Looking for a specific beer

Before I begin, let me start by saying that I know little to nothing about the beermaking process. Normally I would ask my husband this question, but since I'm trying to find a beer for him for Christmas (better late than never!) I can't ask him.

My husband and I were talking about the beermaking process the other day, and he mentioned that there is some place where the beer is brewed in open vats, instead of in closed containers. I seem to think that it's somewhere in Europe, but I'm sure that doesn't help much!

Does anyone have any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance.

- Melinda Hartman

Reply to
deMoMo
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deMoMo ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com) wrote: : : My husband and I were talking about the beermaking process the other : day, and he mentioned that there is some place where the beer is : brewed in open vats, instead of in closed containers. I seem to think : that it's somewhere in Europe, but I'm sure that doesn't help much! :

That would be Belgiumand you're probably looking for a style generally called Lambic. Please let us know what part of the planet you live in so we can help you find a place to go buy -- this is not easy stuff to find on an everyday basis.

Reply to
Bill Benzel

Erm, may I very bluntly point out that many British breweries use open fermenters as well, and that quite a few lager breweries in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic or Poland also do make the primary fermentation to their beers in open fermenters... So I wouldn't link "open fermenter" to "lambic" that exclusively... :o(

Reply to
The Submarine Captain

Yeah, Magic Hat and Shipyard in the U.S. spring to mind as major examples of open fermenter breweries as well. Chances are that the husband WAS talking about lambics...but not anywhere near a certainty. Sorry, darling.

Reply to
Lew Bryson

Lew Bryson ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.net) wrote: : > Erm, may I very bluntly point out that many British breweries use open : > fermenters as well, and that quite a few lager breweries in countries : > such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic or Poland also : > do make the primary fermentation to their beers in open fermenters... : > So I wouldn't link "open fermenter" to "lambic" that exclusively... :o( : : Yeah, Magic Hat and Shipyard in the U.S. spring to mind as major examples of : open fermenter breweries as well. Chances are that the husband WAS talking : about lambics...but not anywhere near a certainty. Sorry, darling. :

I'm aware of that -- Ommegang uses open fermenters as well -- And Anchor. I just kind of got "lambic" out of the context of that question. In my experience, when people go to some lengths to bring up open fermentation in a discussion of a beer style they're typically talking lambic!

Reply to
Bill Benzel

Lambic! That's it! As soon as I read it I couldn't figure out why I had forgotten it. :)

I live in Rochester, NY and I'll be heading over to Beers of the World. As far as I know, it's the only place nearby with much of a selection. I could probably do better in Buffalo or Syracuse, but I don't have time for an extra hour each way, when I still have to get ready for Christmas Eve dinner!

Thank you to everyone for your help. You're great!

- Mel> :

Reply to
deMoMo

deMoMo ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com) wrote: : Lambic! That's it! As soon as I read it I couldn't figure out why I : had forgotten it. :) : : I live in Rochester, NY and I'll be heading over to Beers of the : World. As far as I know, it's the only place nearby with much of a : selection. I could probably do better in Buffalo or Syracuse, but I : don't have time for an extra hour each way, when I still have to get : ready for Christmas Eve dinner! : : Thank you to everyone for your help. You're great! : : - Melinda. :

That is an excellent store I'm told -- I have a couple of friends who visited on recent trips to Rochester. You should do well there -- try to get a selection including at least one Lindeman's, one Hansen's, one Oud Beersel and one Cantillon. Line 'em up for a tasting and get back to us sometime with your preferences.

Reply to
Bill Benzel

Fair enough... Nevertheless kind of funny, as most of the fermentation process, once the wort has been seeded with wild yeasts, in such breweries as Cantillon, actually takes place in not-quite-open oak casks... ;o)))

Reply to
The Submarine Captain

If you meet any Hanssen's, I'd advise you to stay away from the strawberry one. I found it to taste very much like, erm, well... vomit. The oud gueuze is IMHO a much better bet

Reply to
The Submarine Captain

Beers of the World will do you fine, they've got an excellent lambic selection. Premier Gourmet in Buffalo might be better, but not by a large margin.

Reply to
Lew Bryson

The Submarine Captain ( snipped-for-privacy@bluewin.ch) wrote: : Bill Benzel wrote: : : >[...] one Hansen's, [...] : >

: If you meet any Hanssen's, I'd advise you to stay away from the : strawberry one. I found it to taste very much like, erm, well... vomit. : The oud gueuze is IMHO a much better bet : :

I've never seen the strawberry -- if you run into their Mead Gueuze and feel obligated to try it, make sure you chill almost to freeezing and open it outdoors -- they're explosive. It's not all that great -- I'd actually recommend passing on it.

Reply to
Bill Benzel

You've been remarkably unlucky then. I've had fine bottles of Hanssens Oudbeitje (the strawberry lambic). Nowt vomitous about it at all. Mind you, you're spot-on about the Oude Gueze.

Reply to
Oh, Guess

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