Au Brasseur

Au Brasseur is a brewery-restaurant at 22 Rue des Veaux on Strasbourg's Grande Île, in the Alsace region of France. It brews its own beer on the site of the former Espérance brewery and has been open since 1991, making it one of the city's established brewpubs. Alsace has a long brewing tradition alongside its wine culture, and Strasbourg was once home to several large breweries, so a house-brewed beer served on the premises of a former brewery has a historical resonance. The signature items are the house-brewed beer and tarte flambée, the thin, crisp Alsatian flatbread topped with crème fraîche, onions and lardons, which is a natural match for the beer. The cuisine is described as Alsatian with a brewpub character, so other regional dishes such as choucroute or sausage plates may also be served, though the current menu should be checked. Prices are in the moderate range. The dining room is large and sociable, with brewery fittings and long tables typical of a brasserie, and the atmosphere is lively, casual and often loud when full. Dress is casual, and the venue suits groups, so a shared round of tartes flambées and beer is a common way to eat. The beverage programme centres on the house beers, usually a mix of lighter and darker styles, and the staff can usually explain the differences. Hours, phone and website are not recorded in the available data, so visitors should confirm them through a current directory, and booking is wise for groups, weekends and the Christmas market season. The Rue des Veaux is on the Grande Île, a short walk from the cathedral and the Place Kléber, which makes the brewery a convenient evening stop.