Blog | Gourmet delights

4 reasons to embark with la Route des bières

Ever heard of la Route des bières?

An ardent fan of the Eastern Townships, fine food and a nice cold beer, Martin Delisle has decided to share his fondness for Brome-Missisquoi’s microbreweries by organizing some “hoppy” outings. A memorable, six-hour road trip that leaves from Montréal and allows you to discover four towns and four microbreweries in the Eastern Townships.

Sound tempting? Here are four reasons to let yourself be taken by a luxurious minibus on a tour of the Beer Route in the heart of the effervescent brewery industry in the province of Québec.

 

1 – Tasting the best there is

With your tasting passport in hand, be ready to expand your gustatory horizons! Let yourself be carried away and surprised by an entire brewing world that’s yours to discover: from the bitterness of the double IPA 64 (Farnham) and the spicy notes of Porter Coco Chipotle (Dunham), to the silky textured Captain Hook , a creamy, oat stout (À L’Abordage) and L’autre sorte, an Irish Ale with a caramel aroma (West Shefford).

First stop: Farnham Ale & Lager which endeavours to make craft beer accessible to everyone. In keeping with this spirit, you can taste beers by their level of bitterness. You start with the least bitter, the 12 (Heifeweizen), then the 27 (Pilsener), the 35 (Bitter) and cap it off with the 64 (IPA), all accompanied by a fresh cheese made nearby, at the Fromagerie des Cantons. Delicious!

 

2 – You get to meet enthusiastic people

Next, you move on to the village of Dunham, which is well known for its vineyards. The reputation of Brasserie Dunham is already well established. It ranks in the Top 100 (among 22,500 breweries!) on Ratebeer.com , and it’s been doing so for the last three years! The tasting is done in the cellar, where you can learn more about the know-how of the brewers who are steadfastly focused on the exploration and renewal of the various genres. This desire to innovate and re-invent beer is savoured in every swallow and in every bottle.

The ambiance, whether it’s with a beer in hand, or heading back on to the minibus, is one of sharing knowledge and impressions with other beer lovers. You learn a lot about how beer is made and the culture of hops in Québec. It’s impossible to resist the charms of the four towns that are visited, from the rich history of the places to the friendly people you meet.

 

3 –  A treat for the taste buds and pupils

Comfortably seated in the minibus, you can relax and enjoy the splendour of the landscape that stretches out before your eyes. In the distance, you can see the huge playground that forms the Sutton mountain range. When you get to the À l’Abordage microbrewery, the reception is cordial, and the little hipster look of the place is utterly charming and unpretentious. You can take some time to indulge in the ambiance, the beer and yes, the food! The beers are typically British and the meals are pub-style, entirely home-made. What better way to soak up all these beers with a sumptuous burger or duck poutine…and there’s still 4 beers to taste!

Time flies, and you need to move on, so the bus heads off in the direction of Bromont and Brasserie West Shefford. Here, you’ll find beers with some unusual names: l’Autre sorte, a red, and Les Trois lettres, a fresh, smooth-tasting IPA (The three trendy letters that every brewer overuses!). Cette sorte-là, is a blonde beer, the perfect thirst-quencher to drink in huge gulps on those scorching days this summer!

 

4 – You can take it easy

From a practical standpoint, what could be easier and more pleasant than having absolutely nothing to organize or plan! You leave everything to the tour guide, who knows the area and the brewers. At a price of $99, you definitely get your money’s worth: at the end of the 6-hour outing, which includes a meal, you will have tasted 16 different beers. The Beer Route isn’t the place to over-imbibe, but it’s a good idea to go back to Montréal with the driver of the designated minibus. This way, you can close your eyes and nod off to sleep, dreaming of your next trip to the Eastern Townships.

 

Next outings:

Saturday, July 15, 11 a.m.

Saturday, August 12, 11 a.m.

Saturday, September 9, 11 a.m.

Saturday, October 21, 11 a.m.

laroutedesbieres.ca/

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