Craft Beer in France: A Survival Guide for Hop Heads in 2025

Let’s be brutally honest—France is not a beer country. It never has been. And I should know. I’ve got photos of me at age three sipping real ale with my dad in a British beer garden, long before the words “craft beer” ever made it to a French bar menu.

Still, things are changing. Over the last 10 years of living here, craft beer in france is getting better. While the craft beer scene in France is far from perfect, it’s grown leaps beyond the sad picnic lagers of old. Finding a genuinely good pint still takes effort, patience, and a bit of beer geek intuition. Sure, it’s not Belgium. It’s not the UK. But it’s better than it was a decade ago—and if you know where to look, it can be bloody brilliant.

This guide is here to help you navigate the French beer wilderness, dodge the overpriced Kronenbourg, and drink like someone who actually knows what a proper pint should taste like.

French Beer Myths That Need to Die (And What’s Actually Brewing)

Let’s clear the foam from the facts—France’s relationship with beer is full of contradictions, clichés, and downright falsehoods. Here’s what beer geeks often get wrong:

❌ “The French love beer.” – Not quite. Wine still rules the roost. Beer is catching on, but it’s not culturally embedded like it is in Belgium or Germany.

❌ “French beer is weak and tasteless.” – Industrial lagers like Kronenbourg 1664 still dominate supermarket shelves, but that’s not the full story. Hidden in taprooms and tucked-away bottle shops, France has some seriously bold brews.

❌ “Craft beer is everywhere.” – Maybe in Paris, Lyon, or Lille. But head into rural France without a plan and you’ll be lucky to find anything beyond a dusty Heineken.

So, what’s actually happening? Well, the craft beer scene in France is finally growing up—and it’s got some serious flavour if you know where to look:

✔️ Barrel-Aged Masterpieces – With a surplus of wine barrels lying around, French brewers are aging beers in oak and producing deep, layered stouts, saisons, and sours that’ll leave your palate spinning—in a good way.

✔️ Bière de Garde 2.0 – The classic northern French farmhouse ale is enjoying a well-deserved revival. Think rich malt character, elegant balance, and a rustic backbone that pairs beautifully with a cheese plate.

✔️ Lambics, Gueuzes & Saisons – Belgium’s DNA runs deep here, but French brewers are adding their own spin. Expect tart, wild, and unpredictable beers—crafted with flair.

✔️ High-ABV Beasts – Forget watery session IPAs. French craft beer leans strong, bold, and unapologetically boozy.

✔️ Culinary-Inspired Brews – Infusions of rosemary, thyme, lavender, or even peppercorns? Expect a touch of French gastronomy in your glass. Beer here flirts with fine dining.

How to Actually Find Good Beer in France

So, where’s the good stuff hiding? If you’re serious about craft beer in France, you’ve got to think like a local beer geek—because quality beer doesn’t fall into your lap here. It takes a bit of research, curiosity, and a sharp palate. Here’s how to sniff it out:

🔎 Do Your Homework Beforehand – Walk into any random bar and you’ll likely end up with a lifeless lager. Use Untappd to scout places with rotating taps and real reviews from fellow hopheads.

👨‍🎓 Find a Bartender Who Knows Their Hops – The best craft beer bars in France are usually run by people who care. If your bartender knows their galopin from their Grisette, stick around—they’ll steer you right.

🍻 Go Straight to the Source – Outside the big cities, visiting a brewery is often the best way to drink well. Many small brewers welcome visitors, and the beer is fresh, unfiltered, and full of character.

🛒 Supermarkets: Approach with Caution – While Monoprix and Carrefour occasionally stock local gems, most of the “artisanale” stuff is mass-produced and disguised in rustic packaging. Learn to spot the fakes.

📍 Know Your Craft Beer Regions:

• Lille & Alsace – Historic beer regions with a strong brewing tradition and great access to Belgian-style beers.
• Occitanie (South of France) – Lighter, summer-friendly brews and a growing expat-influenced beer scene.
• Bourgogne-Franche-Comté – The wildcard region, with exciting, experimental brewers flying under the radar.

💬 Ask Questions. Be Curious. – Most bartenders and brewers in good spots are passionate about what they do. Ask what’s new, what’s local, and what they’d drink after a long shift. You’ll rarely get a bad recommendation when you ask with genuine curiosity.

This isn’t just about ordering beer—it’s about discovering flavour in a country that’s still waking up to hops. And when you find the right spot? It’s worth every bitter, boozy sip.

What to Expect at a French Beer Bar

So you’ve found a place that actually stocks decent craft beer—now what? Here’s what you need to know before you belly up to the bar.

🍷 The Glassware Game Is Strong (and a Bit Weird)
Forget your sturdy pint glass—French beer bars love a stemmed tulip or wine-style glass, even for a double IPA. It’s elegant, theatrical, and a little annoying. Just sip and accept it.

🍺 Smaller Pours Are the Norm
Don’t be surprised if your order gets poured into a demi (25cl) or even a galopin (12.5cl). Full pints do exist (pinte = 50cl), but they’re less common and often reserved for lower-ABV beers.

💰 Yes, It’s Expensive
Craft beer in France isn’t cheap. Expect to pay €6–€10 for a demi, and even more if you’re ordering something barrel-aged or imported. Quality doesn’t come cheap—especially not in Paris.

🌍 It’s an International Crowd
Unlike many traditional French cafés, craft beer bars often have English-speaking staff, fellow travelers, and locals who’ve studied abroad and come back with a taste for hops. The vibe is relaxed, the music’s better, and no one will judge you for taking tasting notes.

🍻 Flights and Tastings? Rare but Not Impossible
Beer flights aren’t standard, but some bars will pour you a few galopins to help you decide. Don’t be afraid to ask—it’s a growing trend, especially in Paris and Lyon.

🧀 Some Bars Offer Food—But Don’t Expect a Meal
Many places have small plates: cheese, saucisson, bread with rillettes. Perfect for soaking up strong beer, but this isn’t a full dinner situation. Pairing menus are rare, but snacks are often excellent.

Essential French Beer Words & Phrases (Order Like a Pro)

If you’re serious about drinking craft beer in France, sounding like you know your stuff at the bar helps. It’s not just polite—it often gets you better beer.

🗣️ Key Phrases to Order a Beer

• “Je voudrais une bière artisanale, s’il vous plaît.”
  (I’d like a craft beer, please.)
• “Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ?”
  (What do you recommend?)
• “Encore une, s’il vous plaît.”
  (Another one, please.)

Throw in a smile and you’re halfway to being mistaken for a local beer nerd.

🍺 French Beer Styles – What You’ll See on Menus

• Bière blonde – Light and golden, usually a lager or pale ale.
• Bière ambrée – Amber ale with malty, caramel notes.
• Bière brune – Darker, malt-forward beer, often a brown ale.
• Bière blanche – Wheat beer, often citrusy and cloudy.
• Bière noire – A stout or porter, rich and roasty.
• Bière houblonnée – A hoppy beer, usually a local take on an IPA.
• Bière forte – Strong beer (high ABV—approach with respect).
• Bière de garde – A classic French farmhouse-style ale—bold, smooth, and dangerously underrated.

🔍 How to Describe a Beer Like You Belong Here

• Amère – Bitter
• Houblonnée – Hoppy
• Fruitée – Fruity
• Torréfiée – Roasty
• Sèche – Dry
• Douce – Sweet
• Acidulée – Tart/sour
• Boisée – Oaky/wood-aged

📏 Beer Sizes & Glassware

• Demi (25cl) – Standard order (half a pint).
• Pinte (50cl) – A full pint, if you’re lucky.
• Galopin (12.5cl) – Tiny tasting glass, ideal for high-ABV beers.
• Tulip / Stemmed glassware – Don’t be surprised to see your DIPA in a wine glass. That’s France for you.

💸 Paying & Tipping in Beer Bars

• “Je peux payer par carte ?” – Can I pay by card? (Most places accept it, but always ask.)
• “C’est combien ?” – How much is it?
• Tipping? – Not required, but in craft beer bars, rounding up or leaving €1 per drink is a classy move.

Beer & Food: What Actually Works?

Forget soggy chips and lukewarm nachos—this is France. If you’re going to drink craft beer in France, pair it like a chef would. That means bold flavour matches, seasonal ingredients, and a little culinary mischief.

🧀 Saison & Stinky Cheese – Funky meets funky. Saisons pair beautifully with pungent washed-rind cheeses, soft goat’s cheese, or even a ripe Brie. Think of it as beer’s answer to wine and cheese.

🍖 IPA & Charcuterie – Fatty meats like saucisson sec, rillettes, or pâté de campagne are the perfect foil for a bitter, hoppy IPA. Add some crusty baguette and call it dinner.

🥩 Bière Brune & Red Meat – Darker, maltier beers (like a bière brune or porter) hold their own next to grilled lamb, duck confit, or beef bourguignon.

🐟 Blanche & Seafood – Wheat beers (bière blanche) with citrus notes are spot-on with oysters, mussels, and anything that once swam in the Atlantic.

🌿 Herb-Infused Beers & Garden Fare – If you stumble on a saison with thyme or a pale ale laced with lavender, try it with grilled veg, herby salads, or chèvre toast.

🍫 Stouts & Sweets – Barrel-aged stouts, chocolate porters, and strong dark ales love rich desserts—think moelleux au chocolat or a slice of pear tart.

And if you’re lucky enough to find spent grain snacks (drêches) in a bar—grab them. They’re crunchy, savoury, and a brilliant example of beer culture going full-circle in France.

Final Thoughts: French Beer is Worth the Hunt

Let’s not sugar-coat it—French beer still has a long way to go, but that’s part of what makes it exciting. It’s rough around the edges, experimental, and still finding its voice. But hidden beneath the noise of macro lagers and wine-first culture is a rebellious, flavour-forward brewing scene that’s only getting bolder.

You won’t find wall-to-wall taprooms or beer-centric towns just yet. But when you do stumble across a barrel-aged gem, a crisp bière de garde, or a wild saison that tastes like the French countryside in a glass, it’s magic.

This guide isn’t about turning France into the next beer capital—it’s about helping you drink better, smarter, and with a bit more swagger while you’re here.

So, go out there, chase the good stuff, tip your bartender, and whatever you do—don’t settle for Kronenbourg.

🍻 Want to grab a beer in Paris or chat about your next hop-fueled adventure? Drop me a message at tours@eatlikethefrench.com—I’m always up for a proper pint and good conversation.

Chef Tris

Food Tour Guide

From the bustling streets of Paris to the heat of a professional kitchen, my life has always revolved around food. A Brit who moved to France at 16, I trained as a chef in a Parisian palace kitchen at 18 and have spent decades cooking, eating, and living like the French.

By day, I run kitchens and events, but Eat Like The French is my side hustle—a way to share my passion for French food through writing and food tours. After a detour into tech recruitment, I returned to what I love most: cooking and storytelling—one dish, one tour, and one bite at a time.

FAQ: French Craft Beer in 2025