About This Beer
3 Monts Bière de Garde 75cl 8.5% is a traditional strong French blonde ale brewed by Brasserie 3 Monts in Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel, northern France. Known by the brewery as 3 Monts Blonde, this iconic golden beer draws inspiration from the historic brewing traditions of French Flanders.
The beer is closely associated with the Bière de Garde tradition, a style originating in northern France. Historically, these beers were brewed during cooler periods of the year and kept for later consumption, giving rise to the name Bière de Garde, meaning beer for keeping.
Today, 3 Monts offers a distinctive interpretation of this regional heritage, combining a strong malt foundation with expressive fermentation character and restrained hop bitterness.
Unlike many Belgian strong golden ales, which can place considerable emphasis on spicy yeast flavours, 3 Monts Blonde focuses on a balance of malt, fruit and subtle herbal hop character.
The recipe is deliberately straightforward.
The brewery uses Pilsner barley malt, Nugget hops and a yeast developed specifically for 3 Monts Blonde. This carefully selected combination produces a beer with a distinctive identity without relying on additional flavourings.
Top fermentation gives the beer its characteristic ale profile, while the malt provides body, sweetness and a rounded cereal character.
The Nugget hops contribute a measured bitterness and a subtle herbal quality that complements the malt rather than dominating it.
3 Monts pours a clear, luminous golden colour with a generous, creamy white head.
The aroma is led by fresh cereal and grain, with a delicate suggestion of herbal hops.
On the palate, the beer develops a rounded malt flavour accompanied by gentle fruit notes. A subtle lemon-like acidity introduces freshness, while a soft bitterness brings balance to the finish.
At 8.5% ABV, 3 Monts is considerably stronger than a conventional blonde ale or lager. However, its combination of malt sweetness, fruity character and refreshing bitterness helps maintain a balanced drinking experience.
The traditional 75cl bottle is particularly well suited to sharing, especially when served alongside food.
For customers exploring French beer for the first time, 3 Monts offers an opportunity to discover a brewing tradition that differs from the more familiar styles of Belgium and Germany.
It is also an interesting beer for drinkers who enjoy strong Belgian blonde ales but want to experience the distinctive character of French Flanders.
Discover more beers from the same brewery in our 3 Monts collection.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Clear, luminous golden blonde with a generous, creamy white head.
Aroma: Fresh cereal and grain aromas complemented by subtle herbal hop notes.
Taste: Rounded malt sweetness and gentle fruit flavours balanced by a refreshing hint of lemon and soft, lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and full-bodied, with a creamy texture, refreshing carbonation and a gentle warming character.
About the Brewery
Brasserie 3 Monts is an independent, family-owned brewery based in Saint-Sylvestre-Cappel, in the French Flanders region of northern France.
The brewery's modern family history began in 1920, when Rémy Ricour acquired the business and established the foundations of a brewing tradition that has continued through successive generations.
Over the decades, the brewery operated under several names, including Brasserie Ricour and Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, before adopting the name Brasserie 3 Monts in 2019.
The name 3 Monts refers to three hills associated with the landscape of French Flanders: Mont des Cats, Mont Cassel and Mont des Récollets.
These landmarks reflect the brewery's connection to its region and the traditional agricultural communities that shaped its brewing heritage.
French Flanders has a long history of producing strong, characterful ales.
Before the widespread adoption of industrial lager production, farmhouse and regional breweries produced beers that reflected local ingredients, fermentation practices and seasonal brewing traditions.
Bière de Garde developed within this environment, with brewers historically producing beer that could be stored and enjoyed beyond the immediate brewing season.
The original 3 Monts Blonde was introduced in 1984, becoming an important expression of the brewery's commitment to traditional regional beer.
Its recipe reflects the brewery's emphasis on carefully selected malt, hops and yeast.
The yeast used for 3 Monts Blonde was developed specifically for the beer, contributing to the recognisable flavour profile that has become central to its identity.
The brewery has since expanded its range to include beers such as 3 Monts Triple, IPA and Saison, each offering a different interpretation of the brewing traditions of northern France.
Despite this expansion, 3 Monts Blonde remains the brewery's signature beer.
Its combination of golden malt richness, delicate fruit character and gentle hop bitterness demonstrates the balance that has made it an enduring example of French Flemish brewing.
For customers interested in traditional European beer, the brewery offers an opportunity to explore styles that share some characteristics with Belgian ales while retaining a distinctly French identity.
Browse our 3 Monts brewery range to discover more of its beers.
Food Pairings
3 Monts Bière de Garde is an excellent beer for food pairing because its combination of malt sweetness, gentle fruit character and restrained bitterness complements a wide variety of dishes.
The brewery particularly recommends roast chicken, baked fish, Caesar salad, creamy cheeses and fruit-based desserts.
Roast chicken is one of the most natural matches.
The beer's rounded malt flavours complement the golden, roasted skin, while its subtle citrus character provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the meat.
A traditional roast chicken served with herbs, potatoes and seasonal vegetables makes an excellent accompaniment.
Fish cooked in parchment, particularly with lemon and herbs, is another appealing pairing.
The beer's delicate herbal hop character complements the seasoning, while its gentle bitterness and citrus notes work well with the fish.
For a lighter meal, try a Caesar salad.
The savoury richness of Parmesan and the creamy dressing contrast with the beer's refreshing character, while its malt sweetness complements the toasted croutons.
Cheese is particularly well suited to this strong French blonde ale.
Brillat-Savarin, a rich triple-cream cheese, is one of the brewery's suggested pairings. The beer's carbonation and bitterness help balance the cheese's creamy texture.
Brie offers a similarly appealing combination, while fresh goat's cheese works particularly well with the beer's gentle lemon-like acidity.
For a more substantial meal, roast pork with herbs or a creamy chicken casserole can also complement the beer's malt-led profile.
3 Monts is equally enjoyable with dessert.
An apricot tart is a particularly good choice, as the fruit complements the beer's gentle sweetness and refreshing citrus character.
A red berry crumble provides a slightly sharper contrast, allowing the beer's malt richness to balance the tartness of the fruit.
Serve 3 Monts at approximately 8–10°C in a tulip glass or stemmed beer glass. This temperature allows the malt, cereal and herbal hop aromas to develop while maintaining the beer's refreshing character.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy 3 Monts Bière de Garde, explore our 3 Monts brewery collection for more beers inspired by the traditions of French Flanders.
The 3 Monts Triple Grande Réserve 75cl 9.5% is a particularly interesting comparison.
While the original 3 Monts Blonde focuses on rounded malt flavours, delicate fruit and gentle herbal hops, Triple Grande Réserve offers a stronger, more aromatic experience, with a richer malt profile and a combination of two yeasts.
For customers who enjoy strong European ales, our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection includes Tripels, strong blonde ales and other traditional beer styles that offer interesting comparisons with French Bière de Garde.
Although 3 Monts is brewed in France rather than Belgium, its regional brewing heritage makes it an appealing choice for customers who enjoy exploring the wider traditions of Flemish beer.
Whether you're discovering Bière de Garde for the first time or returning to a favourite French beer, 3 Monts offers a distinctive combination of regional history, traditional ingredients and carefully balanced flavour.
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