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La Voie Maltée 2509 St-Dominique Saguenay G7X 6K1 Tel.: (418) 542-4373 Web: www.lavoiemaltee.com Open Monday to Friday from 12pm Saturdays and Sundays from 13pm		Distance from Montreal: 461km Intercity Transporter: www.intercar.qc.ca Bus Terminal: 2249 St-Hubert From the terminal to the pub: 1.4km Local Transporter: STS Getting there from the terminal: bus 34

I'd often heard about the legendary hospitality of the Saguenéens and this is exactly what I experienced on my very first visit at La Voie Maltée where I was cordially welcomed by co-owner Carl Tremblay, co-owner and brewer Daniel Giguère, and assistant-brewer Michel Dufour who were very obliging and kind to me.

Open since October 11th 2002, on the very animated St-Dominique street in the Jonquière district, this artisanal brewery offers incredible beers of German, British, and Belgian inspiration. There's always 8 beers on tap including a blanche, a blonde, a cream ale, a rousse, and a noire, the three others arising from the brilliant imagination of brewers Daniel Giguère and Michel Dufour who are particularly gifted at brewing rousses and noires. Among them Criminelle Imperial Stout and Polissonne Barley Wine are pure masterpieces. The end of December is the best moment to visit these gentlemen because it is at this time that they offer their "Greatest Sips", a selection of their best beers of the year.

It is also possible to buy 473ml Mason jars or 1.9L growlers that are filled directly at the brewery's pumps but it's recommended to drink their contents within the next 24 hours. The brewery also offers small tasting glasses to sample any or all of the beers on tap.

A visit to Jonquière would not be complete without a stroll on the small bike path skirting the Rivière-Aux-Sables which is situated one block from the pub.

The Sponge Awards

This section aims at honouring the beers which have received my perfect score of 4 sponges at least once during my last 4 visits at that brewery. However the score also takes into account all of the tastings of these same beers during these last 4 visits.

Criminelle   

La Voie Maltée's masterpiece, this Imperial Stout offers very beautiful notes of alcohol, beautiful chocolate, hints of coffee and an incredible texture. Occasionally we can even detect wine-like and whisky notes. The best Imperial Stout in Québec!

L'Ambiguë   

Very clean with a superb bitterness, fruity notes and a beautiful caramel. Recent versions of this ESB had nothing to be ambiguous about. A classic from La Voie Maltée.

La Gigonne   

A slighly smoked oatmeal stout with strong flavours of crème brûlée, chocolate, and vanilla on beautiful roasted barley notes, and offering a beautiful bitterness. Delirious! Another classic!

La Souffre-Douleur   

Neither suffering, nor painful (on the contrary), this smoked porter offers delicate apple flavours which are very similar to the Vermont Smoked Porter. A real jewel!

La Grincheuse   

A blonde of Belgian inspiration with beautiful flavours of orange, yeast, and toasted bread.

Granola   

A very smooth and beautiful Dunkel-Weizen with nice banana flavours.

Puritaine     

Very fruity blonde with a nice bitterness.

Malcommode   

The December 2005 version of this Weizen had wonderful flavours of banana and vanilla.

Courtisane   

A reddish-brown cream ale offering flavours of caramel with a very, very, very beautiful bitterness.

Updated on June 7, 2006