People’s Drugstore (Didier Gauducheau)
The increasing popularity of craft beers in bars across the capital brings a welcome change to the watered-down pints of 1664 or Kronenbourg that are typically served in Paris bars and cafés. Now more and more of the city’s watering holes are opting for higher quality quaffs, both from France and abroad.
La Fine Mousse (Alexandre Martin)
While beers from Brooklyn Brewery and other American and English brewers are becoming common at Paris bars, some of the most interesting beer options are homegrown. A selection of bars, founded by and for beer lovers, specialize in locally brewed, artisanal beers. Here are a few favorites:
La Fine Mousse (Alexandre Martin)
Le Supercoin– This neighborhood bar located off the beaten path in the 18th arrondissement brings locals together to cheer on the city’s football team, enjoy a relaxed weekday drink while listening to Belle and Sebastian, or take part in a monthly tournament of the classic French card game Belotte.
Le Supercoin (Emily Poulain & Le Supercoin)
What sets Le Supercoin apart from other beer bars is that it is the only one to stock exclusively French microbrews. From beerophile’s sweetheart Craig Allen’s masterful brews to a selection of Ile-de-France brewed beers, Le Supercoin is the perfect place to discover the world of French artisanal ales, IPAs, and stouts. The bar also serves as a showcase for the neighboring Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or, hosting avant-premières for experimental and small batches made at Paris’ only brewery.
La Fine Mousse (Alexandre Martin)
Express de Lyon – Don’t judge this bar by its façade- or do, because that makes what lies inside Express de Lyon an even more pleasant surprise. Located in a PMU, or bar where bets on horse races can be made, the unassuming exterior is a doorway to a dizzying selection of craft beers. Enjoy a rotating menu of French and foreign microbrews, including beers from Scotland’s Brewdog, Magic Rock in England, and Danish brewery Evil Twin.
People’s Drugstore (Didier Gauducheau)
La Fine Mousse – Get here early to grab a spot amongst after work drinkers and weekend revelers. This beer bar in the 11th arrondissement has 20 beers on tap and 150 beers available by the bottle. Covering all the bases of famous beer nations (Belgium, Germany, England) the beer menu also packs a few surprises, featuring independent French breweries including Outland and Brasserie de la Vallé de Chevreuse. La Fine Mousse also organizes regular events such as beer tastings and microbrew introduction courses for beginning and advanced beer lovers.
La Fine Mousse (Michel Mikiane Lévy-Provencal)
Les Trois 8 – The newest bar to roll out the microbrew barrel, Les Trois 8 is worth a visit for two reasons: their carefully curated selection of craft beers and their inclusion of natural wines alongside artisanal beers on the menu. Between pints of hoppy IPAs and bottles of unfiltered natural wines, Les Trois 8 offers options for both the beer lover and wine drinker.
La Fine Mousse (Alexandre Martin)
If you’re looking to take some French microbrews home with you a number of shops have locally brewed bottles in stock, including People’s Drugstore in Montmartre and La Cave à Bulles, which features a wide selection of beers from Ile-de-France breweries. Another option is to go straight to the source and put together a six pack at the Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or, where you can also order an entire keg for an upcoming house party or event.
People’s Drugstore (Didier Gauducheau)
Adventurous beerheads can try their hand at brewing their own by signing up for Montreuil-based brewery Zymotik‘s beer brewing workshops. During the 4-hour class you will learn the basics of beer brewing as well as prepare your own small batch of beer to take home and share with friends!
La Fine Mousse (Alexandre Martin)
Le Supercoin
3 Rue Baudelique, 75018
Métro: Simplon
Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or
28 Rue de la Goutte d’Or, 75018
Métro: Barbès – Rochechouart
Express de Lyon
1 Rue de Lyon, 75012
Métro: Gare de Lyon
La Fine Mousse
6 Avenue Jean Aicard, 75011
Métro: Rue Saint-Maur
Les Trois 8
11 Rue Victor Letalle, 75020
Métro: Ménilmontant
Supercoin
Related links:
- The Daily Beast has picked up on this craft beer trend currently going on in Paris as well
- Find HiP Paris’ previous post, written by Elise Marafioti, about People’s Drugstore right here
- And be sure not to miss our full post about La Brasserie de la Goutte D’Or
Written by Emily Poulain for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.
WRITTEN BY
Emily Dilling
Emily Dilling is a France based writer and author of My Paris Market Cookbook: A Culinary Tour of French Flavors and Seasonal Recipes. In 2005 Emily moved to Paris from her native California and began exploring the cities markets, restaurants, and cafés. In 2010 she founded the blog Paris Paysanne, where she writes about her favorite addresses and artisans in the city. Emily currently lives in the Loir-et-Cher region of France, where she writes and works in the grapevines.
I am actually going to Paris in September so will have to try and check out some of these places. They all look wonderful!
Thank you for sharing this. Of course, I love to drink wine when I’m in France, but hidden gems like this, especially depending who is with you, are awesome finds!
Gosh I wish I had this article to go by when I was in Paris last time. Literally the only thing that disappointed me while I was there was the seemingly horrid beer selection… the choice between blonde and dark doesn’t quite do it for me! Haha, I’ll have this list on reserve for next time though that’s for sure!