French Museum of the brewery

The French Musée of the brewery is located at Saint-Nicolas-of-Port, close to Nancy. It is installed in old a industrial Brasserie whose building of 1931 is due to the architect Fernand César, it is an good example of the industrial architecture Art déco. The museum presents at the same time material of brewery of various times, advertizing collections of objects, and demonstrations of mixing in a small installation. The museum grows rich continuously since its opening in 1988, and a great number of temporary exhibitions are organized. A dynamics around mixing was created, thus making Saint-Nicolas-of-Port a pole impossible to circumvent of mixing amateur or artisanal in France.

History

The first known mention of the presence of a brewery with Saint-Nicolas-of-Port goes back to 1786, with a site different from that of the current museum. Various breweries will exist in the city until in 1985. Under the impulse of Paul Moreau, who directed " large Breweries of Saint-Nicolas" , a new modern ultra brewery of the architect Fernand César and purer style Art déco occur between 1931 and 1932 with Saint-Nicolas-of-Port. The brewery extends then by absorbing other breweries and while seeking to conquer new markets (Africa for example). After being itself associated with the breweries with Vézelise and Sedan, the group Stella Artois (become InBev) repurchases these breweries in 1972 and the farm the ones after the others. That of Saint-Nicolas-of-Port will be the last closed in 1986.

At that time the whole of the commune is touched by closing, it is born then the will to classify the museum with the inventory to preserve it destruction which is promised to him. The building then is classified and repurchased by the commune which places it at the disposal of the association of the French museum of the brewery. This building one of the rare buildings of brewery is classified. July 1st, 1988 the museum opens its doors.

Activities of the museum

The museum knew to diversify its fields of competence to become today a pole impossible to circumvent in France of the culture of beer and brewery.

Permanent collections

The museum of the brewery presents material of brewery of the 18th century to the end of, material of malt factory, the techniques of mixing and the developments in the technologies of manufacture of beer. It recalls the stages of industrialization thus. Throughout the visit, a rich person collection of advertizing objects is introduced like two stained glasses of Jacques Gruber.

Mixing

The museum created a brewery amateur and organizes demonstrations regularly. Activities around artisanal mixing and amateur are proposed:

Reception of people wanting to attend a mash tub.
Living room of the brewer amateur.
Demonstrations of mixing in external demonstrations.
Formal trainings and practices during the summer.
Weekend of formation set of themes.
an important beer contest for the amateurs and craftsmen.
a technical library
the presence of specialized people (due to the presence of ENSAIA and French Institute of drinks of the brewery and malt factory in the vicinity)
technical and historical Conferences.

Temporary exhibitions

The museum increases its collections regularly but organizes also temporary exhibitions. For example:

art and the beer
Beer and foot (at the time of the world cup)
breweries at the 18th century
the brewery at the 19th century: example of Tantonville in Lorraine (54)
Beer and play
the beer in Africa
the beer in Amazonia
the beer in the data base
the beer and art nouveau
breweries in France
to supplement

Cultural activity(AP)s

The museum organized " contest of nouvelles" around beer, a " contest of BD" and a contest of stained glass whose gaining works are carried out or published. An exposure of contemporary art took place in 2003, various artists adapted the place to divert it.

Publications

Books published by the museum:

3 books of " Nouvelles" of beer.
the drunk Dugout : ethnology of beer in Amazonia.
a directory of the French current breweries (regular updating).
a lexicon of the words used in brewery.
a booklet presenting the museum.
the Brewery of Tantonville (54), an industrial epopee at the 19th century .
Jean Moreau, brewer .

Difficulties

The building of the “turn of mixing” is out of concrete. This matter ages badly, and today of work of restoration would be necessary to ensure the safeguard of the long-term building.

External bonds

Site of the French museum of the brewery

Random links: