Bière de Garde is a traditional regional beer from northern France, made with sweet malt flavors. It has a higher alcohol content designed for longer storage.
How it is made
Bière de Garde is traditionally brewed during winter and early spring for consumption in summer. The beer undergoes a mandatory conditioning period at low temperatures for 4-6 weeks before sale. It can be either top-fermented (ale) or bottom-fermented (lager), and comes in light, amber, and brown varieties depending on the malt used.
History
Originally produced by farmers in northern France, this beer was designed to be stored and consumed during warmer months. The higher alcohol content and hermetic bottling in corked bottles similar to sparkling wines allowed for long-term storage at low temperatures.
Types and styles
Bière de Garde varies in color, with light, amber, and brown versions using different malts. It can be filtered or unfiltered, and is available as both top-fermented ales and bottom-fermented lagers, though ales are more common.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Бьер-де-Гард, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.