Beer (and wine) in Quercy (Lot)

David & Sarah Meakin at the Domaine du Merchien at Belfort-du-Quercy (46 Lot, Occitanie) have already demonstrated their prowess at making some excellent Coteaux du Quercy wines – and are now branching out to produce Quercy beers – some English-style beers, including:-
a Porter Stout (bière noire) “a dark and very rich beer with six different types of grain and two types of hops Fuggles and Goldings producing a complex taste – strength 6.5%”
an India Pale Ale (IPA) (bière blonde) “a traditional British beer with a light colour, a strong hop taste – strength 5.4%”
and a Bitter (bière dorée)“Light Bitter or light ale for those long summer days and evenings uses Fuggles, Goldings and Progress hops – strength 4.3%”

It will be interesting to see if the local French population take to these beers – French beer tends to be a light refreshing and fizzy lager style – although in recent years you do see more of some of the stronger and darker beers (Leffe for example, which is Belgian) – and certainly in the north there are an increasing number of micro-breweries. However, initially I suspect the Meakin’s market will be the expatriates and summer tourists – especially as they plan to sell the beer (and wine) at local Sunday markets in Limogne-en-Quercy( 46 Lot, Occitanie) and St Antonin-Noble-Val (82 Tarn-et-Garonne, Occitanie).

Although a little off the beaten track the Domaine is well worth a visit, situated on the “Causse” the sprawling high moorland south of Cahors, not far off the N20 and the A20 autoroute. Their wines are veru good (forget the local Cahors sytle – these are quite different, using mainly Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with the more local and tannic Cot (Malbec) and Tannat grapes in supporting roles).

See their website at http://www.merchien.com