{"id":3955,"date":"2025-12-11T19:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/?p=3955"},"modified":"2025-12-11T19:03:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T19:03:04","slug":"lambic-beer-spontaneously-fermented-belgian-wheat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/news\/lambic-beer-spontaneously-fermented-belgian-wheat\/","title":{"rendered":"Lambic: Forget Everything You Knew About Beer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-fb5483f\" data-block-id=\"fb5483f\"><style>.stk-fb5483f .stk-block-text__text{font-style:italic !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Spontaneously fermented wheat beer, aged in wooden barrels &#8211; you know you want to try a lambic! That description is true, but it\u2019s lacking the complexities that make up this traditional Belgian beer.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-ae8f3a1\" data-block-id=\"ae8f3a1\"><style>.stk-ae8f3a1 .stk-block-text__text{font-style:italic !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Using only that definition is a disservice to the brewers that have worked to perfect this style over the centuries. And also a disservice to the people that appreciate a well-crafted, time-honored beverage.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-27ec523\" data-block-id=\"27ec523\"><style>.stk-27ec523 .stk-block-text__text{font-style:italic !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Let\u2019s give that simple lambic definition the character it deserves, shall we?<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-97d13a9\" data-block-id=\"97d13a9\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">By: <a href=\"https:\/\/livingastoutlife.com\/\">Living a Stout Life<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"6c5f67\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #6c5f67;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lambic-sign.avif\" alt=\"Lighted Lambic Sign\" class=\"wp-image-3965 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lambic-sign.avif 533w, https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lambic-sign-300x225.avif 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Lambic?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-4e892ec\" data-block-id=\"4e892ec\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Like many historical and traditional beers, defining a lambic is a bit convoluted. Some opinions mention that location is of utmost importance, meaning that if it is called a lambic, then it must be brewed in a specific location. Specifically Brussels, Belgium, including southwest of Brussels, and the Zenne River Valley.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-a6aa2fc\" data-block-id=\"a6aa2fc\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Others disagree and mention it\u2019s more important to claim a lambic as a lambic through the traditional brewing processes and practices of a lambic.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-289d750\" data-block-id=\"289d750\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Both are important and play an integral role in defining a lambic style of beer.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-323efce\" data-block-id=\"323efce\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Let\u2019s start with the process. Throw out everything you know about best practices in brewing. Instead of a traditional mashing, fresh hops, a 60-minute boil, and a controlled environment for fermenting, lambics require a robust mash, aged hops, a three or four hour boil, and spontaneous fermentation exposing the wort to open air native to the Zenne Valley.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-d67c8c9\" data-block-id=\"d67c8c9\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Lambics normally require a set proportion of malts: around 30 to 40 percent unmalted wheat with the remaining being a base malt like barley. Lambics are then aged for one to three years.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"673c37\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #673c37;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lindemans-framboise.avif\" alt=\"Bottle and Glass of Limdemans Framboise Lambic Beer\" class=\"wp-image-3966 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lindemans-framboise.avif 395w, https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-lindemans-framboise-296x300.avif 296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Limdemans Framboise &#8211; a fruited lambic beer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are gueuzes, krieks, and framboises lambics?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-2dde3ad\" data-block-id=\"2dde3ad\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">This entire process, along with the region, is what gives a lambic its unique flavor profile, highlighting funky, earthy, hay-like flavors, along with a citrusy, lemon tartness that can only come from the natural ingredients in and around Brussels. But a lambic isn\u2019t just a lambic. There are variations based on unblended styles, blending, and added fruits.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"4e473a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #4e473a;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"379\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-cantillon-case.avif\" alt=\"Bottles of Cantillon Geuze Lambic Beer\" class=\"wp-image-3964 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-cantillon-case.avif 379w, https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-cantillon-case-284x300.avif 284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 379px) 100vw, 379px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bottles of Cantillon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History of the Lambic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-5e0911f\" data-block-id=\"5e0911f\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Sounds refreshingly tart, right? But, how did this style get its start? More than likely the style of spontaneously fermenting beer has been around since the dawn of people. The science behind it may not have been understood, but the resulting beverage was.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-8f03b4b\" data-block-id=\"8f03b4b\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Fast forward thousands of years to sometime around the 15th and 16th centuries and that science became a thing when it came to crafting beer. They may not have understood all there was to know about the brewing process then, but fortunately for us today, those Belgian brewers understood enough.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-4c6697d\" data-block-id=\"4c6697d\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Tax collectors also had a say as to how these beers should be brewed, dictating a ratio of barley to wheat based on crop harvests. This style, often referred to as gueuze, later known as lambics, would become well known in Brussels and the surrounding area. In fact, if you wanted to brew a lambic, it had to be brewed within this region because many believed you could only get the unique qualities that comprise a lambic through the microflora that surrounded Brussels.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-7882367\" data-block-id=\"7882367\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">At this time in Belgium, faro, a sweetened lambic beer, was also widely available in the Brussels region up until the early 1900s. Today, you\u2019ll be hard pressed to find this style, even in Belgium.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lambic of Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-62e0a53\" data-block-id=\"62e0a53\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Lambic shifted with the times and almost became nonexistent due to lack of demand and change in beer styles, especially when the brown beers gained popularity. Think London Porters. World War II had an impact on production and desire, as well, causing a huge decline in traditional lambic breweries. But over time, brewers came to the realization that this ancient style needed to be kept alive. That and consumers began coming back to the more traditional styles of the region.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-8ca2d86\" data-block-id=\"8ca2d86\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Recognizing all of the above, lambic brewers and blenders formed HORAL (an acronym for Hoge Raad voor Ambachtelijke Lambikbieren &#8211; High Council for Traditional Lambic Beers) in 1997. Their stated goals are &#8220;to promote the craft lambic beers and related products, paying attention to the entire process of brewing to serving lambic; denouncing irregularities concerning artisanal lambic beers and related products; take steps to protect the traditional lambic beers and related products.&#8221; (https:\/\/www.lambic.info\/HORAL)<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-422b22e\" data-block-id=\"422b22e\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Now, even in the U.S., brewers are crafting lambics. Or should we say, their interpretation of a lambic, since a true lambic can only be brewed in the Brussels area and the Senne River Valley. To respect this, when brewers outside of that region follow the lambic brewing process, they will call it something else entirely, the likes of: M\u00e9thode Traditionnelle, Coolship Resurgam, or American Spontaneous Beer, to name a few examples.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-0ac8856\" data-block-id=\"0ac8856\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">These may not be lambics in the truest sense of the style, but they are brewed using similar time-honored techniques, respecting the origins of which they came from.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"533c35\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #533c35;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-beer-glass-with-cherries.avif\" alt=\"Fruited Lambic Beer with cherries\" class=\"wp-image-3967 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-beer-glass-with-cherries.avif 600w, https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lambic-ff-beer-glass-with-cherries-300x200.avif 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A lambic is an experience.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-4b1a80f\" data-block-id=\"4b1a80f\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Be spontaneous and head to Belgium because that is where you should experience a lambic. But if you can\u2019t make it there, enjoying one elsewhere is still a rewarding experience. With its complex and unique flavor profiles, a lambic isn\u2019t just a drink; it brings Belgium to your glass &#8211; no passport required.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MMC Knows Malts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-039d226\" data-block-id=\"039d226\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/mmcmalt\/north-american-malts\">Quality malts<\/a> from Malteurop will bring out the complex and unique flavor profiles we expect from lambic style beers. Whatever malts you need for your recipes, here at MMC they\u2019re all exceptional. So when you\u2019re ready to embark upon this traditional, time-honored brew, we\u2019re ready for you!<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cMalt should not be something that somebody has to worry about. That\u2019s our job as maltsters. We produce something consistent and to specification every time and take that off of your plate.\u201d&nbsp; (Joel Grosser, Director of Operations for North America)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-1602e01\" data-block-id=\"1602e01\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text has-text-align-center\"><strong>Premium grains from field to flavor.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-252a763\" data-block-id=\"252a763\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text has-text-align-center\">&#8211; &#8211; &#8211; &#8211; &#8211;<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Malteurop Malting Company (MMC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-b0bad83\" data-block-id=\"b0bad83\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Malteurop Malting Company (MMC) is based in North America\u2014specializing in growing and producing quality malts for the beer, whiskey, and food processing industries.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-4a5dffa\" data-block-id=\"4a5dffa\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">With local farms and Malthouses spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Malteurop&#8217;s commitment to excellence is fully ingrained into every batch it produces, ensuring businesses of any size can create the finest beverages and food products on the planet.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-43e714b\" data-block-id=\"43e714b\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\"><span style=\"color: #0693e3;\" class=\"stk-highlight\">www.malteuropmaltingco.com<\/span><\/a> to learn how we can support your malting needs.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-4d2b92c\" data-block-id=\"4d2b92c\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Contact us at <a href=\"mailto:customersuccess@malteurop.com\"><span style=\"color: #0693e3;\" class=\"stk-highlight\">customersuccess@malteurop.com<\/span><\/a> or (844) 546-MALT (6258) for questions or to place your order.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-44cfeb1\" data-block-id=\"44cfeb1\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text has-text-align-center\"><strong>Malting is our passion. Quality is our promise.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-b9d386f\" data-block-id=\"b9d386f\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text has-text-align-center\">&#8211; &#8211; &#8211; &#8211; &#8211;<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-hop-culture wp-block-embed-hop-culture\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"437lZSnL1l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/beginners-guide-lambic-style-beer\/\">A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Lambic Style Beer<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Lambic Style Beer&#8221; &#8212; Hop Culture\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/beginners-guide-lambic-style-beer\/embed\/#?secret=zjH2mA34PI#?secret=437lZSnL1l\" data-secret=\"437lZSnL1l\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beerandbrewing.com\/dictionary\/yMMOVuzEum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Beer and Brewing Ref 1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-lost-beers wp-block-embed-lost-beers\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"l4aPaHXv6L\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lostbeers.com\/lambic-the-real-story\/\">Lambic: the real story<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Lambic: the real story&#8221; &#8212; Lost Beers\" src=\"https:\/\/lostbeers.com\/lambic-the-real-story\/embed\/#?secret=l4aPaHXv6L\" data-secret=\"l4aPaHXv6L\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lambic.info\/index.php?title=A_Brief_History_of_Lambic_in_Belgium&amp;mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lambic.info Ref 1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beerandbrewing.com\/dictionary\/9sAcYXZLIH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Beer and Brewing Ref 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lambic.info\/HORAL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lambic.info Ref 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beerandbrewing.com\/dictionary\/9sAcYXZLIH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Beer and Brewing Ref 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spontaneously fermented wheat beer, aged in wooden barrels &#8211; you know you want to try a lambic! Learn more about this historic Belgian beer style.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% \u2013 Malteurop","_seopress_titles_desc":"Spontaneously fermented wheat beer, aged in wooden barrels - you know you want to try a lambic! Learn more about this historic Belgian beer style.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[48,49,42,50,51,47],"class_list":["post-3955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technical-spotlight","tag-belgian-beer","tag-framboise","tag-fun-fact","tag-gueze","tag-kriek","tag-lambic"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3955"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3970,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3955\/revisions\/3970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.malteuropmaltingco.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}