The Islanders’ Warm Welcome

Warm, welcoming, creative, and down-to-earth, the Les Insulaires microbrewery could never have come into being without love: first, the love that the two owners, Marilène Barale and Guillaume Ouimet, have for beer, and second, the love that has bound this wonderful, passionate couple together ever since they met… in a bar 12 years ago!

Long tables, lots of plants, pastel colors, a vintage sofa perched on a small mezzanine, a tropical tapestry evoking the sea, a large wooden bar where both locals and visitors gather, 24 draft beer taps neatly lined up on a white-tiled wall, a spacious, airy 140-seat area, a comforting bistro menu: the Les Insulaires microbrewery has become the gathering place that the residents—the “islanders”!—of Laval Island had been missing.

“We’ve always been crazy about beer,” explains Guillaume, co-owner and head brewer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. “It was our shared passion that drove us to do this, but doing it as a couple was essential. We wouldn’t have done it if we hadn’t been together.”

Set design by Les Insulaires, photo by Simon Jodoin

It was while living in Montreal that the couple first became familiar with craft beer. They also attended numerous beer festivals. These events charmed Marilène so much that she decided, five years ago, to found the famous Laval Beer Festival. It was this “true” immersion in the world of craft beer that marked a real turning point in the lives and aspirations of the couple, who had since moved to Laval.

“The microbrewery scene is very underrepresented in this area,” says Marilène. “We noticed there were no microbreweries in Laval and couldn’t understand why, since there was a demand for them. We felt it was important to set up shop here. Our clientele is mainly local.”

Proof that the demand was very real: the enthusiasm people showed at the opening in 2018 shows no signs of waning. So the couple isn’t just “brewing beer”; they’re also helping to build a vibrant neighborhood around the Viau Bridge, where there used to be very few local businesses.

Photo by Simon Jodoin

“The locals are very grateful to us,” adds the couple, who say they are deeply involved in their community. “They told us, ‘Finally, a shop like this!’ People are enthusiastic; they want to support us and they appreciate having us here.”

Laval has been developing some great attractions in recent years. A number of restaurants and new projects are popping up, attracting more and more young people and small families who are moving there. And beer lovers who used to prefer staying in the city are now venturing out to explore new breweries.

“Over the past five years, the number of beer trails has skyrocketed,” says Guillaume. “Microbreweries are driving a lot of tourism. Almost every village has its own microbrewery now. Being close to Montreal attracts people—they hear about us.”

A dish from the Insulaires menu, photo by Simon Jodoin

Local freshness

Like many establishments in Montreal and elsewhere, Les Insulaires make it a point of honor to showcase local and Quebec products. It was in this spirit that they created their beer, made entirely from Quebec ingredients, named La Lyzée, which was released… on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day! A classic, fruity pale ale “without being too bitter,” easy to drink and having received rave reviews.

“We wanted to make a beer that’s 100% Quebec and highlight local ingredients,” explains the man who spent four years brewing beer in a kettle in a university lab. “There are more and more hop farms in Quebec, there are some really interesting malt houses, and it’s becoming more and more accessible. Plus, the fact that our friends at Domaine Brune Houblonde are growing the hops in Laval makes it even cooler.”

Yeast and malt from Innomalt Inc. or other sources in Quebec, honey from Intermiel, camerises, and other delicious Quebec berries: the flavors of Les Insulaires’ beers are enhanced by the freshness of local ingredients.

Photo by Simon Jodoin

“I always manage to get someone to like one of my beers,” says Guillaume, whose father—once a devoted fan of Molson Export—now swears by La Dérive NEIPA, his New England IPA.

As the holder of a craft brewer’s license, the microbrewery is currently only allowed to sell its beer directly to customers on-site. It has also recently begun offering its new cans for customers to take home. It’s a great way to promote the couple, whose third “baby” (they’re also parents to two children) is thriving. So much so that brewers from other regions sometimes make the trip to visit their facilities and ask for advice.

“We don’t know where we’ll be in two years—we’re just growing,” says the brewer with a laugh, already exploring new beer recipes. “The beer scene in Quebec is really like a big, happy family, and we’ve got plenty of projects in the works.”

by Sarah-Emilie Nault