Belhaven McCallum's Stout: Your Perfect Harbor
This beer revolutionized the world of stouts: the producers took a risk and made the famous dark beer sweet. Yes, it is nothing like Guinness, the world's most famous stout, but that is what makes it unique. How Belhaven brewery made such an experiment and why Belhaven McCallum's Stout became so popular all over the world - we will tell you in this article.
How it all began
Beer in the village of Belhaven (literally translated as "beautiful harbor") began to be brewed in the 12th century. At first it was monks, then in 1719 they were replaced by the Johnstone family who founded their brewery there. The location was ideally suited for production, the region boasted the finest barley, and the brewery had its own spring of pure natural water. In addition, in the first half of the nineteenth century a railroad was built to the village, which immediately opened up new opportunities for trade.
However, the family company, which specialized in traditional Scottish beers, did not become very popular. And by the 70s of the last century, the business had stalled altogether - the small company could not stand up to the industrial giants. The Belhaven brewery found a new life later, in 1972, when it had a new owner.
The new director of production development is Stuart Oss. And it was under his leadership three new beers appeared in the brewery, among them the famous Belhaven McCallum's Stout. Stuart Oss stayed in his position until 2008, and during this time the talented brewed beverage managed to become truly legendary.
Secret ingredient
Despite the fact that the Scots are famous fans of strong alcohol, the owners of Belhaven brewery decided to do the opposite - to make stouts atypical, lighter and sweeter. They lowered the degree of the drinks and made their taste richer - and the consumer liked it.
Belhaven McCallums Stout is one of the most popular beers in the lineup. The only thing that makes it similar to a traditional stout is a lush foamy cap, thanks to the nitrogen capsule the producer glues to the bottom of the can. The color, on the other hand, is quite different: red-brown and transparent. The aroma of the drink is very mild, with a slight caramel sweetness and hints of fruit and berries. Hop bitterness is almost imperceptible and appears only after the drink warms up.
The taste of the beer is soft, sweet and dense. There are notes of dried fruits and caramel, raisins and apples, as well as distinct notes of bread. The aftertaste is short, with a slightly more noticeable bitterness than the taste.
True connoisseurs of stouts often argue whether this variety should be accepted into the family or it is rather a variation for the general consumer, which has nothing to do with gourmet tastes. Whether it is or not is up to you to decide, but one thing is certain: the taste of Belhaven McCallum's Stout is memorable from the first sip, and it is definitely worth a try for anyone who is even a little bit into foamy beverages. For example, at any of the Lambic beer restaurants - come!
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