Le Cheval Blanc

April 10, 2009
4th brewpub I visited on a 4 day trip to Monteral, and the worst of the 4. Decor would be nice if there was enough light to see any of it - I have big problems with a beer place that wants the lights so low you can’t see what you’re drinking. Never a good sign, and from the quality of the beers, maybe that’s why. Fought through a throng of smokers to get into a dark, and ridiculously loud bar. The volume went up a little over time, and the lights got lower twice. Crowded, but not packed, and still took 10 minutes to get a bartender (and we were seated at the bar). The next service took another 15 minutes of sitting with empty glasses. To make it worse, what seemed like the owner, or someone of some importance, was standing behind the bar drinking the entire time we were there and chatting with friends. The beers ranged from undrinkable, to decent, but nothing good enough to make me want to go through the hassle and ordeal of trying to get a drink here again. Won’t be back.

March 3, 2009
First of all, I have been goin there for 20years! One of the places that made me discover good beer.Really like the renovations they did. Much roomier, but still has the same personnality.Very nice place to go enjoy a good beer and hang out for an evening. Some beers are excellent,some are good and occasionally some taste nasty. Very recommended. If you are not sure about a beer ask for a little taste before getting a pint and you will know what you are getting...

January 5, 2009
Stopped here very briefly, just before my flight home from Montreal. Considering this place was literally down the block from the hotel I stayed at, I’m surprised I caught this place only at last minute. The place is fairly big inside, and has a 1950s diner/ice cream parlor vibe to it. There’s some reddish neon-like lighting, and old time spinning stools at the walk-around bar. A chalk board on top of the bar lists the beers they serve. I sampled two of their offerings, which were both average. The bartender was quick. They also had an outdoor patio in the back, but it was freezing out! Seems like a decent place to stop for a couple of OK brews.

August 17, 2008
belle taverne de quartier animée, agréable et encore plus depuis qu’on ne peut plus fumer, la bière est bonne, fraîche avec des nouvelles recettes. spéciaux avent 5 heures.

August 7, 2008
This place looks weird, and sort of run down. The beer was excellent, i didnt have any food cause i was busy hopping the brew pubs. Nice staff, but not that comfortable of a place to stay at a long time.

May 15, 2008
slight punk, hard rock slant. They’ll heat you up a hot dog if you like, but the food menu was otherwise limited when I visited. A few of their on brews on draft worth the stop in to try.

December 16, 2007
I came here with high expectations and was a little disappointed. The beer selection might not have been at its best the two times I went there, but it is not in the same league as Dieu du ciel or l’amère à boire. Beers where OK, but nothing more. But as I said, lots of people really love this place, so I might just have got there at the wrong time.

August 21, 2007
A better than average quality beer place East of downtown and north of Old Montreal. A must stop for the beer geek. Safe. Just about every table taken, but the bar fairly wide open, so where do you think I sat. Crowd of Twenties to Fourties Quebecoix, with the long hair thing. Bartender was knowledgeable and competent and in charge. Very reasonabley priced. Fairly dark at night. Like other Quebec establishments, something to read for my non-drinking friends, in English please.

August 13, 2007
Surprisingly calm on a Saturday night, this low lighting, mellowed out jazz beat brewpub is certainly unique. Service was bored but did what they had to do. Selection is broad and seven of their own were all available on tap and were fairly tasty (blonde, blanche, pale ale, ambree, framboise, noire and jalepeno). Food menu is small -- nachos were really tasty and filling, though it’s my fault for leaving them for a bit as they turned super soggy. Overall, I’m glad to have gone and would return again, but I’m a little surprised it’s rated so highly.

July 8, 2007
This place was one of the more interesting beer bars I’ve ever been to. Long and narrow with a dais at the end that with lights pointed towards it, possibly for live music. It had tables set up on it while we were there, so we sat there. The interior was mostly black and red. Samplers came in squares, not long paddles, which made them easier to set on a table. The bathroom was the worst I’ve ever experienced. You had to sit sideways on the toilet to get your knees to fit. The bathroom floor was wet too. I remember liking the music, it was an eclectic mix.