Now’s Your Chance to try Real Gueze Lambic in Charleston.
I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for something different and interesting when it comes to food or drink. Authentic Belgian gueze lambic falls into the “interesting and definitely different” category. You see, the method used to produce lambic beer is one of the oldest on Earth. Lambic beer is fermented by wild yeasts and “noble” bacteria that give the beer a refreshing sourness and musty farmhouse character. Authentic lambic beer can only be brewed in the immediate surroundings of Brussels, Belgium, called the Payottenland. There are only nine small producers of the beer in the world, often making this beer a rare find.
Gueze is a style of lambic that is made from a blend of aged and young lambic. The final fermentation takes place in the bottle which gives the beer its bubbly, champagne-like fizz. Gueze is at least three years old when put on the market for sale, but is best when aged even longer. The lambic method of brewing actually far pre-dates the method for making champagne. Unlike champagne, the dormant yeast is left in the bottom of the bottle, so handle it gently.
Right now, a limited supply of Lindeman’s Cuvee Renee gueze is available at Blues BBQ Etc on Leon Sullivan Way across from the Clay Center. Remember when ordering, that this is a corked 750ml size bottle of world class beer; so at $14 a bottle (it’s a bargain when compared to champagne). Treat this beer as you would champagne. It really looks good in a champagne flute, but the traditional glass is a small-faceted tumbler. Make sure you are drinking Cuvee Renee (orange label) and not the sweeter Lindeman’s gueze, which is a non-traditional version, sweetened for a stereotypical American palate (Yuk!).
The refreshing sourness of gueze will pair well with many chicken or seafood dishes. Traditional pairings are
steamed mussels, where gueze is used as the steaming broth. Rabbit in gueze is also common. In Belgium, these dishes are always served with a side of pomme frites (Belgian French fries) and some mayo for dipping. Cuvee Renee in particular, pairs well with dark chocolate.
I really hope some of you will venture out to try a bottle of this very unique beer. West Virginia’s archaic beer laws severely limit the availability of beer, while leaving a fully open door to wine. Luckily, we have an adventurous beer distributor in North Central Distributing and establishments like Blues BBQ and Vandalia Lounge, who sell good beer. We need to support these businesses, and all we have to do is drink the beer!
