Bière de Garde facts for kids
Bière de Garde (say "bee-air duh guard") is a special type of beer from France. Its name means "beer for keeping." This beer was first made in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
Farmers used to brew these beers in their farmhouses. They made them during the cooler months, like winter and spring. This helped them avoid problems with the yeast in the hot summer. Today, many small businesses also make Bière de Garde.
What is Bière de Garde?
Bière de Garde often has a copper or golden color. It was traditionally stored for a while after bottling. This was like aging a fine wine. People would keep it in a cool place, like a cellar. Then, they would drink it later in the year. This helped the beer develop its unique taste.
Most Bière de Garde beers are not filtered. This means they might look a little cloudy. Some special versions are made only with ingredients from their region. These can get a special label called Appellation d'origine contrôlée. This label shows that the beer is truly authentic and from that specific area.
Famous Brands
Some well-known brands of Bière de Garde include:
- Trois Monts from Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre
- Jenlain from Brasseurs Duyck
- Ch'Ti from Brasserie Castelain
- Ambrée from Brasserie La Choulette
