L'Amère à Boire

L'Amère à BoireL'Amère à Boire
L'Amère à BoireL'Amère à Boire
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

2049 St-Denis
Montréal, Quebec
Canada

(514) 282-7448 | map
amereaboire.com

http://www.amereaboire.com/

Opens at 2pm, except Thursdays and Fridays at Noon. To get there by subway: Berri-UQAM station, St-Denis street exit. Walk north about 3 blocks, it's between Ontario and Sherbrooke streets, in the middle of the hill. Parking in the area is difficult.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.88
Beers:
24
Ratings:
214
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.88
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
53
pDev:
11.86%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DJ_JB:
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Reviewed by DJ_JB from Canada (ON)

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2
This place has so much potential, the décor is nice and usually there's a good atmosphere. However, the cafe definitely has some points to improve when it comes to products and services.

Since I live in Montreal, I was able to visit on multiple occasions. Although the beers are pretty okay (but not great), that's as far as it goes. Even on evenings when we were pretty much alone, it still sometimes took forever to get served and often the waitresses don't seem to be very happy or patient.

The choice for food on the menu is very small. According to my girl friend, the salad was tasty. However, I've had the hamburger twice on separate occasions (months in between) and both times, even though I came in very hungry, I wasn't able to finish the thing due to lack of taste. The patty was near-cremated, the bread was completely tasteless and there are hardly any toppings. Let alone that it doesn't get served as a menu, so anything else (fries, salad, ....) you need to order separately.

I don't take any more initiative to come here, I only come here upon an invitation of friends. There's so much more choice in Montreal that it would be a shame to waste your time and money here.
Sep 28, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by metter98 from New York

Jul 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2016
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Reviewed by TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.25
An interesting place but not one of my favourite spots in Montreal. The vibe is kind of dead, especially in the upstairs area. The beer selection was lacking, with 5 offerings, which ranged from good to very good but were all very stylistically safe with the most interesting offering being an IPA.
Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by e_beaulieu from Canada (QC)

Sep 08, 2015
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Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
This is a nice little bar in a kind of out-of-the way part of St-Denis. Almost to Sherbrooke metro.

Well-lit, small and wooden, it is a bar that brings to mind Kramer making everything in his apartment wooden. "On different levels. Like a ski area," there is a sunken bar, two raised terasses, and three other different areas in which to sit in the narrow building. It is actually very intimate with a lot of depth.

The beer list covers a lot of ground and seems to be all simply-made style examples of beer. I had a porter and the Czech pilsner. Both were good but the pils was out of sight. I had fries and they were also good, and fairly cheap.

The menu is pretty diverse with some 'weird' meats in their burgers and some beer-based items. Service was okay. My main gripe is that they will only serve you certain flights. Otherwise you have to buy individual tasting glasses.

Other than that all was good. Definitely worth it to swing by if you're in the neighborhood or visiting.
Jun 14, 2015
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Reviewed by jophish17 from Georgia

2.97/5  rDev -23.5%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3
A small forest sacrificed it's life to build the bar. Beer selection was decent - they offered samplers in style - a Czech and English sampler along with another which mixes the two. We ordered the Czech sampler first - all of the beers were mediocre so we skipped ordering the other sampler. Beer was fresh enough, service was ok too. This is basically the definition of mediocre, hence average scores across the board.
Jun 13, 2015
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Reviewed by TheBierdimpfe from Canada (QC)

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25
+ They make good quality sour beers
+ Food is great (get the all dressed nachos and you will die)
+ Friendly service
+ Good prices
+ Well located
- Low vibe only to relax
- Not a huge selection
- The place is too small, easily packed and cramped (I was on the second floor and each 30 seconds someone was pushing me to go at the bathrooms)
Jan 07, 2015
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Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16%
Stopped by here with JLindros on the trip through Montreal. Parking was a bit of a nightmare, on a somewhat steep hill. It was all made up by the little brew pub though. Hands down this was the best brew pub up the trip, the bar tender was very friendly, nice warm inviting feel to the whole place. A bunch of Czech and Euro lagers on tap along with a cask offering. Nice soft jazz type music, the way the beers are presented is in chalk around the bar, and in a small book with prices, giving a small blurb on each beer and the ingredients used (all in French mind you). The bathroom was the cleanest we went to of the trip, and cleaner than our own hotel bathroom! Plus, being on the second floor all that wonderful brewing mash aromas fill the bathroom. Worth noting too their Hefe was one of the best beers I had on the whole stay...delicious!
Nov 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by rale from France

Nov 16, 2014
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Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16%
Brew pub with 12 beers, the beers were great, a lot of Czech and Euro style lagers, all done well. Neat old world brick wall and city style tiered seating and modern pub feel, very clean and not overly decorated. Light jazz music, very friendly service. Didn't get any food.

Bathroom was pristine, and smelled of brewing mash. The most pleasant bathroom I've been in a very long time, if not ever. This place was not only a pleasant surprise but was also one of the best places on the trip. Very glad we made it there.
Nov 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Whatup14 from Canada (QC)

Oct 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by AnHeroicHippo from Canada (QC)

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Socialiste from Canada (QC)

Jul 10, 2014
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Reviewed by cal-merc from Canada (QC)

4.81/5  rDev +24%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
Good place for food and beer. But your best bet for your buck on rotisserie romanos 115 racheal st. Didn't have the burgers but had fries and they were great. Plus the place is clean and good beer. Also a lot of locals come here. They speak good English here. Near the college.
Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by hopsolutely from Canada (ON)

Nov 10, 2013
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
super rad place brewing real small batches right on st-denis where shit gets weird. real neat ambience, a three level older building retrofitted with cool wood finishings and a small little bar with just a few chairs at it. 11 beers on tap was wild, looked like only a five barrel system, but it was hard to tell for sure. the winter noel brew was exceptional, as were the others that we tried, some pretty unique offerings among them. the people there were really kind souls, offering to help us with our french, comparing recipes, and even helping us find some food since their kitchen (which looked great!) was closed. lots of english style beers, some cask selections, and a low alcohol brew. prices were a little steep, but montreal is expensive as hell in general, and the beers were worth their asking price. this is one of my favorite spots in the city, and one you should absolutely check out for some clever beer and good vibes all around. cant wait to go back and try the rest of the beers!
Dec 25, 2012
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Reviewed by Tut from New York

4.48/5  rDev +15.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
I'm updating my 9/2/11 review after reading the review by DJ-JB below. I was back in Montreal for four days in early September and made a number of visits to L'amere a boire as well as most of the other brewpubs. The beers crafted by brewer Greg continue to be excellent and his pilsner remains the finest I've had anywhere in North America. I find it curious that DJ-JB joined Beeradvocate on 9/28, submitted a single negative review, and hasn't been back since. He mainly faults it for the food. I've had several meals there and found the food pretty good. It's a brewpub and that's what I go there for - I'd go if they didn't have any food at all. The food is fine and they have a number of menu options. Benelux and Dieu du Ciel only serve snack type food. Would he fault those brewpubs for not having a full menu??

My advice is to ignore his comments and pay attention to reviews from BA's who've established themselves here and don't have an attitude. This place is great.

9/2/2011 -
L' amere a boire is my overall favorite brewpub in a city blessed with five excellent ones. I've spent one and a half months in Montreal in the last two years alone and know it's brewpubs well from multiple visits.

Dieu du Ciel gets the lion's share of hype/attention and most American craft beer fans visiting Montreal make a beeline for it and spend most of their time there. They make great beers and deserve their reputation, but it's too bad some of the other brewpubs don't get the full recognition they deserve. For every review L' amere a boire receives, Dieu du Ciel gets ten.

I think part of the reason is that Dieu du Ciel caters to the tastes of American hopheads and trendy beer fans while L' amere a boire specializes in lagers that are truely representative of their style. Greg, the brewer, is a master at crafting excellent lagers - which are considerably more difficult to brew well than ales. His pilsener is one of the finest I've had anywhere in the world, including the Czech Republic. While I was there this August, he put on a Munich helles lager that was exquisitely drinkable. All together they have six lager styles and at least three ales, including a great pale ale on cask. All their beers are well balanced and interesting.

The atmosphere is low key, relaxed, and inviting and most customers are locals who make L' amere a boire a destination rather than tourists who wander in off the street. The staff is friendly and knowledgable and always willing to assist in any way. I've had good sandwiches there but the beer is my main focus. They have a hot, fresh baked, homemade pretzel with mustard that is a perfect companion for the beer. The music features a wide range of interesting but unobtrusive artists, with lots of real jazz. On a recent visit I listened to Miles Davis's classic "Kind of Blue" album in it's entirety.

I give L' amere a boire my highest recommendation. If you leave Montreal without spending real time there, you've missed one of the best brewpubs anywhere.
Oct 08, 2012
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Reviewed by papat444 from Canada (QC)

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Visited yesterday.

Arrived at the opening so it's a bit hard to gauge the atmosphere. Only 3 other people there though a group of 10 arrived while i was enjoying my pint. The server was nice and knowledgeable. Scattered areas of seating near the window, at the bar (which is a bit lower) as well in the back. There's a second floor that is on reservation only or to handle the overflow of patrons. The look is clean, polished with melamine wood and brick walls. The selection was great.

They serve lunch starting @ noon only on Thursdays and Fridays. Otherwise the kitchen opens at 4PM. Had some nachos and dip that were decent. A bit pricy as it came to 12$ for a pint and a platter of nachos (minus the tip).

Worth your while for sure to try some authentic Czech-style ales and lagers.
Dec 22, 2011
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Reviewed by Duffman929 from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +14.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Stopped here waiting for Ciel to open, as it was rated highly by several other BA members.

The bartender was great and well-versed in all of the beers and helped us get the know the area as well. We were there right when the place opened and 2 of 4 people, so not a good judge of how busy it normally is.

We were looking for a clothing store for hoodies with Montreal logos on them, and were directed to the store down the street. It was a nice touch by the staff to help out.

I would recommend stopping by, even though the selection isn't extensive.
May 09, 2011
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Reviewed by sketchpunx from New York

4.44/5  rDev +14.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Stopped by this brewpub twice while in Montreal this past weekend. Overall, this is a really nice spot to enjoy some really good house brewed suds. They sport a small but comfortable terrace, multi level bar seating, about 12 house beers on tap and an excellent location on Rue St. Denis, one of my favorite strips in Montreal. The staff was really friendly here. The service was swift on both visits and I ended up chatting with the bartenders until close upon our second visit. Every beer I tried here was good. I Had the porter, stout, and belgian pale ale and my girlfriend tried the Hefe and the German style lager. All were well worth their malt. This place is a must visit for anyone serious about beer in Montreal.
Jul 06, 2010
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Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
This brewpub is centrally located in Montreal and easy access through the subway. Nice building with high ceilings and hardwood all over the place. Service is not bad though sometime can be somewhat inattentive to the customers. The selection is really good with most beer ranging from good to excellent - they are really masters in the German style of brewing. Price are very reasonable and while I didn't have anything to eat the food appeared to be very good. I would recommend trying this place if you are in Montreal.
Aug 27, 2009
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Reviewed by MeisterBurger from Canada (ON)

3.05/5  rDev -21.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | food: 2
Poor service. Crappy food. Good beer. That's how I would sum up L'Amère À Boire.

We arrived at around 9 pm on a Friday and the place was busy if not packed.

It started when we sat ourselves at rather a shitty little side bar. As we sat there trying to get comfortable and trying to make eye contact with some of the three or four servers who worked behind the bar, about ten minutes had passed and we hadn't even been acknowledged.

When a couple left from the bar, we swooped in there which was a vast improvement in comfort, but even sitting at the bar and trying to make eye contact with the servers it wasn't until we went right up to one to ask them if we could be served that we actually got anywhere. Before that there wasn't even an acknowledgement or reassurance that somebody would be there to serve us.

On top of that I sat in front of an empty pint for a good twenty minutes before I had to ask for another. It's almost as if they didn't want me to spend money there, much less leave a satisfied customer who would recommend the place to others based on the friendly and attentive service because it was anything but.

We went there for beer as well as a light meal and so, to the food first:

I had the veggieburger which was a rather dire affair. An overcooked patty with crusty edges was served inside of a dry bun that was smeared with some kind of odd cream cheese concoction and a slice of tomato, none of which worked together or made a lick of culinary sense.

My companion had the gazpacho soup which tasted more like a cold marinara sauce than a gazpacho soup, and which was almost definitely from a can. When it was taken away almost completely full the server didn't bother to inquire if there was anything wrong with it. We also had a pretzel which, well...it was a pretzel. I've had better but it's kind of hard to screw up a pretzel. Although if anyone could do it it's these guys.

As for the beer, the Elephant Pilsner was a good example of the style and surprisingly full flavored for a 3.6% beer. My companion had the hefeweizen which she really enjoyed and which I had a sip of and thought was decent. I had the Vollbier which I really enjoyed. I finished with the imperial stout which was probably the best of the lot. Really rich, roasty and satisfying. Overall I'd say none of them were an A but they were all about a B or a B+ -- worth checking out.

Maybe we just caught them on an off night. The place had a decent, comfortable ambiance and, had the service been better, I would have recommended this place for a good pint, but suggested looking elsewhere for a good meal.
Jul 27, 2009
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Reviewed by FightingEntropy from Minnesota

2.51/5  rDev -35.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 1.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3
We hit L'Amere a Boire to get out of a pouring rain storm, and wish we'd had stayed at Le Saint Bock down the street. I don't understand the high rating of this pub compared to others in the area. Not a single beer inspired me to want to have a draft of any of them--in fact, we didn't even finish a single sample of any of the beers. Each sample seemed to be very light bodied for each style, and had a unpleasant taste that was consistent through each beer, though I'm unsure what it was about. It seemed like a nice place, we were served quickly by nice bartenders, the patrons seemed to be locals that were attempting to be helpful in between sips of their drafts, but the beer was just not very good. This place seems to be very overrated, and, for us, not worth the effort of walking down the street a few more blocks. I would have preferred to wait out the storm at Le Saint Bock with better beer.
Jul 19, 2009
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Reviewed by Yetiman420 from Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3
My wife and I did a quick, two day brewpub and good food tour of Montreal (and then on to Burlington VT) in early June of 2009. Our brewpub stops in Montreal were determined by high BA ratings and proximity to public transit.

These five Montreal stops put me at 273 stops in my quest to visit every quality brewer/brewpub. Below is a ranked list of our stops starting with the best at the top. They were all worthy visits and Montreal is a great destination if you ever have the chance to visit. The specific review follows the list.

Le Saint-Bock Brasserie Artisanale Inc.
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel
Benelux Brewpub & Café
Le Cheval Blanc
L'Amère à Boire

L'Amère à Boire is tucked in a busy, quaint area with lots of shops and restaurants. They have a small outside front patio and the interior is decked in wood. They have a terrace out back that we did not visit.

They had nine beers on tap and only two of were interest to me. The pale ale was thin with little aroma but went down easy after lots of walking. The hefe was pronounced with bananna clove and body.

Ranked last on my list of all very worthy places.
Jun 30, 2009
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Reviewed by Otterburn from Canada (QC)

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Situate in the heart of Montreal, St-Denis street near everything fun. cinema,restaurant, live music shows, peep shows,,hihi shopping..

This is a nice place to have a beer during the hot Montreal summer. Terrasse right on St-Denis.The vibe is good.

Service is working good and staff knows their stuff. There is usually a good selection of brews and they are all pretty much very yummy.

The food is also yummy. I tried one of the hamburger and it was so good, also french fries its a must.

Yea its in quartier latin where its somekind touristic, but you get quality for your bucks
and you won't be turn off here
Feb 02, 2009
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Reviewed by jushoppy2beer from Tennessee

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I get to Montreal at least once a year, and love to hit the pubs for some of the fantastic Quebec brews. This is one of my favorites at all times of the year. It's in a good location, within walking distance of many other good spots. The bears are typically fresh and flavorful, with a decent selection available. I like them enough that I bought one of their insignia glasses to grace my stein and glass collection in Tennessee. The service is friendly, as are the patrons in general. If you're anglophone, it's a good place to practice your French, since this part of the city is mostly francophone. But, most don't mind speaking English to a tourist from somewhere other than Ontario. Plus, the prices are reasonable.
Jul 31, 2008
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Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Hit this place up during our pub crawl of Montreal during our recent visit to the city for Mondial 2008.

L'Amere a Boire is a multi-level pub, with a small outdoor seating area, a main indoor area with a few more tables and a small bar. A flight of stairs leads to a second level seating area and another short flight to a third level!

L'Amere a Boire features mostly lagers with their Cerna Hora Czech-style pilsner leading the way. While there they had a nice Imp. Stout on that I found quite nice! They had 9 beers on tap during our visit.

Beer pricing is interesting in that the price for a pint differs thru the day....the earlier you come the cheaper they are! Nice...considering things can get a bit$$$ in Montreal.

We were a bit early for "real" food and settled for some nachos, which were quite nice, and some other finger foods.

Our server, who easily flowed between French and English, was more than willing to come bounding up the long flight of stairs to reach our seating area whenever we needed her, she was a ball of energy!

I would definitely return here...nice place, nice location and nice beers!
Jul 06, 2008
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Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
What good fortune to be staying at a hotel where I can look out of my window and see L'Amère à Boire directly opposite! Lots of wood end exposed brick with a small patio out front. Very relaxed vibe that I could really get into. Some of the best beer I came across in Montreal, and this establishment deserves a reputation up there with Dieu du Ciel. Very strong house selection angled more towards the lager styles, with a particularly fine pilsner, hefeweizen and oatmeal stout on tap at time of visit. When I was there they had 8 regular taps and one cask. The service was very friendly and efficient, and I didn't have to wait at all to order or to settle up the bill. I also tried the frites and mayo, which was serviceable, if not spectacular. Pricing of the beer changes somewhat throughout the day, being at its cheapest before 5 and most expensive after 8. Despite this, even after 8pm, the cost was very reasonable.

I'll be back!

Visited again a few months later, and had one of the best Baltic porters possible. This place continues to impress me, and I will have it at the top of my list next time I come back to Montreal.
May 20, 2008
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Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.49/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.75 | food: 2.5
Friendly and completely francophone, this was a warm and welcoming brewpub. Eight beer offerings and a decent traditional brewpub menu.

The beers are very good and wide ranging. The atmosphere is traditional brewpub with a nice patio in the front. The food fits that profile as well. We had some nachos that were just so-so. The server was knowledgeable of the styles. The service was leisurely but attentive--a good combination.

Located in a "happening" part of Montreal, it is an easy place to visit. Be prepared to speak la belle langue and have un bon temp.

–---

On my second trip here, the service was abysmal. I think the beers were slightly better than I remember. I didn't have any food.
Apr 28, 2008
Photo of santa109
Reviewed by santa109 from Canada (QC)

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Visited during a weekend pub crawl in Montréal. Stopped there on a sunday afternoon for some beers and a snack. This was our 2nd place after visiting DDC.

The place has nice dark brick inside with light wood tables and chairs. Plants hang next to the window facing St-Denis. Nice looking place. The bar area is small but there's ample seating space. A restaurant area is on the 2nd floor. Big windows were opened giving the place a very airy and spacious feel.

Very few people were there so the lone bartender/waiter was able to cope but hopefully they have more staff on busier days.

Service was friendly, prompt and willing to give information about the beer and directions.

They had about 9 taps and 2 casks of their own brews. I went with the HefeWeizen (see review) and my girlfriend ordered taster of Cerna Hora and the DunkelWeizen. Arrive early and the 20oz. glass is 4.50. Prices go up as it gets later. Tasters are 2.25 each and about 5 oz. Definately smaller than at DDC for the same price but served in wider glasses which is better for smell. All the beers were good and I I was pleasantly surprised with how tasteful my hefeweizen was.

They have a decent amount of food but they were out of the quesadillas we ordered so we went with nachos. Big portion of fancier nachos. Not the sportsbar type as there was just a bit of cheese but alot of mild-hot peppers, green & black olives, french onions, onions. Quality stuff and despite sharing it with someone, I was full for hours after that and had to push diner until past 8PM to be hungry again.

Overall, a very nice place to sit and talk on a weekend afternoon while enjoying a good beer for good prices. The beer selection is lesser than at DDC but the place felt less cramped and they seem to have more food available.
Apr 22, 2008
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Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
This brewpub appears to sits in an old building with aging brick walls, then interweaved with fresh, brightly painted double colored walls. The place has multiple floors. Pale wooden high chairs and tables occupy the floor. There were a few people sitting at the bar around 4:30, the time I entered. Mellow music played overhead as I looked at the dozen drafts they offered. Like many of the pubs in Montréal, the earlier you come, the cheaper the drafts, and are offered in multiple sizes. Oh yeah, the beer is quite good too; Cerna Hora is the highlight of the brewpub.
Dec 26, 2007
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Reviewed by Talisker from California

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4
Introduced to this sensational brewpub by the generous and genial Montreal BA'er Goldorak.

By a long shot the best beer I've tasted at any brewpub in Montreal (and yes, I spent time at Dieu de Ciel).

Primarily European styles - the Cerna Hora Pilsener is very close to my gold standard, Moonlight's Reality Czech. But the Imperial Stout is also very good - drinkable and not over the top like American renditions of the style - as was the Celebratus, a double bock that's apparently their first new beer introduced in some time. At least two beers were on cask. I tried everything at least twice, and while the three I mention were certainly standouts, there wasn't a clinker in the bunch.

They serve sample tasters in nice wide-mouthed glasses, giving a decent sense of each beer without requiring an order a half-pint or more.

Atmosphere is pleasant - a few tables situated outside under an awning on St. Denis. Multiple levels inside, also a sort of cramped but interesting terrace outside in back. Service, like most I encountered in Montreal, was basically slow and inattentive, even when we were the only customers in the place (perhaps because we were English speakers?).

Absolutely a must-visit for a trip to Montreal - even, in my opinion, ahead of DDC. And try the Cerna Hora!
Jul 16, 2007
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Reviewed by slyke from Minnesota

4.36/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Two days before my Montreal pub crawl, I stumbled upon L'Amere a Boire quite by accident. I was in Montreal for a reunion of sorts for the SO's family. On July 3, the SO's brother decided we should go to dinner at a restaurant recommended to him. He got his wife, two kids, a stroller, his parents, his sister, and me on to the Metro at 5:00PM. We exited the Metro at Sherbrooke, but it turned out he didn't really know where the restaurant was so after an hour of walking we found the restaurant (only about three blocks from the Metro stop). To my enjoyment, I spotted L'Amere a Boire just across the street. After dinner, I chose to have "dessert" at the brewpub.

Several levels created a pub with lots of space without a sense of its large size. We tried the beers by sharing four small glasses out of a possible eight (Amber, Hefe, Imp. Stout, and Boucanier Porter). I enjoyed them all. The beer menu was only in French, but my semester in 8th grade paid off again. :-) Service was good. We didn't try the food, but each of the items on the limited menu looked like something I'd be interested in trying.

Definitely worth another stop.
Jul 09, 2007
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Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +16%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My trip to Montreal’s Mondiale de le Biere Festival provided me another chance to visit this impressive brewpub on rue St-Denis in the Latin Quarter. If there was one place that could tempt me away from the festival, this is the place (to quote Brigham Young).

Like many places in Montreal, L’Amere a Boire is multi-leveled, with a small sidewalk terrace, a few tables by the large front windows; downstairs are more tables and a very small bar – aren’t they all? Another, but longer, flight of stairs leads to additional room.

L’Amere a Boire offers a diverse selection of fresh craft beers. I loved the beer menu, a great indicator of the passion for their beers. Nothing says refreshing like their “Cerna Hora, a 5% (ABV) Czech-style pilsner that brought me back to Prague; after a long day of seeing the many sights of Montreal, this one goes down real well. During my visit L’Amere a Boire had nine beers on tap; in addition to the above, I enjoyed:

1.Maibock German Lager - 6.4 ABV (See Review)
2.Drak, a dark Czech pilsner - 5.8 ABV
3.Odense Porter, a dark lager - 5.0 ABV
4.Boucanier, an English porter - 5.0 ABV (See Review)
5.Imperial Stout - 7.5 ABV

The pricing is unique in that the price of a pint increases throughout the day; for example a beer costs $4.00 until 5:00 pm, after which the price increases to $4.50 until 8:00 pm, when a beer costs $5.25. If timed right, you can drink very cheaply - or at least comparatively so. They don’t serve food until 4:00pm.

I would definitely return here; in fact, I’d say that L’Amere a Boire is my favorite brewpub in Montreal – and yes!, that means I liked it better than Dieu de Ciel! What’s more, a short walk down rue St-Denis and left on rue Ontario brings you to Le Cheval Blanc (See Review).
Jun 18, 2007
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Reviewed by sraimondi from Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Showed up here with a biz colleague of mine last week during a Montreal crawl. We hit this place around 1AM, and they were just closing down. Despite this the bartender poured us waht we wanted and didn't rush us, even giving us numerous samples. He also gave us a quick tour of the small brewhouse in the rear. A little street cafe outside, with the bar being down some stairs. The bar is quite small, maybe 6 to 7 seats. An interesting setup, multi-level eating/drinking tables. They had the following runing on draught:

Odense Porter
Lager Noire
Maibock (6.4%)
Stout Imperial
Vollbier lager rousse
Fin de siecle
Ale rousse
Hefeweizen
Drak ale rousse
Bouconier all noire

I had 2 the Drak and the Maibock.

I will be back in Montreal in July/August and will definitely hit this place earlier in the night.
May 26, 2007
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Reviewed by dturchin from Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3.5
nice spot off popular and crowded rue st denis in the heart of downtown montreal...limited selection, usually pouring five or six house beers and doesn't carry others...great food, especially the tapas selection which is as reasonably in priced as the great beer...highlight was definately the seasonal hefe on tap, traditional german style, excellent big creamy banana bread flavor up front with subtle clove, and signature hint of band aid...spot on for the style and truly one of the best ive had, most memorable beer i had during my long weekends stay in the city...other notable beers included the imperial stout and red ale...not really the coolest hangout but a nice place to grab a few good beers and have a light meal...a dont miss the hefe
Sep 06, 2006
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Reviewed by rrwiltse from Colorado

3.2/5  rDev -17.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
My wife and I swung into L'Amere a Boire after Benelux and on our way to Le Cheval Blanc. Interesting interior, very open and lofty with an upstairs and open air wall to the terrasse. Sat down inside in the bar area--the stools were so uncomfortable (I've NEVER sat on something this uncomfortable at a restaurant, bar or brewpub) we switched tables to the terrasse. Loud, but not too loud, definetly a college crowd. Decent sized beer menu but not alot of variety--pretty much just German and English styles. My wife had the Hefeweizen (Holy Bananas in this one!) and I had the Helles. Both were good, but nothing special. Worth checking out, but no Dieu du Ciel --but then again, few are!
Jul 27, 2006
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Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

3.88/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I ended up having two visits here in one day. The first was with BA’s Erica & Goldorak in the afternoon, and I returned much later with Erica and ErikTheRed to close the place out.

Restrained look, grey stone frontage with a small red awning and simple hanging white sign, both with the words ‘L’Amère à Boire’. This does little to tell me that it is a BrewPub. Set back slightly from the sidewalk it affords a terrace area that is demarked by black railings with a couple of hanging flower boxes, it seems like this may be used in warmer climes but not on the day I was there. A small chalkboard sign with a light wood frame close to the left hand side entrance finally hints at what is inside: “Bières Brassées Ici, de façon artisanale. Lager Tchéque, Lager Allemande and Ales Anglaise Pur Malt d’orge. A déguster sur place”.

Split level interior adds to the charm once inside. A few steps lead down to the front area which is at street level and hosts several tables & chairs, which is where I sat on my first visit. A few more steps here lead down to the bar area which sits to your right hand side in an alcove of sorts. At the back, more stairs lead up to the toilets and another raised area, and eventually also up to the subsequent floors that are used, but into which I never ventured.

Décor is restrained, our host Martin (BA Goldorak) mentioned IKEA, it certainly has a modern feel, but I liked it and it wasn’t a forced atmosphere. Lots of light colored woods lend an airy feel, and these are punctuated with artwork on the walls. The interior has a Parisian Café feel, sans smoke, thanks to the recent smoking ban.

The bar area is quite small, the front is lined with a handful of bar stools and this is where I sat on my second visit with Erica and ErikTheRed. Two Angram Beer Engines, each with wipeable chalkboard oval pumpclips are proudly mounted front square and center, one of which was serving the 5% Boucanier Porter. To the right of this, three large chrome fonts dispense the regular brews and have round enamel signs; Odense Porter, Fin De Siècle and Hefe Weizen. Six more wooden taps are set into a wall behind the bar, as is a black plastic Nitro-Tap also. All in, this place has some twelve taps in total. The beers are all listed in the Menu, along with specials and the detailed explanation of each the brews is very helpful I must say, a nice touch which adds to the quality of any establishment I find. I tried the 5% Helles, a tasty tipple, but the 7.5% Imperial Stout, which I tried on my second visit, was the star of the show for me.

Food Menu is varied, more emphasis on quality than quantity, though you can eat from a bigger menu in the upstairs Restaurant area I believe. I opted for the Lamb-burger which was superb, and the home made fries were the perfect company, as was the mayonnaise they came with. BA Goldorak swears by the Crème Brulée dessert made with the Imperial Stout and he tried hard to sell that one….definitely next time!!

Service was quick on the first visit, though Erica and I surely benefited from the excellent translational skills from the local BeerFly Guide!! Second time the service was a little slower, but attentive, they did at least ask myself, Erica and ErikTheRed if we wanted another brew before they called time and closed up.

Thanks to BA Goldorak for the introduction to this excellent Brewpub, sure it’s no Dieu Du Ciel, but I really loved the quiet quality setting and ambience here. The food is good and the beer range varies and the range of Lagers make for a nice change of pace, but the Imperial Stout was the star for my money. Well worth a visit.

Last Visit: Saturday 3rd June, 2006.
Jun 12, 2006
L'Amère à Boire in Montréal, QC, Canada
Brewery rating: 3.88 out of 5 with 214 ratings