives the guide another chance to point out the neighborhood, but you should wear comfortable shoes.

The route is part of the appeal, yet it also affects the pace. If you prefer sitting in one brewpub for an extended tasting, this tour may feel busy. If you like short stops, conversation, and a bit of city walking, the movement keeps the afternoon from becoming repetitive.

A useful detail for people with dietary concerns is that cider beer has been offered for gluten allergies. The available information does not promise that every departure will have this option, so you should raise the issue with the guide before tasting. Do not assume that every beer or snack is suitable for your needs.

Benelux on Sherbrooke Street finishes with chocolate

The final stop is BENELUX, at 245 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest. You spend about 35 minutes here, taste two local favorites, and pair the beer with chocolate.

This is a pleasant way to end the route. After poutine and savory snacks, chocolate gives the last tasting a change of direction. Pairing beer with something sweet also makes the final stop feel planned rather than simply being the eighth sample on a list.

The tour ends at this craft beer bar on Sherbrooke Street. From there, it is a five to ten minute walk back to the first bar. The nearest metro station is about five minutes away, and downtown is less than a ten-minute walk. That makes the end point useful if you want to continue exploring instead of returning to the start.

The end location also helps with planning. You are not left in an isolated area or sent back across the city. You can finish with the group, walk toward downtown, or use the nearby metro. Extra drinks are not included, so decide in advance if you want to stay and order something after the official tour.

What the $88.57 price really buys you

At $88.57 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in Montreal. You could certainly order several beers at your own pace for less, especially if you skip the guide and food.

The price makes more sense if you value the structure. You receive eight beer tastings, poutine, other snacks, chocolate, a local guide, and bartender gratuities. You also get a planned route through the Latin Quarter rather than spending time choosing bars and working out the distances yourself.

I see the best value for people who want three things at once: local beer, a bit of history, and an easy social afternoon. The guide helps explain what you are drinking and where you are walking. The food reduces the need to arrange a separate meal. The four stops also give you a wider sample of Montreal’s craft beer scene than one pub visit would.

The value is weaker if you are a serious beer specialist with very specific tastes. The tour does not promise a fixed beer menu, brewery production visit, or three beers at each stop. One participant wished for three tastings per bar instead of two. That is a fair criticism if you want maximum beer volume, but eight samples plus food is enough for a tasting-focused afternoon.

The experience has a 4.7 rating from 46 submitted ratings, with 91 percent recommending it. That suggests a strong overall reception, but the one very negative experience is worth taking seriously. Beer quality, food quality, and bar atmosphere can vary by day, and a tour cannot guarantee that every sample will appeal to every person.

Who will enjoy this Montreal beer tour

I would recommend this tour to a first-time Montreal visitor who wants an easy introduction to the Latin Quarter. It is also a good fit for couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy talking with other people while sampling local drinks.

You do not need to be a dedicated beer drinker. One person who described themselves as not much of a beer drinker still found the selection enjoyable, helped by the guide and the variety. The cider option may also help some people with gluten concerns, though you should confirm what is available at your departure.

The tour suits you best if you enjoy:

• Short walks between several venues
• Local food in modest tasting portions
• Casual history rather than a formal lecture
• Trying different beer styles without choosing every drink yourself
• Meeting a small group of other beer fans
• An afternoon activity that ends near downtown

I would be more cautious if you need a full meal, dislike walking, want a guaranteed list of specific beers, or expect every stop to feel like a polished destination bar. The stops are working brewpubs and bars, not a carefully staged attraction.

Timing, group size, and practical details

The experience lasts about three hours. The published times at the four stops add up to roughly two hours and 10 minutes, leaving room for walking, introductions, ordering, and the history of the neighborhood. You should plan for the full three hours rather than trying to fit another activity immediately afterward.

The tour is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives when you book. Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation. Most people can participate, though you should consider the walking distance and the number of standing or seated bar visits if mobility is a concern.

Guide gratuities are optional and are not included. Bartender gratuities are included, which keeps the bar stops simple. Additional food and drinks cost extra.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows Montreal local time.

Should you book the Montreal Craft Beer Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, guided introduction to Montreal’s craft beer scene with local food and neighborhood history folded into the route. The strongest reasons are the four different stops, the eight samples, the poutine and chocolate pairings, and the chance to learn from guides such as Shane, Francoise, or Gabriel.

Think twice if you are mainly paying for rare beers, large pours, a brewery production tour, or a full dinner. The tour is best understood as a social tasting walk, not a master class or pub crawl built around maximum drinking.

For most visitors, I would book it near the start of a Montreal stay. It gives you a feel for the Latin Quarter, points out useful landmarks, and leaves you near downtown at the end. Wear comfortable shoes, eat at a sensible pace, and remember that the beer selection can change. If that sounds like your kind of afternoon, the price is reasonable for the food, guide, and organized route.

FAQ

How long does the Montreal Craft Beer Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours, including the walking portions, history, and visits to four craft beer bars.

How many beers are included?

Eight beer tastings are included, with two tastings at each of the four stops.

Is food included?

Yes. The tour includes poutine at the first stop, snacks at L’amère à boire, and chocolate at Benelux. Additional food and drinks are not included.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Le Saint-Bock, also identified as Bazaar Microbrasserie, at 1749 Rue Saint-Denis. It ends at BENELUX at 245 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.