Meaning literally keeping beer, this is a pale ale traditionally brewed in the Pas-de-Calais region of France. These beers were usually brewed by farmhouses in the winter and spring, to avoid unpredictable problems with the yeast during the summertime. Farmhouse production is now supplemented by commercial production, although most brewers are small businesses.

Typically, beers of this tradition are of a copper or golden colour, and as the name suggests the origins of the style lie in the tradition that it was matured/cellared for a period of time once bottled (and most sealed with a cork), to be consumed later in the year, akin to a Belgian saison. Most varieties are top-fermented and unfiltered, although bottom-fermented and/or filtered versions exist.