Craft beers make "foam"

Published 9 / 08 / 2021 Reading time: 7 min

Craft beers are booming. They represent 7 to 8% of the total market in 2020 and, on average, a French person consumes 33 liters of beer per year. Our territory, known for its Côte Roannaise and its winegrowers, leaves room for breweries with surprising and diverse local beers.

Out of 2000 craft breweries in France, there are 5 in the Roannais: Ambierle, Lentigny, Pouilly-sous-Charlieu, Saint-Germain-Laval and Saint-Just-la-Pendue. So, whether you are on vacation in the Roannais or locals fond of discovering local products, you will inevitably find a brewer nearby ready to show you his products.

German Brewery

Saint-Germain-Laval

Opened in 2014, this micro-brewery was born thanks to the initiative of three enthusiasts, Olivier, Pierre and Maxime. They are committed to making craft beers that are unfiltered, unpasteurized and refermented in the bottle. 

La Germanoise brewery offers 6 permanent beers: blonde, white, brown, amber, triple fermentation, IPA (India Pale Ale, lager beer characterized by a more pronounced bitterness). Each season, a different beer completes the range. And for soda lovers, this brasserie will introduce you to its artisanal lemonade and cola: Col'Adoré, 10% less sweet than traditional colas.

The particularity of this brewery? Its introductory brewing workshops! Ideal for discovering the methods of making a craft beer, these workshops are a great gift idea to offer or to treat yourself. For a day, play the sorcerer's apprentice by creating your own beer. By mixing theory and practice, you will not see the time pass.

Annual production : 75 liters of beers and 000 liters of sodas

Challit Brewery

lentigny

Maybe you've heard of ICSAS beers before? Ludovic, manager of Brasserie Challit wanted to highlight his leitmotif "A healthy mind in a healthy body". What he declined in "In Cervisia Sana Aqua Sana": ICSAS. Indeed, it offers products manufactured in the rules of the art, by being concerned with the quality of the raw material and the deep respect of the manufacturing process.

5 top fermentation beers are permanently available: white, blonde, amber, brown and IPA. And for those who would like to think outside the box, the Challit brewery also offers a spring beer (low fermentation brewed in winter) and a so-called “harvest” beer (beer brewed with grape juice from the Domaine des Pothiers). Depending on the brewer's mood, “one shot” beers (single recipe) are made once or twice a year. Ludovic also offers homemade lemonade.

And for the more curious among you, know that the Challit brewery can offer tours / tastings by reservation, with food and beer pairing. A great opportunity to savor local products ...

Note: By the end of 2021, all beers from the Challit brewery will be certified organic.

Annual production : 30 liters of beers

A beer is simply water, grain malt, hops, yeast as well as a lot of love and patience.

Ludovic Challit

The Cuves de la Madeleine

Ambierle

Created in 2015, Cuves de la Madeleine have turned to organic from the start. With a low production, the brewery of Damien is a small thumb. It is nonetheless an address to remember.

Blonde, amber, brown are the three craft beers offered all year round by Damien. Other seasonal beers are also produced: white, triple or Christmas beer. More unusual products complete the shop: walnut wine and roasted coffee.

Annual production : 4 liters of beers

Brasserie The Share of Others

Saint-Just-la-Pendu

La Part des Autres is the story of a sister and a brother. In 2017, Thomas and Anne joined forces to create their brewery of craft beers. Recently, the brewery took place in a former textile factory in Saint-Just-la-Pendue. In this warm setting, bar, restaurant and brasserie are combined. If you decide to have lunch there, you will have a view of the manufacturing workshop with the tanks.

9 different beers are made all year round as well as one or two seasonal beers. On site you can taste 8 draft beers directly at the bar. Thomas and Anne have chosen to only produce beers. Nevertheless, they worked in partnership with Marine from the company La Pendue. It offered atypical products such as kombucha (fermented tea without alcohol), processed products (beets, carrots, peppers, etc.) and even condiments (mustard, vinegar). Since then, the La Pendue business has closed.

Annual production : 100 liters of beers

The Brewers of Sornin

Pouilly-sous-Charlieu

Les Brasseurs du Sornin is a family business managed by four brothers and sisters: Dominique, Véronique, Christophe and Serge. Created in 1998, this brewery is the oldest in Roannais.

The range of products is impressive: around twenty craft beers including three Gallic cervoises and two organic beers, lemonade and cola. All beers are numbered in the order in which the recipes were created. More atypical, the Brewers of Sornin also manufacture red & white hypocras. This medieval aperitif wine is produced by cold maceration of thirteen spices in local wine.

Annual production : 700 liters of beers

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Manufacturing secrets

All brewers will tell you, the secrets of a successful beer? Rigor, regularity and of course a lot of passion. What is less known is that it takes many hours of cleaning. For a good fermentation, hygiene must be irreproachable.

When it comes to packaging, they all offer different kinds of packaging: 33cl, 75cl, jugs, barrels, gift boxes… You won't know what to choose.

Points of sale

Our brewers have turned into real salespeople so keep an eye out! In our bars, at the table of our restaurants, in our delicatessens or in our organic or local, you will inevitably find their craft beers.

And if you prefer to be advised by the brewers themselves, go directly to their shops.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume with moderation. 😉