La Brasserie du Dzô, a pearl of hops in the heart of the Fribourg region

Microbrewery Fridays - Max Moeschler

In our perpetual and insatiable quest for the optimum foam, the perfect hop and the ideal malt, we invite you today to the land of Fribourg, which, contrary to popular belief, is not only the kingdom of Gottéron and the half-and-half fondue, but also of many hoppy surprises. Presentation and tasting in an (almost) summery mood.

Nestled in Vuisternens-devant-Romont, in the Glâne region of Fribourg, the Brasserie du Dzô takes its unusual name from the local dialect of its region of origin. In fact, the canton’s Catholic tradition led many parents to choose biblical first names, including «Joseph»—a name that, in the Fribourg dialect, is pronounced «Dzojè» and shortened to «Dzô.» Today, this distinctive term is still often used by neighboring cantons to refer to the residents of Fribourg.

Regional heritage and a love for the local area are therefore at the heart of the brewery’s philosophy. The brewery is the realization of the dream of its owner, founder, and master brewer Laurent Michel—an optometrist by training—who opened the Brasserie du Dzô in early 2016 after purchasing and installing the brewing equipment himself. The brewery, with a strong local focus, is nevertheless beginning to make a name for itself throughout the rest of French-speaking Switzerland, thanks in particular to the originality of its beers, which are the result of both technological innovation and centuries-old traditions. «Creating original recipes, bringing joy, and sharing our passion» is, in fact, the brewery’s motto.

Let’s now get to the heart of the matter—with all due respect to our livers—the beers brewed on-site. Just like the brewery’s name, their names were all inspired by the local dialect. The first to tantalize our taste buds is the Rupite (derived from the local dialect dèrupito which means «steep slope»), an American-style wheat beer that skillfully combines several types of hops with wheat, giving it a decidedly refreshing taste, with a rather short bitterness on the palate, but a lingering and pleasant flavor of grains and citrus.

Next up is La Chenaye, which means «bell» in the local dialect. Described as «a Belgian-style seasonal pale ale,» it’s the perfect aperitif beer, with notes of mandarin and green pepper that make it incredibly thirst-quenching. The German hops used in its brewing enhance the crisp, refreshing bitterness characteristic of this type of beer.

La Tintébin («Behave Yourself» to those in the know), the first beer produced at the Dzô Brewery, has a profile quite different from that of the previous two. It’s an Irish-style red ale, in which the hops take a back seat to the malt this time around. The bitterness is therefore mild, and it reveals a rather smooth and mellow mouthfeel, making it a very approachable «ale» for those new to the genre. True to British brewing traditions, its head is fairly short and light.

Finally, with a certain amount of curiosity, we set out on the Cramine (from the local dialect kramena, which means «bitter cold»), an unconventional beer with strong German influences. A full-bodied dark beer, Cramine stands out for its notes of licorice and fig derived from German malts, while roasted malts lend it hints of cocoa and coffee. Both smooth and complex, it is equally suited as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to hot dishes.

In addition to the beers mentioned above, the brewery also produces Belgian-style triples and other brewing classics, as well as new and original creations with boundless inspiration. Don’t wait—discover them today!

Write to the author : max.moeschler@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Brasserie du Dzô