Gueuze
Encyclopedia
Gueuze is a type of lambic
, a Belgian beer
. It is made by blending
young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics into a new beer, which is then bottled for a second fermentation
. Because the young lambic is not fully fermented, it contains fermentable sugar
s, which allow the second fermentation to occur. Lambic that undergoes a second fermentation in the presence of sour cherries
before bottling results in kriek
, a beer closely related to Geuze.
Since gueuze is made by blending lambics, it tastes different from traditional ale
and lager
style beers. Because aged hops
are used to produce these lambics, the beer has little to none of the traditional hop flavor and aroma that can be found in most other styles of beer. Furthermore, the wild yeast
s that are specific to lambic-style beers give gueuze a dry, cidery, musty, sour, acetic acid
, lactic acid
taste. Many describe the taste as sour and "barnyard-like." In modern times, some brewers have added sugar to their gueuzes to sweeten them and make the beer more appealing to a wider audience. Because of its carbonation, gueuze is sometimes called "Brussels
Champagne."
Traditionally, gueuze is served in champagne bottles
, which hold either 375 millilitre (3.3750337503375E-08 US fl oz) or 750 millilitre (6.75006750067501E-08 US fl oz).
for gush, as, during times of vigorous fermentation, Gueuze will spew out of the bunghole of its enclosing oak barrel.
Another theory is that it originates from gueuze, the old Norman
word for wheat
(which makes up a portion of the Lambic grist
).
Both Gueuze and Lambic
are protected
under Belgian
(since 1965) and Europe
an (since 1992) law.
Lambic
Lambic is a very distinctive type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium and in Brussels itself at the Cantillon Brewery and museum...
, a Belgian beer
Belgian beer
Beer in Belgium varies from pale lager to lambic beer and Flemish red. There are approximately 178 breweries in the country, ranging from international giants to microbreweries..-History:...
. It is made by blending
Blending (alcohol production)
Blending is a technique to produce wine or other alcoholic beverages such as gueuze consisting in mixing different brews.In the case of rosé wine production, it is one of the techniques used, consisting to mix together a white wine with some red wine....
young (1-year-old) and old (2- to 3-year-old) lambics into a new beer, which is then bottled for a second fermentation
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
. Because the young lambic is not fully fermented, it contains fermentable sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
s, which allow the second fermentation to occur. Lambic that undergoes a second fermentation in the presence of sour cherries
Sour Cherry
Prunus cerasus, or the sour cherry, is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus , native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the wild cherry Prunus cerasus, or the sour cherry, is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus (cherries), native to much of Europe and...
before bottling results in kriek
Kriek
Kriek is a style of Belgian beer, made by fermenting lambic with sour Morello cherries. The name is derived from the Dutch word for this type of cherry . Traditionally "Schaarbeekse krieken" from the area around Brussels are used...
, a beer closely related to Geuze.
Since gueuze is made by blending lambics, it tastes different from traditional ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
and lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
style beers. Because aged hops
Hop (plant)
Humulus, Hop, is a small genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The female flowers of H. lupulus are known as hops, and are used as a culinary flavoring and stabilizer, especially in the brewing of beer...
are used to produce these lambics, the beer has little to none of the traditional hop flavor and aroma that can be found in most other styles of beer. Furthermore, the wild yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
s that are specific to lambic-style beers give gueuze a dry, cidery, musty, sour, acetic acid
Acetic acid
Acetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CO2H . It is a colourless liquid that when undiluted is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar , and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell...
, lactic acid
Lactic acid
Lactic acid, also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in various biochemical processes and was first isolated in 1780 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Lactic acid is a carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C3H6O3...
taste. Many describe the taste as sour and "barnyard-like." In modern times, some brewers have added sugar to their gueuzes to sweeten them and make the beer more appealing to a wider audience. Because of its carbonation, gueuze is sometimes called "Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
Champagne."
Traditionally, gueuze is served in champagne bottles
Wine bottle
A wine bottle is a bottle used for holding wine, generally made of glass. Some wines are fermented in the bottle, others are bottled only after fermentation. They come in a large variety of sizes, several named for Biblical kings and other figures. The standard bottle contains 750 ml,...
, which hold either 375 millilitre (3.3750337503375E-08 US fl oz) or 750 millilitre (6.75006750067501E-08 US fl oz).
Etymology
There is some debate on where the word Gueuze originated. One theory is that it originated from Geysa (geyser), old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
for gush, as, during times of vigorous fermentation, Gueuze will spew out of the bunghole of its enclosing oak barrel.
Another theory is that it originates from gueuze, the old Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
word for wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
(which makes up a portion of the Lambic grist
Grist
Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a grist mill. Its etymology derives from the verb grind....
).
Commercial production
Commercial production of gueuze commenced in the 19th century; modern breweries that produce gueuze include:- BoonBoon BreweryThe Boon Brewery is a Belgian brewery situated in Lembeek, near Brussels, that mainly produces geuze and kriek beer of a fairly traditional variety, but using distinctly modern brewing techniques and equipment...
- CantillonCantillon BreweryCantillon Brewery is a small Belgian traditional family brewery based in Brussels and founded in 1900. Although it has been managed by the Van Roy family after the last Cantillon left it to his son-in-law Jean-Pierre Van Roy, the name Cantillon has been kept.- Overview :Cantillon Brewery brews...
- GirardinGirardin BreweryGirardin is a small, family-owned brewery in St. Ulrik's Kapelle, Belgium. The brewery was founded in 1845 and has been owned and operated by the Girardin family since 1882. The brewery specializes in lambic beers.- References :...
- Oud BeerselOud Beersel-History:Oud Beersel is an artisanal Lambic brewery, based in Beersel and founded in 1882 by Henri Vandervelden. His son Louis, and then his grandson Henri, subsequently took over. The brewery remained in the same family until 2002. In 1991, it was taken over by Henri's nephew Danny Draps. In 2002,...
- LindemansLindemans BreweryLindemans Brewery is a Belgian family brewery based in Vlezenbeek, a small town in the Flemish Brabant southwest of Brussels. It produces lambics.-History:...
- 3 Fonteinen3 Fonteinen3 Fonteinen is a Belgian brewery, specialized in geuze and kriek. The brewery is situated in Beersel, near Brussels and produces classic versions of both kriek and geuze.- Geuzestekerij :...
Both Gueuze and Lambic
Lambic
Lambic is a very distinctive type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium and in Brussels itself at the Cantillon Brewery and museum...
are protected
Protected Geographical Status
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
under Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(since 1965) and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an (since 1992) law.
See also
- LambicLambicLambic is a very distinctive type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium and in Brussels itself at the Cantillon Brewery and museum...
- KriekKriekKriek is a style of Belgian beer, made by fermenting lambic with sour Morello cherries. The name is derived from the Dutch word for this type of cherry . Traditionally "Schaarbeekse krieken" from the area around Brussels are used...
- GoseGoseGose is a top-fermented beer style of Leipzig, Germany.Gose beers are brewed with at least 50% of the grain bill being malted wheat. Because of the use of coriander and salt, Gose does not comply to the Reinheitsgebot. It is allowed an exemption from the rules on the grounds of being a regional...
- High Council for Artisanal Lambic-style BeersHigh council for artisanal lambik style beersThe High council for artisanal lambik style beers or HORAL ) is a council of lambic breweries and lambic blenders.-Goals:The stated goals of HORAL are:...
(HORAL)