Thanking Brewers #1- Craig Allan

Brasserie Craig Allan

Father, brewer, scotsman and co-creator of the newly released UNSTOUT- a full body, highly hopped sessionable beer of the highest order, Craig deserves a big GROUP HUG for his pioneering in the French craft beer scene!

On February 13th Parisians (me included) were able to meet and bisous the man himself.

Thanks Brewer Soirée #1: Craig Allan

Trois 8 located just off metro line 2, station Ménilmontant is one of Paris's best beer geek locations, with great atmosphere, a revolving tap list and plenty of local love. Owners Phillipe (left) and Julien (right) invited Craig Allan (center) for a showcase evening and many group hugs.

[caption id="attachment_2438" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Biérocratie owners Pierre and Jaclyn hugging Craig[/caption]

Craig Allan's three stable beers were on draft: Psychedelia, a blond beer starring the Moteuka hop variety from New Zealand, Agent Provocateur a Belgian style golden ale brewed with floral and citrus aromatic American hops and Cuvée d'Oscar a dark wheat beer named for his son Oscar. But the starlet of the night was without a doubt Craig's collaboration piece with friend and fellow brewer Craig. A different scotsman named Craig. Thats right!

2 Craigs UNSTOUT

Craig of Cromarty Brewing Co and Craig of Brasserie Craig Allan had the idea to produce a

"very low alcohol beer packed with flavour."

[caption id="attachment_2435" align="alignnone" width="960"] Stout feeling, high hopped and any only 2% abv? Clement explains to me the impossible[/caption]

In order to achieve this masterful feat they packed loads of un-malted ingredients and an unusually high mash temperature to for a stout-like feel.  Mashing in at 72°C instead of the typical 65°C the Craigs were able to obtain an extract from the cereal which was deliberately less fermentable. As a result, unfermentable sugars and carbohydrates give UNSTOUT a fuller body.

Check out more of the team's brewing tricks here!

This big, little beer sports a classic smooth expresso and liquorice-like quality of a stout, huge herbal hop character from French hops, and pulls in a subtle 2% abv. May we call it a black IPA? May we call it sessionable? Lets just say that it has all the Craigs' personality and won't leave you drowning in pétrole.

[caption id="attachment_2439" align="alignnone" width="960"] Craig loves his Alsace hops[/caption]

Check out more photos of Thanks Brewer soirée #1 and keep up to date on when we'll be thanking more local brewers in Paris.