Number of active beer microbreweries in France 2009-2021

Breweries and microbreweries are a highly dynamic industry in France. Indeed, while in 2009 there were 263 microbreweries in the country, 12 years later their number was multiplied by more than seven.
The term "microbrewery" refers to all breweries producing a limited number of hectoliters per year. Often handmade, microbrewery-made beer can be produced by a bar or restaurant, a farm, or by small or medium-sized enterprises.

A Lager than life phenomenon

The microbrewery phenomenon appeared during the 1970s in the United Kingdom, with the concept spreading gradually to North America and then to Western Europe. In France, microbreweries only made their appearance in the mid-1980s, and the concept benefited from a strong increase in brewing sites at the turn of the 2010s. This growth was such that France is the country with the most breweries in Europe. In 2021, microbreweries represented over 90 percent of all nationwide breweries. Naturally, the number of people directly employed in this sector also grew exponentially between 2008 and 2019, going from 3,600 to 7,700.

Beer consumption in France

While wine has a traditionally been French people’s favorite alcoholic beverage, beer appears to be giving it a run for its money. Indeed, after a decrease in consumption between the 1980s and 2010, it is now the most consumed alcoholic beverage per capita in the nation. The above-mentioned dynamism of microbreweries is most likely part of the answer behind that phenomenon. Furthermore, other segments of this market, such as alcohol-free or flavored beers, also participate in this brewing success.