Shining a light on products from here
1. MATCH PARFAIT, MATERA
For Jean-Michel, a multiplatform designer and photographer at RICARDO, this white beer infused with lime peel and pink pepper—Match parfait by Montreal brewer Matera—was the ideal choice when it came to quenching his thirst after a long day’s work. It’s spicy and tangy, and hits your lips like a ray of sunshine bursting through a cloudy sky. $2.99, materabrasseurs.com
2. TA PLUS MEILLEURE, LAGABIÈRE
As for Olivier, also a multiplatform designer, it’s the Ta plus meilleure beer from craft brewery LaGabière, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, that floats his boat. A refreshing gourmet beer with pureed peach and passion fruit, it’s slightly higher in alcohol (8%), while introducing ultra-fruity flavours and a creamy texture. $5.79, lagabiere.com
3.OVERLAB ZYTHOS, OVERHOP
Marie-Eve, project manager of advertising sales, is particularly fond of Overhop microbrewery in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, including its OverLab Zythos - DDH Single Hop NEIPA. With its citrus, pineapple and pine notes, it goes down like a charm and refreshes with every sip. It’s the beer that brings to mind warmer days and barbecues—sign us up! $5.50, overhop.com
4. GAWA ESTRA DRY, MICROBRASSERIE DU LAC SAINT-JEAN
Although our content coordinator, Audrey-Anne, is not used to drinking beer, she had a real crush on the Gawa Estra dry from Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean, a lager with wulong tea and Sichuan peppers. It’s a beautifully balanced, aromatic beer, and perfect for the pepper lover in your life! $5.50, microdulac.com
5. LA RUSTIQUE, BRASSERIE LA FERME
Etienne, head of development, appreciates the products of La Ferme brewery in Shefford, especially La Rustique, an IPA with balanced bitterness and juicy, quenching notes. This company grows its own hops, which are then transformed into tasty beers. It’s his ideal choice after a few hours of hard work in the kitchen. $6.60, brasserielaferme.ca
And in the alcohol-free section
6. LIMBO LIME, MIKKELLER
Alexandre, content and social media manager, discovered (during his first alcohol-free month!) Danish brewery Mikkeller. Their Limbo Lime is a sour lime beer with beautiful aromas of hops and citrus, kind of similar to lemonade: just tangy enough to quench your thirst, with none of the alcohol. $5.50, agencevitriol.com
7. LA BLUFFEUSE, MALTCO
Maude, our director of content and creation, recently discovered the Bluffeuse from MaltCo. As the name suggests, this beer “bluffs” on its alcohol content, while its mouthfeel is like drinking a “real” IPA. Its artisanal and fruity notes are great with snacks like olives, and pita chips and hummus. Looks like beer, tastes like the weekend! $4.50, brasseriemaltco.com
8. HORS SENTIERS, BORÉALE
Our colleague Nicolas, head of development, was pleasantly surprised by Boréale's non-alcoholic lager, Hors Sentiers. It’s a refreshing IPA that drinks like real craft beer, without any fuss. He even caught himself with one at lunchtime during the week—a beer for all occasions! $3.49, boreale.com
9. MATINÉE EXTRA-LIGHT, RAS L'BOCK
Our editor, Charline-Eve, was also tempted by an alcohol-free month—a good opportunity to discover how many alternatives are out there now. She set her sights on Ras l’Bock’s Matinée Extra-Light, which manages to provide all the pleasure of a classic IPA without the booze. The retro look of the can is a nod to the cigarette brand, which was very popular in the 1980s. $4.29, raslbock.com
10. SOUR AUX FRAMBOISES, BIÈRE SANS ALCOOL
Finally, Marisol, our project manager, who is not a fan of hops, set her sights on a new Raspberry Sour from Bière Sans Alcool. She enjoyed the tangy, fruity taste and its sour finish. It’s a drinking experience that she liked to turn to on evenings when that wine craving kicked in. $4.19, bieresansalcool.co
