Labels: Beer, Brian, Bunny, Features, Lindsay, Naila, Nick

1. Does your favourite form of advertising on TV come in the form of beer commercials? If so, then this quiz is for you.

2. If you think you are extremely knowledgeable about beer, then take this quiz. If you aren’t, take it anyway and perhaps you’ll learn something.

3. If you have a beer-bottle collecting hobby or have smashed a wide variety of beer bottles, then you could score really well on this quiz.

4. If you are what you eat, does the same go for what you drink? Take this quiz to find out what kind of beer you are.

5. And for all you science geeks here’s Beer’s Law quiz.

Labels: beer quiz

Filled with smiling faces of children and their grandparents to the buzzed students lined up across Ste-Catherine’s Street in downtown Montreal, the St-Patrick’s Day parade gave reason for all to cheer.

For the majority of people the parade is an event to share with the family. Parents from proud Irish families to people from different backgrounds were all present at the parade representing Montreal’s multicultural background. It’s the one day a year in which everyone can be a little Irish. Although on a cool March afternoon with a gloomy gray sky, the parade was still a fun event to bring out the family.

There was plenty for the kids to enjoy from hugging the Shamrock mascot, the clowns, watching the horses gallop by to their faces lighting up when they see the Shriners’ zoom up and down the parade route in their miniature cars.

When those kids grow up they’ll represent the other demographic found at the parade, college and university students. While all the families were neatly lined up down the parade route, the students represented more of a mob, all bunched together with drinks in hand and ready to party.

The parade for them is not so much a celebration of Irish tradition, but an excuse to party and drink on the streets. With police out in force everyone knew they couldn’t get too drunk or act in an outrageous manner, but this did not stop anyone from having a good time. Everyone aged 18 to 24 were prepared with their drinks and cheering loudly any float passing by, in particular the McKibbin’s Irish pub and Hurley’s pub floats. However, they were primarily there to celebrate the opportunity to drink in public. The parade route was just the best spot to throw the party.

An interesting note regarding the parade route was the amount of people gathered at the front and middle of the route, where the majority of the pubs were located, to the mass gaps between spectators once crossing Crescent Street; widely know as one of Montreal’s party streets.

If looking for a pub to drink after the parade your best bet was to find a smaller pub. The popular destinations such as McKibbin’s or Hurley’s had lineups that would have kept you standing out in the cold for a minimum of 30 minutes before entering the bar. Then you’d have to add on the time it would take to find a place to stand in the bar and finally get your drink. At a smaller pub you could get in immediately and if you beat the rush you may even find a place to sit with your friends.

One problem with the parade is that it has been the exact same for the past three years. From the people you see, the floats passing by, to the time it takes, nothing has changed. It would be a good idea to raise some money to fix up or build some new floats. The audience for this great event will shrink with each passing year as people do not want to witness the same old thing every year. Make some changes, spruce it up, give people better memories and surprises to keep them coming back for more.

Labels: feature, parade

When “Ladies Night” is advertised, one thing comes to mind: cheap drinks. But what place has the BEST deal for guys on ladies night? A few places in the area come to mind and I am going to share with you my top three.

3. Number three on my list would have to be Mad Hatters on a Thursday. It has good deals, not too busy and a few lovely ladies floating around. The food is better than most places that have a smell like that.

Drink:$3.00
Food: Less than $10
Babe Factor/Ratio of women to men: LOW

On the plus side, it’s not the student bar at Concordia, Reggie’s. And business will surely pick up when Reggie’s closes in two weeks.

2. Tuesday Nights at Sir Winston Churchill is a bangin’ time. There are not as many tourists; instead, they are replaced with the terribly young, university crowd. The music is less than good, with gang bangin hit’s pumping out the speakers.

The dance floor is a place where guys prey on the young crowd, where the men appear to be twice the age of most of the girls. For some reason this doesn’t stop people from coming.

Right now, the bar is closed for renovations but they will be back in full action by the time the warm weather kicks in.

Drinks:$7.00 for a bottle of beer, $6.50 for mixed drinks
Food: $$$ and you can only eat it in the pub upstairs.
Babe Factor/Ratio of women to men: young girls and lots of em. Drunk factor high.

1. BEST DEAL in MTL for Bro’s is…

McKibbins Irish Pub on Wednesday nights. Lots of ladies, good music, great deals. For twenty bucks you get open bar from 10-2 am.

Tips for making your night worth your while:
-tip your bartender large at the beginning of the night. This ensures you good service as it gets busy and the bar tender gets cranky.
-hold down the fort at the bar closest to the dance floor, that will ensure someone being in charge of the constant flow of drinks.
-bring your own toilet paper
-order doubles (they will serve them unlike most all you can drink places)

Drink:$20 for dudes, $10 + tips
Food: Downstairs
Babe Factor/Ratio of women to men: Good, more women than men though they tend to stick together in packs. Best bet is to play the out of town card or bring a friend that fakes a good accent.

Labels: Madhatter's, McKibbin's Downtown, Sir Winston Churchill

Brian Hamilton

A place to share laughs with friends or somewhere to lounge after work, Hurley’s Irish pub is always a great choice.

A popular hangout for university students and anyone working in downtown Montreal, this pub located at 1225 Crescent Street is a great spot to relax. If you’re there with a friend feel free to grab a spot to sit by the bar or if you’re there with a large group there are many tables and seating areas to accommodate any size party.

Hurley’s is not a place for loud parties and is definitely not a sports pub, so if desiring to watch the game look elsewhere. With live music, featuring bands Salty Dog, Orealis and Solstice, Hurley’s is where you go to chat and catch up with friends or to kick back after a long day in its relaxing atmosphere.

There is plenty of choice with 18 beers on draft, 10 beers on tap and a selection of coolers. Alexander Keith’s, Guinness, Moosehead, Newcastle, Hoegaarden, St-Ambroise and Stella Artois are some of the selections. Bottled selections vary from Becks, Corona and Heineken to domestics such as Coors Light, Labatt Blue and Molson. If not in the mood for a brew scotch and whiskey are on the menu.

When feeling hungry Hurley’s menu serves what you need. There are typical pub appetizers such as fries, chicken wings, potato skins and cheese sticks, varying in price from $4.83 to $8.12. If the stomach is still grumbling feast upon a sandwich, with choices priced from $5.27 to $10.31, or a burger, ranging from $7.02 to $9.65. Prices increase if you choose to add cheese and/or bacon. If craving something different there are also Irish stew, soups, fish & chips, pasta, chicken or steak options. Be prepared to pay up to $15.14 for the New York Strip Loin. For you raging alcoholics, Hurley’s also serves breakfast every Saturday and Sunday until 4pm.

Appearance wise, Hurley’s resembles an authentic Irish pub. You’ll find old fashioned bar, one you’d find in most Irish pubs surrounded by plenty of spaces to sit with friends. There is even a corner of the pub with old style leather chairs, which add to the feel of the traditional Irish ambiance.

Although a great choice for a brew and bite to eat, McKibbin’s Irish pub is still a better selection as it provides the similar atmosphere, beer and food, but has options Hurley’s lacks. McKibbin’s can entertain the same crowd that Hurley’s attracts, but can also please sports fans and has more live bands. Hurley’s does tend to have a quieter crowd, so may be more relaxing if searching for a place to unwind. If you wish to learn more about Hurley’s look them up online at www.hurleysirishpub.com.

Labels: Alexander Keith's, chicken, Downtown, Guinness, moosehead, pub, St-Ambroise, stella artois

5916, Sherbrooke St. W.
N.D.G.
514-484-2999

Well if you ever feel like cramming into a long, narrow Irish pub, then Honey Martin is the place for you. In essence, one wall is the bar and bathrooms and the opposing wall holds the seating, while the back wall is host to the many bands that take the stage on a regular basis.

It serves a pretty standard line up of ales, lagers and stouts. Guinness, Kilkenny, Harp, Moosehead and cider flow from the taps, while their bottle beer consists solely of Sleemans. You can sip back your drink surrounded by retro Irish posters, paying around $7 a pint, and $5 for bottled beer. Cash only if you get my drift.

As far as entertainment in this cozy corner of NDG, you can hear Shane Murphy play every Wednesday night, who, if you haven’t seen, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Even though you have to fight for seats and may loose an eye before the show even begins, it is all worth it to here them play. Anyway you’ll be on your feet before you know it, creating your own one-foot-squared dance floor (which will slowly increase as the drinks get drank and the music continues flowing, and regardless of whether the guy beside you enjoys you stepping on his toes or not). Every Friday night the Hellbound Hepcats grace the 5’ by 4’ stage and many other local talents make special night appearances.

However, drinker be warned, because some of the local talent is more local than anything else. The last time I was there, I would of much rather listened to Ace of Base on a loop than endure the atrocity they called a band. You take your chances.

All-in-all the pub is great fun, with no food or dance floor, but you are often served by an eclectic staff and can have an inexpensive but extremely entertaining night on the town. If you’re not a fan of loud music, then this isn’t the place for you. Get there early or you won’t have a seat! And no flat screens TVs or any technology at all is available, so don’t expect to watch a Habs game. Erin Go Bragh!

Labels: Cider, Guinness, Harp, Hellbound Hepcats, Honey Martin, Irish, Kilkenny, moosehead, NDG, Shane Murphy, Sleemans

Madhatter Saloon
1220 Crescent Street
(514) 987-9988

Roll your eyes all you want, I'm proud of that headline.

For us (relatively) old school dive-aficionados, the Madhatter Saloon has changed a lot over the years. Currently located on the southern end of Crescent, it serves a loyal host of regulars and a steady stream of drunken wanderers who couldn't get past the line somewhere farther up the street. Previously located across the way from Wanda's, (that's Montagne and Maisonneuve for the ladies) it was once the place where all the underage punks and metal heads would go to get their drink on. Now that they're on the Anglo Main, however, things are a lot more heavily regulated. And now that I'm no longer a minor, I can safely say that's a good thing.

It's a bar that bills itself as "...the least trendiest bar on a street know for trendy bars..." but don't be fooled. You certainly won't hear top 40 hits, the bathrooms are less than appealing, and the wardrobes on display might frighten your grandmother, but it definitely is the trendiest dive east of the Biftheque. So all of you irony enthusiasts might have to go a little farther North.

They have a surprisingly robust selection of beers for a watering hole of it's kind. In addition to the typical domestics, they've also got Heineken, Guiness, Keith's, Harp, Smithwick's, and a brand-spanking-new box of the finest of red wines that has your girlfriend's name all over it. The prices are about what you'd expect. $10 to $12.50 for a pitcher, depending on the night, and $5 pints. No discernible shot specials, plus they come in those little plastic shot glasses (which we all know are short-changing us), so I'd say stay away from those unless you're feeling like a balla for the evening.

The food is typical pub fare, but cheap, tasty, and great portions. If I may suggest, get a friend and buy the party platter. For $10, you just bought yourself a wide enough variety of cheap greasy appetizers to last even the drunkest duo for the night. Not much dancing, as most of the music is rock and metal and such, but Saturdays and holidays are notable exceptions. Madhatter's tends to attract drunk American 19 year old Girls who dance on bar-tops during festival season. You know the type.

Labels: Alexander Keith's, Downtown, Guinness, Harp, Heineken, Madhatter's, pub, Smithwick's

If stuck on Montreal’s West Island and seeking for a good time look no further than McKibbin’s Irish Pub. Located in Complexe Pointe-Claire on Blvd. St-Jean, right off the North Service road, just north of highway 40, this pub has something for everyone.

Great for groups of any size, this pub can accommodate any occasion as it provides an excellent selection of food, beverages, TV’s and music. Depending on what you’re seeking, the pub has sections for people who just want to hang out and talk, there’s a section with a large TV to check out the big game and sections where a group of friends could relax away from the main crowd.

McKibbin’s serves food one would expect to find at a pub. You can select appetizers, such as nachos, fries, potato skins, chicken fingers, chicken wings and poutine. For a main course you’ll find traditional Irish cuisine from shepherd’s pie and steak and kidney pie. They do have a wide selection of meals from seafood plates, chicken, steak and the traditional club sandwich and burgers. They even have a kids menu, as children are allowed to eat on their terrace. Appetizers are priced from $4 to $10 and meals vary from $7.50 for your basic burger to $16 for a steak. Food is served from noon to 3am.

There are also plenty of options to wash your meal down as there are 24 beers on tap. Personal favourites, such as Stella Artois, Moosehead and Rickard’s are always available. If not in the mood for a beer the bartenders can mix any drink, from something a simple as rum and coke to emasculating drinks like an amaretto sour.

Adding to the great atmosphere for partying or just hanging out is the live music every night. Depending on the night bands will sing covers from songs dating back to the 1960’s to current tracks released in the past few years. If you ever get bored of the live music then Tuesday night is for you as you can embarrass yourself singing karaoke in a drunken stupor starting at 10pm.

The interior of the pub resembles an old cottage, which creates a relaxing, laid back and comfortable atmosphere. The pub caters to a crowd aged from 18 to people in their 60’s as it has become a pub for anyone. Living off the reputation created by the original McKibbin’s in downtown Montreal on Bishop, the West Island location has quickly become one of the best pubs to frequent on the West Island.

Labels: chicken, Fish and Chips, McKibbin's West Island, moosehead, pub, rickard's, stella artois, West Island

Korova Bar

Address: 3908 St Lauren near Duluth
Phone: 514 848 0343

Korova Bar in the heart of cool land (aka The Plateau) is a good time. A diamond in the rough. There is hardly ever a line to get in, no cover and great prices. $12.00 pitchers are a steal of a deal and pints are $4.75.

On Saturday nights there it is a great deal to be had on Pabst Blue Ribbon, or “PBR” to the regular drinkers. $4.50 per bottle, and not just the regular bottles, the really big ones. It looks a little funny, but by the end of the night no one is worrying about that anyways.


It has the appearance of the rest of the bars in the area but there is something that makes it more fun and less “scene” or trendy than its neighboring bars. The people are ok, though the music and cheap booze is really the selling point of this Plateau joint. Busy enough to feel like a party but not to the point that’s made to feel exclusive. (Like its neighbor, Club Coda)

Drinks run the usual bar rail with a decent selection of alcohol and the usual beers on tap. Bottles are assorted, though imports are slim.

The dress code is casual and trendy. Music is loud and thumping with wild kids dancing all over the floor. Booths line the walls and there is a pool table AND a jitz (foosball) table.

On Tuesdays there is an acoustic jam session and Friday’s there is a two for one special one drinks for the ladies. You cannot go wrong on a Saturday night because the DJ will never fail. The jams are littered with old school hip-hop numbers and even some funk and soul.

Downfall: No grub.

Labels: Korova, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Plateau, pub

Cunningham's Pub

75 Ste Anne, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC
Tel: 514-457-0080

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of John Abbott College in the West Island, you will be faced with the tough decision of choosing a place to eat and drink in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. Luckily, that's my turf!

Cunningham's is an excellent choice for people of all ages and styles. Whether you're a partier, studious or the family type, you'll feel right at home in this Irish Pub. The two partners who run the place provide typical pub drinks and grub and a warm and friendly ambiance that's perfect for a post-midterm relaxation session or a late night conversation with friends.

It's also a great place for getting your drink on.

Plus, there's live music every Friday and Saturday during the winter, and Wednesday through Saturday during the summer.

As for the menu, I'd recommend the deep fried zucchini sticks. So it doesn't sound particularly exciting -especially for a vegetable- but it's perfect to munch on with a couple of drinks. Another option is the fries, which come with your choice of spicy mayo, curry mayo, or my personal favourite, beer mustard. The nachos are also great, and be as a meal too! Of course, if you're actually looking for food, you've got ample choice, from burgers to typical pub foods like fish & chips, steaks and a whole bunch of salads.

But lets get back to what you're really here for: the booze. What's great about Cunningham's is that it not only does it serve all your typical local bottled brews like Molson, Labatt, Bud, Coors and Sleeman, it also offers a variety of bottled imports like Sol, Heineken, Sapporo, Dos Equis and Stella Artois.

On tap, Cunningham's has mostly Irish beers. Guinness, Harp and Kilkenny are favourites, but other European brews like Newcastle, Kronenbourgh and Tartan UK are also available. You can even get a pint or half-pint of harder to find tap beers like Maudite and Blanche de Chambly.

But most importantly -at least for me!- Cunningham's serves a wonderful brand of apple cider. I'm still unsure if it's a local concoction or even a special recipe, but I have never tasted a better cider than the pints upon pints I've had at Cunningham's. Even some of my friends who are avid beer drinkers with a penchant for Guinness have ditched their favs for a bit of adult apple juice.

All in all, the prices are decent. A half-pint goes from $3.50 to $4.25 and a pint ranges from $6 to $7.50, which is inline for such an establishment given the touristy location. The appetizers are a bit expensive, but the portions are usually big enough to split, and the main meals are very affordable. How can you refuse the delicious Fish & Chips platter, especially when it only costs $11?!

On any night, with any group of friends, make Cunningham's one of your top West Island picks!

Labels: beer mustard, Cider, Cunningham's Pub, Dos Equis, Fish and Chips, Irish, Kronenbourgh, La Blanche, labatt, Maudite, Molson, Newcastle, Sapporo, Sleemans, Sol, Tartan UK, West Island, Zucchini sticks

By Naila Jinnah

In typical geek fashion, I wanted to take a different angle on beer. Sure, it's fun to drink it - if you like that kinda thing. Which I don't, usually. Which begged the question, how could I geek out on beer?

Why, by looking at it from a molecular level, of course!

I found this really cool site created by the Optical Microscopy Division of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is apparently a joint venture of a bunch of universities in hot, steamy Florida. One of their many microscope-related projects is a photo essay of sorts on beer.

The photo gallery is organized by country as opposed to by beer, so if you're looking for your favourite brew's anatomy, you'll have to figure out where it's from first. Some countries you can choose from include must haves like Australia, Canada, England, Mexico, and of course, the USA. To Cari's greatest discontent, there are no Belgian beershots, although the site's creators are apparently looking for some.

My favourite page to explore was the Germany beershots gallery because it seemed to have to most colourful, funky, totally out there molecular structures. The Germans have so many brews that they're displayed in two separate sub-galleries.

Psychedelic Cloud Watching

Just within the German beer galleries, there's a lot of variety. Some shots look like they're straight from the '70s and others are strictly '60s. Looking through these pictures really is like high-tech psychedelic cloud watching - so probably not a great idea if you're high.

If you are looking for a major trip out, try these drunk. Your eyes will attempt to focus on the neon orange and purple feather pattern of the Bitburger Premium Pilsner, or the fingerprint motif of Becks' Dark. The molecules in Bass Pale Ale look like a modern art painting of paratroopers jumping off airplanes during the Normandy invasions on D-Day. In fact most of these shoots are strangely reminiscent of modern art.

Oh Canada!

Wandering away from the sunny skies to more wintery pastures, Canada's beershots are very glacial. This is obviously to be expected for a country where people still live in Igloos.

Surprisingly, at least to me, Molson Canadian and Molson Light molecules look nothing alike. The Canadian beershot is very spotty, and the molecules seem to flow much like red blood cells do in our veins. The Light version, on the other hand, reminds me of a Native headdress with its vibrant and elongated feathers.

Similarly, Labbat's Blue Canadian Pilsener and Labatt Ice Beer are miles apart. While both are stringy, the Blue shot is full of red and green streaks. In fact, it looks like a ground shot of grass, which is perfect since Blue is best consumed while or after mowing your lawn. As for Labatt Ice... you guessed it! It looks like a cross section of an ice particle, but in yellow. Like beer!

All in all, fellow geeks, please do remember: Beer can be fun even when you're not getting drunk!

Labels: Bass Pale Ale, Beck's Dark, beershots, Bitburger Premium Pilsner, feature, Florida, Labatt Blue Canadian Pilsener, Labatt Ice, molecules, Molson Canadian, Molson Light, science

Location: Bishop, south of Ste Catherine.

The Irish Embassy is a bar that spawned from a Toronto location. With yummy pub grub, many assorted Irish beers on tap and enough Irish whiskey to get both your Irish grandpa's and a leprechaun wasted.

With many, many different types of beer on tap, you can't go wrong in bringing a larger group to this pub. With accommodating tables and lots of extra chairs, it makes for an easy place to bring co-workers for an after work 5-7.

The cinq a sept actually starts at four, five days a week. Pints are all half off, except for cider.

There are no food specials and the food is a few bucks more than the usual pub fare. Around $7-$10 for entree's and $12 for a full dish. Food is good but it's always better to eat first and spend the money you save on an extra pint.

Staff is friendly and accommodating. Clientèle is an older crowd, not the usual party animals that the Crescent area tends to attract. Although, every once an awhile there will be a table of young tourists that wander in by accident.


Price Range:If you include food, you are looking at $20 for a meal and a pint. Pints alone range from $5.50-$8.00 a piece.

The Embassy has become one of my favorite places to party in this area. It's a great place to become a regular at or to go with a group of friends. There is a local feel but sometimes you will catch a new face or two. Something new and local to check out.

Labels: Cider, crescent, Downtown, Irish beer, pub, The Irish Embassy

4350 St. Denis, Montreal, Qc., 514-844-0394

Always Good Company

Beer, not mussels, is hard on wallet

Have you ever found yourself longing for the pleasantly refreshing and flavourful taste of a high alcoholic content, Belgian beer?

Well if you are like me and side with the ales on the other side of the pond, then Bières et Compagnie should become your habitual hangout if you are frolicking on the Plateau Mont-Royal. This European style restaurant serves over 100 beers including more than 60 Belgian beers, an assortment of English and Irish brews along with some locally made ales and no Tin Tin. If you are craving la bière de Serge, Molson Ex is not available, so this restaurant is not for your deeply rooted Quebecois soul.

I only made a dent in the enormous assortment of beverages. I tried a Chimay Blue, a Kwak and a Leffe Brune.

The Chimay Blue is a nine per cent beer, from the Cistercian Trappist monks of Chimay in Belgium. It is strong with a light aroma of roasted malt and strong floral fragrances. It came in at $9 plus tax for a 330ml bottle, but you can also order a 750ml bottle for just over $20. Nevertheless you do get a bang for your buck in terms of flavour, quality and strength.

The Kwak, is an amber beer filled with toffee and warm fruit flavours that dance on your palette in this eight per cent Belgian brew. Taste isn’t Kwak’s largest selling point, it is the actual glass. At $9, tax excluded, the hourglass-shape glass balances in its wooden frame, forcing the beer to come rushing at you, resulting in this happy-go-lucky feeling which improves sales. The glass is essential, and they only have four in the restaurant so buyers beware.

The Leffe Brune is now available in grocery stores across the province as it is a product of Labatt now, except you pay around $9 for it. It is a great amber ale that tastes like Grandma’s apple crumble. It is lower on the alcohol scale at 6.5 per cent, which may be a good transition beer for North Americans working there way up the Belgian Beer ladder. I believe you should probably stick to beers that you can’t get anywhere else, because the uniqueness of beer choices at Bières et Compagnie is the reason you go.

If you are unfamiliar with this European Beer realm and it seems very foreign to you, there are a few things to keep in mind. The glass is extremely important; there must always be a thick head of foam; and if you’re a Coors Light drinker don’t expect to be able to have a six-pack of Belgian Beer before dinner.

The menu has over 30 varieties of extremely tasty mussels and fries, a traditional dish in both Wallonia and Flanders. They also have four varieties of mayonnaises, a staple in their diet, which fries must not be consumed without. Caribou chili and bison burgers are also available, but by no means traditionally European and they don’t quite measure up to the mussels. The dishes go from $15-$30, and it's all you can est mussels from Monday to Wednesday. Unfortunatley, its your alcohol consumption that will put you over the limit, financially and legally.

Surrounded by retro beer posters, shelves of vintage beer bottles and a loud variety of music, ranging from lounge to classic Jacques Brel, there is no place to dance, but yelling is a must. The façade of the building is reminiscent of stone European architecture complimented by the high ceilings inside the dining area. I wouldn’t bring your grandparents here but for an evening with friends it is an amazing experience. A slice of Belgium.

Labels: Belgian Beer, Chimay Blue, Fries, Kwak, Leffe Brune, Mayonnaise, Mussels, Plateau, Restaurant

3723 St. Laurent,
Montreal, Qc
514-847-2222

The restaurant owned by Sam Robert’s bro, was once a place I enjoyed frequenting. Located on the Plateau Mont-Royal, Le Pistol has a very indie band/lounge feel to it, with red paint, giant black-and-white canvases and plasma screens decorating the walls. The music is a mix of old school rock and new pop, but there is no dance floor in sight.

The beer I tried was La Blanche by Cheval Blanc, but there are many local and imported beers to choose from along with an extensive list of martinis, ranging from chocolate to lychee.

La Blanche is a very pale ale with a strong wheat flavour, but with a hint of fruit, leaning toward a Belgian-style beer, but not quite there. It is five per cent alcohol and all beers at Le Pistol range from $5 - $10 depending on bottle or pint, which is considerably good for a restaurant.

The downfall with this being licensed as a restaurant is that you have to order food with your drinks. The reason they use this license is to save on licensing costs, yet we the client give them more income through food sales. Isn’t that lovely. So even if you want one Molson Dry, you need to order a sandwich for example.

The food is reasonably priced, if it happened to be of good quality, which it is not. They used to have a menu starting at $0.99 that bumped up to $2.99. I went there for a beer and ended up ordering two more, because the food took so long to get there, an hour to be precise, that I had to drink while waiting. When it finally did we had an extra order of fries and everything was saltier than the Dead Sea, which caused ordering of more brews.

On top of it all our waiter was cheeky to say the least, was chatting with his friends non-stop and the people at the table next to us were doing coke. Charming.

This 007-themed restaurant may be nice to watch a football game or hang out with friends if you want to grab a bite when it isn’t so busy. But at peak hours they seem to buckle under pressure and bomb.

Labels: La Blanche, Le Pistol, Plateau, Restaurant

...because it never hurts to be prepared

Rule 1:

Predrinking is a necessity, we can't have your rational mind having a say in any of this.

Rule 2:

Stop holding your ear/diaphragm. You're not Beyonce, there are no talent scouts in the audience, and it's not helping anyway. Unless of course you are Beyonce, in which case, carry on, and also please start returning my calls.

Rule 3:

Pick a song you know. Well. The only way to make a bigger ass of yourself than the guy who went up with his fly down is to be the guy who stares blankly at the screen the whole time.

Rule 4:

If you're gonna do it, do it right. Karaoke is about passion, dammit, not talent.

Labels: feature, karaoke

If you’re a group of six people or less needing a bar to check out the big sporting event look no further than Ziggy’s Pub located on one of Montreal’s most famous streets.

This tiny pub at 1470 Crescent Street, between Blvd De Maisonneuve and Ste. Catherine’s, is equipped with nine televisions and two bars. Although the pub does not have an open setup, with a few awkward turns, corners and nooks, the TV’s and bars are strategically place as no customer needs to look far to view the game or to get your favourite beer.

Whether you enjoy blondes, reds or your stouts, Ziggy’s has a choice that’ll please your tastes. Seeking a good blond, try Stella Artois, Alexander Keith’s, St-Ambroise, Bass or the Canadian beers as Labatt Blue or Sleeman’s. If looking for a stout beer Guiness is available or if you want something different sample McAuslan’s, a micro-brew cream ale made by St-Ambroise.

Ziggy’s is a guy’s typical sports pub. You don't go there for the music, you're there for the game. There are sports memorabilia displayed throughout the pub, from hockey jerseys to racing suits and old photographs. The pub has also been frequented by former Habs, such as current assistant coach Kirk Muller. If you’re a racing fan stop by during F1 weekend as drivers have been known to stop by.

A negative about the pub is that it a little cramped. This is not your bar if you enjoy open spaces. It can be difficult to walk around on busy nights and there is not much space to accommodate many tables. If you’re in a large group of people show up early to find a good spot as you may miss out on a table or only find a small corner to squeeze in everyone. As Ziggy’s is located in the basement of the building, there are low ceilings, which add to the small and stuffy look.

An additional negative is that if you’re looking to watch a specific sporting event you may have trouble finding a good spot in the pub as not every television is tuned into the same event. With nine TV’s there is always something in sight, but with only one large TV near the front of the pub you may be stuck watching the event on something less ideal.

Overall, although a little small, Ziggy’s Pub is a great sports bar that will satisfy the needs of most sporting enthusiasts. If not interested in the game it’s also a good location to meet up with friends as the noise level is at a good level to hear your friends talk without having to yell. As it is located on a great street, it’s a fine selection to hang out for the night or just to stop by for a quick beer as there are countless restaurants and shops located nearby. For more information check out their website at: www.fluidicweb.com/webziggy.

Labels: crescent, Downtown, Guinness, Keith's, labatt, pub, Sleemans, St-Ambroise, stella artois, Ziggy's Pub