Belgian Kriek-style beer: more than just a cherry
Cherry beer has long occupied a separate niche among foamy beverages - the taste of this berry is so harmoniously blended into the bouquet that the trend has its own connoisseurs. And the most popular among the cherry brews is Kriek - a traditional Belgian beer of bright ruby color, which has a unique taste and rich aroma. But why is it so beloved by beer fans?
From history
Kriek is not even a variety, but a separate style. It is based on lambic, a beer made by spontaneous fermentation and only in Belgium. The wort is left in open vats, where "wild" yeasts - microorganisms that are found only in the valley of the river Senna - get in from the air. Because the spontaneous fermentation process is completely uncontrollable, each batch of lambic has a unique flavor, which is why beer connoisseurs love it.
Kriek differs from ordinary lambic by adding cherry juice or whole berries with pips before filtration. The mixture is not fermented, but kept for at least six months, until the beer reaches the right consistency.
The first such drink was brewed many years ago in Scharbeck brewery - local craftsmen decided to add to the product the fruit of sour cherries, which grew near the production site. And they were right: the taste of the berry turned out to be just right, and the drink itself acquired a beautiful ruby color as well.
And today?
These days, brewers don't rely on fate - the cherries for Kriek beer are grown on purpose. Most of the time they are Morello, ideally from the Brussels area. The result is a rather sour and tart beer with a rich, velvety flavor. For those who like it sweeter, producers offer a cherry-based kriek of sweet varieties, but do not immediately take the path of least resistance - you should first try to make friends with the original drink.
Belgian Kriek cherry beer has a lot to love: despite the moderate strength of 5-6%, it is a great warming in the cold. And it is also extremely pleasant to drink: in addition to cherries, you can feel the nutty tones and light floral notes in the taste. And, of course, there is nothing without the traditional flavor characteristics of lambic - old leather, wet earth and horse blanket.
The Belgian Kriek cherry beer should be consumed correctly - chilled to +8 degrees, from tall glasses or standard-sized hollow glasses. And ideally, do not snack: this way the taste of cherry lambic opens up even better.
If you can't taste Kriek in Belgium, come to a beer restaurant that honors the traditions of the country. Like any of the Lambic Brasserie - they serve cherry beers in style!
Russian-made cider Eden Sin: from the Volga region with love!
Cider is an excellent compromise for those who come to a beer restaurant but do not like classic foam. The delicate, soft, sweetish flavor, which is more like a fruit beer than a beer, leaves almost no one indifferent. There are many worthy representatives in the cider family, and today we will talk about one of them — cider of Russian production Eden Sin. Interesting facts Eden Sin is a product of the Russian company Rebel Apple. Its creator, Alexander Ionov, started making cider in 2015, and at first it was a home production. The trademark appeared later, in 2018, and a year later the cidery got its own building in Moscow. Now Rebel Apple is the only full-cycle craft cidery in the capital. One of the flagship varieties of Rebel Apple is considered to be Eden Sin — a sparkling unleavened unfiltered French-style apple cider. It is produced from apples grown in the orchards of the central Volga region. Thanks to a special production technology all natural sweetness of ripe fruits is preserved in the drink, which makes Eden Sin one of the most unique varieties on the Russian market. Main characteristics Eden Sin cider has a beautiful light golden color and expressively fruity taste, soft and at the same time rich, with a long pleasant aftertaste. The aroma of the drink has tones of winter and autumn apples, notes of yeast and baked goods with apple filling. Eden Sin goes well with sweet dishes and baked goods. It can also be served with European dishes, salads, cheeses, and a variety of appetizers. You can try Eden Sin and other cider varieties in the chain of Belgian brasseries Lambic. The menu of our beer restaurants includes a huge choice of beer and other alcoholic drinks. We also offer a wide range of Belgian dishes and popular European appetizers. We always have a cozy atmosphere, excellent service and comfortable prices — come, you will definitely like it!
26 October 2024
Catch, fish: which beer goes best with fish dishes?
Fish is probably the most popular appetizer for beer. People drank beer with taranka and wobla back in the days when there were no garlic croutons or onion rings on the cafe menu. Today the assortment of fish dishes for beer has become wider than before, so it has become more difficult to choose — not any fish is suitable for beer, and vice versa. Let’s find out what gastronomic combinations with beer are considered the most successful. General rules If you do not want to delve into varieties and directions, you can use these universal recommendations: — light beer without bitterness goes well with white fish; — white smoked fish will be even tastier when paired with a strong light beer with moderate bitterness; — seafood — crabs, shrimps, lobsters — are better with light, slightly sweet beer; — spicy and savory fish dishes can be accompanied by dark hoped beer with a pronounced bitterness. More about styles Let’s talk more about which styles and trends pair best with specific fish dishes. Dark types of beer — for example, porter, Belgian strong dark ale — are best paired with cold-smoked red fish, preferably not very salty. This can be pink salmon, chum salmon, salmon. Belgian wheat beer will make an excellent tandem with smoked salmon or capelin — a rather fatty fish with a mild flavor. Mackerel, halibut, sea bass dishes will harmoniously complement light varieties of beer, in particular, various lagers. The most universal beer pairing for fish is a variety of ales, including Belgian ales. They go well with almost any fish dishes, especially with fatty soft hot-smoked fish — mackerel, salmon, perch. In some cases, kriek and lambic also go well with it. You can try quality beer and tasty appetizers to it in Brasserie Lambic network. The menu of our beer restaurants includes hundreds of quality beers from Belgium and other countries of the world, as well as many other dishes and drinks for every taste. Come and we will find something to surprise you!
26 October 2024