EXCLUSIVE: First Ranking Of The Top 100 Greatest Beer Stores In Quebec
After having launched two brand new rankings in the food industry last fall — the 100 most appreciated convenience stores and the 100 most appreciated grocery stores and supermarkets, DepQuébec is back with the 1st Ranking Of The 100 Greatest Beer Stores In Quebec.
As you probably know if you read DepQuébec (in French preferably), the terms “biériste” (or “beerist”), “dépanneur-biériste” and “épicerie-biériste” are now officially approved by the Quebec French language Office to designate a retailer specialized in craft beer and this, following a specific request from DepQuébec (see articles here and here and see the dictionary listing here).
This unique ranking is therefore timely to pay tribute to the creativity, talent and devouring passion of beer store owners, managers and employees who are fully invested in the divine art of quenching thirst with the grace of hops.
The 100 greatest beer stores… classified by their selection
While DepQuébec‘s ranking is titled “The 100 Greatest Beer Stores”, it is based purely on one single indicator, i.e. the variety of microbrewery beers and imported beers available in stores.
So yes, we might say, this factor alone is not the only one needed to make a “great” beer store.
Indeed, just because a retailer offers a wider selection than another does not necessarily means he is better or offers a superior shopping experience. Let’s keep that in mind.
On the contrary, a retailer who relies on a hand-picked selection of, let’s say, 400 types of beer and who has qualified personnel will be as great, if not more, than one who has 800 but blindly chosen and without offering any customer advice.
Now, that being said, we’ll all agree that selection is still pretty important! – DepQuébec
When it comes to beer, customers love to be offered a ton of choice. This is why most retailers advertise how many different beers they offer on social media or the web.
A useful and relevant exercise
By celebrating retailers, not the microbreweries that make beers (and who have a knack for choosing fantastic brands) or the restaurants and bars that serve them, DepQuébec‘s track record is breaking new ground.
And it’s wonderful everything we learn from going through the ranking!
First, there is a true monarchy of beer stores, to which we have devoted an article that you can read here.
Then, several of the 100 select few have opened just a few months ago.
This is the case for the Marché Houblonné (No. 22, 11th rank) in Plessisville and Ça Coule à Flots (No. 24, 23rd rank) in La Prairie.
This shows that despite its still marginal importance, the craft beer industry is booming and will continue to grow in the coming years.
To everyone on the list, CONGRATS and BE PROUD!
Whatever you say and whatever you do, if you are among the 100, it is because you simply run a great beer store. So, stop being modest and say it!
Proudly display your new status by putting the symbol of your success at the entrance of your business or inside it!
To all these wonderful owners who work hard to stay close to their customers and stand out, we say congratulations!
We are proud of you: your place in the ranking is fully deserved.
On that, enjoy your reading!
The DepQuébec Team
Note: As this is the first of its kind and despite our best efforts, it is possible that some deserving beer stores have been left out. If so, our apologies: write us HERE and we will correct the situation in the next edition, early 2019.
Methodology: To establish the variety of each beer store, we asked for the number of different flavors of microbrewery beers and imported beers available in store on average, excluding commercial beers (Molson, Labatt, Sleeman) but including micro products offered by the latter (ex: Archibald).
RANKING OF THE 100 GREATEST BEER STORES IN QUÉBEC
Dépanneur de la Rive | ||||
Marché du Boisé | ||||
Dépanneur Peluso (rue Beaubien) | ||||
Au Toit Rouge | ||||
Dépanneur Peluso (rue Rachel) | ||||
Dépanneur 5 Étoiles | ||||
Dépanneur Grimard | ||||
Dépanneur Tout-Près | ||||
Marché Centre-Ville | ||||
Metro Plus Riendeau | ||||
Dépanneur La Ressource | ||||
Dépanneur Parisoir | ||||
IGA Lambert Chambly | ||||
La Station des Bières | ||||
Le Frigo de Bacchus | ||||
Le Monde des Bières | ||||
Le Monde des Bières | ||||
Le Monde des Bières | ||||
Le Monde des Bières | ||||
Le Monde des Bières | ||||
Marché du Village | ||||
Marché Houblonné | ||||
Ça coule à flots | ||||
Épicerie du Carrefour Sportif | ||||
La Boîte à Bière | ||||
Bières et Finesses | ||||
Dépanneur As | ||||
Épicerie Prette | ||||
La Muraille des Bières | ||||
La Voûte du Malt | ||||
Supermarché Rahman | ||||
Bières et Saveurs du Terroir | ||||
Marché R. Éthier Express | ||||
Marché du Coin Super Sagamie | ||||
Accommodation 7-23 | ||||
Accommodation Triolet | ||||
À Chacun sa Bière | ||||
Alimentation L'Impact | ||||
Dépanneur Brisson | ||||
Dépanneur Jessop | ||||
Dépanneur Le Gobelet | ||||
Dépanneur Maxi | ||||
Épicerie Lauzière | ||||
Gaz Bar Saint-Patrice | ||||
La Barik | ||||
Le Marché Lavigne - La maison des bières | ||||
Metro Rigaud - Le roi de la bière | ||||
Bière Dépôt - Au Vent du Nord | ||||
Bière Dépôt - Au Vent du Nord | ||||
Espace Houblon | ||||
Espace Houblon | ||||
Espace Houblon | ||||
Espace Houblon | ||||
Épicerie Chamard & Fils | ||||
Épicerie Thibault Marché Ami | ||||
Commerce de Bière | ||||
La Glacière de l'Est | ||||
La Maison des Bières | ||||
Les Marchands de Bière | ||||
Maltéhops | ||||
Marché 7 Jours | ||||
Accommodation ChaLou | ||||
Boutique L'Abreuvoir | ||||
Boutique Le Fridge | ||||
Dépanneur Bonne-Humeur | ||||
Dépanneur du Lac | ||||
Dépanneur Patenaude Boni-Soir | ||||
Dépanneur Rapido | ||||
La Grange à Houblon | ||||
Les Assoifés | ||||
Marché Omni | ||||
Marché Station 54 | ||||
Veux-tu une Bière? (Liège est) | ||||
Veux-tu une Bière? (St-Zotique) | ||||
William J. Walter | ||||
William J. Walter | ||||
Dépanneur La Duchesse d'Aiguillon | ||||
Dépanneur Voisin Esso | ||||
Capsules Bière - L'Axe du Malt | ||||
Capsules Bière - L'Axe du Malt | ||||
Dépanneur Chez Doub | ||||
Dépanneur Renaud | ||||
La Porte des Bières | ||||
La Saucisserie Bois-des-Filions | ||||
La Saucisserie Sainte-Rose | ||||
Marché Dunn Metro-Richelieu | ||||
Metro Beaulieu Laurier | ||||
Saveurs Unies | ||||
Au Coin Duluth | ||||
Accommodation St-Paul | ||||
Broue Ha Ha | ||||
Dépanneur Chez Gibb | ||||
Dépanneur Metabetchouan | ||||
Dépanneur Simon Anthony | ||||
Épicerie Unique Le Dépôt de la bière | ||||
Frigo des Dieux | ||||
Le Biérologue | ||||
Le Brasse-Camarade | ||||
Les Délires du Terroir | ||||
Willliam J. Walter |