The story, or how a winegrower from Var district, an amateur brewer from Alsace and a beekeeper from Maures Valley put their passion for beer together to dare creating a micro-brewery in the shade of the vines...
These lovers of gastronomy and good wine, passionate about new flavors and very attached to the land that surrounds them, first shared their dreams of beer and then did everything they could to realize a great idea, as old as the world, simple in spirit, but complex in its realization: what about our brewing our own beer!
That's how the BRASSERIE DE L'ÂNE VOLANT started...
Established in Gonfaron... in the heart of the Var, our brewery lives with its LAND.
It takes its name from the three hundred year old legend of the Âne Volant (Flying Donkey) :
a donkey accompanied by its grumpy owner that the Patron Saint of Gonfaron, Saint Quinis, made fly.
Spring water from the Maures mountain range. 2 barley malts (Pilsen, Pale Ale). A selection of 3 hops (Chinook, Perle, Citra). A top fermentation for 7 to 10 days. Honey from our beehives located in the Maures plain for a second fermentation in the bottle. Not filtered, not pasteurized ... And that's all!
Spring water from Maures mountain range. 5 barley malts (Pilsen, Biscuit, Coffee, Ambra and Aroma). A selection of 2 hops (Saaz and Challenger). Spices (Cinnamon, Pink Berry, Ginger and Cardamom). A top fermentation during 7 to 10 days. Honey from our beehives located in the Maures plain for a second fermentation in the bottle. Not filtered, not pasteurized ... And that's all !
Spring water from the Massif des Maures Three cereals (Pilsen barley, wheat malt, rice). A bunch of three hops (Mandarina Bavaria, Hüll Melon, Strisselspalt). A first fermentation (for 7 to 10 days. Honey from our beehives in the Plaine des Maures for a second fermentation in the bottle for 20 days. Unfiltered, unpasteurized... And that's it!
The little and big secrets of the brewery
We collect water from a natural spring in the schistous Maures Mountain Range! A pure, neutral and low-limestone water that promises a very special quality to our brews.
Brasserie de l'Âne Volant uses the best malted barley for the unique character of its beers. - Pilsen - Pale Ale - Cookie - Coffee - Ambra - Flavor
Malted barley mixed with hot water will release the sugars necessary for alcoholic fermentation.
We meticulously select the most aromatic hops for the unique character of our beers. - Chinook - Pearl - Citra - Saaz - Challenger
Each beer is elaborated with top fermentation in order to develop a great complexity of flavors.
For the second fermentation in the bottle, we use honey from our own beehives located in the Maures plain; the bees gathering the white heather, the maritime lavender, the thyme, the chestnut trees... bring back the scents and flavors of the land.
Beers of the Flying Donkey Brewery honored at the Donkey Festival of Gonfaron in early April 2022
The village of Gonfaron is surmounted by the Saint-Quinis chapel. Every year before the procession to the chapel, the inhabitants were asked to clean the streets for the procession. In 1645, a Gonfaronnais refused to do this task and exclaimed: "Saint-Quinis finds the passage too dirty, he will only have to jump over it!" Some time later, the old man was descending on his donkey the slopes of the Carnaraute (local name of the hill overlooking Gonfaron), when his beast, angered by the horseflies, left the path and made a gliding flight over the ravine while his pitiful rider was thrown on the ground. His misadventure made the whole country happy, and everyone exclaimed: "It's well done, Saint-Quinis punished him, his donkey flew."
Our Ânerie Beer is brewed with barley, wheat malt, rice and a bouquet of three hops: Mandarina Bavaria, Hüll Melon and Strisselspalt. A second fermentation took place in bottle with honey from our Hive of the Maures plain and that's it! Unfiltered and unpasteurized.
Do you have any questions? Do not hesitate to write to us
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