The Saint-Omer region

A treat for beer lovers

When visiting Northern France, it’s impossible not to indulge in a little suds!

The Pays de Saint-Omer is home to several breweries, from the most artisanal to the most international, as well as numerous cafés or estaminets where you can enjoy these delicious local specialties in pleasant surroundings. So, where can you enjoy a good beer? Here are our suggestions!

At artisan breweries…

Brewing know-how

The brewing know-how firmly rooted in the history of the Pays de Saint-Omer is also that of Charles Canler and Laurent Delafosse.

Childhood friends and associates, they are going to breathe new life into the brewery at the Abbaye de Clairmarais after 230 years of inactivity.

The site is still under construction, but the future brewery is gradually taking shape: it will soon be ready to house its brewing and fermentation tanks.

There, in the former sheepfolds of the Abbaye farm, no less than four types of beer will be coming out of the tanks from spring 2020.

In the manner of the monks of the time, a brew of “triple” beer will serve as the basis for extracting so-called “single” or “double” beers, abbey beers of course.

An amateur brewer turned professional, Laurent wants to root the project in monastic tradition and “make beer to tell the story of the Abbey”.

On this exceptional site of over one hectare, everything will be done to enable visitors to immerse themselves in the past of a place whose history dates back to the 12th century.

Clairmarais Abbey

On the brewing side, the reception area and store will offer a direct view of the facilities, tours of the site will be offered to visitors and eventually, the stables will be transformed into a tasting bar area.

Today brewed in Bailleul and Douai, the first vintages are already available from wine merchants and delicatessens in the region.

So where (soon) to drink a beer? Certainly at the Abbaye de Clairmarais farm, where you’ll meet enthusiasts who are eager to share their passion for the Cistercian brewing tradition with you.

A gateway to heaven

You’d like to visit several breweries in the region, with friends, in a vintage atmosphere?

A Combeer tour has been created, departing from Clairmarais. You’ll take your place in a fun vehicle, a Combi, and set off on the beer trail, meeting up with one to three breweries, depending on what you fancy. Sharing, conviviality and tastings guaranteed!