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Features of Belgian beer: tradition and modernity

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Belgium is the most "beer" country in the world: this is confirmed by numerous studies and admiring tourists. The Belgians are very sensitive to the preservation of beer traditions, which is why all beer drinks produced in this country are always tasty and of high quality. What are the other characteristics of Belgian beer and how is it better than other countries?

A hundred points ahead

Of course, quality beer is also produced in Germany, the United States, and even Russia, but nowhere is there such a variety of original styles as in Belgium. Local brewers have had a great influence on brewers all over the world, and they have also provoked the widespread spread of craft beers. In order to catch up with the Belgian masters, brewers in different countries tried to create original varieties, and this led to the expansion of the lines and the creation of new production facilities.

There are hundreds of different beers produced in Belgium, and it is impossible to single out features that are characteristic of all the country's beers without exception. But there are some aspects that are common to most styles:

— Phenolic aromas produced by the yeast. Herbal, spicy, clove aromas are found in almost all Belgian beers.
— Fruit esters are also the result of yeast. They give the aroma of the finished drink hints of citrus or fruit that won't go unnoticed when consumed correctly.
— Sizzle and sparkle. Because many Belgian varieties are subjected to a second pre-pregnancy in the bottle, they behave a bit like Champagne when poured. This is also considered a characteristic of Belgian beer.

Despite these similarities, you can easily come across Belgian beers that do not meet any of these criteria. So getting to know Belgian beer is always an unpredictable journey.

Among the country's highlights are:

— Trappist beer, a unique beverage with a centuries-old history, which is brewed only in monasteries. Today only 13 certified breweries are engaged in its production;
— Belgian white ale - a beer made without hops with a beautiful milky-yellow color and rich flavor;
— lambic - beer of spontaneous fermentation, dry and sour. There are also lambics with added fruit, the most famous variety being Cherry Creek;
— Flanders red and brown ales are sour beers without a pronounced hop bitterness.

And this is just a small part of the beers from Belgium, which must be tasted by all connoisseurs. Come to the Lambic beer restaurant - let's taste them together!

 

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

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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!

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

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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!

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