Benjamin the Brewer, and other like minded chaps

Tim Bro, checking for sediment (or something...)

At Antoinette's recent birthday barbecue there was home brewed beer to drink. It had been made by one of her students, referred to as Benjamin the Brewer. Lots of her students are in the catering industry, so I assumed he was one of those, but she also has lots of students in the engineering and automotive manufacturing sector, and it turns out he is actually one of these. By day he is an industrial chemist, turning out paints for agricultural machinery. But by night he is a brewer of some talent.

A crate of Benjamin's beer, awaiting party goers.

Antoinette asked him to produce a batch each of pale ale and amber ale, not too high in alcohol and something that everyone could drink. He fulfilled the brief admirably. The only criticism was that his labels were a bit unimaginative!

Benjamin's Amber Ale (5%) and Pale Ale (4.3%).

Benjamin joins a host of other (usually) young men for whom brewing and real ale is experiencing a comeback. More and more commercial microbreweries are popping up, and from what I've sampled, the products are very drinkable. Usually not very challenging, but well balanced and good quality.

Uli modelling Benjamin's pale ale.

I did a quick internet search to see how many artisan breweries we have within easy reach these days and here is the list.

La P'tite Maiz, Tours

Brasserie de l'Aurore, Cormery

Ferme Brassicole François Rabelais, Chemillé-sur-Dême

Brasserie d'Amboise, Amboise (part of the wine estate Closerie de Chanteloup)

Brasserie de la Pigeonelle, Céré le Ronde

Brasserie la Gironnette, Loché sur Indrois

Micro Brasserie de Tours, La Riche

Brasserie Guillaume, Cour Cheverny

Art is an Ale Brewing, Amboise (we got asked to their opening, but couldn't go)

Braslou Bière, Braslou

Ten years ago you would have struggled to find any of these (two of them, I think, have been operating for 10 years or more). Today, I'm sure there are a couple I've forgotten and left off the list.

PS. If you've got any of Benjamin's bottles, he'd like the empties back please.

A selection of local beers, for sale at the market in Preuilly.

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