The Pucker Factor
Last week we celebrated Belgium Beer Month at The Blind Monk by showcasing the sour and wild beers of Belgium, which includes some of the rarest and most unique ales produced anywhere. As the name implies, these beers are indeed sour, with flavors that can range from lactic acidity to more vinegar-like notes. Fermented not just from classic pure ale-yeast strains, as most beers are, sours gain their distinctive taste from a variety of micro-organisms introduced during the fermentation process. Moreover, the use of hops in these beers is minimal, thus sourness takes the place of bitterness as a balancing counterpoint to beer sweetness.
.
.
LAMBICS:
These beers are from the region around Brussels and are known for their classic combination of wild, barnyard, rustic character with the crisp sourness that comes from lactic acidity. They are usually quite dry; although, the sweet fruit lambics are probably the most well-known lambics in the United States. These beers are often a blend of both young and old beer, and wood aging is traditional.
.
Gueuze (ex: Lindemans Cuvee Rene): a blend of one, two, and three year old lambics. Usually dry, with a gripping acidity, complemented by rustic, earthy notes, often with a touch of oak character.
.
Dry Fruit Lambic (ex: Cantillon Rose de gambrinus): an aged Lambic to which fruit has been added for a secondary fermentation and left to ferment until almost all sugar has been converted to alcohol. Crisp, dry, and bracingly tart with a pronounced fruit character.
.
Sweet Fruit Lambic (Timmerman’s Kriek): similar to the dry fruit lambics, but with much of the sweetness from the fruit left in the beer (and often with more sugar added). The beer is decidedly sweet, with enough tartness left to balance it out.
.
.
FLANDERS SOUR ALES:
These beers often show both lactic and acetic acidity, with more malt character than the Lambics. These ales often will show signs of autolysis, which gives the beer some savory dimensions.
.
Flanders Red Ale (ex: Rodenbach Grand Cru): classic Beer of West Flanders. Complex, fruity, red wine-like character, with oak notes and a balanced sourness.
.
Flanders Brown Ale (ex: Petrus Oud Bruin): classic beer of East Flanders. Balanced sourness with deeper malt character of caramel, figs, and dates, sometimes with notes of Sherry.
.
Cheers!
Jul 24, 2012