TARTE TATIN: A HAPPY ACCIDENT, REIMAGINED
Brewed in collaboration with L'Atalante and inspired by a true icon of French cuisine, Tarte Tatin puts the pastry in pastry sour. This indulgent beer layers rich flavours of sweet apple and sticky caramel with a nod to crisp, flaky pastry, all wrapped up in a beautifully balanced sour that keeps you coming back for another sip.
DESSERT BORN FROM A MISTAKE
Tarte Tatin is one of France’s most famous desserts, and like many great creations, it came about entirely by accident. In the 1880s, sisters Stéphanie and Caroline Tatin were running their hotel in Lamotte-Beuvron when a kitchen mishap changed culinary history. Rushing through service, Stéphanie left apples cooking too long in butter and sugar. To save the dish, she added pastry on top, baked it, and flipped it before serving. The result was an upside-down caramelised apple tart that earned rave reviews and became a classic.
That story of serendipity felt like the perfect inspiration for a beer.
L'ATALANTE: A PARISIAN CRAFT BEER INSTITUTION
Set along the Canal de l’Ourcq on the Quai de la Marne, L’Atalante is one of France’s premium craft beer destinations. With an ever-rotating selection of exceptional local and international beers on tap, it has become a go-to spot for Parisian beer lovers. When conversations started about a collaboration, it was clear this needed to be something that truly celebrated French flavour and culture.
WHY A PASTRY SOUR?
From the outset, the idea was to brew a beer that leaned heavily into French cuisine. We toyed with concepts, before landing on the unmistakable profile of Tarte Tatin.
To capture the essence of the dessert, we used brown sugar to build a caramelised, complex Maillard character, mirroring the sticky caramel and baked pastry notes. Layered with sweet apple flavours and balanced acidity, the result is a moreish yet indulgent sour that feels dessert-like without becoming heavy.
FROM TANK TO TASTING
As part of the collaboration, the L’Atalante team visited the brewery and even managed to spot the iconic Vault City taxi on the way! They also took part in our Sour School, a hands-on experience where guests get to experiment with our base sour beer. Using a range of fruit juices and purées, they crafted their own creations, exploring just how versatile our sours can be.
After graduating from Sour School, we sampled some fresh sours straight from the tank, always a highlight and a perfect way to round off a day of collaboration and creativity.
C'EST LA VIE!
Tarte Tatin launches with a Tap Takeover and launch party at L'Atalante on Friday 6th March in Paris, perfectly timed for the weekend Scotland face France on the rugby pitch.
After the launch, Tarte Tatin will be pouring at L’Atalante all through the summer, making it the ideal spot to enjoy a beer (or two) by the canal. A small quantity will also be available in keg and can at selected craft beer venues across France.
A recipe born from a mishap, reimagined as a beer that celebrates indulgence, creativity, and collaboration. Tarte Tatin proves that sometimes the best ideas come from happy accidents!