“I love this place, I love this neighbourhood, I love this culture” explained Thierry Roche as we sipped his craft beer in La Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or.

Named after the neighbourhood Thierry loves so much, La Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or was the first microbrewery to open in Paris. Opening its doors in October 2012, the brewery provides a rare space for those Parisians who prefer hops to grapes!

Craft Beer in Paris

Much like the rest of France, Paris is a haven for wine lovers. A quick look at the city’s most well-known events and you’ll see wine festivals taking place throughout the year.

But as Thierry said, “Things are changing very quickly in Paris.”

According to a recent report, Belgium exports more beer to France than they do to any other European country. And surprisingly, France exports more beer to the UK than they do any other country in Europe!

Another recent study also shows that France is the 5th largest consumer of beer in Europe.

So you could say that the wine industry has completely stolen the show! And Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or is here to show you that craft beer does have a place in Paris!

Even if we did taste test the beer from wine glasses…

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Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or

Goutte d’Or literally translates to Drop of Gold. It’s the name of the neighbourhood in which Thierry opened Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or and funnily enough, according to this book, the name comes from the wine that was once produced there.

A white wine particularly favoured by King Henri IV, the grandfather of Louis XIV!

These days, the name is less associated with royalty and more with multiculturalism. The Goutte d’Or neighbourhood is one of the most mixed in Paris.

And as with any neighbourhood that is home to immigrants from all over the world, public opinion on the district has often been negative.

But with his signature beers, Thierry wants to celebrate the Goutte d’Or district. Almost all the ingredients (aside from the hops) come from France. And many of the flavours you can taste are inspired by the local African and Asian markets.

It’s almost as if, by blending the ingredients that he does, Thierry is hoping to signify the beauty that lies in the blend of cultures in the Goutte d’Or district.

My favourite part is that each beer is named in reference to the area.

La Chapelle is the name of a street (Boulevard de la Chapelle) that intersects with Boulevard Barbès, and runs almost parallel to Rue de la Goutte D’or. Barbès is also the name of two of Thierry’s signature beers.

And Chateau Rouge, of course, refers to the infamous metro station. Or more specifically, to the busy atmosphere and smells of grilled corn and fish that surround the metro station.

Visiting Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or

One thing to note when visiting Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or is that the small shop is also an active microbrewery! While this makes the whole experience far more of an immersive event, it also means that unfortunately, they’re not always open to the public.

Opening Times:
Thursday – Friday: 17.00 – 19.00; Saturday: 14:00 – 19:00

Location: 28 Rue de la Goutte d’Or, 75018 Paris

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I was a guest in Paris for the ‘Young & Festive’ weekend run by the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau and hosted by Generator Paris. However, and as always, all opinions are honest and my own.