09 July 2019
That being said, microbrewery beers haven’t always piqued my curiosity. I’ve always been more of a wine and girly cocktails fan. The bottles are quite nice, true, but they usually stay on the shelf when I’m shopping for the weekend. And beers from the corner stores in this world obviously won’t be the ones to make me appreciate this charming beverage. But now that I know what goes into a microbrewery beer, I’ll never compare them with commercial beers again (mea culpa).
My first microbrewery experience was with someone I hadn’t known for long. This outing completely changed my perception. He took me to the “Les Brasseurs du Monde” microbrewery in Saint-Hyacinthe. Let’s just say that Bud has nothing on them. I was in for a surprise and that was when “L’infusée” came into my life. I’ll never forget that white beer infused with three teas, which was nothing less than a fantastic discovery. My opinion on microbrewery beers had been altered forevermore: I now know that good beers do exist. Then I gradually got the taste for, or at least the “gots” to discover this world of passionate brewers. A great lesson learned during that outing: There’s a beer out there for everyone, you just need some good advice.
A lot of Estrien and Montérégien microbreweries are right on our doorstep. You’ll find a few here that may change your mind like they did mine! As for the aficionados, don’t worry, I also have a few tasting suggestions for you at each of the microbreweries. Scout’s honour!
Farnham Ale & Lager
404 De Normandie Nord Blvd., Farnham
12-27-35 GO!
Located in Farnham, Montérégie, this microbrewery opened in 2013. Since then, it’s made itself a name in Quebec as well as in Barcelona, where one of their beers won several medals. Every Friday on site, a BBQ menu is prepared in front of you according to your taste. What makes them stand out on the market? Their cans are easily recognizable by their names, which are actually numbers. This digit represents the beer’s degree of bitterness.
At their brewery, you’ll find passionate and very friendly advisors, a pub-style atmosphere in contemporary décor as well as beers for all tastes.
Their summer beer: To cool off during the summer, try the “42,” a summertime pale ale available from May to September only. When you taste it, you’ll detect aromas of hops reminiscent of tropical fruits. Guaranteed to refresh!
For tasting newbies: The “12” is the product that was designed for new beer testers. It’s a fruit-flavoured beer with a slightly tart finish. This beer is part of their “classic series,” which is sold year-round.
For enthusiasts: If you want to be surprised, ask your advisor to let you try their New England IPA (58), a product that’s rarely on Quebec shelves. Alternatively, their Scotch Ale stands out for its full-rounded, caramelized flavours.
P.S. With the highest growth in can sales in Quebec, you can assume that you won’t be disappointed!
Brasserie Dunham
3809 Principale St., Dunham
“POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA SOIF”
Brasserie Dunham opened its doors in 2011. It’s located in what’s known as the Relais de la diligence, a place that’s full of history. This microbrewery says it’s inspired by “the traditions of European brewers, whose craftsmanship focuses on the development and re-creation of varieties.” Off the brewery is La Table Fermière, where you can try a beer with a meal that complements it perfectly. Now that’s a match made in heaven! Keep an eye on their events calendar, since an impromptu soirée may be just around the corner.
Their summer beer: Stay tuned, because they bring out new beers every month. This summer, you can discover their Pilsner and their Polish-inspired smoked wheat beer (that description alone is making my mouth water!).
For tasting newbies: To get your feet wet, try the Saison Rustique or the Bière de Table (yep, those are their real names!). These two beers are inspired by traditional Belgian brewing (since you can’t go wrong with Belgium when it comes to beer).
For enthusiasts: For a surprising tasting, try their sour or “wild” beers. Their so-called wild beers are fermented with wild yeast, and some of these are aged in oak barrels, their specialty. These beers were matured in barrels that were originally used for wine or spirits. Their complexity and balance are sure to please your palate.
Le Siboire
Three addresses to serve you better:
80 Dépôt St., Sherbrooke
“Si boire t’égare, trouve la gare”
40 Jacques-Cartier South Blvd., Sherbrooke
“Si boire te fait pédaler, roule au parc”
5101 St-Laurent St., Montréal
“Si boire te ralentit, va sur le plateau”
Le Siboire is the perfect place for going out in a beautiful and dynamic atmosphere. Its sensational plays on words surround you (I love plays on words—and theirs are stellar), so you’ll definitely have a smile on your face when you walk into any of their locations.
Their first location opened in 2007 (Le Siboire Dépôt) in the heart of downtown Sherbrooke. Several services are offered directly at this location, such as rooms for large groups and the Café Siboire, which opens early in the morning for early birds. If you visit, don’t forget to take advantage of their one-of-a-kind “country in the city” patio with its grass section (you don’t find grass on patios every day!).
The second Siboire brewery to open its doors was le Siboire Jacques-Cartier, which borders the park of the same name near Sherbrooke’s Lac-des-Nations. It’s in an ideal spot for all the hikers and cyclists. The special feature of this location is its food menu, which is higher quality compared to the others. This gives you a completely different experience.
Le Siboire made its next appearance in Montréal in May 2017 with a brewery on Saint-Laurent. Brand new, and totally wonderful! The century-old building in which it’s set up gives a whole other look to this brewery.
To sum up, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed no matter which one you decide to visit.
Now, let’s talk beer!
Their summer beer: For a nice summer beer, le Siboire offers the BleuAle, a sour beer with Lac-Saint-Jean blueberries, the best in the province. Extremely refreshing!
For tasting newbies: They recommend the Calvaire or the Capricieuse (this one makes me think of myself, ha ha!). The first is an English Pale Ale with a hint of caramel and the second is an American wheat blonde with coriander and citrus flavours.
For enthusiasts: For more bitter or fruity palates, the Débraillé, their IPA, is definitely their beer that was made for you.
If you visit the Jacques-Cartier location, don’t forget to check out their Dépanneur, where you can fill your jug with your favourite beer.
Do you want more? Be patient…
– Sandrine –
