A Beer in Provence

Having spent a considerable amount of time over the past three or four years in Provence, or more specifically, in the Luberon, and having sampled quite a number of beers that are produced in that part of France, I thought it appropriate to devote a blog to those beers.

I trust that Peter Mayle will forgive me for bastardising the name of his famous book for the blog’s title.

In addition to the beers I have included in this blog, I would draw your attention to several others that I have already listed under the French flag, specificvally:

1909 & 1912
Agora
La Cagole (which I have to say is head and shoulders above any of the others.)

So, for no particular reason apart from alphabetical, I’ll begin with this one: Aptesienne. Comes from the town of Apt, hence its name. Blonde (probably a lager), 5% alcohol.

Cloudy, good head & lacing. Quite refreshing, interesting taste but not one I felt the need to look for again.

5.5/10

Aptesienne blonde in the garden, July 2024. (I cheated with this photo, bought the beer in the Luberon and brought it home with me to my place in Le Perche).

Second one: B.A.L. Blonde (Pale Ale). Not sure but I think the brewery is also located in Apt.

The B.A.L. stands for Brasserie Artisanale du Luberon.

It’s a bio (organic) beer. 5% alcohol.

Cloudy, poor head but quite good lacing. Pleasant without being outstanding. Probably wouldn't look for it again but OK.

6/10

B.A.L. Blonde in the Luberon, near Gordes, May 2025.

This one I had recently (May 2025) in the Luberon, on tap only. Called Biere des Cigales, I had it at two different places.

The brewery is a bit of a mystery but my guess is that it’s a fairly new one.

Light honey colour, poor head and not much lacing. OK but probably wouldn't look for it again. (As it turned out, I did have it a second time at another bar but only because the alternatives were not attractive).

6/10

Biere des Cigales at Café Saint Pierre in Maubec, May 2025.

Same place and time. same beer. A mate helping me make an assessment.

Another from the Luberon, Le Petit Velo Blonde (Pale Ale).

Made by Brasserie Artisanale du Mont Ventoux, in a town called Carpentras. A bio (organic) beer, 5.0% alcohol.

Cloudy like all bio beers; good head & lacing. Slightly bitter and not particularly refreshing but perfectly drinkable.

6/10

Another slightly fraudulent photo; beer purchased in the Luberon but drunk at my place in Le Perche, July 2024

I’ll kill two beers with one stone here: Lub Pils and Saison. Lub of course being a shortened version of Luberon. Brasserie Lub is located in a town called Taillades.

Had one of each during a recent visit to the Luberon near Gordes (fabulous place if you haven’t been).

As a general rule I don’t much like Saison style beers and generally like a Pils, but with this beer it was the opposite.

The Saison: cloudy, good head and some lacing, Slightly bitter but pleasant and quite refreshing.

6/10

The Pils: very cloudy, poor head and virtually no lacing. Rather odd taste, not particularly pleasant, much prefer the Saison.

5/10

Lub Saison at Maison de la Truffe, Menerbes, 3 May 2025,

A beer that doesn’t appear to have wide distribution, Blonde Ensoleillee from Aix en Provence. A bio (organic) beer, 5% alcohol. Have only ever encountered it once, that was in 2024 (see photo).

Honey colour, very slightly cloudy at first pour but then cleared. Not many bubbles and poor head. A bit of an odd taste; not one I would look for but perfectly drinkable.

5.5/10

Blonde Ensoleillee beer at Cafe de la Gare, Bonnieux, 22 June 2024.

This beer I’d never heard of (and haven’t since), called Les Ouailles de Luberon. Brewery, which is very new (2017) is located in a town called Cheval Blanc.

They appear to make a small range of beers; this one is their blonde, 5% alcohol. Although the beer came to me at the restaurant in a glass, I suspect it wasn’t on tap but was poured from a bottle at the bar.

Doesn't appear to be a Bio beer. Very cloudy, quite good head, some lacing. Pleasant, perfectly drinkable but unremarkable.

6/10

Les Ouailles du Luberon blonde at Restaurant Le Mas near Gordes, 23 May 2024.

This one would probably win best bottle award (with some competition from Agora) but the beer itself doesn’t live up to the bottle. Ventopp Blonde is a Pale Ale, 4.3% alcohol, so quite light.

Cloudy, quite good head & lacing. Bit like a lot of artisan beers but pleasant and quite refreshing. Would look for it again and not only because of the bottle.

6/10

Ventopp blonde in the Luberon near Gordes, May 2025.

Last one: La Petite Aixoise, from Aix en Provence, as you could guess. Actually, it’s located in a town called Saint Cannat, near Aix.

This is their blonde, 5% alcohol.

Artisanale beer. Opaque & quite darkish for a Blonde. Nothing remarkable but pleasant. Wouldn’t go out of my way to find it.

5.5/10

PARIS AT CHRISTMAS 2023