Gueuze

Gueuze (also spelled Geuze) is a type of lambic beer. It is made by blending young (1-year-old) and old (2–3-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 sugars, 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 pilsner style beers. Because aged hops are used to produce these lambics, the beer has little to none of the traditional hop bitterness that can be found in most other styles of beer. Furthermore, the wild yeasts 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 or 750 ml.

Both Gueuze and Lambic are protected under Belgian (since 1965) and European (since 1992) law.

There is some debate on where the word Gueuze originated. One theory is that it originated from "Geysa" (geyser), old Norse for "gush."Another theory is that it originates from "gueuze," the old Norman word for wheat (which a makes up a portion of the Lambic grist).

The commercial production of gueuze commenced in the 19th century, although there is little written to indicate when local/farmhouse production began.

References

*"Lambicland", Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Joris Pattyn, ISBN 0-9547789-0-1
*"Michael Jackson's Great Beers of Belgium", Michael Jackson, ISBN 0-7624-0403-5
*"The taste of beer", Roger Protz, ISBN 1-84188-066-3
*"300 Beers to try before you die", Roger Protz, ISBN 1-85249-213-9

ee also

* Lambic
* Kriek
* Boon Brewery
* 3 Fonteinen Brewery
* Cantillon Brewery
* Oud Beersel
* Girardin Brewery

External links

* [http://www.3fonteinen.be/horal.htm HORAL]
* [http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pvosta/pcrbier1.htm The Lambic Beers]