Location: My house and your house with a box of beer on the kitchen table
Moodmusic: Looking at the springtime sunshine ............
Todays memories and soundbites
Well it was a journey of discovery that leads to this blog journal entry. My heritage is part Flemish and my favourite beer from early days in fantastic pubs such as In den oude Vogelstruys, De Vagaant, and the Tapuit was always a Kriek. I was in the mood to have one again, but on the way to finding one, I discovered Kriek is not the only kind of Lambic beer, and then I kind of got sidetracked by tempting looking alternatives and a whole host of other Flemish brews. A Lambic beer has a particular brewing style and originates in a specific area of Belgium, around, and to the south and west, of Brussels, with a limited number of producers recognised by the EU and trade body. Lambics are essentially wheat beers. Key to the production of a Lambics is the harnessing of wild yeasts in the fermentation process, the wort is kept open to the air to allow "wild" rather than cultivated yeast strains (and bacteria) to lead the fermentation process. This really appeals to me because my homebrew elderflower champagne works on the same natural yeast principle (you don't add any but rely on the yeast/bacteria sat on the flower petals), and the results are always exciting because each brew is slightly different but totally yummy. The wild yeasts and wheats are the main flavour ingredients along with added fruits, where hops are used, stale hops are added for preservative rather than flavour qualities. Lambics that come in a number of different varieties:
- Lambic - straight or unblended. Vary in character from barrel to barrel. May be different ages. Little carbonation. Cloudy. Rarely bottled.
- Geuze - blended. Old and young lambics mixed to manage flavour and character. Complex. Refermentation ensues on mixing, so normally carbonated. Bottled.
- Kriek - lambic refermented with sour cherries. Sweet, sour, dry. Carbonated.
- Fruit - lambic refermented with other fruits. Raspberry (framboise) and strawberry common. Carbonated.
- Faro - blended with added sugar. The sweetness may come from sugar, brown sugar or molasses, so many dark in colour. Sometimes addition of spice. Well carbonated.
Drinks
1. Brouwerij De Troch, Chapeau Banana (3.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: OMG! Shock value! It’s in a small bottle for a reason!
Critical: This is a real lambic, not an entry level beer for the uninitiated! Will be appreciated by those adventurous sorts with an open mind and an understanding of what the Lambic style offers. Low carbonation. Fantastic banana, hay and beef pie aroma. Sour and banana flavours, with a slight bubblegum then sour ending. Feels more like a cider than a beer. The teenagers loved this!!
2. Brouwerij de Molen, Lief and Leed (6.2%)
Reactions
Emotional: Eyes tight closed wincing sherbert pain!
Critical: Described as "wild sour ale" rather than Lambic, it is a Lambic made outside the recognised region in the Netherlands. Aroma hard to discern. Flavour sour fruit, and Lambic funky. Taste of cherries comes through in the end. Sharp ending. Interesting and obviously a good quality example of this style, but not sure if I would drink it again.
3. Lieffman, Framboise (3.5%)
THIS IS NOT A REAL LAMBIC! This recipe uses a brown ale base rather than a sour Lambic base. It snuck in because I didn't know any better at the time of ordering!
Reactions
Emotional: Summer beer of choice
Critical: Yummy summer fruits, no sweetness, no over powered sourness, just fruitful mellowness. Great strawberry/raspberry flavours. Not for everybody these fruit beers but I like this one, it's far less controversial and far easier to drink than a real Lambic.
4. Oud Beersel, Oude Kriek (6.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Loooooooooovvvvvvvvvvveerrrllllleeeeeeeee!!!
Critical: Aroma of funky cherry and almonds. Sour and dry but rich cherry middle. Not too tart. Spritzy grainy body. Taste of mis-spent youth!
5. Oud Beersel, Oude Geuze (6%)
Reactions
Emotional: Show stopping!
Critical: Active head. Aroma horse sweat? Tastes of funky green hops, spring woods after rain, and a bit of a metallic ending. Dry. More like a wine than a cider in overall character?
Spring view
