The Bar Towel

When I drive to Montreal I usually stock up at Peluso on the east side of town. The place is great, but I don't always have time to head to that part of town. Can anybody suggest a well stock deppanuer that's easy to get to when heading in along the 40, or even 20 from the west? Preferably on the West Island?

Heck, I'd also be interested in knowing who retails good local beer downtown. Those poor Montrealers, all they get to do is make great beer, but actually buying it...

What's a deppanuer? Is that French for being an expert on Johnny Depp or something?

Provigo carries some of the basics, cheap and fresh. This is my stop for DDC, LTM and whatever else is in season. You won't find rare vintage Bierefolie or stuff.

Le Gobelet is a decent shop on the way in to town. Ltd selection compared to Peluso probably.
http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/state/cit ... me/255.htm

We did fairly well at Au Coin Duluth (http://www.ratebeer.com/p/au-coin-dulut ... eal/14431/) last trip. Bit pricey for some things but seemed to have a decent selection for a smallish shop.

Peluso's location drives me a little nutty too - I feel like I'm dragging my family to a seedy out-of-the-way place to stock up on beer - which I am.

We tend to stop at Fromagerie Atwater when we leave Montreal. It's not exactly West (more south?) but a lot less out of the way than Peluso, and a lot closer to the highway.

If you've never been, not as great a selection as Peluso, but pretty decent, and kept in a nice cold room. The Marche is just a general good place to stop when leaving town I find, anyway.

I like Peluso / Bonisoir but I feel they are sketchy about some of their markups, and what they will agree to sell you or not if you buy X other stuff, etc. I'm not there to clear out their most prized stock, and I'm not there to overpay 3 bucks on a DDC six pack. Just being a devotee doesn't make me a sucker to be played with.

And that's life.

Belgian wrote:What's a deppanuer? Is that French for being an expert on Johnny Depp or something?

Provigo carries some of the basics, cheap and fresh. This is my stop for DDC, LTM and whatever else is in season. You won't find rare vintage Bierefolie or stuff.

I guess Provigo has upped their game. I don't recall much beyond Boreal as a craft option.

I dropped by 3 Provigo locations, all crap. The only micros they had were Unibrue and Boreal.

On the other hand, Fromagerie Atwater is a real winner. I was happy with the selection and the prices were very reasonable. Parking is a challenge around the market, but I got lucky and found a spot close enough to carry my haul to. I forgot to check how late they are open for future reference. I suspect not very.

Tapsucker wrote:I dropped by 3 Provigo locations, all crap. The only micros they had were Unibrue and Boreal.

On the other hand, Fromagerie Atwater is a real winner. I was happy with the selection and the prices were very reasonable. Parking is a challenge around the market, but I got lucky and found a spot close enough to carry my haul to. I forgot to check how late they are open for future reference. I suspect not very.

Last summer when I stopped at Atwater market the power was out and I couldn't get anything

icemachine wrote:

Tapsucker wrote:I dropped by 3 Provigo locations, all crap. The only micros they had were Unibrue and Boreal.

On the other hand, Fromagerie Atwater is a real winner. I was happy with the selection and the prices were very reasonable. Parking is a challenge around the market, but I got lucky and found a spot close enough to carry my haul to. I forgot to check how late they are open for future reference. I suspect not very.

Last summer when I stopped at Atwater market the power was out and I couldn't get anything

Too bad about the power...

Last time I got a big haul from Atwater, the shop keep, invited me to park me car in a receiving area and even help me carry the boxes out.

And as Barry might chime in to tell you, St. Ambroise is nearby. If I go again this summer, I'm going to make sure I stop by and pick up some of their IPA. One of the best brit style IPAs IMHO...

Tapsucker wrote:I dropped by 3 Provigo locations, all crap. The only micros they had were Unibrue and Boreal.

50 Ave. Mont Royal Ouest at St. Urbain is a Provigo usually loaded up with fresh, well-priced essentials - maybe I lucked out on this one store?

Any LTM that's in season. $14.00 Aphrodisaque, with the correct name on the label even! Buying a hundred bottles of Dieu du Ciel! will give you savings that offset the entire gas cost of the trip.

Belgian wrote:

Tapsucker wrote:I dropped by 3 Provigo locations, all crap. The only micros they had were Unibrue and Boreal.

50 Ave. Mont Royal Ouest at St. Urbain is a Provigo usually loaded up with fresh, well-priced essentials - maybe I lucked out on this one store?

Any LTM that's in season. $14.00 Aphrodisaque, with the correct name on the label even! Buying a hundred bottles of Dieu du Ciel! will give you savings that offset the entire gas cost of the trip.

Since I was trying to find a source further west, I did no go near this one. I'll keep it in mind for next time.

The DDC at Atwater was around $12 for a six. I consider this a great price, but maybe I'm just a fool for good beer.