lambic
Lambic ( , ; ) is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels since the 13th century. Types of lambic beer include gueuze, kriek lambic, and framboise. Lambic differs from most other beers in that it is Bre ...
, a
Belgian beer
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
. It is made by blending young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics, which is bottled for a second
fermentation
Fermentation is a type of anaerobic metabolism which harnesses the redox potential of the reactants to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and organic end products. Organic molecules, such as glucose or other sugars, are catabolized and reduce ...
. Because the young lambics are not fully fermented, the blended beer contains fermentable
sugar
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose
Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...
s, which allow a second fermentation to occur.
Due to its lambic blend, gueuze has a different flavor than traditional ales and lagers. Because of their use of aged hops, lambics lack the characteristic hop aroma or flavor found in most other beers. Furthermore, the wild
yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...
s that are specific to lambic-style beers give gueuze a dry,
cider
Cider ( ) is an alcoholic beverage made from the Fermented drink, fermented Apple juice, juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom (particularly in the West Country) and Ireland. The United Kingdom has the world's highest ...
-like, musty, sour,
acetic acid
Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main compone ...
,
lactic acid
Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...
taste. Many describe the taste as sour and "barnyard-like". Gueuze is typically highly carbonated, with carbonation levels ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 volumes of carbon dioxide. Because of its carbonation, gueuze is sometimes called "
Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
Champagne
Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
".
In modern times, some brewers have added sweeteners such as
aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. 200 times sweeter than sucrose, it is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide with brand names NutraSwe ...
to their gueuzes to sweeten them, trying to make the beer more appealing to a wider audience. The original, unsweetened version is often referred to as "Oude Gueuze" ("Old Gueuze") and became more popular in the early 2000s. Tim Webb, a British writer on Belgian and other beers, comments on the correct use of the term Oude gueuze' or 'oude geuze', now legally defined and referring to a drink made by blending two or more 100% lambic beer."
Traditionally
A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examp ...
, gueuze is served in champagne bottles, which hold either . Traditionally, gueuze, and the lambics from which it is made, has been produced in the area known as
Pajottenland
The Pajottenland (; in English occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the Flemish Brabant province and the south-western part of the Brussels Region of Belgium. The region is located west-southwest of Brussels. The Pajottenland i ...
and in Brussels. However, some non-Pajottenland/Brussels lambic brewers have sprung up and one or two also produce gueuze – see table below. Gueuze (both 'Oude' and others) qualified for the European Union's (EU) designation 'TSG' (
Traditional Speciality Guaranteed
A traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG; : traditional specialities guaranteed) is a traditional food product protected under European Union and/or United Kingdom law. This label differs from the geographical indications protected designation of ...
) in 1997/98, which prescribes a registered production method and product specifications for product called "gueuze" if produced or sold in the EU, but does not have the same legally protected status as a
protected designation of origin
The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main purpose is to designat ...
or
protected geographical indication
Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and Traditional food, traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG), promote ...
.
Etymology
The name was first seen as the Dutch word 'geuze-bier' in a French text in 1829.
There is some debate on where the word gueuze originated. One theory is that it originated from ''geysa'' (geyser),
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
for ''gush'', since, during times of vigorous fermentation, gueuze will spew out of the bunghole of its enclosing oak barrel.. Another one derives it from a street called 'Geuzenstraet' (
Geuzen
''Geuzen'' (; ; ) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called ''Watergeuzen'' (; ; ). In the Eigh ...
Street) in Brussels, an old street that used to host the former entrance of "La Bécasse" pub (the street is now erased; it was next to Rue de Tabora).
Another theory derives it from the French word 'gueuse' (meaning pig iron or raw iron), as originally, gueuze was defined as raw (unblended), aged, but fine-tasting lambic.
Méthode Traditionnelle
Some American
craft breweries
Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
have begun blending young and old
sour beer
Sour beer is beer which has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. Sour beer styles include Belgian lambics and Flanders red ale and German Gose and Berliner Weisse.
Brewing
Unlike modern brewing, which is done in a sanitary environment to ...
s, to produce their own versions of the traditional gueuze. In 2016 Jester King Brewery released a blended, spontaneously fermented beer which it labelled as "Méthode Gueuze." However, ''the High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers (
HORAL __NOTOC__
The High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers ( Dutch: ''Hoge Raad voor Ambachtelijke Lambiekbieren'', HORAL) is a non-profit organisation that brings together the gueuze brewers and blenders of the Pajottenland and Zenne Valley in Belgium ...
)'' objected to the name, and the two parties arranged a meeting in Belgium. Jester King Brewery had no status to represent other American brewers in this meeting, and American brewers were not bound by any agreements made by Jester King's representatives. HORAL and Jester King agreed that Jester King would use the designation "Méthode Traditionelle" as a style name in the future. Jester King invited other American brewers to use the Méthode Traditionelle designation for their gueuze-style beers, and proposed a set of standards and a logo for Méthode Traditionelle beers. The Méthode Traditionelle designation has not caught on among American brewers, being used only by Jester King and TRVE Brewing, and causing confusion not only with the Méthode Traditionelle used by French
champagne
Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
Commercial production of gueuze commenced in the 19th century; modern breweries that produce gueuze include:
*
3 Fonteinen
3 Fonteinen is a Belgian brewery, specialized in geuze and kriek. The brewery is situated in Beersel, near Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels ...
Cantillon Cantillon is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Daniel Cantillon (born 1945), American fencer.
* Estelle Cantillon, economist.
* Joe Cantillon (1861–1930), American baseball manager and umpire.
* Marie André Cantillon (1781/ ...
Mort Subite
Alken-Maes is a Belgium, Belgian brewery created out of the 1988 merger of two small breweries, Maes located at Waarloos, Kontich-Waarloos and Cristal-Alken located at Alken, Belgium, Alken. It was bought by Scottish & Newcastle in 2000, who wer ...
*
Oud Beersel
Oud Beersel is a Belgian lambic brewery. It is a member of HORAL, whose main event is ''Toer De Geuze'' every two years.
History
Oud Beersel is an artisanal lambic brewery, based in Beersel and founded in 1882 by Henri Vandervelden. His so ...
Tilquin
Tilquin (or Gueuzerie Tilquin) is a Belgian lambic beer blendery based in Bierghes, founded in 2009 by Pierre Tilquin. Tilquin is the only lambic blendery in the mainly French-speaking, southern region of Wallonia. In addition, Tilquin is the o ...
*
Timmermans Timmermans is a Dutch language, Dutch occupational surname meaning "carpenter's". It is a common name with (in 2007) 11,658 and 6,663 carriers in the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively.Boon
**''Mariage parfait Oude Gueuze (8%)''
**''Moriau Oude Gueuze (7%)''
**''Oude Gueuze (7%)''
**''Dekoninck Gueuze (6%)''
*
Cantillon Cantillon is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Daniel Cantillon (born 1945), American fencer.
* Estelle Cantillon, economist.
* Joe Cantillon (1861–1930), American baseball manager and umpire.
* Marie André Cantillon (1781/ ...
3 Fonteinen
3 Fonteinen is a Belgian brewery, specialized in geuze and kriek. The brewery is situated in Beersel, near Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels ...
**''Vintage Oude Gueuze (8%)''
**''Oude Gueuze (6%)''
**''Millennium Gueuze (7%)''
**''50e Anniversary Gueuze (6%)''
* Girardin
**''1882 Gueuze black label (5%)''
**''1882 Gueuze white label (5%)''
*Hanssens ''Artisanaal Oude Gueuze (6%)''
* Lindemans ''Cuvée René Oude Gueuze (5.5%)''
*
Mort Subite
Alken-Maes is a Belgium, Belgian brewery created out of the 1988 merger of two small breweries, Maes located at Waarloos, Kontich-Waarloos and Cristal-Alken located at Alken, Belgium, Alken. It was bought by Scottish & Newcastle in 2000, who wer ...
''Natural Oude Gueuze (7.2%)''
*
Oud Beersel
Oud Beersel is a Belgian lambic brewery. It is a member of HORAL, whose main event is ''Toer De Geuze'' every two years.
History
Oud Beersel is an artisanal lambic brewery, based in Beersel and founded in 1882 by Henri Vandervelden. His so ...
''Oude Gueuze (6%)''
*Timmermans Limited Edition' Oude Gueuze (5.5%)''
Non-Pajottenland / Brussels
*Gueuzerie Tilquin - ''Oude Gueuze Tilquin à l'Ancienne'' (6.4%)
*
Van Honsebrouck
Van Honsebrouck is a Belgian brewery in Ingelmunster, Belgium. Founded in 1865 as Sint-Jozef Brewery, it was renamed to Brewery Van Honsebrouck in 1953. It is one of two breweries outside of Pajottenland to produce lambic beer.
History
The loca ...
HORAL __NOTOC__
The High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers ( Dutch: ''Hoge Raad voor Ambachtelijke Lambiekbieren'', HORAL) is a non-profit organisation that brings together the gueuze brewers and blenders of the Pajottenland and Zenne Valley in Belgium ...
*
Sour beer
Sour beer is beer which has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. Sour beer styles include Belgian lambics and Flanders red ale and German Gose and Berliner Weisse.
Brewing
Unlike modern brewing, which is done in a sanitary environment to ...