A TASTE OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE: HEINEKEN® STUDIO X AXEL CHAY

words by DOMINIKA GŁOWACZ

A beer that tastes like the South of France? Heineken® Studio’s latest collaboration with Marseille-born designer Axel Chay delivers just that, a seasoned lager infused with peach, pineapple, and a hint of Camargue salt, served in a sculptural “Social Set” designed to make sharing drinks a design ritual.

image courtesy of HEINEKEN

If this intro was not convincing enough, let me tell you a bit more about this creative collaboration.

Drawing inspiration from Chay’s favourite nights out in Marseille with friends and strangers who come together over a drink, the partnership has produced a limited-edition seasoned lager and a custom “Social Set” featuring sleek glassware, coasters, and a tray. True to his post-modern aesthetic and love of metalwork, Axel Chay fuses chrome forms and playful curves with Heineken®’s iconic green, creating a design range that is as functional as it is social. Celebrating connections with good company in a creative spirit.

images courtesy of HEINEKEN

According to Heineken®’s Master Brewer Willem van Waesberghe, who detailed the process behind the brew, the collaboration represents a creative dialogue between Marseille’s vibrant spirit and Axel Chay’s personal vision. Together, they created lager that captures the warmth and vibrancy of Marseille itself, but still keeps the Heineken®’s signature crispness with ingredients that tell a story with a subtle nod to the designer’s coastal hometown. The result is a brew that feels both familiar and new!

images courtesy of HEINEKEN