The Historic Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Cateau is located in the historic heart of Cateau Cambrésis, on the site of the former Saint-André abbey, and is now a listed site. In 1775, the abbey already included a brewery. The buildings on either side of the courtyard, currently under renovation, are said to have been the first place of production. This activity lasted until the site closed in 1926, with around 12,000 hectoliters brewed per year.
In 2000, a handful of beer and local heritage enthusiasts proposed saving this iconic landmark and successfully obtained its listing as a Historic Monument.
After 75 years of closure, no fewer than four years of restoration were required to restore it to its former glory and finally, in 2004, brew the first Vivat beer, under the name of the Brasserie Historique de l'Abbaye du Cateau. Although technology has improved over the decades, certain techniques inherited from previous generations are respected and practiced with the same passion.
In 2022, we decided to refocus on our emblem, our flagship product, by renaming ourselves Brasserie Vivat, with an evocative name that is recognizable to all beer lovers!
A new milestone in the long and rich history of our brewery.
This name is not insignificant and also recalls Flanders, evoking the attachment to the region, an emblematic beer-producing region. Indeed, the Vivat Flamand is a tradition during which, with a napkin held above them, the newlyweds receive a few drops of beer, binding them together for eternity.
A traditional moment of sharing and conviviality—such are the values of Vivat. Feedback sturen
Varsin kirkkaan kullankeltainen olut kohtalaisen pienellä, mutta tiiviillä hieman pitsiä jättävällä vaahdolla. Tuoksu Bellerosea aavistuksen voimakkaampi, viljainen ja hiivainen. Maku ruohoinen ja viljainen sekä aavistuksen sitruksinen. Keskitäyteläinen suutuntuma, kuiva ja katkerakin loppumaultaan, mutta viimeisenä tuntemuksena suuhun jää kuitenkin pieni vetisyys. Asteen verran Bellerosea parempi, mutta ei juuri muuta.
Todella kovasti vaahtoa olut. Pullosta saa kaadettua tulppaanilasiin vain noin puolet ensimmäisellä kerralla. Paksu valkoinen vaahto on lisäksi todella kestävää laatua. Vaalean kullankeltainen kirkas poreileva olut. Kaunis. Tuoksussa hedelmäisyyttä ja hiivaisuutta. Maku kivan hedelmäinen ja raikas, sitruksinen, omenainen ja jollain lailla hieman keinotekoinen, maltaisella jälkimaulla. Keskitäyteläinen ja hiilihappoinen. Aika kevyttä juotavaa loppujen lopuksi ja jotain jää puuttumaan. Liian siiderimäinen.
25 cl bottle @ home, bought in Lille about a year prior. Clear golden blonde color (when leaving the last cm with flakey yeast in the bottle). White head, not much and quickly receding. Aroma’s: grain, a bit vegetal, some sweet fruit. Retronasal it’s fruity, light vegetal, grain. Flavor is light sweet, a bit vegetal. Light bodied. Short finish. My expectations were low, but it wasn’t bad.
Bottle from Auchan. Hazy dark golden with fluffy white head. Straw, a bit earthy, caramel malts without it being very sweet, grassy and soft herbs. Taste is light sweet with light tartness. Medium bodied, quite dry feel. Decent stuff.
330ml bottle. Minimally cloudy, orangey, deep golden colour with huge, thick, frothy, fairly lasting, moderately lacing, snow white head. Fruity, minimally alcoholic aroma, notes of apricot, peach mirabelle, apple. Taste is malty fruity, dry hoppy overtones, a spicy yeasty touch, some warming alcohol in the finish.
Less well-known bière de garde, rating from old notes. Sticky, rocky, off-white head, hazy peach blonde colour with minuscule bits of yeast in it. Flowery aroma of bread dough, unripe peach, flour, hazelnuts, dandelion, orange peel, raw potato. Doughy and starchy character, spicy phenols, refreshing citrus accent, light nutty maltiness; mildly bitter finish with floral and leafy hoppiness but something phenolic too, a little bit wry.