Le Triangle Is the Perfect Place to Examine All Sides of the French Beer Scene

Shane Carley

​Brewery Name: Le Triangle
Type of Brewery: Brewpub

Location: 13 Rue Jacques Louvel-Tessier, 75010 Paris, France

Website: http://www.triangleparis.com/
Facebook: Le Triangle Paris

Background: That's right: Le Triangle is our very first brewery review from outside the United States. My wife and I recently traveled to Paris to attend a friend’s wedding, and we spent some time exploring the cultural scene while we were there. Yes, of course, there’s the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a thousand other sights to see. But there are also romantic wine bars, amazing restaurants, and, of course, and handful of breweries. Knowing that the beer scene in Europe is considerably different from the beer scene in the states, I went into the visit with tempered expectations. Belgian and German styles abound, and I was almost ready to give up on finding anything truly special until, on our very last night in the city, we stumbled upon Le Triangle.

Growlers: No, but you can purchase bottles in the taproom.

The Beers: We visited the brewery on the later side, so I was sadly unable to sample everything that they had to offer. I was excited to see that the menu featured a number of collaborations with other French breweries, as well as a handful of guest taps. Le Triangle is clearly dedicated not just to showcasing their own beer, but the best that France has to offer.

• Flamingo - Berliner Weisse with Hibiscus and Lime - This beer is a collaboration with Hoppy Road, a small brewery located in Maxéville, France, to the east of Paris. I’ve always been a fan of hibiscus in sour beers, and the lime adds a refreshingly tart zing to what is ultimately a very well-balanced beer. This was the first beer I had, and I was really impressed by the subtlety of the flavors in what could have been a very in-your-face weisse.
  
  
• Bermuda Triangle - Berliner Weisse with Lime and Pineapple - Another Berliner weisse, another collaboration with Hoppy Road. Slightly less tart than the Flamingo, I was surprised to find that I actually liked this beer more. I tend to gravitate toward very tart, sour Berliner weisses, but the balance of the pineapple and lime against the full body of the beer makes for an easy sipper that doesn’t overwhelm the palate. It’s obvious why these two breweries chose to team up on weisses--they really know how to do them well.
  
  
• New England IPA - NEIPA - This beer was brewed by Brasserie Popihn and offered as a guest tap option at Le Triangle. Normally, I try not to order from guest taps when I’m visiting a brewery, as I want to sample everything that brewery has to offer; however, having never seen a New England IPA outside the United States before, I had to give it a try. And my friends, Brasserie Popihn knows what they’re doing. This was an absolutely fantastic representation of the style, with great stonefruit character shining through from the hops and a full, dense body that doesn’t drink too heavy. This is a beer that could have come from any of the great NEIPA makers in the US.

Vibe: What an awesome place. My wife and I wandered in close to midnight on a Sunday, primarily driven there because it was one of the few places still open at the time. We had little idea what to expect, but were welcomed immediately by both the bartender and the establishment’s patrons.

This is where I should establish that my wife is fluent in French, having lived in France for over a year. She immediately struck up a conversation in French with the bartender, and after just a few short sentences made a surprised noise as the bartender switched to completely accentless English and revealed that she was, in fact, from Ohio. This coincidence cracked me up, and we had a great time talking to her about what brought her to Paris, her recommendations for places to visit before our flight home, and more.

The brewery itself was founded by two Canadians, and has a very (North) American microbrewery vibe. It’s fairly small and intimate, with a bar in the front and a handful of tables in the back. The owners were hosting some fellow brewers from Canada for a bit of a beer share in the back, and the jovial conversation and clinking of glasses fit the mood perfectly. It was a quiet night, due primarily to the late hour, but it wasn’t hard to imagine an establishment packed with patrons, drinking beer and enjoying a meal. In classic Parisian fashion, there were a handful of tables and chairs outside on the sidewalk as well, though it was too late for us to take advantage.

Le Triangle is also one of the most laid back and accommodating places I’ve ever visited. We stayed well past closing, and at no point were we ushered out the door. Quite the opposite, in fact--we offered to leave more than once and were always encouraged to stay for another drink. Considering we had been looking for a place to enjoy a quick nightcap, the fact that we were able to stay as late as we did and enjoy such engaging conversation was a truly unexpected pleasure.

What Makes It Unique: The variety of styles available. I enjoyed a New England IPA and a couple of weisses while I was there, but there was plenty more on the menu. I went in expecting more Belgians and German-style beers, but was blown away by the variety on offer, both from Le Triangle and their guest taps.

Price ($ to $$$$$): €€. Very reasonable prices, more or less on par with what you would expect in an American microbrewery. They offer pours, half-pours, and tasters to go along with some wine selections for non-beer drinkers. Everything was affordably priced, and I’d have happily spent hours here. ​

Food: Yes. Le Triangle has a full food menu, and although we arrived too late to take advantage of the munchies on offer, everything sounds absolutely delicious and perfectly Parisian.

Final Thoughts: Le Triangle may have exceeded my expectations more than any other brewery I’ve been to. After almost a week of Belgian ales, German pilsners, and English bitters, discovering a place with as broad and inventive of a menu as Le Triangle was a real treat. Every beer I had was delicious, and the collaborations made me want to explore the French beer scene even further. Le Triangle was the perfect place to spend an hour at the end of the night, and my only regret is not being able to sample the food! If you’re ever in Paris, I highly recommend paying Le Triangle a visit.

-- Shane

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Photo credits include: Together We Drink, Le Triangle's Facebook page, and ParisBouge.com