The Vosges now count around fifteen craft breweries, with a nice cluster around La Bresse, Remiremont and Gérardmer. Five addresses worth the detour.
The Vosges brewing renaissance
Until the early 2000s, Vosges beer was virtually non-existent as a local product. The neighbouring Alsace region had its industrial breweries (Kronenbourg, Fischer), but the Vosges massif had no strong brewing tradition.
Everything changed from around 2010, in the wake of the craft beer movement that transformed France from the United States and the United Kingdom. A new generation of passionate brewers settled in the massif, attracted by a key resource: Vosges spring water, renowned for its softness and purity, ideal for brewing.
The Vosges specificities:
- Spring water from the Vosges sandstone is naturally filtered and very low in minerals, producing light and easy-drinking beers.
- Local hops are experimental but growing: a few producers in the area are trying to revive Vosges hop cultivation, which existed in the 19th century before disappearing.
- Regional ingredients (bilberries, fir buds, Vosges honey, local spices) are integrated into original seasonal recipes.
1. Brasserie de La Bresse
The local favourite. Pale, amber and triple beers, a blueberry edition in summer. Shop in the village, draught beer in several restaurants.
2. Brasserie de Gérardmer
Broad range, beers aged in oak barrels, seasonal events. Guided tour and tasting.
3. Brasserie artisanale du Ventron
Small production but beers well known to enthusiasts. Visit as a side trip to a Grand Ventron hike.
4. Brasserie de Remiremont
Back to historic roots: a brewery in the town centre with an adjoining pub to taste on the spot. Take the opportunity to visit Remiremont on the same day.
5. Brasserie du Thillot
Original products, regular collaborations with bars in the Vosges and the Territoire de Belfort.
Guided tours: how they work
Most Vosges craft breweries open their doors to visitors, generally at weekends.
Typical tour format (around 1h30):
- Welcome and introduction to the brewery: history, philosophy, production volumes
- Tour of the installations: brew house (mash tun, kettle, fermentation tank), maturation room, bottling
- Process explanation: malts, hops, yeasts, top or bottom fermentation
- Tasting of 3 to 5 beers with the brewer’s commentary
Prices: between 10 and 15 euros per person, including tasting. Some breweries offer free tours with a suggested purchase at the shop.
Booking: essential, groups are limited to 8-15 people. Get in touch by email or online form at least a week ahead in high season.
Seasonal beers: a calendar of flavours
The great strength of the Vosges craft breweries lies in their seasonal beers, which reflect the region’s produce at each time of year:
Christmas beer (November to January): spiced with cinnamon, star anise or ginger, slightly sweet. Dark amber colour, alcohol often above 7%. Perfect with a festive meal or a charcuterie platter.
Spring fir bud beer (March to May): a distinctive Vosges speciality. Fir buds harvested in early March bring a vegetal and resinous bitterness that is very characteristic. Worth trying at least once.
Summer bilberry beer (July to September): wild bilberries from the Vosges give a purple colour and intense fruity notes. Slightly tart, refreshing.
Autumn beer (October): some breweries offer versions with chestnuts or autumn spices, less widespread but inventive.
Taking some home: available formats
The brewery shop is often as interesting as the tour itself:
- 33 cl bottles: café format, ideal for trying several references without overspending. Price: 3 to 5 euros a bottle.
- 75 cl bottles: table format, for sharing. 5 to 8 euros.
- 5-litre mini-kegs: perfect for chalets with several adults. Allow draught-style serving without specialist equipment. Price: 25 to 40 euros depending on the range. Once opened, keeps 3 to 5 days refrigerated.
- Gift sets: offered by most breweries, with 3 to 6 bottles, sometimes accompanied by an engraved glass or a book about the brewery. Ideal as a souvenir or gift.
Where to taste
- Cafés and restaurants in central La Bresse
- Specialist shops in Gérardmer and Remiremont
- La Bresse market on Saturday morning
Beer and Vosges food pairings
- Pale: tartiflette, tarte flambée
- Amber: smoked meats, marcaire meal
- Triple: well-aged munster
- Stout: blueberry tart, chocolate desserts
Beyond the classic pairings, Vosges beer works beautifully across the local gastronomy. A well-aged munster (sometimes washed in beer itself) with a triple or abbey-style beer creates a pairing where bitterness balances and flavours reinforce each other. A stout with bilberry tart mirrors the bitterness of cocoa against the fruit of the berries.
Plan a stay in a chalet and combine tastings with hikes and lake days.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the breweries?
Most offer tours with tastings, usually Friday and Saturday afternoons. Online booking strongly recommended, places are limited.
Are the beers sold in shops?
Yes, in craft shops in La Bresse, Gérardmer and Remiremont, and direct at the breweries. Some supermarkets also stock local ranges.
Are there children-friendly brewery tours?
Tours are usually from 16 and up, but some breweries have tap-rooms with outdoor space and soft drinks where families are welcome.
What's the best season to visit?
Spring and autumn for quiet visits, summer for festive tap-room events with live music.