Top 10 Breweries in Québec for 2024

 

For the sixth year running, the beer media boys have gotten together to round up the Top 10 Breweries in Québec. It started with Matt McGachy from Vox & Hops and me in my Montreal apartment back in 2019; in Year 2, we added in Noah Forrest of Beerism; then for 2023, we added in my fellow BAOS co-host Nathan Lefebvre to make it a delightful quadrangle of craft beer knowledge and passion. And I have to say, 2024 was easily the toughest year to date - the competition was better than ever, as breweries in Quebec pumped out some of the best beer in the country. There are so many incredible Quebec breweries that drilling down to a Top 10 is no easy feat. One change we made this year was to implement a points system. All four of us ranked our fave breweries in order for the first time, with #1 receiving 10 points, #2 receiving 9 points, and so on. This resulted in the most accurate list yet, and for the first time, this list is now in reverse order from #10 through to #1, culminating in a Brewery of the Year award.

Listen to the episode audio via Vox & Hops, watch the full video below, or read on!

A quick note from Nate: As always, these are the top 10 Québec breweries as chosen by Matt, Cee, Noah, and me, based on our experiences from breweries we visited and/or tasted from in 2024.  We visit and drink from a lot of breweries, but we can never get to them all.  We fully recognize that there may be other breweries we didn’t get to that are worthy of a mention.  Let us know if there’s a brewery you think we missed, and we’ll try to make sure we get to them this year!

BORÉALE

Blainville/Montréal

If you were a craft beer drinker in Quebec in the 2000s or 2010s, you certainly would have spent a lot of time staring down a bottle of a classic Boréale like their IPA, Rousse or Blonde. Fast forward to 2017, their IPA du Nord Est changed the game as one of the first, relatively readily available New England IPAs, and from a rather unlikely source. Since then Boréale has gone on to to produce a ton of killer beers from the program that birthed Nord Est, from haze to West Coast IPAs, lagers, pilsners and kinda everything in between. They opened their Le Relais Boréale Montreal taproom on Jean-Talon back in 2022 which allowed them to dive in deeper with their special release program. Great to see them hit the Top 10 for what I believe is the first time - and how have we not had them on the pod?

Bad bones

Dunham

In the six years we’ve been doing this, I don’t recall ever including a brewery that had only been open a few months. Dunham’s Bad Bones, helmed by Zack Hueff, have made quite the impact since they started dropping cans back in August. I’d highly encourage you to watch the podcast below where Zack details his harrowing story that ultimately kicked off the brewery; it’s intense yet incredibly inspiring. They’ve focused on “Extra Hoppy Ales”, which is their terminology for “big, murky hazeboiz”. The beers have no business being that good for a brewery so young, which is why they made the Top 10 in their first year. Zack told us that he’d eventually expand into other styles, but right now they’re focusing on being an IPA factory out of their sub-let space from Brasserie Dunham (another incredibly cool story). Personally, I’m stoked to see where they take it, and this was well-deserved.

Dieu du Ciel!

Montréal/Saint-Jérôme

How can you have a Top 10 Quebec Brewery list and not include the legends Dieu du Ciel? DDC has made our list almost every year, and rightfully so. It would have been easy for DDC to coast and live off the cult fanbase of their impeccable coffee stout, Péché Mortel, but they’ve continued to innovate all the while maintaining the quality of their flagships and fan faves. Their annual festival, Journée Péché, is still the best of the best, and we’re super lucky in Toronto to have two locations pouring the special editions. Not to mention they recently renovated their Montreal brewpub after taking over the spot next door, something I’m excited to see on my next visit to the city. Great humans, great beer.

Brasserie Sir John

Lachute

Another brewery who have made regular appearances in the Top 10 is Lachute’s Sir John. Known predominantly for their killer haze and bold stouts, Sir John had a spectacular 2024 with arguably the best haze they’ve ever done. Personally, I’ve never seen them so consistently fire - every can I got hold of last year was glorious. We also finally got Joel and Simon on the pod for a hilarious chat, which was super fun. Their spot as one of the haze lords of Québec has absolutely been secured (as if it already wasn’t), so it was super cool to see the team rise to an even higher level of quality. And of course, shout outs to their pub on the main street in Lachute which is a must-visit if you’re ever in the area.

5e BARON MICROBRASSERIE

Aylmer

Two-time Brewery of the Year, 5e Baron, had a stellar 2024. They’re truly the heart of Aylmer, the quaint town where their gorgeous brewery sits on the main strip. From their inclusive, culturally diverse events, to their wide range of beer styles (arguably the widest in the province), 5e truly has something for everybody. For me, their West Coast and American IPAs are genuinely world-class, and I don’t think I’ve had any in the country that comes close (not to mention the sheer volume of different bitter, hoppy beer they pump out). Their lager program has been consistent, and they introduced their Pennant NEIPA series in 2024 which has been solid af. Huge fan, these legends can do no wrong.

Nano Cinco Brasserie Artisanal

Québec City

The sole entrant from Québec City in this year’s Top 10, Nano Cinco has really stood out in 2024. Clearly it’s their haze program that landed them on the list once again, and they’ve been super consistent. Everything from lighter, tropical Pale Ales to crushable single IPAs to big, bold double IPAs, West Coasts and more, Nano seems to have a knack for murky, yellow water. I got hold of one of their pastry stouts in 2024 thanks to Nate, and it was a banger. It didn’t quite live up to the quality of their NEIPAs but it shows that they can flex a different muscle that doesn’t rely on hops. Excited to see what they do in 2025. We also need to get them on the pod!

Le Ketch - Microbrasserie du Littoral

Sainte-Flavie

If any brewery on this list had a breakthrough year in 2024, it was Le Ketch. Guillaume’s unique approach to his New England IPAs with the addition of local honey has garnered rave reviews from across the globe, including a showcase from Untappd. Le Ketch has been the brewery that more people have asked me about than any other, and I love gassing them up to whoever lets me talk their ear off. I only manage to get hold of their beers a few times a year whenever Nate can score them, and every time I’m blown away with the sheer quality of what they do. They singlehandedly exploded the popularity of Peacharine as a hop of choice (note: this is my unfounded opinion), and if they keep going like this, I can see them topping the list in years to come.

Mellön Brasserie

Montréal

Time for the Top 3, and all three hail from Montréal. Mellön has landed on this list every year since its inception, and for good reason. First of all, their taproom is a vibe. It feels more like a neighbourhood bar than a brewery, and with the addition of local faves Pizza Toni in 2024, they really stepped up their hospitality. Second, the liquid. Their pilgrimage to Europe a summer or two ago resulted in an insane leap in their lager program, delivering incredibly complex, robust and gorgeous crispies across all German and Czech styles (and beyond). Not to forget their other beers - their haze is always killer, their barrel program is delightful, and essentially anything they do is on point and genuinely delicious. If I could ask for anything in 2025, it’s to get more Mellön in my glass.

PUB BREWSKEY

Montréal

We say it on the pod all the time - Derrick is a genius. Like I actually think he’s like a scientific protege in a brew house. The moment BreWskey launched their own setup in 2019, everything changed for Montréal craft beer. Their Old Port location requires a wide range of beers to appease both casual tourists and craft beer nerds alike, and goddamn, do they nail it. Arguably the best smoothie sour producers in Québec and beyond, BreWskey and team are also incredible with their haze (what they’re mostly known for), while their barrel program is underrated. Not to forget their phenomenal food offerings - they are a restaurant and bakery, after all. With three spaces (the original pub, the larger taproom and the new space, L’Annexe), there’s a vibe for everyone. I can see them topping the list in the very near future.

Messorem Bracitorium, 2024 Québec Brewery of the Year

Montréal

Well, well, well. Another back-to-back! Messorem has only gone from strength to strength in 2024, and deservedly took the crown as Québec Brewery of the Year. If there’s any Canadian brewery that I see folks from outside of the country excited about, it’s Messo. The team has really focused on growing the brand outside Canada by attending (well, being invited to) the best beer festivals in the US and Europe, cementing them as a beer tourist destination for drinkers everywhere. Their collabs have been insane, rocking beers with every big name you can think of. Their taproom experience is second to none, with a yuuuuge patio, a great food program and unmatched vibes that feel like you’re sitting in a warehouse in Brooklyn and not South West Montréal. While their haze, stouts and smoothies put them on the map, their lager program has really levelled up in 2024, which saw them deliver more crispyboiz than ever. Congrats, Messo - well deserved, and we’re excited to see what you legends get up to in 2025.

Cheers!

Article by Cee.

Related:

Top 10 Breweries in Ontario for 2024 (COMING SOON)

 
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