Mikkeller opens its first bar in the Middle East

This summer Mikkeller opens its first location in Lebanon, and its first in the Middle East, with a new bar on Pasteur Street in Beirut. Named Chuck et Luc, the bar blends a specialty coffee house, a craft beer bar, and a modern eatery under one roof, with a kitchen built around elevated American comfort food and all 16 taps dedicated to a rotating Mikkeller selection.

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The story behind Mikkeller Beirut started in Cyprus. Boghos Zetlian, who comes from a 50-year family legacy in food and beverage, first came across Mikkeller while sourcing craft beers for his burger restaurant. He fell for the beer, the universe, and the culture behind it, and decided he wanted to bring it to Beirut.

To pitch the idea, he booked a flight to Copenhagen, showed up at the office unannounced, and what followed was a six-hour evening that moved from Ramen to Biiru to Warpigs to a local pub. A partnership was born.

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"Beirut is a cosmopolitan city, and a leading one in the Middle East when it comes to food and drink culture. But the beer scene here has been built on convenience beer. Mikkeller represents something different. It's urban, inclusive, and it speaks to a new generation. That is what we want to bring to Beirut." Boghos Zetlian, Chuck et Luc.

The bar sits on Pasteur Street, named after the father of fermentation, a fitting home for a craft beer bar in central Beirut. The street is lined with great restaurants and bars, close to the city's nightlife but rooted firmly in a culinary experience. Chuck et Luc is designed to be the launchpad that introduces Mikkeller to the rest of the Middle East.
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"Beirut has one of the most exciting food and beverage cultures in the world, and it is going through a real moment of change. The craft beer scene is developing fast, and there is a huge appetite for quality. That includes non-alcoholic options, which are a core part of what we do best at Mikkeller. We are genuinely excited to be part of what is happening here." Mikkel Bjergsø, CEO of Mikkeller.

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"People should come to enjoy Mikkeller and understand what it stands for. We are building something timeless that should still be standing and relevant many decades from now." Boghos Zetlian, Chuck et Luc.

The opening marks Mikkeller's first location in Lebanon and its first in the Middle East.

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