David & Sarah Meakin at the Domaine du Merchien at Belfort-du-Quercy (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) have already demostrated their prowess at making some excellent Coteaux du Quercy wines - and are now branching out to produce some English-style beers, including:-
a Porter Stout (bière noire) "a dark and very rich beer with six different types of grain and two types of hops Fuggles and Goldings producing a complex taste - strength 6.5%"
an India Pale Ale (IPA) (bière blonde) "a traditional British beer with a light colour, a strong hop taste - strength 5.4%"
and a Bitter (bière dorée)"Light Bitter or light ale for those long summer days and evenings uses Fuggles, Goldings and Progress hops – strength 4.3%"
It will be interesting to see if the local French population take to these beers - French beer tends to be a light refreshing and fizzy lager style - although in recent years you do see more of some of the stronger and darker beers (Leffe for example, which is Belgian) - and certainly in the north there are an increasing number of micro-breweries. However, initially I suspect the Meakin's market will be the ex-patriates and summer tourists - especially as they plan to sell the beer (and wine) at local Sunday markets in Limogne-en-Quercy(46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees) and St Antonin-Noble-Val (82 Tarn-et-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees).
Although a little off the beaten track the Domaine is well worth a visit, situated on the "Causse" the sprawling high moorland south of Cahors, not far off the N20 and new A20 autoroute. Their wines are veru good (forget the local Cahors sytle - these are quite different, using mainly Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with the more local and tannic Cot (Malbec) and Tannat grapes in supporting roles).
See their website at www.merchien.net/
