France - is there good beer?

Compared to Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Britain and Ireland, the French beer is nothing to write home about. I stick to wine in France.

Well, that's my opinion....others might differ.

We were in NE France a couple of years ago, and drank both wine and beer -- we enjoyed both. France is not culturally known for beer as much as some of the other European countries, but it's perfectly good. Each region will be different. We mostly drank "presion" beer ie draft beer, but it was good. What ever beer you sample in France will be better than American "Bud" and Canadian "Blue" -- that's our opinion anyway !! Happy tasting!!

France lacks the sort of regional beer traditions that thrive in neighboring Germany and Belgium (which conversely mostly lack France's great regionalism in wine). You'll probably see Kronenburg 1666 sold most commonly, but this is the French equivalent to the US's Budweiser, Belgium's Stella Artois, or the Netherlands' Heineken: not a bad beer, but nothing special either. Fortunately, many Belgian beers are available in France, such as Leffe, Chimay and Grimbergen. Oh, and France also produces a lof of cider (and the related apple brandy, calvados), although this is more associated with Normandy.

I agree with everyone so far. We did not find much for beer in France, which is fine. The wine more than makes up for it. Every place in France has that Kronnenburg 1664. And it is nothing special. However, if it is trying new things you like - there is no shortage of that. Pastisse in southern France (not my cup of tea, in fact I am pretty sure it numbed my mouth). And then in Avignon there was some very strange bright red beer type thing everyone was drinking...not sure what that was but I tried it anyway. Another misstep on my part. Regardless I am glad I tried them all because they are all memories. So if you see someone drinking something that looks interesting - order it. But the beer, pretty boring.

I'm digging in my memories really hard here but I don't think I've ever drank beer in France. And I lived there for a year! Stick to wine or if you want to enjoy something a bit more refreshing say on a hot day then cidre is a great alternative.

Moules frites at Leon de Bruxelles in Paris with a nice cold Stella Artois can't beat. I never drink beer any other time. Wine would just spoil the joy.

Sorry, should read ".... can 't be beat."

Norma,

to my knowledge, Stella Artois is not a French beer but a Belgium one.

if you are in the north, you will probably be fine, you just have to go to the right bars, i suggest checking the beeradvocate travel listings. You'll get belgiums and there are plenty of hidden french farmhouse breweries much like there are french cider houses. if you are in the south, i'm afraid you are in mass produced beer world, such is life.

I'll take the slightly contrarian view...I've enjoyed some very nice beer in France. Not surprisingly, the regions closer to germany/Netherlands had the better beers (the northeast). Alsace has some great beers.

It's true that wine is much more widely available and more a part of the culture, but there are good beers there, too.

Beatrix: Note the name of the restaurant I referred to and you will see why the beer was Belgian. Stella Artois is popular in France, as it is here in Montreal.

Kronenbourg 1664 is pretty good. I have some in the fridge right now, in fact.

1664 (as mentioned by a few posters above) is the only French beer I know, and it's quite good! There is another one, can't remember the name of it, served in the local pub I was at, that tasted like lavender. It was a strange beer.

My husband and I tried quite a few when we were in France a few years ago and thought they all tasted a bit skunky. If you can find Belgium beers, go with them (I'd fly to Belgium right now for their beer and food) or stick to wine.

The best French beer is arguably Alsatian. Still I wouldn't call it great, on the order of what you can get in Germany or Belgium.

Conventional wisdom would be to drink close to the ground--when in Burgundy, do as the Burgundians. But if you want a beer, for goodness sakes, order a beer.