Greetings from the south of France

[Argh]

Hey all,
Been skulking around here for a few weeks now. I'm a 'murrican living in France for the last 6 years.

Wrote a freekin' novel by way of introduction here yesterday, but it didn't post, prolly just as well.

Grew up in southern Oregon. Made around 24 batches of extract-only and a couple batches of mead back in the '90s. Life changed, 2 or 3 major geographic changes and 'me voila' on the old continent enjoying an incredible variety of really excellent and inexpensive wines as well as lots of stinky (or non-stinky if you prefer) cheeses. Unfortunately it's a freekin' beer desert (as compared to Oregon, which has roughly 17 brewpubs or microbreweries per square mile.) This is not a joke.

Been carting around 2 glass carboys, a couple hundred fliptop bottles and miscellaneous gear for the last 14 years or so. Finally got around to digging out my old copy of Charlie P, bought JJ Palmer, and have ordered and/or cobbled together the rest of the basics for 'real' brewing.

First batch will be a simple, dry mead. It's super easy and a beekeeper buddy of mine spotted me several kilos of all-natural organic super-mega wildflower honey from his bees, with conditions of course.

Second batch will be my first allgrain, amore traditional (as opposed to american) IPA-style kit I ordered off a Belgian site (Brouwland, super folks).

Third batch will be a Black Butte Porter (one of favorite beers and definitely my favorite porter to date) clone recipe found here. I've got some questions on that one which I will post appropriately, there's time for that later.

Any other HBers here living in France? I've got a Dutch buddy who is quite experienced, but of course more is gooder.

Cheers,
Argh!

 

[Richardhead]

Welcome and hello from Central Oregon-lots of great info here

 

[bottlebomber]

Welcome! Interesting site, that Brouwland... ungodly expensive

 

[Argh]

Welcome! Interesting site, that Brouwland... ungodly expensive

True, but don't forget the prices are in euros. I'm paid in euros and despite the exchange rate a euro pretty much has the same buying power as a dollar in the U.S. The exchange rate is for tourists and high financiers. My first reaction was the same as yours but I haven't found better.

Thanks for the welcomes. I've found many good tidbits already and I'm sure this site with all your expertise will be an invaluable resource.

Argh

 

[bottlebomber]

True, but don't forget the prices are in euros. I'm paid in euros and despite the exchange rate a euro pretty much has the same buying power as a dollar in the U.S. The exchange rate is for tourists and high financiers. My first reaction was the same as yours but I haven't found better.

Thanks for the welcomes. I've found many good tidbits already and I'm sure this site with all your expertise will be an invaluable resource.

Argh

I was adjusting for the euro, and unless you guys make an average of 1.4 times what we do here it still looked really steep. It just means you'll have to make every brew count. There are a ton of good ideas for saving money on brewing here, so that's a help at least.

 

[TheHopShoppe]

Any other HBers here living in France?

Where are you at in France? I spent a summer studying in Agen, east of Bordeaux. Beer desert is right! 1664 or Amstel. Your call.

 

[bottlebomber]

How can France possibly be a beer desert when its right next to Belgium?

 

[TheHopShoppe]

How can France possibly be a beer desert when its right next to Belgium?

The same way Amarillo, TX can be 40* right now when Texas is right next to the Gulf of Mexico.

France is a big state and Belgium is at least 600 miles from the Bordeaux region (about the same from Amarillo to Houston). Beyond the distance, wine is a cultural sacred cow. The distance and wine culture make France a beer island even compared to places in Spain which are much further from Belgium.

 

[bottlebomber]

The same way Amarillo, TX can be 40* right now when Texas is right next to the Gulf of Mexico.

France is a big state and Belgium is at least 600 miles from the Bordeaux region (about the same from Amarillo to Houston). Beyond the distance, wine is a cultural sacred cow. The distance and wine culture make France a beer island even compared to places in Spain which are much further from Belgium.

Good analogy... beer ships a little better than fair weather though and I guess I just assumed that France was a great place for ALL types of foods and beverages. I didn't realize the wine mafia had the dubbels on embargo.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Welcome to HBT!

It's the old "Don't order steak at the seafood place". France isn't that well known for their beers, but the wine though...

Let me know if you ever need translation done. I grew up in Montreal and I speak both Fr+En fluently.

M_C

 

[Argh]

Welcome to HBT!

It's the old "Don't order steak at the seafood place". France isn't that well known for their beers, but the wine though...

Let me know if you ever need translation done. I grew up in Montreal and I speak both Fr+En fluently.

M_C

Thanks, I've been here several years and took french classes for several years 'back in the day' so I'm pretty fluent even though I have that funny ''accent de 'ricain''.

Argh

 

[Argh]

Where are you at in France? I spent a summer studying in Agen, east of Bordeaux. Beer desert is right! 1664 or Amstel. Your call.

Venelles is a small town just north of Aix-en-Provence (pop. ~140,000), about 25 miles north of Marseilles and a couple hours from Nice. Mediterranean coast. Really beautiful place to live even if it is a bit crowded.

Argh

 

[steveorbs06]

Hello my a'murican friend. Not only am I new to France, I am also new to brewmaking. Got here in August, here being Brest working with the marine nationale, and I brewed my first batch in Oct. still fermenting so we shall see how it goes. Go my maltmix from brouwland so they may be the supplers for us froggies.
Good to hear there is another merican with the same ideals as me in the country!

 

[Homercidal]

Now that our insurgents are in place, it is time to commence operation "La domination de la bière!"