Montreal Old Port: Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour

Montreal’s Old Port makes a fine beer classroom. In three hours, you walk between three working brewpubs, taste nine beers, and learn how brewing fits into the city’s past and present. The stops are close enough to keep the pace easy, with food at each one.

I like the generous range of beer styles and the way each tasting comes with a small bite. I also like the human touch: guide Antoine gets repeated praise for his beer know-how, warm humor, and easy bilingual explanations. The main catch is simple: this is an adults-only walking tour, and nine samples in three hours may feel like a lot if you prefer to sip slowly.

Key points to know before you book

• Nine samples across three breweries: You get three beers at each stop, not one large drink at each venue.
• Antoine is a major part of the experience: He explains brewing, beer styles, and Montreal history in English and French.
• Food is built into the tour: Expect homemade party mix, a fresh pretzel, and local cheeses.
• The walking is manageable: The breweries are in Old Port, with about ten minutes between some stops.
• Brewing access adds substance: You get more than a bar crawl, including a look at a brewing facility.
• Plan for weather: The tour runs rain or shine, so comfortable shoes and suitable clothing matter.

Why this Old Port beer walk works

This tour is more than a sequence of drinks. Its best feature is the combination of small-scale tasting and city walking. You get enough beer to compare styles, but you also leave each pub and see the Old Port between stops. That break keeps the afternoon from becoming one long session at a bar.

Your guide sets the tone. Antoine is named again and again as a warm, funny host who can explain both beer and Montreal without turning the outing into a lecture. He leads in English and French, which is useful for mixed-language groups and adds a local feel to the experience.

The tour has earned a 4.8 rating from 87 reviews, with especially strong praise for the guide, the variety of beer, and the food pairings. That pattern matters. The breweries provide the setting, but the guide turns separate tastings into one connected experience.

There is one point to consider. The tour uses sample pours, so you are trying variety rather than receiving full pints. That is a good design for tasting, but it may disappoint you if your main goal is a long, relaxed beer session with a favorite brew.

Starting at BreWskey Taproom

Meet inside BreWskey Taproom in the Old Port. The staff can point you toward the guide if you do not see him right away, so you do not need to search the surrounding streets.

The first tasting begins here, with three craft beer samples and homemade party mix. This is a smart opening: the snack gives you something salty to eat while you begin comparing flavors, and the samples let you settle into the rhythm of the afternoon.

You might find that the first stop feels less formal than a brewery tour in a production plant. The emphasis is on tasting and conversation, with the party mix providing a casual local touch. One detailed account singled out the roasted nuts in the snack mix as a favorite, while another praised the beer and food combinations overall.

Use this first stop to tell Antoine what you normally drink. If you like pale, crisp beers, darker malt-driven styles, or unusual cloudy brews, his explanations can help you place each sample. You do not need to arrive with technical beer knowledge. The format is built for curious beginners as well as people who already know their saisons from their stouts.

Walking through Montreal’s beer past

Between breweries, Antoine shares facts about Montreal and its beer culture. This is where the tour gains a sense of place. You are not simply moving from one tap list to another. The Old Port becomes part of the story.

The walk also gives your palate a rest. With roughly ten minutes between locations, you can talk with the group, take in the historic surroundings, and avoid sitting in the same room for three straight hours. One useful detail from a past group is that the route connected all three brewpubs with short walks, rather than requiring a taxi or public transit.

The pace is active but not strenuous. Still, bring comfortable shoes. Old Port streets can be hard work in poor footwear, and the tour operates in all weather. A rain jacket or warm layer is sensible depending on the season.

Antoine’s bilingual style is another advantage here. He explains the city and the beer in both French and English, rather than treating one language as an afterthought. If your group includes speakers of both languages, expect the tour to take a little care and patience as information is shared twice.

Three Brasseurs St-Paul and the brewing process

The second stop is 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, described as a beautiful microbrewery in the Old Port. Here the emphasis shifts toward how beer is made. You get an introduction to the brewing process and three more samples, served with a fresh pretzel.

The pretzel is a practical pairing. Its salty, substantial texture helps clear the palate between beers, and it gives you more than the small nibble offered at the first stop. This is also the point where the tour feels most useful for anyone who wants to understand brewing rather than simply drink local beer.

The brewing explanation should not be confused with a long industrial tour. The available details point to an introduction and exclusive access to a brewing facility, not an extended production visit. That makes it a good middle section: enough process to add context, without losing the social pace of the tasting.

Beer styles can be a matter of personal taste. One person may love a cloudy beer, while another may prefer a clearer, lighter pour. One detailed tasting account found the cloudy styles less appealing but enjoyed the saison, even though saison is not usually a favorite. That is a useful reason to approach the samples with an open mind. You are not expected to like every pour.

Finishing at Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises

The final stop is Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises. You receive three specialty beers and local cheeses, which makes this the most natural finish to the food side of the tour.

Cheese works well at the end because it gives the tasting a slower, more settled feel. By this point, you have tried six beers and heard plenty about brewing, so the last three samples can be compared with more confidence. You may notice which styles have suited you best, and you can ask Antoine more specific questions.

The stop also leaves room for the social side of the afternoon. A relaxed group can linger after the official tour, and one past group stayed on at the final pub for a while. That is not a guaranteed part of the schedule, but it suggests that the last stop can work as a comfortable place to continue talking if the group and venue allow it.

Do keep track of the total. Nine samples may sound modest, but they add up. Eat the snacks, drink at a sensible pace, and remember that you are walking between venues. The tour is best treated as a tasting class with food, not as a race to finish every glass.

What the food pairings add

The snacks are not filler. They help make the $50 price easier to assess and give the beer tasting some structure.

At BreWskey, the homemade party mix offers a salty opening bite. At 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, the pretzel is more filling. At Les Soeurs Grises, local cheeses provide a richer final pairing.

The supplied details also include a striking example of a spicy cauliflower dish at one of the pubs, but the standard tour information lists the pretzel, party mix, and cheese as the included snacks. I would therefore book expecting those three items, not a specific hot dish.

For a three-hour experience, the food is a real benefit. You are not paying $50 for nine unaccompanied samples. You are paying for tastings, snacks, a guide, the walking route, and access connected to the brewing process. You still need to decide if that total fits your budget, but the inclusions make the price reasonable for an Old Port activity.

Is $50 a fair price?

At $50 per person, this tour sits in the middle range for a guided food and drink outing. Its value depends on what you would otherwise do.

If you visited three breweries on your own, you would still pay for drinks and food. You would also need to plan the route, choose what to order, and find someone to explain Montreal’s beer background. This tour bundles those jobs with a bilingual guide and organized tastings.

The price is strongest for you if you value variety and explanation. Nine samples let you try styles you might not order by the glass, and Antoine’s comments help you understand what you are tasting. The value is weaker if you already know the Old Port breweries well or simply want full-sized beers at one pub.

Taxes are included. Booking can be made with payment later, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Those terms give you some planning room, though you should still check the available start time when booking because the tour lasts three hours.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to adults who want an easy introduction to Montreal craft beer, especially first-time visitors staying near Old Montreal or the Old Port. You get local history, brewing context, food, and a chance to meet other people without having to organize the afternoon yourself.

It also suits beer fans who enjoy comparing styles. The range may include beers you would not normally choose, and that is part of the point. The experience works best when you are willing to taste outside your usual order.

A small group of friends can have fun here, and the relaxed social format has also worked for celebrations such as a bachelor party. Couples and solo participants should fit in as well, since the route naturally creates conversation at the tables and during the walks.

I would not choose it if you need a quiet private tasting or a highly technical brewery tour. The group format, bilingual guiding, and movement between pubs make it social and accessible rather than specialized. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or children under 18.

Practical details that affect your afternoon

Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The route is outdoors between stops, and the tour runs rain or shine.

Bring an ID card, or a copy of one. This is an adults-only beer activity, so you should expect age verification to matter.

The meeting point is inside BreWskey Taproom. Arrive there rather than waiting outside the building, and ask brewery staff for the guide if needed.

The tour is led in English and French. The guide may switch between the two languages for the group, so allow for a little extra time in each stop.

The three-hour length is about right for the plan. You have time to taste at each brewery, hear the brewing and city stories, walk between venues, and eat the included snacks. It is not a quick add-on before dinner.

My final call: book it if you want context with your beer

I would book the Montreal Old Port Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour if I wanted a social, well-organized introduction to local beer. The strongest reasons are the three different breweries, nine samples, useful food pairings, and Antoine’s clear enthusiasm for both brewing and Montreal.

The tour is especially good value for a first visit because it removes the guesswork. You can taste widely, learn what you like, and finish with a better sense of the city’s beer scene.

Skip it if you want full pints, a private group, or a long technical look inside a brewery. For everyone else, $50 buys a full afternoon in the Old Port with enough food, walking, and local color to make the beer taste better.

FAQ

How long does the Montreal Old Port beer tour last?

The guided tour lasts three hours.

How many beers are included?

You receive nine craft beer samplers in total, with three samples at each of the three breweries.

Which breweries does the tour visit?

The route begins at BreWskey Brasserie Artisanale, continues to 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, and finishes at Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises.

What food is included?

The included snacks are homemade party mix, a fresh pretzel, and local cheeses.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide operates in English and French.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet inside BreWskey Taproom in the Old Port. Brewery staff can help you find the guide.

Can children join the tour?

No. The tour is not suitable for children under 18. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and an ID card. A copy of your ID is accepted.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

Yes. The tour operates rain or shine.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.