In 2021, at the France Bière Challenge, the René beer from the Motte-Cordonnier family received a silver medal and the Emile was awarded a gold medal in addition to its silver medal obtained at the international competition. from Lyon. Still in the North, 20 kilometers away, in Merville, it is the Anosteké (Flemish expression meaning “see you next”) which was crowned the best beer in the world in September 2021 at the World Beer Awards, a prestigious London competition. This nugget from the Flemish Country Brewery, founded in the North in 2006 by two childhood friends, has joined Anosteké Saison, which was voted the best lager beer in the world in 2016.
While the French beer market is enjoying a second wind, driven by the rise of microbreweries, the breweries of the North are on the rise. With more than 140 breweries listed in Hauts-de-France, we are far from the 2,732 at the end of the 19th century.and century but the brewing tradition is well rooted in the territory. Beer, associated with conviviality, has continued to see its image evolve over the past ten years. And the events have multiplied around hops: conferences on brewing tourism organized at the regional headquarters, a BAL (Beer in Lille) festival, treasure hunts combining orientation courses, clues and beer tastings in bars or even beer cruises on the Deûle, a northern river.
city of beer
“There is a mobilization around brewing tourismrecognizes Aurélie Baguet, founder of L’Echappée Bière, the first agency specializing in tourism and brewing events. We are also launching a third edition of the operation in February “Adopt a hop”. » This experience has enabled, in 2021, a few hundred people from the North, “but also from Ile-de-France and, on the margins, from Doubs, Provence and… England! », adds Aurélie Baguet, to adopt ten feet of hops in a hop field in Flanders and set off to discover them. “This gift received at Christmas 2020 punctuated the whole of 2021, enthuses a subscriber. Newsletters, visit of the hops in September and the brewery in November with, each time, a super interesting commented visit, by enthusiasts who bring knowledge and more to shine at dinners. »
Around a museum trail, ideas jostle to host a space dedicated to events, a food court, a beer shop from the region…
Breweries, microbreweries and also hop producers are now waiting for the launch of the Cité de laière. At the end of 2019, the president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand expressed his ambition to create a great city of beer, like the Cité du vin in Bordeaux. Around a museum route, ideas jostle to accommodate both a space devoted to events, a food court to eat, a beer shop from the region or a playground for children.
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