Comptoir Agricole brews at the World Fair in Milan

On Saturday, September 19, 2015, Alsatian hop farmers were present alongside Brasseurs de France at the French Pavilion of the World’s Fair in Milan for the “festa de la birra”.

Comptoir Agricole had come with the association of amateur brewers Alsace-ElsassBrau who had brewed a special beer for this occasion, using Strisselspalt and Tradition hops. The Minister for Agriculture Stéphane LE FOLL and François LOOS, President of Brasseurs de France were present and Comptoir Agricole was represented by Matthieu LUTHIER, Manager for Development & Communication. Together they participated in harvesting the hops planted around the French Pavilion.

The Minister then brewed beer using Barbe Rouge hop. This event was the perfect opportunity to officially present the Minister with the results of the Alsatian hop industry’s efforts to support sustainable development. The event ended with a premier beer tasting of Pavilion beer, much appreciated by the many participants.

All day long, the steady flow of visitors to the French Pavilion discovered the secrets of beer brewing from the ElsassBrau Master Brewers Xavier and Patrick.

Photo of the French Pavilion at Expo 2015 in Milan (Photo credits Anny Haeffele)

Beer brewed specially for the “Festa de la Birra” at the French Pavilion at Expo 2015 in Milan, using Tradition and Strisselspalt hops (Photo credits Stefano de Grandis – Objectif Images Paris – Ministry of Agriculture)

Minister of Agriculture Stéphane LE FOLL brewing beer made from Barbe Rouge hops (Photo credits Stefano de Grandis – Objectif Images Paris – Ministry of Agriculture)

Presentation of the report on sustainable development by the Alsatian hops sector to Minister of Agriculture Stéphane LE FOLL Photo credits Stefano de Grandis – Objectif Images Paris – Ministry of Agriculture)

Beer tasting during the “Festa de la Birra” at the French Pavilion (Photo credits Stefano de Grandis – Objectif Images Paris – Ministry of Agriculture)

ElsassBrau Master Brewers Xavier and Patrick perform the filtering operation at the French Pavilion (Photo credits: Anny Haeffele)

Demonstration of brewing techniques at the French Pavilion by ElsassBrau Master Brewers Xavier and Patrick (Photo credits: Anny Haeffele).