Toulouse: a former soldier launches the local beer “of the aviators”
After more than 30 years in aeronautics, Emmanuel Riu is launching a Toulouse beer “special aviator”. As well as only being sold at airports and commercial flights, each variety is linked to a pilot’s journey of the 1914-18 War.
From the Air Force to “aeronautical” beer, the retraining is certainly total, but the passion has remained the same. After 11 years as a flight crew in the Air Force followed by twenty years at Airbus as a flight test technician, Toulouse-based Emmanuel Riu, 52, embarked on the production of local organic beers. “It all started when I realized that some airlines only sold ‘first price’ beers during flights,” explains the Toulouse resident. The fifty-something smacks of the opportunity and decides to launch his own brand: l’Escadrille. “Historically, it’s the name of a bar where WWI pilots would meet after their flight to unwind,” he explains.
And the historical wink doesn’t stop there. “Each variety of beers [il en a 5 : blanche, blonde, ambrée, brune, IPA NDRL] is attached to a pilot of the Great War. Using a QR code placed on the bottle, everyone can find the story of this war hero at the same time as he tastes his beer ”. Of course, we find Emmanuel Riu’s passion for aviation even in the name of his drinks: “The white, which is light, is called” the IDLE “which is the lowest speed setting on an engine plane. The brunette, who is stronger, it’s “The Vrille”, which reminds the acrobats and also because it turns the head “smiles the enthusiast.
The Escadrille collection includes five varieties: Idle (white), Reverse (blonde), l’Envergure (amber), Vrille (brown), Resource (IPA)
Another characteristic on laquelle Emmanuel Riu insists: beer is produced at the Seillonne brewery, in Verfeil, whose products have become, over the years, essentials of the Toulouse market (it was gold and silver medalist at theoncourse international of wines, beers and spirits of Lyon in 2021). “He is a cereal grower and brewer from Toulouse. All products are from organic farming. The water comes from the Black Mountain ”.
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For the moment, Emmanuel Riu’s Escadrille has not invaded the shops and cellars of Toulouse. On the ground, it will be sold in shops at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. In flight, and with an airline in business and first class. For those who would not have the chance to travel upscale or to travel to Blagnac, the Escadrille beers collection is also available, on order, on the site www.togasas.fr
