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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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Craft beer glasses: your guide to serving beer properly

Craft beer glasses: your guide to serving beer properly

Why is traditional kölsch beer in German beer restaurants only served in narrow, elongated, small glasses? Why is it that local brews in other countries are served, for example, in pint glasses? It’s not a marketing move — the point is that in a properly shaped vessel beer better reveals its flavor and aroma, as well as retains a stable foam. And if you choose the right container, you can even at home to get maximum pleasure from your favorite varieties. To help all beer lovers — our guide to glasses! A pint of Nonic Suitable for styles: india pale ale, porter, brown ale, cider This is a versatile glass that is ideal for drinkable, low-alcoholic varieties. There are three types of pint glasses, the most popular being the 0.6 liter Nonic from the UK. It is a container with slightly curved walls that widen slightly at the bottom. Snifter Suitable for styles: stout, porter, barleywine The same «pouzat» glass that is also often seen in beer restaurants. The deep bowl retains the distinct flavor of the drink well, and the short stem allows it to be slightly warmed by human body heat, thus bringing out the aroma. The snifter is ideal for aromatic brews such as strong ales. Tulip Suitable for styles: Belgian ale, wild ale This glass is somewhat like a snifter, but with an elongated rather than narrowed neck. The tulip retains foam well, and the container also helps to capture volatile substances. A great choice for strong styles, although experts say it’s the perfect shape for any variety if you plan to drink just one glass. Pilsner Suitable for styles: lager, pilsner, bock A glass for serving all light lagers, including pilsners. It has a long shape with pronounced straight lines and a slightly tapered neck, which helps to stabilize the foam. The pilsner is also ideal for showing off the color and carbonation of the drink. Weitzen Suitable for styles: hefeweizen, witbier A smoothly shaped glass with a wide neck, originally from Germany. It is ideal for serving a variety of wheat beers, such as Hefenweizens and Belgian Witbiers. In such a glass, the flavor of the beverage will unfold well and a lush, high foam will be retained. Teku Suitable for: double IPA, saison, lambic This 0.3-liter glass is a relatively recent development and rather resembles a version of the famous tulip, but with sharper corners. The container well reveals the flavor of the drink and preserves the foam, and the long stem prevents it from heating up. By the way, in Lambic restaurants beer is served only in the right glasses. Come and see for yourself!

27 March 2024

Learning how to properly store beer so it doesn't lose its flavor

Learning how to properly store beer so it doesn't lose its flavor

Has it ever happened that you buy expensive and seemingly high-quality beer, but it doesn’t live up to expectations? Often the taste qualities are affected not only by the manufacturing process, but also by transportation and storage of the drink, and not only in the manufacturer’s warehouses, but also at home. And if you can’t influence some moments, then every responsible beer lover should understand the rules of home storage. We tell you how to properly store beer so that it retains its true flavor. No hot rooms Many people put beer in the fridge just before drinking, but before that they simply store it in drawers in the kitchen. This can be done, but not for long — after a few weeks, even at room temperature, beer will inevitably start to lose its flavor. The ideal storage temperature for beer is about +1 °C. Some varieties can be stored at 10-12 degrees, but if you are not ready to understand the subtleties — it is better to choose a cool place for beer. And even more so, beer should not be stored in hot rooms, for example, next to a radiator — it will quickly become unusable. Out of the sunlight The flavor of beer can be spoiled if it is constantly exposed to sunlight. Brown glass bottles cope best with direct rays — they keep out about 98% of the radiation. Green bottles, on the other hand, are only 20% impervious. It is undesirable to store beer in transparent bottles; it is better to consume it immediately after purchase. Therefore, the optimal storage method for all varieties is a dark space. Ideally a cellar, but a cupboard in the pantry will also work. Don’t open it! Leaving the beer open to finish it tomorrow is a bad decision. In the air, the drink quickly wears off and loses its flavor. By the way, oxygen can also get into closed bottles, if, for example, the production technology is broken. But this will immediately indicate an atypical odor — cardboard, paper or wax. Such a drink can not only not give pleasure, but also harm your health. And be sure to check the expiration dates even on tested varieties. How do you store draught beer? The average shelf life of draught beer is 3 days if the storage rules are followed. Such a short period of time is due to the fact that during bottling beer comes into contact with air, the bottle is not airtight and sterile. How long can you store draft beer in the bottle so that it does not spoil? Here are some tips. Of course, beer should be kept in the refrigerator. Strong beer should be stored at a temperature of no more than 15 degrees, low-alcohol beer — no more than 10 degrees. If the beer is not stored in the refrigerator but in another cold place, take care to keep it dark. Bacteria are more active in the presence of light. Bottles should be stored vertically. Because quality live beer has yeast sediment, storing it in the refrigerator is strongly discouraged. At low temperatures, the yeast dies, which also affects the flavor. Live beer is best consumed immediately after purchase — it is not pasteurized and therefore does not keep for long. Better still, come and try it at any Lambic beer restaurant. We take a responsible approach to beer storage and guarantee its excellent taste!

27 March 2024