A Team of Passionate People
A Team of Passionate People
How it all started?
One summer day in 2017, Sébastien is on a terrace under the setting sun of an August evening in Grenoble, listening to his partner complain for the umpteenth time about a sad Perrier without a slice of lemon, lamenting that she can never find a worthy alcohol-free beer… their eyes meet, and that’s the spark.
He said this incredibly charming line: “Come on, let’s try it, I’ll make you your alcohol-free beer, baby!”
After that magical “Come on, let’s try it,” a little seed was planted in the minds of Émilie and Sébastien. Edmond – the White – was born after a gestation period of several months, in a family farm near Villeneuve-sur-Lot, crafted by Sébastien’s skilled hands and closely monitored by Michèle and Jean-Jacques, respectively a chemist and a thermal engineer.
Edmond was tasted, weighed, measured, and lab-tested to meet all the sought-after criteria: alcohol content below 1°, the taste of craft beer, color, density, and bitterness.
With its potential and early successes, Edmond left its native Southwest to try its luck in the temple of craft beer: the Rhône-Alpes region, specifically Grenoble, also known as the mountain Broadway.
Since then, Edmond the White has inspired others, leading to the birth of its little sisters: Edmond the Blonde, Edmond the IPA, and Edmond the Dark Amber.
Then our weightlifter Edmond wanted to travel: from Grenoble, he set out to conquer bars across France and beyond, winning the hearts of aperitif lovers. This meant producing a bit more, which became possible through a collaboration with La Brasserie du Pilat in Saint-Julien-Molin-Molette (Loire), where Edmond beers are now brewed organically by a wonderful and experienced team.
Emilie,
the genius
ideas
This is the story of a girl who is often out and loves to drink beer on the terrace with her friends. One day, she decides to stop drinking alcohol, and her life is turned upside down: “So what do we drink for aperitifs?”
She doesn’t understand the concept of super sugary sodas in the evening (accompanied by the unpleasant sensation of being at an 8-year-old’s birthday party), nor does she get the idea of mixing Pago juice with chorizo for aperitifs. So, she has few options left to maintain some social interaction: verbena tea or Perrier.
Of course, she first tried the alcohol-free beer option, but she faced the half-amazed, half-contemptuous looks from often bewildered bartenders (“No, miss, that’s not the kind of bar WE are” or “Oh, yes, we must have some Tourtelle lying around; I’ll just check the expiration date”). She gave up, especially since this often came with her friends congratulating her on her presumed pregnancy, which was more than a little awkward…
From then on, she tasted all the alcohol-free beers she could find on the market; they were rare, industrial, and often imported (so overpriced), and she didn’t find any to her liking. That’s when she thought that she couldn’t be the only one in this situation, and the little idea named Edmond began to sprout…
She loves: bubbles and a slight bitterness.
She hates: pouring a 33 cl bottle into a 25 cl glass.
She wishes: to have a selection of alcohol-free draft beer in bars, to enjoy the taste without the intoxication.
Sébastien,
the Brewer
Who Wants the Best for You
This is the story of a boy with a job that takes him around the world. When he’s on tour, shows end late, and it’s not always easy to find a restaurant still open for a meal. You never have this kind of problem with bars, and as we know, beer is very nourishing!
A big beer enthusiast raised in Cognac, he develops his palate through the various regions of France and the different countries he visits, and over the years, it becomes his favorite tourist activity. Each destination is an opportunity to taste local beers. He becomes interested in brewing techniques, flavor pairings, alcohol content, and secretly imagines himself in his cellar crafting recipes with his Charente friends.
One day, while sitting on a terrace under the setting sun of an August evening in Grenoble, listening to his partner complain for the umpteenth time about a sad Perrier without a slice of lemon, lamenting that she can never find a worthy alcohol-free beer, their eyes meet, and that’s the spark. He says this incredibly charming line: “Come on, let’s try it, I’ll make you your alcohol-free beer, baby!”
Since then, he has become the father of Edmond, diligently working to find various recipes that perfectly blend the true taste of craft beer with an alcohol content below 1%.
He loves: body, grains, and color.
He hates: beers without bubbles.
He wishes: to break the codes of the masculine beer world and the misconceptions about alcohol-free beer (for pregnant women and alcoholics).
Thomas,
the Swiss Army Knife Manager
of La Brasserie du Pilat
Originally, Thomas was trained for business, complete with a tie and pointed shoes, but when his father offered him the chance to take over the family brewery, his heart raced. A brewery is definitely more exciting than an auditing firm.
Since 2010, he has been adding new skills to his repertoire, which is starting to look more and more like a lyre or a harp. He solves problems, takes care of his customers, finds the best suppliers, and has brought to life the coolest bar in the heart of the Pilat region (42)… Don’t say too much; you’ll make him blush.
In 2022, Thomas joined the Edmond adventure. The manager of La Brasserie du Pilat brings all his expertise and rigor. Sharing the same values and a desire for growth, the beers are now brewed with spring water from the Monts du Pilat and carry organic certification.
He loves: that his brewery is watched over by his not-at-all-ferocious cats (Yogi and Koko) and balanced beers.
He hates: beers without a long finish, which is a major source of frustration.
He wishes: to break the taste prejudices surrounding alcohol-free beers.