Beer in Montreal: Le Saint Bock
I’m in Montreal for a business trip tonight, and am out looking for a beer. Most people would not think you could score a tasty double IPA in the largest French-speaking city outside of France, but I managed to do just that.
A short 15 minute stroll from my hotel, Le Saint Bock Brasserie is a quaint little place for a good beer if you’re in this neighborhood. The draft list is strong, with 16 house-brewed and guest-star brews from around Montreal and Quebec. The decor is a wierd but workable mix of Denmark’s clean wood/lines plus a bit of raw stonework, a few club chairs and übercool music for effect.
My happy hour double IPA is served in a tulip snifter and a bargain at 4.75 Canadian. Tastewise, it is somewhat gently hopped, so much so that it almost comes off like a barleywine. At 11% abv, it clearly has enough kick to make any hour happier (but please avoid the heavy machinery).
Across the way, a table of four tried the full samper tray — one 3 oz sample of all 16 beers. If I had a companion on this trip, it could’ve been go time!