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!
Jeju Beer Company: legendary craft from South Korea
When talking about good beer, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and other European countries are most often mentioned. And the reason for this is not that other parts of the globe do not make high-quality foam, it is simply that many varieties simply do not reach Russia. It is about such a case — the famous South Korean beer of Jeju Beer Company — that we will talk today. History of the brewery Jeju Beer Company was founded in 2015 on the largest Korean island of Jeju. The company, whose main mission is to create a new beer culture in the country, became the first global craft brewery in Korea, and in a short period of time — also the most popular. According to analytics, one bottle of Jeju Beer is purchased every three seconds in the country. In 2017, the company introduced a series of new wheat beers, including the already sensational Jeju Wit Ale, Jeju Pellong Ale and Jeju Slice. The highlight of these brews is the composition: the unique flavor of the beer is given by the rind of gamgyul, a citrus plant native to Jeju. Now Jeju Beer Company’s beer is exported to Taiwan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and other countries of the world. The global distribution network of the Korean brewery is ensured by partnership with Brooklyn Brewery. Jeju Beer Company is a winner of many festivals, in particular, the winner of silver medals of Australian International Beer Awards and Korea Liquor Awards 2019 in the category of craft beer. Best brews One of the most popular brews is Jeju Wit Ale. It is a luxurious wheat beer with the addition of the aforementioned Jeju Island citrus and coriander. The drink has a delicate floral aroma and a pleasant taste dominated by citrus notes. The beer recipe was developed in collaboration with Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and winner of the James Beard Award, which is called the «Oscars» for chefs in the beer industry. Special attention should be paid to Jeju Pellong Ale. This is an American Pale Ale style beer with a citrusy aroma dominated by tones of apricot. The flavor has the sweetness of the tropics. The aftertaste is dry, with a pleasant citrus bitterness. There is also Jeju Geomeong Ale, a dark beer made with local black barley and chocolate malt. The drink has a rich flavor that reveals tones of coffee and dark chocolate. The same notes, as well as malt sweetness, can be felt in the taste of the drink. You don’t have to go to South Korea to try Jeju Beer Company beer. Come to Lambic! Our beer restaurants have hundreds of high quality beers from all over the world. We also have delicious food, excellent service and always cozy atmosphere. We are waiting for you!
23 January 2025
Belgian waffles: history of origin and interesting facts
If you ask anyone what Belgium is associated with, most people will name three things — a sculpture of a boy in Brussels, beer and, of course, waffles. Flavorful, airy and crispy, they have long ceased to be just a dish on restaurant menus and have become a real culinary landmark of the country. Back in the past Surprisingly, the history of the most famous waffles originates not in Belgium, but in the United States. During the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, Belgian pastry chef Walter Clement introduced his unique dish to the Americans. The waffles, served with strawberries and whipped cream, were so well liked by the local population that they soon spread throughout America. It is said that in the first four months after the «premiere» more than half a million waffles were sold in the United States. It is believed that the name «Belgian» was established because not all Americans knew where Brussels was located. In their homeland, Belgium, the famous waffles are called only Brussels waffles. Did you know that... Brussels waffles are made from yeast dough in cast iron waffle makers, which makes them soft on the outside and crispy on the inside. Some pastry chefs add a secret ingredient to it, but what it is they don’t reveal. There is speculation that it could be one of the beers, but there is no proof for this theory. Brussels waffles are often confused with Liege waffles, which are also made in Belgium, in the city of Liege. But these are different dishes: Liege waffles are drier, more like buns, and their dough contains bits of caramelized sugar. Classic Belgian waffles are sweet, served with coffee or tea. But there are also unsweetened waffles with different fillings. Where to try Of course, it is better to taste any national dish at home, but if you can’t go to Belgium yet — come to Lambic! Our Belgian beer restaurants have everything to feel the real taste of this wonderful country: dozens of varieties of beer, national cuisine and cozy atmosphere. And for Belgian waffles we have allocated a whole section with sweet classics with strawberries and ice cream, and unsweetened potato positions with fish, meat and other fillings. Come — it will be delicious!
23 January 2025