As summer approaches, it is your right, nay your duty as a Montrealer to live outside while it’s hot. For four glorious months, life should be all about backyard parties, chilling in the park, sitting around the campfire, and hanging out on the local terrace. For such occasions, session ales are a beer style that compliments the season. They have bold IPA flavors of grapefruit and pine, yet these light beers won't get you buzzed after two bottles. What you want this summer is a high-in-flavor but light-in-alcohol beer that allows you to enjoy a few in a session.

All of the beers that follow are available at most good dépanneurs, grocery stores, or on tap on the island of Montreal. To make the list, they all need to have a brewery in the city and offer a light, easy drinking beer with 5% alcohol or less. None of them have fancy commercials to lure you in, but once you taste them, there’s no going back to the bland stuff your dad drinks.