The legendary Kwak: It's not even about the glass
This beer can be rightly called a symbol of Belgian brewing. And taste is not the main thing here - tourists from all over the world come to Brussels to see how Pauwel Kwak is served in the local brasserie. The fact is that this drink is traditionally consumed from a special glass. And if you add to this fact the excellent taste - it is clear why connoisseurs from all over the world want to try Kwak at least once in a lifetime.
History of Tradition
Amber ale Kwak was born in the 18th century. It owes its name to the brewer Powell Kwak, who lived and worked in Dendermond district. The man had an inn and a small production facility, where he brewed the original strong beer. The glass in this story appeared unexpectedly - at the time, coachmen, according to the Napoleonic Code, were forbidden to leave their workplace even in case of extreme thirst. And Powell Kwak figured out how to solve their problem - he invented a vessel that was tightly attached to the carriage. As a result, everyone benefited: the carriage drivers could drink the refreshing drink even on the move, Kwak made his inn a center of attraction, and centuries later he even went down in history.
A few centuries later Kwak beer was reborn - the specialists of Bosteels started to make it. And along with the drink the glass became fashionable - in memory of the legendary brewer.
An old new flavor
Pauwel Kwak today is an amber ale with a variety of flavors. There's honey, fruit, caramel, banana, licorice, orange, and yeast - you can enjoy every note. Kwak is a pretty strong beer, but the degrees in it are barely perceptible, which also makes it attractive to tourists.
To serve the legendary beer glasses of different sizes are used: from 0.3 to a liter. In addition, in some Belgian bars there is an interesting tradition - to leave your own shoes as a deposit for the container! But travelers usually do not mind - on the contrary, many of them specifically look for places where you can drink Kwak according to all traditions.
Pauwel Kwak should be consumed chilled to 5-10 degrees. It is poured into a dry glass at a slant, and tasted only after the foam settles. This usually happens after 15-20 seconds.
If you want to taste Belgium - you should definitely start with Kwak beer. In the capital you can do it in a beer restaurant. We honor the traditions of this beautiful country and offer only the best foamy drinks. Also, our menu has a lot of excellent beer snacks - come and try them!
Taste without degrees: how non-alcoholic beer is made
Non-alcoholic beer is a great alternative to the usual foam beer when drinks with degrees are prohibited. And if earlier the taste and quality of such beer left much to be desired, now it has become a self-sufficient product that can bring no less pleasure than alcoholic varieties. We tell you how non-alcoholic beer is produced and at what point it loses degrees. A bit of history The first batch of non-alcoholic beer was made in 1976 in the Czech Republic. At first it was so unpopular that manufacturers had to engage in its mass promotion. In the 1980s, beer without degrees began to be actively promoted, including talking about the harm of drunk driving. But it didn’t help much — until the end of the nineties its market share was less than 1%. Non-alcoholic beer has gained real popularity only recently — in the early 2020s. The reason is the trend towards a healthy lifestyle. People all over the world are giving up meat, practicing sports and now — preferring beer without degrees to drinks with alcohol. Secrets of production Non-alcoholic beer contains the same ingredients as regular beer. Only the production technologies differ. They are based either on reducing the degrees by eliminating the fermentation stage or on removing alcohol from the finished beer. Here are the three most popular methods: — The interrupted fermentation method - when the fermentation of the wort is stopped and then the resulting liquid is carbonated, pasteurized and filtered. This is the most common method that most producers use;— evaporation - the degrees leave the beverage under the influence of high temperature;— membrane filtration method - the finished beer is filtered, separating the alcohol from the drink. Non-alcoholic beer is the right product if you are health-conscious. In addition to the fact that it does not contain alcohol, which in large quantities negatively affects the body, it is also low in calories. In beer without degrees only 30 calories per 100 grams — against 45 or more in the usual. But be vigilant: to improve the flavor of the drink, manufacturers often add extra sugar and various chemicals. You can try tasty and high-quality non-alcoholic beer in any beer restaurant of the Lambic chain. Our menu includes hundreds of beer varieties from all corners of the world. Non-alcoholic beer section also pleases with the choice: there are varieties from Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia and even South Korea. Come and let us find a drink for your lunch or dinner that will surely give you pleasure!
19 September 2024
Gluten-free beer: what kind it is and how it differs from gluten-containing beer
Gluten intolerance affects about 1% of the world’s population. Once in the GI tract, gluten, which is found in cereal plants, causes inflammation and leads to stomach upset. Sometimes intolerance becomes a disease when the villi of the small intestine begin to break down. This disease is called celiac disease. Until a couple of decades ago, people with celiac disease had to simply exclude gluten-containing foods from their diet, making it much more sparse than for normal people. Today, the problem is almost solved: manufacturers produce gluten-free pasta, breads and pastries, and many restaurants have gluten free items. Gluten-free beer: what kind of beer is it? Since beer is brewed on the basis of malt, which is sprouted grains, it contains a significant amount of gluten. But this does not mean that those who suffer from intolerance will have to give up their favorite drink — gluten-free beer has also been invented long ago. It is divided into two groups: low gluten and gluten free. Beverages from the first group can be consumed in moderate quantities by people with gluten intolerance, and those who suffer from celiac disease are recommended only gluten free beer. A completely gluten-free beer is one that contains less than 20 milligrams of gluten per kilogram (or 20 parts per million). Secrets of production Two technologies are used to make gluten-free beer: — beer is brewed on the basis of malt from gluten-free cereals: rice, corn, buckwheat, and gluten-containing grains are removed from it completely;— gluten is removed from the finished beer with the help of a special enzyme that breaks down the protein. If only part of the protein is removed, the beer is labeled as low gluten. In the first case, the drink may have a slightly different taste than the usual foam, while in the second case, all the characteristics of beer are preserved, including taste, color and foaming. Therefore, gluten-free beer made in this way is no different from regular beer. To try delicious gluten-free beer, come to the beer restaurants of the Lambic chain. For example, we have Baladin Nazionale Gluten Free — 100% gluten-free beer originating from Italy, which has an exquisite taste and aroma. We look forward to your tasting!
19 September 2024