How to know if the beer is of high quality: 5 important nuances
Even expensive and proven beer can sometimes be upset, for example, if it has not been stored or bottled properly. There is nothing to say about unfamiliar varieties, especially low-priced ones — the risk of running into a bad drink increases many times over. To avoid this, it is important to know how to determine the quality of a beer before you taste it. There are five criteria that will help you to do it even at home. What are they?
Select and open
There are many kinds of beer, and each producer sets a different shelf life depending on the technology used. But there are universal figures for most light lagers (this is the kind of beer most often bought in regular stores). The strength of the drink usually does not exceed 5 revolutions and the density is 12%. The shelf life will tell you about the technology: half a year means pasteurization was used, a year — preservatives were definitely involved. If you don't want to deal with the latter, you'd better not buy lagers with a long shelf life.
After you open the bottle, pay attention to the smoke coming from the neck. Many people think it's a sign of quality, but it's not: if there's smoke coming out of the bottle, it means that the beer has been gassed artificially.
Pour
The first thing to pay attention to when pouring is the foam. The height of the foam cap may vary depending on the brew and the glass into which the beer is poured, but in any case, it must be stable — that is, it must hold for at least 3–4 minutes. If it has fallen off faster, it could indicate stale or oxidized beer.
If we are talking about lager varieties, it is also worth evaluating the color and clarity. Real lager should be light yellow or golden in color, and the more transparent the liquid, the higher the quality of the drink and softer its taste. To determine the purity of the glass you need to hold it up to a light source — the liquid in it should shine and sparkle slightly. Of course, this method is not suitable for styles which are characterized by turbidity, but usual light beer is definitely worth checking for transparency.
Smell
Light beer usually has a pronounced hop aroma, while dark beer has a malt aroma. No extraneous aromas — soapy, too bright yeast, unpleasant vegetable or alcoholic — should be emitted by the beer. As a rule, odors that are not specific for a particular brew are indicative of brewing technology violations or insufficient disinfection of equipment.
Try
If everything looks good at first glance, you can move on to tasting. To assess the taste, you need to take a small sip and listen to the sensations. The drink should be easy to drink and should have no unspecific flavors. It is also important to assess the aftertaste — the bitterness of the hops should be mild. If it lingers indefinitely and the bitter taste remains in your mouth, it may indicate flaws in the hop processing technology.
Drinks that never disappoint await you at our beer restaurant. We know how to store and serve beer, so you can enjoy your favorite flavors here without compromise. We look forward to your visit!
Blanche de Bruxelles with a boy on the label: two symbols in one bottle
Contents How it all began Exploding If you ask any passerby what could be considered a symbol of Belgium, you will most likely be told two things: beer and a sculpture of a boy peeing. Blanche de Bruxelles is a combination of both: it is a traditional Belgian beer, famous all over the world, with the famous statue on the label. All in all, it is a perfect souvenir that also has a rich history. But first things first. How it all began The first Belgian beer Blanche de Bruxelles was brewed back in the XIV century. It was made by Flanders monks, and they approached the production in a creative way — instead of hops they used gruyte — a special mix of spices and herbs. The beer existed for several centuries and then yielded to lagers because they were easier to produce and therefore were cheaper. The brewer Pierre Celis didn't let the drink go to waste. In the late eighties he recreated the old technology and set up production, and the drink suddenly caught the taste of modern Belgians. The name did not appear immediately, as well as the famous "appearance", but in time the beer with a boy on the label became exactly as we know it now. Exploding First of all, blanche differs from the classic lager in the absence of malt, instead of which brewers use wheat. Hops are not always present; they are replaced by a mixture of spices — orange peel, curacao, coriander — just like many centuries ago. The second distinctive feature is the high carbonation. The fact is that Belgian Blanche De Bruxelles beers are bottled with yeast sludge. Simply put, they are left to ferment in the finished container, at the expense of which the drink is saturated with carbon dioxide. Traditional blanc is produced by Lefebvre brewery, but every day there are more and more craftsmen who risk to repeat the famous drink. And some are even experimenting, creating other, darker varieties based on it. The taste of the original Blanche de Bruxelles beer is very mild, without the traditional hop bitterness, with notes of citrus, vanilla and honey. It is also famous for its long pleasant aftertaste, so it can be enjoyed even without snacks. For Belgian beer "with a peeing boy" to reach its peak, it is chilled to 5–10 degrees and served in tall glasses. True, there is another form of serving — in wooden mugs, and necessarily an even number. Tradition — you can't argue with it! Want to taste the symbol of Belgium? Come to the beer restaurants of the Lambic chain — we have only original beer from the best Belgian producers, the right serving and all the necessary conditions for a pleasant meeting with your favorite drink!
01 March 2021
Delirium tremens - a beer with an elephant on the label that the whole world knows
Contents The Elephant's Secret It would seem that what do white fever and the pink elephant from the cartoon "Dumbo" have in common? That's right, Delirium tremens, a strong Belgian ale that is known and loved all over the world. But it was not always so — the specific name played a cruel joke with the drink. However, this does not prevent Delirium tremens always remaining on the wave of popularity. What is its secret? The Elephant's Secret The pink elephant Jumbo the Younger does not appear on the label by accident — in one of the most famous scenes of the cartoon "Dumbo" he gets drunk and starts seeing hallucinations. The name, which literally translates to "white fever" and is also directly related to alcohol consumption, is fitting as well. But neither of them has anything to do with Delirium tremens — choosing a flamboyant name for their brainchild, the Belgian brewers just wanted to underline their creativity. Not everyone understood the idea: for a long time beer was banned from sale in several countries. The producers listened to the complaints — in some countries the drink is supplied under the abbreviated name of Delirium. But the loud arguments did not stop the success: beer with an elephant on the label won numerous awards all over the world and was even named the best beer on the planet at the World Championships in Chicago in 2008. Belgian beer with the pink elephant has been brewed since 1989, and today it is rightly considered the flagship of Huyghe brewery. Apart from the loud name, Delirium tremens has a memorable appearance — the ceramic-style bottle, colorful label as if drawn from the pages of Dante's book, shiny blue foil wrapped around the neck and covering the lid. But the main advantage of this variety is still the excellent taste. Delirium tremens is brewed using three different strains of yeast, one of which is unique. The result is a strong drink (8.5% alcohol) with a complex flavor. At the beginning you can feel rich tones of fruit, which are replaced by the sweetness of caramel, and in the aftertaste — tones of honey and pepper. It has a full-bodied aroma with distinct notes of herbs and spices, and an attractive appearance — a golden color and a stable foamy cap. Delirium tremens changed not only the Belgian beer world, but also the Huyghe brewery itself — the pink elephant became the symbol of the brewery. And the real fans of the brewery organized the "Brotherhood of the Pink Elephant", which actively promotes Delirium tremens to the masses. Join the brotherhood — come to the Lambic beer restaurant! In addition to the classic taste, you can try Delirium Red — a cherry beer with the elephant, as well as many other types of beer. We are waiting for you!
01 March 2021