Beer in France

Most beer sold in France is mass-produced, with major breweries having control of over 90% of the market and pilsner lagers predominating. There are also distinctive traditional beer styles, such as the top-fermented Bière de Garde. In recent years, France has also seen a proliferation of microbreweries.

Before industrialisation, most beer was brewed in small rural breweries, which catered to the needs of the local residents. In the early 20th century there were over a thousand breweries in France. As rural population declined, these breweries almost disappeared and along with them the tradition and diversity of the regional beers, which started to be replaced by larger urban ones. Among the things that caused most impact are:-

In the last decades the interest in beer was renewed and many new breweries, particularly microbreweries, have appeared.

The Alsace or Alsace-Lorraine region has had a turbulent history, changing hands several times between Germany and France. Currently, the French part is the main beer-producing région of France, thanks primarily to breweries in and near Strasbourg. These include those of Fischer (closed in 2009), (Karlsbräu), Kronenbourg, (Heineken International), , and (near Nancy). The brewery on Schiltigheim, founded in 1864 and closed in 2000, is noted for speciality beers such as Adelscott whisky beer.

Hops are grown in Kochersberg and in northern Alsace.

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