Parfois, les meilleurs endroits sont petits et pittoresques
Quebec is an unsung and underrated beer market. It is also a culturally unique place in North America blending French, British, Canadian and Northeastern United States cultures. I often take a few road trips to Montreal and Quebec City each year. Living in Connecticut, Montreal is only a five hour drive away, with most of it being a very scenic drive through Vermont’s Green Mountains.
I recently made a stop in a little town in Quebec called Chambly. I came across an interesting craft beer brewery and beer museum known as Bedondaine & Bedons Ronds. Chambly is also known for the Unibrone Brewery known for its strong abbey and Belgian style ales with a Quebecois flavor.
Chambly is a historic town that sits about 30 to 40 minutes north of the Vermont and Quebec border, and about 15-20 minutes south of Montreal. It sits on the Richelieu Lake, and is connected by several rivers and manmade canals to aid shipping. On Lake Richelieu Lake, is Fort Chamnbly, a 17th century fort protecting the waterways, and saw action in the French-Indian War between French and Native allies versus British and their native allies. The first settlements here can be traced to at least 1609. During the American Revolut8ion, Fort Chambly was captured by American forces in 1775 until their defeat in the Battle of Montreal in 1776. Modern Chambly’s city planning adopts the greenways and canals that are often seen in French and Dutch suburbs, given this little city a European aesthetic.
Upon quaint painted sidewalks and a cobblestone street lays Bedondaine and Bedons Ronds. An old French colonial style wooden building that serves as a museum to all things Canadian and global beer. It is arsty, it is inclusive. It is friendly. Dogs and other companion animals are welcome. It is also bilingual. It became my favorite Canadian beer location along with Trois Brassieres in Montreal’s Veiux Port.
The food menu is very int4eresting providing a mix of farm to table cheese boards and sandwiches and small plates to traditional pub favorites such as wings, pretzels, burgers and the sort. The beer selection is also impressive. There is a mix of seasonal beers that integrate different fruits and flavors to match the vibes of spring, summer, fall or winter. There are a lot of British style red and brown ales, and stouts. There are abbey ales akin to the ales of north France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The menu is a literal binder of different beer styles and tasting notes.
I opted for the Bedon Oatmeal Stout, and the L’Ensorceleuse stronger red ale. I will elaborate further tasting notes in the the beer section of my blog site. Both retain the British characteristics and flavors, but with the rich hops of the Quebec farmlands and crisp North American water throughout the northeast. Flights are also readily available.
The walls are adorned with various beer bottles and cans of yesteryears, as well as adverts and marketing promos from beer commercials in the past. Some beer making equipment is also in the indoor and outdoor seating areas. It is an idea, stop while in greater Montreal or northern Vermont. The Chambly Canal, Fort Chambly, Saint Joseph’s Church and the good restaurants and cafes in teh downtown and Richelieu waterfront.
Sante. mes amis.
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