Pin Pon, the fire truck that serves beers

A two-tone horn sounds. Are the Nérac firefighters out? No, yet a fire truck arrives on the Place du Foirail. A Saviem JP 13 from 1979. At the wheel, Alexandre Rigo, a 33-year-old Tonneinquais. And in the tank, at the back, barrels of craft beers. Here is Pin Pon, the new original concept of Troquet Vagabond.

“We bought it from an individual, in Aveyron, who wanted to travel around the world. In the end, he only went around his garden,” smiles the Lot-et-Garonnais. With his partner, Kevin Deniel-Burg from Toulouse, he then began an atypical restoration of the vehicle which was used in the 80s and 90s.

The entire rear part of the vehicle has been transformed into a cold room to preserve all the qualities and flavors of the beer. Under the metal steering wheels, holes were drilled to place taps, connected to the barrels stored in the cold unit. Ten nozzles in total. “I think we are the only ones in France with this concept.”

“More richness and depth in craftsmanship”

With Pin Pon, Alexandre Rigo very clearly stands out from the crowd. In Nérac, very quickly, curious people crowded around the fire truck. “Before, I worked in industrial beer, at AB InBEV (Triple Karmeliet, Leffe, Bud, Corona…). My boss told me: “you have a simple job because you sell conviviality”. She was right. But I don’t understand the madness of standardizing everything. There is more richness and depth in craft beer. Every year I taste 500 different beers. It’s great to discover new tastes. Then it’s drinking better. Certainly once we leave, people take their Heineken again. But if we can introduce them to the little brewer who works near them and produces quality…”

In the name of locality and quality, Lot-et-Garonnais has pushed its concept forward. “As soon as I blow a barrel, I replace it with a different beer.” Or 250 per season, all produced in New Aquitaine. Also, no plastic glasses. Alexandre and his team serve in Duralex, against deposit. “43 broken glasses in four years,” he emphasizes. “Above all, the plastic glass takes away a good quarter if not half of the experience, especially around the nose. »

Soon on the road to the Agricultural Show?

Around Pin Pon, participants of the Nérac Oktoberfest discovered 15 different beers on Saturday evening, from chocolate to blueberry-raspberry. “All the brewers we work with, I can name their kids. We like the idea of ​​being their embassy. I don’t serve beer from people I don’t know. And, in fact, I feel much more legitimate in advising customers, and encouraging them to discover the local breweries. »

This concept is the latest launched by Alexandre Rigo’s company. The truck has started to tour various events (90% private) since spring 2023. But Pin Pon is already being emulated and is increasingly in demand. “Autonomous, it can operate outside of our main activity (read box)”. One of its next destinations could well be the next Agricultural Show.