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History of the origin of beer: all the most interesting things about the favorite drink

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In recent years, the number of breweries, specialty stores, and beer restaurants has increased dramatically, and so many people think that beer is a symbol of modernity. Although in fact beer is considered the most ancient alcoholic drink in the world - the first traces of its production were found in a cave in Israel, and they are at least 13 thousand years old. There is a whole theory that man began to grow crops not for the production of bread, but for beer. Whether this is true or not is impossible to prove, but it is far from being the only interesting fact in the rich history of beer.

From the ancient to the modern

It is believed that the first industrial production of beer started as early as VII millennium B.C.! This is confirmed by clay tablets found in ancient Mesopotamia, which depict a brewing vat and masters engaged in making the drink. Of course, at that time beer was not brewed according to modern recipes: spelt and barley, as well as various spices were used for it.

In the history of ancient Babylon, beer can be found in the laws, and quite severe ones at that - for example, the producer could be punished by death for a bad quality of the drink. In ancient Egypt, beer was also very popular - about 20 different recipes were used there.

The ancient Romans, on the other hand, considered beer a "barbarian drink" because it was used by Celts, Germans and other European tribes who were at war with the legions.

In the Middle Ages the center of beer production was the lands of Germany and Flanders. Drinks were usually brewed in monasteries, and some recipes have survived to this day, such as the famous Trappist beer, which is considered one of the symbols of modern Belgium. In those days, even children drank beer because the area was unhygienic, the quality of water was poor, and substitutes like milk deteriorated quickly.

In Russia, beer has also been appreciated since ancient times. For example, in ancient Russia it was often found at princes' feasts. It was brewed from wild honey, which was considered a rather scarce commodity, and to make it cheaper, hops began to be added to it over time. Among the Russian tsars, Peter I was especially fond of beer, and other rulers followed him - for example, under Catherine II the first brewery in the country was built.

Today in Russia and all over the world there are hundreds of such enterprises - from huge companies to tiny craft breweries. But one thing is unchanged: beer is still at the peak of popularity, and first of all - and we are only talking about quality beverages - because of its excellent taste. Come to Lambic and taste it for yourself!

 

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Coffee and beer - a match or a flop? Exploring the myths about the famous combination

Coffee and beer - a match or a flop? Exploring the myths about the famous combination

Coffee and beer are drunk at different times and on different occasions, but they have much more in common than meets the eye. Beverages that were considered ordinary 10 years ago have now become gourmet products: craft beer and specialty coffee have won millions of fans. But what if you mix the two? Let’s find out how justified this combination is and what myths are associated with it. How did the combination of coffee and beer appear? Experiments with coffee and beer began in the middle of the XX century, when brewers and bartenders began to look for new flavors. But the real boom happened in the nineties and noughties due to the growing popularity of craft beer. The first successful variants were coffee stouts and porters — dark brews with deep flavors that perfectly complemented the coffee notes. Brewers added coffee at various stages: — during brewing — for a rich flavor;— during fermentation — for softness;— into the finished beer — as a cold coffee infusion. A good example of such a recipe is the Japanese beer Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, which can be tasted in Lambic beer restaurants. It’s a flavorful, dense ale brewed in the style of American imperial stouts with coffee beans added for espresso. Bartenders, too, have contributed to popularizing this unusual combination, creating original cocktails from coffee and beer. The most popular is the Black & Tan, which includes stout, lager and espresso. Today, such mixes are part of the craft culture. Is it true that coffee helps sober you up? One of the main myths is that coffee supposedly neutralizes alcohol. In fact, caffeine only masks intoxication. It creates the illusion of liveliness, but coffee does not actually lower blood alcohol levels. In addition, a cocktail of coffee and beer can increase the strain on the heart. If you drink coffee before alcohol, it will temporarily increase the activity of liver enzymes that break down ethanol. But this does not mean that it is necessary to increase the dose. Coffee with beer: harm or benefit? In moderate quantities, low-alcohol coffee beers (for example, stouts with 4-6% strength) are relatively safe. If you want to try such a mix, choose drinks from quality ingredients. For example: — Dark beer (porter, stout) and cold espresso.— Lager or ale and light coffee syrup. There are contraindications for such cocktails. Mixing coffee with beer is not recommended for people with hypertension, heart and GI diseases, as well as those who use drugs incompatible with caffeine. The combination of coffee and beer is an interesting gastronomic experience, especially if you respect the measure. Come to Lambic — we will treat you to interesting drinks without harming your health!

20 May 2025

Bitter! Let's understand what IBU is and how bitterness affects the taste of beer

Bitter! Let's understand what IBU is and how bitterness affects the taste of beer

If you’ve scrutinized craft beer labels, you’ve definitely seen the mysterious IBU abbreviation on them. This indicator plays a key role in shaping the flavor of the beverage. Let’s find out what it means and why bitterness is one of the main criteria for evaluating beer. What is IBU? IBU (International Bitterness Unit) is an international indicator of beer bitterness. It indicates the concentration of isohumulone, an alpha acid found in hops, which gives the drink its characteristic bitterness. The higher the IBU, the more bitter the beer will be. However, the perception of bitterness depends not only on this indicator, but also on the balance with malt sweetness, strength and aromatic additives. Why do you need the IBU index? Before the advent of industrial brewing, a beverage could be either too sweet or, conversely, too sour or bitter. To achieve a harmonious flavor, brewers began to adjust bitterness with hops. In the past, herbs (thistle, mint, juniper) were used to soften sweetness, but today the main source of bitterness is hops. It is added at different stages of brewing to: — compensate for the sweetness of the malt;— add complexity and flavor to the beer;— increase shelf life (isohumulone has antibacterial properties). The first to calculate the bitterness of beer were the people of Great Britain, using the formula «pounds of hops per quart of malt». The modern IBU standard was developed to accurately categorize beers. How to calculate IBU? The bitterness index is determined using a mathematical formula: G = D × E D = (A × B) / (C × 0.1) Where: A — mass of hops (in grams); B — alpha acid content of hops (%); C — wort volume (in liters); E — loss factor (production time and beer density are affected); G — final IBU. The longer the hops are brewed, the more alpha acids pass into the wort, increasing bitterness. IBU scale: from lager to IPA Beer bitterness is measured on a scale of 0 to 120+ IBUs, but most beers are in the 5-90 range. Beer Style IBU Level Characteristics Pale Lagers 8–15 Light, smooth, minimal bitterness Wheat Ales 10–20 Fruity notes, low bitterness Porters/Stouts 30–50 Coffee, chocolate tones, moderate bitterness American IPA 50–80 Strong hop bitterness, citrus and pine notes Imperial IPA 80–120+ Extreme bitterness, high alcohol content Why is IBU not the main selection criterion? A high IBU does not always mean that the beer will seem too bitter. For example, sweet stouts (30-50 IBU) seem less bitter than IPAs due to caramel and chocolate notes. And light lagers (8-15 IBU) may be perceived as more bitter due to a lack of malt balance. How do you choose a beer based on bitterness level? If you don’t like bitterness — choose lagers, wheat ales, Belgian trippels (up to 30 IBU). If you like balance, try porters or amber ales (30-50 IBU). If you like a rich hop bitterness, an IPA or Imperial Stout (50+ IBU) is ideal. You can try any of these varieties in Lambic beer restaurants. Come — we will find something to surprise you!

20 May 2025