Musée français de la brasserie

About the museum

The museum occupies the former brewery of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. Breweries had existed in the town since the early 19th century; in 1907 two of them merged to form the “Grandes Brasseries de Saint-Nicolas”. Between 1931 and 1932, the architect Fernand César designed a very modern factory for them in the Art Deco style, with its brewhouse tower. The group then absorbed several Lorraine breweries, and in 1972 it was bought by a large brewing group, which closed the Saint-Nicolas site in 1986.

The closure was felt as a local tragedy, as more than a hundred people lost their jobs. Former workers and the town council wanted to preserve the memory of the company: a provisional protection order halted the dismantling of the machinery, and listing as a historic monument was confirmed in 1989. The town bought the site and entrusted the buildings to a volunteer association, which opened the museum on July 1, 1988. Conservation work on the brewhouse tower began in January 2019, funded by the State, the Region, the Department and the town.

The route presents brewing equipment from several periods: the brewhouse with its copper vessels from 1931, the Baudelot cooler, refrigeration machines, old ice cellars, cooperage, laboratory, and a reconstructed 18th-century malt-house brewery. Rooms recall the Lorraine breweries and the former brewing school in Nancy, as well as posters and advertising objects. A small demonstration brewery shows how beer is made.

Highlights

• 1931 Art Deco building by the architect Fernand César, listed as a historic monument
• Brewhouse with three large copper vessels from 1931
• Baudelot cooler and the brewery’s refrigeration machines
• Reconstructed 18th-century malt-house brewery in the brewhouse tower
• Demonstration mini-brewery and tasting at the end of the visit

Permanent exhibitions

• Tour de brassage et salle de brassage de 1931 – Visit of the brewhouse tower with the 18th-century malt-house brewery, the brewhouse with its copper vessels, the machine room and the old ice cellars.
• Salles des brasseries lorraines et de l'école de brasserie de Nancy – Art Nouveau furniture, stained glass, posters and photographs of graduating classes of student brewers from 1893 to 1972, and displays on the Champigneulles brewery.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Association du Musée français de la brasserie

Admission & discounts

Admission includes a complimentary drink at the end of the visit. The museum also offers a day in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, with a visit to two sites and a meal, for €38 per person (information available at the museum).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Visiting the brewhouse tower requires climbing three floors.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, near Nancy. GPS coordinates given by the museum: 48.634012, 6.297633.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A small tasting (18 cl) of a beer brewed specially for the museum is offered in the cellar. The shop sells books, including the exhibition catalogue, and beer.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit