The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour

Reviewed · TOURS

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour

5.0 · 71 reviews 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) From $82 Operated by City Brew Tours Montreal · Bookable on Viator
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This brew tour is a fast way into Montreal beer culture. You get a local guide, multiple brewery stops, and built-in tastings and snacks, all wrapped into a smooth minivan loop.

I love that round-trip transfers are included from 1717 Rue Berri, so you can focus on beer, not transit math. I also like the variety: three different breweries in a short time window, so you sample different styles instead of repeating the same thing.

The one thing to plan around is pace. With short visits (about 40–45 minutes each), it can feel a bit rushed if you like lingering, and you may not get to pick every sample yourself.

Key Highlights at a Glance

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Key Highlights at a Glance

  • Three brewery stops in ~3.5 hours, with timed tastings that keep the day moving
  • Transfers included, so you’re not stuck figuring out neighborhoods after a few pours
  • Tastings plus food/snacks at the stops, including a snack stop with strong praise
  • Local guides with a fun streak, with names like Violet, Sara, Jade, Kat, and Rosemarie showing up in past groups
  • A small group size (max 14), which helps you actually talk during tastings
  • One stop can change (4 Origines may swap for Espace Public depending on the date)

The Point of This Tour: Beer Samples With a Real Guide (Not a Drunk Detour)

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - The Point of This Tour: Beer Samples With a Real Guide (Not a Drunk Detour)
Montreal has a serious microbrew scene, but it can be tricky to experience it well if you only have a day and you don’t know where the good breweries sit. This tour is built for that problem. In about 3 hours 30 minutes, you get from one brewery to the next with an air-conditioned minivan, guided tastings, and food along the way.

I also like that it’s not trying to be a full-day party bus. It’s structured: you arrive, you taste, you learn a bit about brewing and beer culture, you eat something, then you move on. That format is a good fit if you want a fun afternoon and not a long, dragging itinerary.

And yes, you’ll be spending time at actual brewery locations, not just a generic bar crawl. That matters because the setting is part of the experience: you see the spaces where beer is made, and you get context that you just don’t get when you’re only bouncing between taps.

Browse a few more Montréal tours and experiences we have written up around Montreal.

Price and Logistics: What You Pay For (and Why It Can Be Good Value)

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Price and Logistics: What You Pay For (and Why It Can Be Good Value)
The price is $82.61 per person for a ~3.5-hour tour. On paper, that might sound like “just beer samples,” but the value comes from what’s bundled in.

Here’s what you’re getting as part of the cost:

  • Pickup and drop-off from the designated meeting point
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • A local guide plus a driver/guide
  • Snacks during the tour
  • Alcoholic beverages as part of the tastings
  • Mobile ticket support

If you were to piece that together yourself—ride/taxi between neighborhoods, a couple of guided tastings, snacks, and time—you’d usually end up paying at least as much. The tour also saves you decision fatigue. You don’t have to research which breweries to hit, how long to stay, or how to keep everyone together.

The main trade-off is that it’s not a “choose your own adventure” tour. You’re in a schedule, and samples are provided as part of the flow.

Getting Oriented at 1717 Rue Berri (and Why the Start Matters)

The tour begins and ends back at 1717 Rue Berri, Montréal, QC H2L 4E9. That choice is practical: it makes it easier to start and regroup without a weird end-of-day scavenger hunt.

It’s also a tour style that works well for mixed groups. With a max of 14 travelers, you’re not packed in like sardines. You can hear your guide, ask questions, and actually connect with the people next to you.

One practical note from how the experience runs: you’ll want to arrive a bit early so you’re not stressed when the group loads up. Pickup points can get confusing in busy areas, and being early keeps your afternoon smooth.

Three Stops, Two Neighborhood Flavors, One Beer-Forward Afternoon

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Three Stops, Two Neighborhood Flavors, One Beer-Forward Afternoon
You’re visiting three breweries. The order can shift a bit, since one stop can run as either the first or the last stop. But the structure stays the same: timed visits, guided tastings, and snacks that keep the beers from hitting empty-stomach hard.

The time allocation is tight by design:

  • Stop 1: around 40 minutes
  • Stop 2: around 45 minutes
  • Stop 3: around 40 minutes

That pacing is the reason the tour is so popular for friends and couples. It’s enough time to get a real taste of each place without turning the afternoon into a full commitment.

If you love slow tourism—where you sit, chat, and linger for an hour—this tour might feel too efficient. If you love variety and want to sample widely, this is a strong format.

Stop One: 4 Origines in Pointe-Saint-Charles (or Espace Public)

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Stop One: 4 Origines in Pointe-Saint-Charles (or Espace Public)
Your first stop is usually 4 Origines – Microbrasserie in Pointe-Saint-Charles. The visit is set at about 40 minutes, and admission is listed as free for this portion of the tour.

Here’s the small twist: on some dates, this stop can be replaced by Espace Public. That’s worth paying attention to. If you have a specific preference for one brewery over the other, you should keep an eye on the confirmation details for your exact date.

What you’re likely to get out of this first stop is momentum. You start with a taste experience that sets the tone for the rest of the tour. It’s a good place to ask your guide questions early, since you’ll get more out of the later stops once you know what to look for—style differences, brewing approach, and what to pay attention to during tastings.

Stop Two: BENELUX (Verdun) for a Proper Brewhouse Visit

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Stop Two: BENELUX (Verdun) for a Proper Brewhouse Visit
Stop two is BENELUX – Brasserie Artisanale in the area of Verdun, and you also get time that’s more than just tasting. You’ll visit the brewhouse and have a snack during the stop.

This is the stop where food can make a noticeable difference. Beer tastings can start tasting similar if your stomach is empty or if you only have bar snacks that don’t match the flavors. Here, you’re given actual snack support as part of the tour flow.

Also, Verdun adds texture. Even if you’re mainly focused on beer, neighborhood energy matters. This stop helps prevent the tour from feeling like three locations that all blur together.

Stop Three: Messorem for a Big Finish

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Stop Three: Messorem for a Big Finish
The final stop is Messorem, and the timing is flexible. In many schedules, Messorem is a strong candidate to be either the first or the last stop—so you’ll likely either start strong or close with confidence.

Messorem is described as one of the top breweries in Montreal, and the tour is set up so you don’t waste your best beer moments. If you’re the type who likes ending on a high note, the structure here helps.

This is also a good stop for sampling outside what you might normally order. People often come into brewery tours expecting the safe choices, but the range of tastings can be a pleasant surprise. One example from past experiences: the last pour has been described as a more unusual, dessert-like style, which shows that the tour isn’t only sticking to the most common “intro” beers.

Guides and Group Vibe: Why People Keep Talking About the Host

The Sip of Montreal Brew Tour - Guides and Group Vibe: Why People Keep Talking About the Host
The tour runs with a local guide plus a driver/guide, and the experience is offered in English. The provider notes that a multi-lingual guide may operate the tour, which can help if your group includes folks who want extra context.

Names that show up in past groups include Violet, Sara, Jade, Kat, and Rosemarie. The common thread is not just that the guide can explain beer. It’s that the guide brings energy—fun, friendly pacing, and enough knowledge to connect beer styles to what’s happening in Montreal’s scene.

Group size helps. With a max of 14, you’re more likely to talk with the people around you instead of just looking at the floor. That’s part of why this tour gets repeated picks for birthdays and bachelorette-style weekends.

If you’re traveling solo, this is also a nice structure: you get the same guided experience as everyone else, and it’s easy to meet others during the bus ride and around the tasting tables.

What You’ll Actually Eat and Drink (and How to Prepare)

Alcoholic beverages and snacks are included. The tour is designed so you’re sampling through the day, not just doing a token sip at each stop.

From the way the tour is structured, here’s how to prepare:

  • Eat something before you go, even if you’ll get snacks later
  • Bring a light appetite. You’ll want to feel comfortable tasting multiple pours
  • Pace yourself. You’re drinking across three breweries in one afternoon

One more practical angle: some tours give you less choice over what you receive. The samples may be selected for you as part of the planned tasting sequence. That usually works well if your goal is variety, but if you’re picky about styles, you may want to be vocal with your guide when the tasting options come up.

The Main Trade-Offs (So You Can Decide Without Surprise)

This tour tends to land well because it balances fun, structure, and local access. Still, a few considerations can shape your enjoyment:

  • Short stops mean you move on quickly. You’ll taste, learn, and then head out.
  • Beer selection may be pre-set. If you love choosing exactly what you want, you might wish for more freedom.
  • It’s not built as a big city sightseeing loop. Expect brewery-focused time more than long views and monument stops.

That last point is important. If your dream day is Montreal architecture, neighborhoods, and photo stops, you may feel the tour doesn’t cover enough of that kind of sightseeing. If your dream day is beer and learning where it comes from, this fits nicely.

Who This Brew Tour Is Best For

I’d put this tour high on the list for:

  • Couples who want a fun date that includes food and doesn’t require planning
  • Friends traveling together who want a guided social activity
  • Solo travelers who want an easy way to meet people without awkward small talk
  • Bachelorette and birthday groups that want something structured and not just a bar night

It also works well if you don’t have a car. You get transportation between neighborhoods and a built-in plan for the afternoon.

If you’re the type who hates group schedules, you might not love the time pressure. But if you’re flexible and excited about sampling, it’s a smooth way to do Montreal beer in limited time.

Should You Book the Sip of Montreal Brew Tour?

Book it if you want three solid brewery experiences, guided tastings, and included transport in a tight 3.5-hour window. The price is more reasonable when you treat it as a full package—drinks, snacks, and logistics included.

Skip it or look closely at fit if:

  • You hate being rushed at each stop
  • You strongly prefer choosing your own beer styles
  • You want a sightseeing-heavy Montreal day instead of brewery time

For most people who come to Montreal looking for the craft beer side of the city, this tour is a smart, high-energy way to get results fast—without spending your vacation days stuck with Google Maps and a taxi receipt.

FAQ

How long is the Sip of Montreal Brew Tour?

It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $82.61 per person.

How many breweries are included?

There are three brewery stops during the tour.

Where does the tour meet, and do you get dropped off back there?

Meet at 1717 Rue Berri, Montréal, QC H2L 4E9. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

What’s included in the price?

Included are a local guide, driver/guide, transport by air-conditioned minivan, pickup and drop-off, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.

Is the tour for adults only?

Yes. The minimum age is 18.

What language is the tour offered in?

It’s offered in English, and a multi-lingual guide may operate the tour.

Can I request dietary requirements?

Yes. You should advise any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.

What if the tour is canceled due to minimum passenger numbers?

The provider says there’s a possibility of cancellation if minimum numbers aren’t met, and in that case you’ll be offered an alternative or a full refund.

Is tipping included?

No. Tips for the guide are not included.