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Charente Craft Beer

Craft beer from the Charente region has been experiencing a real boom over the past fifteen years or so. While the Charente region is world-renowned for Cognac and Pineau des Charentes, it is also home to numerous microbreweries that produce distinctive beers, brewed from carefully selected ingredients using traditional methods. Today, Charente brewers offer a wide variety of styles, ranging from light lagers to hoppy IPAs, as well as stouts, seasonal beers, and barrel-aged creations.

History and Origins

The Charente’s brewing tradition dates back many years but long remained in the shadow of the region’s spirits. Beginning in the 2010s, the craft microbrewery movement experienced strong growth, driven by passionate artisans seeking to promote local products and offer original beers.

Today, the Charente region is home to several dozen craft breweries that contribute to the region’s vibrant culinary scene and the diversification of local products.

Characteristics and Ingredients

Charente craft beers are generally brewed using:

  • barley malt, sometimes sourced from local suppliers;
  • French or European hops;
  • yeast selected according to the beer style;
  • water.

Many breweries prioritize:

  • regional ingredients;
  • unfiltered and unpasteurized beers;
  • bottle conditioning;
  • small-batch brewing.

Some recipes also incorporate local ingredients or are aged in barrels that previously held Cognac or Pineau des Charentes.

Tasting

Charente craft beers are best enjoyed:

  • as an aperitif;
  • with grilled meats or regional dishes;
  • as an accompaniment to cheese;
  • with chocolate desserts for dark beers.

Depending on the style, they offer notes that are:

  • floral;
  • fruity;
  • malty;
  • roasted;
  • spicy;
  • oaky for certain barrel-aged vintages.

Varieties

Breweries in the Charente region produce a wide variety of beers:

  • blonde;
  • white;
  • amber;
  • dark;
  • IPA;
  • Pale Ale;
  • Stout;
  • Triple;
  • Sour;
  • seasonal beers and limited-edition brews.

Some breweries stand out for their creative recipes or experiments with barrel aging.

Where can you find this specialty?

You can discover and purchase Charente craft beers:

  • directly at microbreweries in Charente;
  • at wine shops in Angoulême;
  • in shops selling regional products;
  • at farmers’ markets;
  • at craft beer fairs and festivals.

Among the best-known breweries are:

  • La Débauche (Angoulême), renowned for its bold creations and its taproom;
  • Deuzeff (Ruelle-sur-Touvre), whose high-quality brews have been recognized at the Saveurs Nouvelle-Aquitaine competition.

When can you find it?

Charente craft beer is available year-round.

However, some beers are seasonal:

  • spring beers;
  • lighter summer beers;
  • Christmas beers;
  • special-edition brews and limited editions.

Brewery open houses, beer festivals, and gourmet markets held between spring and fall are also excellent opportunities to discover local brews.

Conclusion

Charente craft beer has become a true ambassador for the region’s culinary renaissance. Thanks to passionate and innovative brewers, the Charentes region now offers a diverse selection of beers that are recognized far beyond the region’s borders.

Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous to your health. Please drink responsibly.