The Beer Festival in Lille begins this Monday, November 4, 2024 until the big closing weekend in Saint-Sauveur. Here are five things to know before going to the seventh edition of the BAL.
The origin: Beer in Lille motivated by… Bordeaux
Beer in Lillethe metropolis’s beer and brewing culture festival, owes its creation somewhat to Bordeaux. “ The thing that motivated us was that a beer festival was created in Bordeaux… We said to ourselves that it was a shame that there was a beer festival in the wine capital and that it there is nothing in Lille “, remembers Charlie Labourey, the organizer.
The Beer Escape founded the BAL in 2017. A smaller festival at the time, with 15 breweries in the CCI of Lille. “ The DNA of the festival was really to introduce people to beer. It was the start of the wave of craft breweries, we wanted to discover this richness. » The BAL has since grown to the point of reaching 10,000 visitors during the closing weekend in 2023.
Tour circuits to guide visitors
The BAL is 70 breweries this year: a third from the region, a third from elsewhere in France, a third from abroad. To allow visitors to find their way around during the closing weekend, the festival is once again setting up a tour circuit. “ The breweries are distributed by geographical sectorexplains Charlie Labourey. There are 70 of them, if you don’t have an entry key, it’s a bit complicated. There, it’s about taste, depending on what we like: what’s bitter, what’s acidic… » And there’s even an itinerary for those who don’t like beer.
The Fives Cail brewery will be present for the first time this year. PHOTO KIMBELEY PROUVOST / LA VOIX DU NORD – VDNPQR
A week of events before the Grand Final
Before the Grand Final which corresponds to the closing weekend, the festival offers around sixty events in around thirty locations of the Lille metropolis. “ There are establishments labeled “beers”. In Lille, obviously, there is La Capsule, it’s in their DNAindicates the organizer. There are establishments a little further away, for example the Clarance bar, the Michelin-starred restaurant which participates almost every year. »
Each location offers special evenings, the complete program of which is online on the website of the BAL.
The “BAL” is also entertainment
In addition to the 70 breweries, the “BAL” offers many activities at Saint-Sauveur station: a tattoo parlor, free physiotherapy massages, tasting workshops (Beers & chocolates, Beers & cheeses, etc.), conferences , an intervention on beer cocktails, as well as karaoke, a space for children. You can also attend culinary shows by chefs, eat in one of the food trucks or register (on the site du BAL) at a brunch on Sunday lunchtime.
Four new breweries in the region
Among the 30 regional breweries, four new ones, opened during the year, will be present at the festival: Fives Cail, Monsieur Paon, Adventice and Elements Brewing, which took over the Goulot brasserie in Roubaix.
The Elements Brewing microbrewery, which has just opened in Roubaix, will be present at the Bière à Lille festival. – PHOTO STEPHANE MORTAGNE
« The brewing world is going through a somewhat complicated transition. There was a new brewery every day, it couldn’t continue like thisobserve Charlie Labourey. But even if things are slowing down, there is still creation since we have been seeing new breweries arriving for three years. »And here comes the BAL which is the perfect time to discover them.
Event week from November 4 to 10. The program on www.bierealille.comGrand Final at Gare Saint-Sauveur in Lille: Saturday 9, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Price: €10 on Saturday, €9 on Sunday, €16 on both days. Presale: €8, €7 and €14. Tasting prices set by the breweries.
