Académie de la bière

Académie de la bièreAcadémie de la bière
Académie de la bièreAcadémie de la bière
Bar, Eatery

88 Bis Boulevard de Port-Royal
Paris, 75005
France

+33 1 43 54 66 65 | map
academie-biere.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.22
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
31
pDev:
9%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jerryjeff:
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Reviewed by jerryjeff from Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Visited twice when in Paris for about a week long visit. Both times visited were on Friday nights and I ate Mussels (gouze) and frittes on both occasions. My friend I was with had Mussels (Bleu Cheese). Food was excellent, one of the favorite things I had during my European visit. Prices are a bit high but that's Paris. You'll be paying the same price at other brasseries or restaurants, but here you'll have a very nice selection of beers to choose from.

First visit we had issues finding seating as it appeared to get busy on Friday nights, second time we sat outside and there were a number of seats available. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 (I think, you can check the website), it's worth trying to get there for that as the beers from the taps were less expensive. Also a plus, it's easy to find if you get off on the correct metro stop.
Jun 09, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.91 by eluvah from New York

Nov 11, 2023
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Reviewed by Altrurian from Portugal

4.7/5  rDev +11.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
What a perfect place! Welcoming, offering a wide selection of beers with an emphasis on the Low Countries, an engaging collection of brewery posters on the wall, and a respectable range of sit-down-restaurant-quality pub food. After enjoying the Val-de-Grace scene, stop in here. You won’t be disappointed.
Dec 11, 2022
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Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

3.79/5  rDev -10.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Visited with my wife during our honeymoon trip to London and Paris.

Tried the following beers:
Cantillon Gueuze (draft)
Westmalle Dubbel (bottle)
Orval Trappist Ale (bottle)

Service was fine and we enjoyed our meal here. I expected the draft list to be better but was still glad to find Cantillon on tap. Atmosphere was loud and a bit club-like inside, which we found surprising for a highly rated beer bar, but thankfully we managed to grab a table on the quieter outdoor patio. Our overall experience was decent, and we would possibly come back.
Feb 18, 2020
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Rated by Eagletri from France

4.41/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
best place in Paris to drink german beers !
May 30, 2019
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Reviewed by Redrover from Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
We stopped here after touring the nearby Luxemburg Gardens complex (very cool, btw).

This is a smaller space but it does have plenty of outdoor seating where we chose to sit.

Our waiter was super friendly. He did not speak much English and we did not speak much French but we got along great.

The beer selection was solid with more than few pages of options. We stuck with draft beers and were not disappointed. The lines were clean and the beers were served in correct glasses.

Prices are very Parisian which means they are a bit spendy but still well worth it.

I will stop by for another visit as soon as I return to this great city.
Sep 10, 2018
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Rated by Jsfox from New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This is the place for Beer in Paris. Great service, great local and a good menu. Try the mussels
Apr 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.48 by Noelito76 from New York

Jan 05, 2017
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Reviewed by Estarrio from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +18.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
I read the about this establishment prior to a recent business trip to Paris. I was excited to learn that it was in walking distance of my hotel.

Ambiance: The interior is small, with ample cafe seating outside (avec convenient weather covering). The decor is simple, quaint, and appropriate for a Paris cafe or Belgian pub. There were more locals than tourists on both visits, which is always a good sign. In short, you will definitely capture the Paris cafe vibe here.

Menu: The menu features a couple of pages of beer (well over 100 bottles). The selections are predominately Belgian and German, with local and regional brews rounding out the mix. There were half a dozen draft selections. Every beer that I ordered over the course of two visits arrived at the appropriate temperature and with the proper glassware. The hoppy beers (Hommel bier and Triple Hopped Piraat) were appropriately fresh.

Food: I ordered Moules Rochefort and frites on both occasions. When I find a dish that I truly love, I have a hard time straying on the menu. These were the absolute best mussels that I have ever eaten (including several trips to Belgium). The mussels were fresh and abundant. This is the most generous serving that I have found in any establishment. The sauce was divine. I was tempted to order additional frites, to continue to savor the exceptional blue cheese flavor. While I didn't stray from my new favorite dish, I did see other tables ordering meat, cheese, and sausage plates that appeared to be generous and mouthwatering.

Value: The portions are generous and the prices are some of the best that you will find in Paris (which can be expensive). A similar meal would have cost more in any country that I have visited.

Service: This is where the establishment truly shines. On my first visit, I sat outside and was well attended by several waiters. They were friendly and knowledgeable. Despite the fact there were several tables (mostly regulars) , I never waited for my next round. On my second visit, I arrived later on a very busy evening. With all of the tables taken, I found a spot at the bar. While it was very busy, the gentleman behind the bar was very attentive and accommodating. He steered me towards a few very local beers that I may have otherwise missed. While the establishment was quite busy and crowded, he went out of his way to make me feel as if I were a local at my neighborhood bar.

When I return to Paris, this will undoubtedly be on my must visit list. If you are a fan of Belgian beer and excellent food, you should definitely seek this place out. You will not be disappointed.
Jul 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by whitenads from Michigan

May 23, 2016
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Reviewed by Shanex from France

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
France is dipping it's toes in the craft beer scene and it's astonishing. Many Great places to have a decent beer in Paris these days and this one is no exception. Santé !
Apr 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.7 by matthewbro from France

Sep 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by VABA from Virginia

Aug 26, 2015
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Rated by SCW from New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
France is starting to get a real beer scene...and this place is one of the early spots to move in!
Jun 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by -NESTO- from New Jersey

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Lennyprovost from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2014
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Reviewed by tonefish from New Mexico

3.94/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Popped in for a couple brews while wandering around Paris on a recent trip. The place is cool. Lots of old concert posters from the US behind the bar. Totally amazing selection, mostly in bottles, but there were some tasty regional brews on tap too. Prices were a little steep but hey, its the Beer Academy in Paris. Oo -La-La!

Nicely located right next to a metro station too, so you can get here from anywhere in Paris.

We really enjoyed it.

Cheers!
Jun 03, 2014
Photo of scnason
Reviewed by scnason from New York

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
First night in France. Best meal I've ever had. So simple yet extraordinary flavors. I ordered moules-frites (mussel & fries) and a few Belgian draft beers (Saint Feuillien). The broth that the mussels are cooked in make a great sauce for the fries. The atmosphere was very nice and comfortable (Sat at table outside the restaurant). If you're looking for a great meal along with a great selection of craft beers in Paris, this is your place! Also if you're looking to watch a football match head inside to the bar and there will always be a few matches on the TV. Bon appétit!
Mar 02, 2011
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Reviewed by Fflemming from Brazil

4.72/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I was in Académie De La Bière in December 2010. It's a small place but very confortable.

The atmosphere remember an English Pub with a lot of signs in the wall and other beer stuffs.

The especiallity of Académie De La Bière is the mussels (four differente souces) with fries. They have a very good german food too.

I went with my wife and we loved the place.

I still prefer Au Trappist as a restaurant, but Académie De La Bière is a must go place.

Very easy to find, it's a few blocks form Luxembourg Gardem and the subway statio Port Royal.
Jan 11, 2011
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Reviewed by Cervezationalist from Florida

4.58/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This is the best it gets in Paris for craft beer lovers and the mussels are top shelf. I visited on October 24, 2010, in the afternoon and it was not crowded. Best selections are in bottles with an expected Belgian predominance. There are about 10 drafts in total. My favorite was the Grimbergen Optimo. Also Hercule Stout was good. Getting back to my hotel in the Saint Lazare area was a bit of a challenge as it took about half an hour to hail a taxi. Better to have the restaurant call one. Paris is wine country but this beer oasis in a micro desert deserves a try.
Oct 25, 2010
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -11.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
Convenient location, only steps from the Port-Royal Metro stop. Lots of seating on the sidewalk (under tents), some decent seats indoors as well. Maybe 8 taps that I saw, all Belgian beer. Extensive bottles list but nothing rare.

As this is the highest rated place in Paris on BA, I had to check it out. However I found it to be kind of pricy, especially for the bottles selection. Especially considering that the selection wasn't TOO special, mainly a lot of Belgian beers that you don't see too often in Paris. Falstaff Montparnasse is a little cheaper, with just as good a selection. Maybe a few more taps too. Just keep walking west 10 minutes from this place and you'll find it.
Apr 14, 2010
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Reviewed by ocmpoma from California

4.83/5  rDev +14.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Visited on 22 Dec 09.

The Beer Academy is located not too far from the Luxembourg Gardens on Port Royal; it was less than a 15 minute walk from the Les Gobelins metro stop. From the outside, it looked like a fairly typical Parisian cafe / bar.

The interior is quite nice -- some beer paraphernalia and signs; lots of small tables and two outside areas as well as some more seating downstairs. The bar wasn't long, and most of the interior was in a nice muted wood. Bonus points for my fiancée and I: not a TV in the place.

We ordered the Belgian cheese plate, which came with some bread to munch on with the great cheeses. Also we had their selection of German sausages and some fries (best fries we had during our week in Paris). All of the food was great.

The beer list was phenomenal -- the first page of the three-page list (in about 10pt font) is all Belgians, tons of them. They had 12 taps: one Guinness, one rotating, and the rest Belgian: Maredsous, Chimay, Duvel, etc. They had plenty of beer from the UK and Germany as well as some other places, but I must admit I had trouble peeling my eyes off of page one and didn't give the rest of the list much of a look.

We had a great time there and I would highly recommend this place to anyone in Paris looking for a good beer.
Dec 28, 2009
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Reviewed by thierrynantes from France

4/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Place visited in 2003.
You can taste mussels with a Belgian beer or other (>10 on-tap and about 150 beer bottles. ex. Blanches des Neiges on tap, Quintine ...), and appreciate all this in a friendly atmosphere.
Created in 1960, the Academy of Beer has always been to link tradition and modernity in the variety of its wares.
This mythical place located near the Observatory, has succeeded over the years to retain a diverse customer : students, residents .
The Academy of Beer works with artisans in respect of cheese, meats and beer and owners of areas with regard to wine.
Sep 29, 2008
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Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This nice place is just a few blocks (a very short bike ride or about a 15 min walk) from the outstanding Luxembourg Gardens. Doing both on a pleasant Paris afternoon made for great enjoyment. Plenty of outdoor seating in front and to the left as you enter. Major list of Belgians, both on tap (10-12 on tap) and in bottles. Full menu, we enjoyed a salad and a tasty cheese board. Pleasant service and relaxed athmosphere during our afternoon visit, not sure what goes on here at night. Visit Gardens, relax, lunch with beers, return to gardens, read, relax, take it all in, nap, smile, smile, smile... life is good
Jul 31, 2008
Photo of Nickls
Reviewed by Nickls from District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Again, thanks to other reviews for pointing this out.

Great proximity to interesting sights in the Latin Quarter, and well worth the trip to that neighborhood given that I was staying in the 8th.

The place was not that packed on an early Saturday evening, and the space inside was a bit cozy. There was a lot of outdoor seating, but a bit too cold during my visit.

Like other posts mention, a definite focus on Belgians, which is a tad disappointing given my hunt for French beers. Not complaining though, because I had a great Kasteel Brune on draft, which was not that expensive compared to the bottle selection prices.

I would say that this place was better than Au Trappiste and Hall's, and should take priority if you have to choose.
Mar 24, 2008
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Reviewed by bdardeen from Rhode Island

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
As the other reviews state, this is the best beer bar in Paris for Belgian beer. A few French beers are well represented, but the emphasis here is on Belgians. If you stick with the tap selection you won't go broke, but the bottles will kill your wallet. The price for most every bottle (33 cl) was 6.60 euro- that's $10 to you and me. The happy hour (everyday from 3:30-7:30) is a great deal for for draft. They charge 5.50 euro for a big fat 50 cl pour. On my visit over Thankgsgiving, I had a N'Ice Chouffe (ultra fresh) and a Westmalle Dubbel. Other taps included St.Louis Gueze, St. Feuillen Christmas, Faro and Maredsous blonde and ambree. Lots of Belgian beer paraphanalia decorating the place. Has an atmosphere conducive to putting back a few and having a good time- something that is unusual for Paris.

The servers were very pleasant and spoke enough English to make this an easy stop. We had the carbonnade and frites, and the carbonnade was only so-so. The food menu is well priced here however.

Only a minutes walk from the Port Royal metro stop, so it's easy to get to from touristy areas like St.Michel and St.Germain. A must stop for the beer lover in Paris.
Nov 27, 2007
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Reviewed by Hautacam from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The other reviews describe the place well. My girlfriend and I, like the previous reviewer, stayed outside...I liked the look of the inside , but every person in the place was smoking...I am not exaggerating...don't know how you can taste good beer when your sense of smell is overpowered , but , whatever , it's France , right. ( I think second hand smoke is the real reason the French can't win Le Grande Boucle )
The tap selection was good , the bottle selection was great and the service was friendly and very patient...neither of our waiters spoke English, but I know how to point at beers on a menu.
I did notice people enjoying mussels , frites and tartare.
haven't been to any other beer bars in Paris , so I can't weigh in on how this compares , but it's worth a visit...close to a RER /metro stop.
Jul 27, 2007
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Reviewed by scoobybrew from Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
My wife and I stopped in here while vacationing in Paris recently. I am so glad we did. As it was summer, we ate (and drank) outside which was covered by an awning. While there were clear plastic windows, it wasn't the best outside atmosphere. However, this is the only criticism I have on the place and it's a minor one at that.

While there were plenty of Belgian beers and international beers available, we decided to have Biere de Garde, as this is the only style native to France. Our waiter recommended a couple of good ones that I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise. Our beer was always served in the proper glassware.

In all honesty, I think this is the best cafe in Paris. Well, perhaps I am a bit biased being a beer lover, but the service was friendly and welcoming. If you are a beer lover and visiting Paris, you must stop in here. If possible, get a hotel close by, because I'm sure you will spend time here after the Metro closes.
Jul 16, 2007
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Reviewed by barturtle from Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
I got a chance to visit this place several times in the Summer of '06, while studying in Paris.

Unlike many of the places I visited, the staff we quite happy to speak English with me, and were very knowledgeable about the beers they sold, though they didn't understand the fact that I actually like Rodenbach. Their list included many beers that I had not seen before, and is mostly all Belgians.

Has to be the best place to get a beer in Paris, just eat somewhere else first, as the food is just not great and there are many better places to eat that aren't far away.
Feb 04, 2007
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Reviewed by FirstMan from Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I was working in Paris for a few weeks last spring. One of my co-workers there learned that I was into beer and suggested we try a place that she used to frequent when she was in school. As she's a local and has lived in Paris for years, I was all about giving the Academie a shot.

I am SO glad I did, because it was one of the best evenings I had in Paris (and I had a LOT of good evenings).

A second to everything in bearadvocate's review - great selection of belgians on tap and a bottle selection that made me regret that I only had one night.

Not near any of the normal tourist locations, Academie really made me feel like a local. Like a lot of Paris restaurants, this is a small place. Expect to feel "intimate" with the rest of the patrons. But, you know, when you're drinking beer this good, who cares?

Now, the beer is good. That should be a given. But one of the things that really sets this place apart is the fact that you can get some really great curried mussels and pommes frites. Pretend you are in Belgium. Or hell, pretend you are in Paris. Oh - wait a minute.

Price is a little spendy, but that should just be expected in Paris. Things outrageous there and you just have to live with it.

Overall, if you are looking for a local, non-touristy place where you can get one of the best beer selections in Paris, this is it.
Oct 29, 2005
Académie de la bière in Paris, France
Place rating: 4.22 out of 5 with 31 ratings