🍻 What a Journey! From Normandy to the Brew Kettle

pvandoorn8733
Nov 4
2 min read

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and that's exactly what happened to us! Although Dutch nationals with a massive Anglophile heart (how much I miss the British Isles after Brexit!), we absolutely love our life in Normandy. Still, we wanted more.

We are the proud owners of La Maison des Druides, a charming tourism business featuring a gîte and a mini-campsite. But to avoid relying solely on tourism, we decided to pursue our passions. And one passion stood out: homebrewing!

From Kitchen Counter to Brewing Corner

My brewing adventure started in 2023. It began small: using ready-made kits in a regular pot on the stove. But the interest was quickly piqued! After an enjoyable brewing course and purchasing a BrewMonk B40 kettle from Brouwland, the operation moved from the kitchen to the utility room.

My heart belongs to the English, Scottish, and Irish beer styles. After much experimentation, I finally found THE recipe for our first hit: Aine, a beautiful Irish Red Ale. At 5.3%, with a soft caramel note and a subtle bitterness, it instantly became a favourite with our guests!

Aine was quickly joined by Belenos, a delicious, non-typically British wheat beer. A perfect thirst-quencher for the warm Norman summer days at the campsite. Both beers were very popular and sold exceptionally well last summer.

Expansion and New Flavour Adventures

Now that autumn has begun, the brewery has found a new, larger home in our big gîte. The equipment is still the BrewMonk, but plans for a larger kettle are already in place!

Time to experiment!

Currently, a Stout (à la Guinness) is fermenting. In three weeks, it will be tasting time! If it's a hit, it will earn a permanent spot in our range.
Next week, I will start a trial batch of a Pumpkin Spice Ale. We hope this will become our delightful seasonal beer for autumn and winter!