Draft beer and its peculiarities: what you need to know not to lose in taste
Every day beer is becoming more and more popular in our country, and this cannot but affect the supply. Whereas previously you could only buy beer in bottles, and a single variety was poured into mugs, today, with the advent of numerous bars and craft breweries, the selection of beers on tap has become much greater. And sometimes it is as large as, or even larger than, the bottled menu. Does this way of serving beer have any peculiarities?
Myths and Truth
Many uninformed beer drinkers are convinced that even if you take the same beer, draft beer will taste different from bottled beer. Some people think that bottled beer is better, others — on the contrary, because in bars and restaurants it is allegedly diluted, but the essence does not change. In fact, both are wrong: there is no difference in taste. It is the same drink, packaged in different containers — a bottle, can or keg.
Taste can be affected by the unscrupulousness of the seller — if the beer is bottled or stored improperly, it can affect the product. For example, the bottling structure is not clean enough, beer is not stored in a specially equipped room, but under the bar, and so on. Also, the taste can be affected by low traffic in the bar — beer that stays on tap for weeks can lose its flavor qualities. Therefore, it is important to choose a proven beer restaurant — and then the draft beer will definitely not differ in taste from the bottled beer.
Another myth associated with draft beer is that it is fresher than bottled beer. We're used to the idea that draft and bottled beer is always better than boxed and bottled beer. But this is also a misconception: beer in kegs has a shelf life of its own. For example, Belgian draft beer usually "lives" from 6 months to a year. Truly fresh can be called only that drink, which hit the table a few days after production. All other variants in terms of freshness will not differ from the product in bottles.
If you are visiting a beer restaurant for the first time, it is better not to take the risk — order light varieties that are not distinguished by a complex rich taste. Bottled beer is more difficult to "spoil," so it is better to choose it for tasting exquisite drinks. On the contrary, if a place inspires confidence, like the Lambic brasserie chain, you can experiment. The advantage of draught beer is that you can order any portion, even a set of the smallest volume glasses, and get acquainted with a large number of varieties in one 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