Bon Voyage! LeBaB Taproom in Paris!

Beer People are Our People (All Over the World)

Craft beer has no borders and, as we found out in France, no language barriers. Throughout our craft beer journey, we have found that beer lovers – be they brewers, tap room servers, or just drinkers – are the most approachable people in the world! When you recognize each other, you are instantly welcomed in. There is no judgment or snobbery in craft beer. A master brewer will talk to a fanboy and meet them where they are. Having had our feet in both the wine and the beer communities, we can tell you that there is a definite contrast between “wine people” and “beer people.” We’ll make this claim, but we’ll add the caveat, “Your experience may vary!”

We were able to compare/contrast the two beverage communities when we went to France for our 20th wedding anniversary – a wine cruise, no less. Because we initially didn’t think of France as “craft beer country,” beer was not specifically on our agenda. But when you’re self-proclaimed “beer explorers,” beer just happens!

In his 2006 book, The Brewmasters Table, Garrett Oliver wrote about the best beers, breweries and beer/food pairings in Europe. His take on France was that there is only one real French craft beer: Biere de Garde. He portrayed France as not much of a player; however, we discovered that a lot had changed in French beer in 20 years – much like it has in NC and in all of the US.

The Basics

Location: 25 Rue Louis le Grand 75002 Paris Metro Opera

Website: barabieresparis.com

Social media: instagram/le_bab_opera, Facebook

Vibe/Atmosphere: welcoming, engaging, comfortable, urban, grown-up

Beers We Tried

Ripples In Time DIPA (Paris) and Coal Drop Dry English Stout (Liverdun, France)

Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends! Follow these simple tips for safer consumption.

Nous Aimons la Bière et Paris!

When we travel abroad, we always give ourselves about a day and a half of "jet lag recovery,” where we keep things light and undemanding as our sleeping and eating schedules adjust. After landing in Paris and before our cruise, we happened upon Le BaB Opera, a beer bar that was just a short walk from our hotel.

When we walked in at around 7:30 pm on a Wednesday, it was not too crowded, and we took seats at the bar. Looking around and surveying the beer menu, we felt immediately comfortable. The sign board listed 11 beers on tap (they advertise 100+ on the menu), including nine French brews, two of which were local to Paris. American styles like Session IPA and DIPA were written in English, and, just like any taproom in the US, there was a full range of styles from Pilsner to Stout with IPAs and Sours along the path.

The magic started when we talked to the staff. Our server Lisa spoke very good English (we speak very little French) and gave us her recommendations of the most interesting beers to try. We sampled Ripples In Time DIPA and Coal Drop Dry Stout, both of which were French beers (see tasting notes below). Both were very good beers which would not be out of place at an NC taproom.

After hearing that we were craft beer lovers and writers about the subject, she introduced us to “Jay,” the general manager. He spoke a little English, but of course, we were able to communicate just fine using the international language of beer lovers.

Midi and Lisa were instant "Beer Bros" at LeBaB.

Jay told us he was in charge of BaB's beer menu. He rotates a continually changing selection of 11 or 12 beers on tap, mostly French. Plus, he stocks another 90 beers in bottles and cans to provide a diverse global selection. We chatted with Lisa and Jay for a half hour, and eventually insisted we wanted to release them to the rest of their customers.

After finishing our beers, we said our goodbyes and walked out into the bright evening lights of the Opera district in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. It was another world, but we felt right at home! ⚜️🍺🌎

We found some new Parisian "Beer Bros" and delicious, crushable craft beer at LeBaB in the Opera district of Paris.

NCBE's Beer Tasting Notes

• Ripples in Spacetime – Soquee Brewing, Paris

  • Style: DIPA (brewed with Galaxy and Citra hops)

  • ABV: 8.3 %

  • Color: Amber

  • Aroma: Passion fruit and muted citrus

  • Taste: Tropical and stone fruit and grapefruit. Initially sweet -> some bitterness lagging

  • Mouthfeel: Pillowy, medium carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Same as aroma

  • Overall: interesting juxtaposition of the American DIPA where the fruit notes have to battle to

    be recognized above the citrus and bitterness.

• Coal Drop – The Piggy Brewing Company, Liverdun, France (Near Nancy in Northeastern France)

  • Style: Dry English Stout

  • ABV: 5%

  • Color: Black

  • Aroma: Dark roast and smoke

  • Taste: Deep Italian roast, smoke, bitter. Malt sweetness in the background provides some balance

    to the bitterness. Bittersweet baking chocolate

  • Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, low carbonation (not a nitro)

  • Aftertaste: bitter coffee with touch of citrus hop

  • Overall: Crushable! Easy drinking beer – I would like to try it with a nitro pour. The English Stout is just a little sweeter vs. a bone dry Irish Stout.

Have you discovered any good craft beer from France? Share below!