La Bavaisienne Ambrée
A straight forward bière de garde from France’s oldest farmhouse brewery, Theillier. This bière has a rustic simplicity that speaks volumes. La Bavaisienne Ambrée embraces earth, caramel, dust and holds a slight iron taste with some barnyard funk. This is a bière de garde by which all others should be measured. (7% ABV)
La Choulette San Culottes
Effervescent and wonderful, this brewery’s house yeast has some intriguing apple and pear notes above and beyond the usual dusty, funky bière de garde characteristics. (7% ABV)
Southampton Bière de Garde
Brewer Phil Markowski wrote the book Farmhouse Ales for the Brewers Association. His passion for the style shows in this bière. Phil’s brew has big notes of wood, yeast, and caramel and is a little drier and boozier than the French examples reviewed here. (7.2% ABV)
The Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi
A special Noël version of a bière de garde that is big with some serious wine undertones. The Gift of the Magi is a reference to the three wise men carrying beer across the desert. The Lost Abbey Avant Garde Ale (7% ABV) is their regular strength example and a fine ode to this brewing style. (10% ABV)