french beer brands: A Guide to Popular Breweries and Top Picks
France’s craft beer is now as notable as its wine. Local breweries are making some of Europe’s best french beer brands. This guide highlights top French brewers and their creations. You’ll find hoppy IPAs and rich stouts among them. These beers reflect France’s brewing talent. They blend innovation with traditional craftsmanship. So, dive into this aspect of French culture and broaden your beer experience.
Besides wine, cheese, and bread, the country has its craft beer scene. The best French craft beers are unique because of their history, dating from medieval Europe. The wave of craft beer has overrun the French market today, which sees the birth of quite a number of breweries and popular craft beers. In this post, we take you through some of France’s most popular craft beers that you must try. Be it Brasserie Castelain or Brasserie du Pays Flamand, these breweries are getting together some of the tastiest local beers to keep your taste buds tingling. So sit back and enjoy as we take you through this guide to French craft beers!
Quick Guide to the Best French Craft Beers
Brasserie La Débauche: Known for its bold, experimental styles.
Brasserie du Mont Blanc: Award-winning beers brewed with Alpine water.
Brasserie Trois Dames: A must-try for Belgian beer fans.
What Makes French Beer Unique?
French beer is best beer in france because it uses local ingredients such as hops from the Alsace region. Also, it employs traditional brewing methods like bottle conditioning. It typically has a lighter body and lower alcohol content than other European beers. Some French breweries offer unique styles, such as bière de garde and farmhouse ale
Rise of Craft Beer in France
French beer is well-known for its unique taste resulting from the use of traditional ingredients like hops and barley. Additionally, the incorporation of local ingredients from the Alsace region results in subtle notes of citrus and aroma. Apart from common styles such as Bière de Garde or Belgian-style beers, you can also find refreshing pale ale or strong IPAs in France’s brewing scene. Many breweries incorporate traditional techniques such as bottle-conditioning into their brewing process to provide high-quality craft beer.
Best French Craft Beers You Need to Try in 2024
Those who want to try the best French craft beers have several great options. Other popular breweries in France are La Débauche producing a number of very unique and flavorful beers, Brasserie du Mont Blanc. Other craft beer options include Brasserie Saint Germain. There’s so much to choose from, so surely beer lovers will find just that something in the best French craft beer brands.
Brasserie La Debauche
Brasserie La Débauche is the leading brewing facility to produce class beers in France; it experiments with its beers and, therefore, has a huge scope for different varieties of beers. Based in Angoulême, this brewery is noted for extreme innovativeness regarding beer and great artistic label designs. This brewery boasts the best selection of raw materials from both the local and international scenes and offers a palette of unique and tasty beers for different kinds of palates. From their wide array of hop-forward IPAs to complex, barrel-aged brews and experimental concoctions, there’s something for everyone. In a collaborative spirit, Brasserie La Débauche often teams up with other breweries on exciting, limited-edition creations. Focus on craftsmanship and creativity: La Débauche is one of the flagship brands of French craft beer that has managed to stop the attention of beer amateurs with its boundary-pushing creations.
Brasserie Castelain
Since 1926, a family brewery in northern France has made Ch’ti, a popular Belgian-style blonde ale. They use local hops and grain to craft amber ales, wheat beers, and stouts. Their methods are traditional, and their brews reflect the region’s ingredients and heritage. They use caramel fragrance and bitterness to produce distinct flavors in their beers.
Pietra Colomba Biere Blanche
Brewed in Corsica according to traditional methods, Pietra Colomba Biere Blanche is an extremely special craft beer made from chestnut flour and wheat malt. Light and fresh, it will go with seafood and most light dishes. This refreshing French beer gained a few awards among the amateur public and won popularity thanks to its marked regional peculiarities.
Brasserie Jenlain
With its unique taste and a history dating back to 1922 in the north of France, Brasserie Jenlain is among the best French breweries loved by beer enthusiasts worldwide. Their wide variety of brews includes the light and refreshing Jenlain Blonde and their amber-colored Jenlain Ambrée with its malty flavor. Be sure to check out their seasonal Christmas Ale and Summer Ale too!
Brasserie Thiriez
The most sought-after small-scale artisan brewery is Brasserie Thiriez, which is hidden away in the North of France. It uses the finest ingredients, locally sourced hops, and malts for its beers inspired by Belgian beer with a French twist. Brasserie Thiriez boasts its pride in its flagship beer: Blonde d’Esquelbecq. This must-try ale offers a crisp taste layered with citrusy notes and subtle spices, culottes above other best French beers—perfect for beer enthusiasts seeking a unique taste beyond ordinary lagers, pilsners, and IPAs.
Brasserie de la Loire
The Loire Valley, one of France’s most gorgeous settings, is home to the microbrewery Brasserie de la Loire. Hops nurtured nearby have been traditionally used by brewers who live here to create unique-tasting beers. Think about La Blanche, a crisp wheat beer with distinct citrus notes, or La Rousse, a richer golden brew with caramel notes. Visitors remark that it is one of the best French brewers since it offers seasonal brews and pays close attention to detail.
Brasserie de la Vallée de Chevreuse
Brasserie de la Vallée de Chevreuse, situated in the scenic Chevreuse Valley of France, specializes in a line of quintessentially modern beers with a traditional palate. Its blonde ale, ‘La Viking,’ is sold like hotcakes due to its fruity flavor and the aroma of hoppiness. But for the beer connoisseur, their winter special ‘La Noël de la Vallée’ has a subtle hint of spice that is not to be missed. It is visited by tourists who take a trip around the brewery and enjoy cold, crisp beers in the on-site tasting room.
Brasserie du Mont Blanc
High-end beers brewed from virgin glacier water and alpine herbs are sold at Brasserie du Mont Blanc, a unique craft brewery secluded in the French Alps. For the courageous, the brewery presents inventive brews like chestnut beer and blueberry ale on top of more classic varieties like India Pale Ale, stout, and blonde ale. Visitors can take tours to understand the brewing techniques and enjoy beer samplings. Don’t miss savoring their award-winning brews that promise foam on top, the aroma in between, and bitterness on the palate.
Brasserie du Grand Paris
The famous French craft beer brand Brasserie du Grand Paris was born in 2013 and features an impressive portfolio of IPAs, stouts, and saisons, all brewed with raw materials from the region using traditional methods. Visitors can taste its unique Belgian-style blonde ale, La Pointe Saint-Eustache, at the taproom on the grounds while learning about the brewing process. This brewery follows traditional methods to provide you with some of the best French craft beers you will ever taste!
Brasserie du Pays Flamand
Brasserie du Pays Flamand, which sits in the north of France, uses barley and other locally derived ingredients in tandem with traditional brewing methods to create its own unique taste. La Croix du Sud IPA smells like citrus hops, while St. Feuillien White has a crisp palate with caramel flavors. Terre de Brume saison has an alcohol content of 6% ABV. Tour the brewery to try Britt Blanche or Licorne Black and experience beer styles that originated in Alsace or Denmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the most distinguished microbrews/craft beers in France?
The French craft beer industry is dominated by microbreweries, which have several flavored beers with various tastes. Major French brands include Brasserie du Mont Blanc, La Débauche, and Brasserie Artisanale de Nice. The best microbrew or craft beer in France is subjective, so consult local bartenders or beer lovers for advice.
Can craft beer pair well with French cuisine?
Craft beer can boost French cuisine. Its diverse flavors match the complexity of French dishes. Popular styles like Belgian, IPA, and sour beers enhance the dining experience. Experimentation with various options is key to finding the perfect pairing.
What is the difference between craft beer and commercial beer?
Craft beers stand out from other kinds sold in stores because of their special taste, smaller batch sizes, and classic brewing practices. Most craft breweries select locally sourced, high-quality ingredients and focus on creativity, experimentation, and community building in the industry.
My Thoughts
The French craft beer scene is booming, with many breweries showcasing top examples. This guide helps fans and casual drinkers find the best breweries and beers nationwide. So, explore the best French craft beers and appreciate the creativity and dedication of its brewers.
