Montreal Old Port: Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour

Montreal’s Old Port becomes your beer classroom on this three-hour walking tour, with nine craft beer samplers spread across BreWskey, 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, and Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises. The stops are close enough to keep the pace easy, while the walk adds stories about Montreal’s brewing past and present.

I like the mix of beer and food, especially the homemade party mix, fresh pretzel, and local cheeses. I also like that the guide does more than pour samples: Antoine, the guide most often praised by name, brings beer knowledge, city stories, and a light touch. The main consideration is that this is an adult tasting tour, and cloudy beer styles may not suit every palate.

Key points at a glance

• Three Old Port breweries: Visit BreWskey, 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, and Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises.
• Nine tasting pours: Try three beers at each stop instead of committing to full glasses.
• Food with every stage: Expect homemade party mix, a pretzel, and local cheeses.
• A walk between tastings: The breweries are about 10 minutes apart, so comfortable shoes matter.
• Bilingual guiding: Tours operate in English and French, with the guide explaining beer and Montreal along the way.
• Good value at $50: The price includes the three-hour tour, beer, snacks, brewery visits, taxes, and brewing-facility access.

Starting at BreWskey Taproom in the Old Port

Your meeting point is inside BreWskey Taproom, where the tour begins with beer rather than a long orientation. Ask the brewery staff where to find your guide, then settle in for the first three samplers and homemade party mix.

That opening works well for a tasting tour. You get something to eat right away, and the small pours let you compare styles without using up your palate or your appetite. The party mix is a simple pairing, but it gives you something salty to nibble while the guide introduces the beers.

The guide also sets the tone here. Antoine has led many of the tours and is repeatedly singled out for his friendly manner, beer knowledge, and ability to explain things in both English and French. He is not simply reciting brewing facts. The best accounts of the experience describe a guide who keeps the group talking, laughing, and curious.

The exact beer selection can change, which is part of the appeal of a craft brewery visit. You may get a chance to compare familiar styles with something less obvious. One participant particularly enjoyed trying a saison, despite usually avoiding that style, while finding some cloudy beers less appealing. That is a useful reminder: this tour is designed for sampling, not for guaranteeing nine beers that match your usual order.

Walking through Montreal’s beer story

Between stops, your guide leads you through the Old Port and adds context about Montreal’s beer culture and city past. The walks between breweries are roughly 10 minutes, according to the tour details, so this is not a bus-based tasting where you see nothing between venues.

I like this format because the walking breaks create a natural pause. You can think about the last beer, chat with the group, and make room for the next sample. The distance is manageable, but you should still wear comfortable shoes. The tour runs rain or shine, so pack clothing suited to the forecast rather than assuming every minute will be indoors.

The city commentary is also important. A beer tour can easily become a string of tastings with little connection to place. Here, the guide ties the breweries to Montreal’s brewing traditions and the Old Port setting. You will hear the information in English or French, depending on the group and guide, and bilingual delivery is part of the experience.

Do not expect a formal museum lecture. The style is more conversational, with beer facts and city anecdotes folded into the walk. That suits the subject. You are moving through a historic district, not sitting in a classroom, and the strongest part of the tour is the balance between information and good company.

What happens at 3 Brasseurs St-Paul

The second stop is 3 Brasseurs St-Paul, described as a particularly attractive microbrewery. Here you learn more about how beer is made and taste another three samples with a fresh pretzel.

This is the most process-focused part of the route. If you want a basic explanation of brewing, this stop should give you a clearer sense of what goes into the glass. The tour does not promise a full technical brewing workshop, so think of it as an accessible introduction rather than professional training.

The pretzel is a practical pairing. After three beers at the first stop and a walk through the Old Port, a warm, filling snack helps keep the tasting comfortable. The food also gives you a chance to compare how salty or spicy flavors affect different beers.

One detail worth noting is that food pairings are not identical at every stop. A past tasting included roast nuts at BreWskey and spicy buffalo cauliflower at another pub, though the official inclusions identify the three snacks as homemade party mix, a pretzel, and local cheeses. The exact presentation may vary, so do not book this expecting a fixed restaurant menu.

Finishing with beers and cheese at Les Soeurs Grises

The final stop is Bistro Brasserie les Soeurs Grises, where you receive three specialty beers and local cheeses. It is a sensible way to finish: after learning the basics and trying several styles, you can slow down and focus on the connection between beer and food.

Cheese is one of the better partners for a tasting flight because it brings fat, salt, and texture to the final samples. It can soften a sharp beer or make a maltier one seem rounder. You do not need to be an expert to get something from the pairing. Simply notice which combinations work for you.

The last stop also gives the group time to relax. One account described the afternoon as easygoing, with plenty of conversation and stories, and another noted that the group stayed on at the final venue after the scheduled tour ended. That does not mean you should count on extra tour time, but it suggests that the setting is comfortable for lingering if you want to continue on your own.

The tour finishes with nine samples in total. Since these are samplers rather than full pints, the format lets you taste broadly. Still, nine pours over three hours can add up. Eat beforehand or make good use of the snacks, and pace yourself rather than treating every sample like a race.

The brewing-facility access

Exclusive access to a brewing facility is included. The supplied details do not specify exactly which equipment or rooms you will see, or how long this portion lasts, so I would treat it as a bonus rather than the sole reason to book.

Its value depends on your interests. If you want to understand how a local brewery works, seeing part of the production area can make the earlier explanations more concrete. If you mainly want a social afternoon with varied beer, the access adds another layer without changing the relaxed nature of the tour.

This is also where a live guide matters. A facility can be interesting but confusing without context. A guide who can explain what you are looking at, in English or French, makes the visit easier to follow.

Is $50 a fair price?

At $50 per person, the tour is priced as a guided tasting experience rather than a simple bar crawl. You receive nine beer samplers, three snacks, visits to three breweries, a three-hour bilingual guide, access to a brewing facility, and local taxes.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for several individual flights and want someone else to organize the route. You also get the city commentary and the chance to try beers you may not order on your own. The food helps, too, since you are not paying for beer alone.

It may feel less worthwhile if you prefer full pints, want to choose every beer yourself, or already know the Old Port breweries well. A tasting flight offers range, but not the same volume as three or four full drinks. The walking and group format also mean that you follow the planned sequence instead of settling into one taproom for an entire afternoon.

For a first visit to Montreal, I think the price is reasonable. The tour combines food, drink, local orientation, and access that would be harder to arrange independently in three hours. The high rating of 4.8 from 87 ratings also fits the consistent strengths of the experience: the guide, the variety, and the easy pace.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This tour suits adults who enjoy trying new beer styles and want a social way to see the Old Port. It is especially useful for a first visit, since you get a short introduction to both Montreal brewing and the surrounding district.

It also works well for a small celebration or group outing. A bachelor party group used it as a fun afternoon activity, and the format gives people plenty to talk about without requiring everyone to share the same beer preferences.

Beer enthusiasts should enjoy the range and the brewing access, but you do not need a technical background. The guide explains the subject for a general audience, and the bilingual format helps French and English speakers follow along.

I would not choose it if you are pregnant, under 18, or looking for a quiet, private tasting. Children under 18 are not permitted, and the tour operates rain or shine. Anyone with mobility concerns should also consider the walking between venues, since the tour is built around moving from one brewery to the next.

Practical details before you book

Meet inside BreWskey Taproom in the Old Port. The staff can point you toward the guide if you are unsure where to go.

Bring a government ID, or a copy of it, along with comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The tour is outdoors between stops and does not stop for bad weather.

The guide speaks English and French. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking.

Since the tour includes alcohol, plan the rest of your day sensibly. You may be tasting nine beers, not drinking nine full servings, but the steady sequence still calls for a measured pace.

Should you book the Montreal Old Port beer tour?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to Montreal beer, three distinct brewery settings, and enough food to make the afternoon comfortable. The strongest reason to choose it is the guide-led format, particularly if Antoine is leading your departure. His mix of beer instruction, Montreal stories, French, English, and humor appears to be central to what makes the tour work.

Skip it if you want full-size pours, a fixed beer list, or a private experience. You should also pass if rain, walking, or group tastings would spoil the day.

For most adults who like craft beer and want an easy Old Port activity, I would book it. At $50, the combination of nine samples, snacks, three stops, and local context gives you a useful taste of Montreal without taking over your entire day.

FAQ

How long is the Montreal Old Port craft brewery tour?

The tour lasts three hours, including the brewery visits, tastings, snacks, walking, and city commentary.

How many beers are included?

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

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.

Is food included with the beer tastings?

Yes. The included snacks are homemade party mix, a fresh pretzel, and local cheeses, with one snack served during each stage of the tour.

Is the tour offered in English and French?

Yes. The live guide speaks English and French, and the tour operates bilingually.

What should I bring, and can I cancel?

Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and an ID card or copy. The tour operates rain or shine. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option is available.