Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel

On a snowy January Saturday, sitting at home in downtown Montreal is not an option. This city is made of the resilient, and intoxicating beer beckons us out of our doors and into the welcoming, pretty snow covered streets. And so I ventured out with a friend to Dieu du Ciel, after much Googling. Tucked into a quiet branch off of St Laurent, it is easy to spot but can be easily dismissed. 

Walking in gave us a pleasant assault on our senses. Wooden floors, brick walls and chalkboard menus - a very Montreal decor. The music was offbeat and of various origin, but very lively and suited the pace of this comfortable brewpub. Packed, of course, we waited for about 5 minutes till a table cleared. Almost immediately, a waitress came and lit our mason jar tea candle and asked us what we would like. Extremely knowledgeable, and she made excellent recommendations. Dieu du Ciel has earned a great name for itself and they confidently boast exotic flavours and a large, evolving variety. Here is what we had:

Drinks

Aphrodisiaque - 6,5%  [8/10] 6,75$/pint

A cocoa and vanilla stout, this was a dark treat. The cocoa taste perfectly complementing the creamy drink. While I normally do not enjoy stout, this was different than any other I've ever had. A distinct aftertaste of vanilla was a pleasant surprise after the initial swirl of cream and cocoa on your buds. As we were told, it's one of their best selling brews. 

Rosée d'Hibiscus - 5,9% [8/10] 6,75$/pint

A delicate Belgian hibiscus wheat, this tickled my sweet buds. I found it a bit too acidic for my taste, but barring that, this is a great brew. It was as if I was drinking alcoholic tea. I tasted hints of grapefruit and enjoyed the aromatic, pretty pink colour. 

Food 

Charcuterie Plate [9/10] 17,50$

This was by far the best thing we could have ordered here. A beautiful arrangement of, 'gendarme strongovino, Garlic sausage, pork rillette, speck ham, served with mustard, gherkins and warm bread.' The bread was extremely fresh, and portion sizes were generous. Gendarme, meaning policeman in French, is the French name for smoked, air cured sausage. The garlic sausage was probably my favourite meat on the plate. One of the best things about living in Montreal has to be charcuterie plates and Dieu du Ciel manages to provide great food to go with their renowned brews. 

Overall Rating: 9/10

This includes service, food, drink, price, and ambiance.

I am definitely heading back there with more friends. This is a great place to step out of the McGill bubble and really experience a relaxed Montreal night out. Sitting in Dieu du Ciel is as comfortable as sitting in your own living room. The raucous chatter and beer make for an atmosphere that is bursting with positive vibes and fun.