Tournay Blonde, brewing returns to Cazeau

A beer from Templeuve, in the municipality of Tournai

Tournay Blonde comes from the Brasserie de Cazeau in Templeuve, in the district of Tournai-Mouscron. The producer's product sheet describes a golden blonde at 6.7% alcohol, lightly hopped, with a fresh, spicy character and a dry finish. The name Tournay refers to the city, while production takes place in one of its villages. This precise connection takes us beyond a simple label of beer from Hainaut to a clearly identified place.

A long history, but not uninterrupted brewing

The Cazeau timeline recounts a long history interrupted in 1969. The brewery then stopped production to become a drinks merchant. In 2004, Laurent Agache and Quentin Mariage restarted brewing after building work and equipment purchases. The first brew of Tournay Blonde is dated to 1 May 2004. That interruption matters: it prevents family heritage from being turned into a claim of uninterrupted production since the eighteenth century. The return of a craft is precisely part of the story's strength.

Four hops in search of balance

The producer explains that four hop varieties were chosen, Tomahawk, Warrior, Sterling and Cascade, in proportions designed not to overwhelm the whole. The base is stated to be barley malt, with no other cereals or sugar added for this recipe. Its profile should therefore not be reduced to the number of hops: their relationship with malt and fermentation is what matters. The stated 28 EBU provide a technical reference, while the dry finish offers another way to understand it.

Old walls and a first modern beer

The story of 1 May is a good starting point for understanding the project. A new recipe entered a longer history following research, brewery visits and the desire to resume production. The range presentation also highlights bottle refermentation and the absence of filtration and pasteurisation. Cazeau's other beers subsequently developed their own timelines. The Blonde marks the beginning of this new phase, not simply a new label on an old recipe.

Discover the product without confusing the places

The Tournai tourist office places Cazeau within its local brewing landscape. For visits, sales or welcoming arrangements, check current information directly with the maker. Tournay thus joins the dishes and products of the same area while retaining its story of revival and its own characteristics.

Drink in moderation.

Photos and credits

Photo 1 — Façade of Tournai station, photographed on 16 April 2021: a landmark in the district of Tournai-Mouscron, where Templeuve is located. Japplemedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source.