MdV: Merchant du Vin beer e-newsletter – Wednesday February 21, 2007: Three words – Belgium, Lambic, Trappist

It’s still winter, but those of you planning your spring/summer beer menu or tap handle rotation may wish to recall: Ayinger Brau-Weisse Bavarian Hefe-Weizen, in 4-packs, half-liter bottles, or 50-liter kegs . . .

Just a reminder that we have an excellent e-store, with authentic glassware, beer clothing, collectibles, and one of our favorite beer books, Garrett Oliver’s “The Brewmaster’s Table.”

http://store.merchantduvin.com/e/mdv

Over the next few months, look for news from us about some fine new additions to our portfolio.

We spotted quite a bit of “Lindemans for Valentine’s Day” coverage last month: in the Oakland Tribune, the Philadelphia Daily News and other papers . . . attention from mainstream media for great beers continues to grow. Plus, beer festivals, dinners, and events are offering beer lovers all across America a chance to discover and enjoy great beer.

Full national news & event listing at:

http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/1_about/news.html

Beer Chat from the Beer Court Jester: Three words – Belgium, Lambic, Trappist

Import and craft beer had a fantastic 2006 in the US – up over 10%, higher than any other beer category and the largest import & craft beer sales growth ever recorded. (Brewers Association, Feb. 20 ’07) Kudos to brewers, bars, stores, restaurants, and the fortunate US beer drinker!

Beer hyperbole and intensity of beer marketing copy had a great year, as well. We do not claim to be free from bias, but this month we highlight three beer words, powerful words that in our opinion might – occasionally – be at risk of being misused:

1. BELGIUM is a country bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, France and the North Sea. It is famous for the quality and variety of beer brewed there. A beer brewed in the US cannot be a Belgian Ale, although it can be a Belgian-style ale. (In a related note, folks who wouldn’t say “Germany Lager” or “America Ale” will sometimes say “Belgium Ale.” We think the proper term for ale from Belgium is “Belgian Ale” because “Belgium” is a noun and “Belgian” is an adjective.)
2. LAMBIC beer is produced only in Belgium’s Senne River Valley, a region about 15 by 75 miles in size. Lambic beers are produced without the addition of any yeast by brewers – multiple strains of wild, airborne yeast alight on the wort and ferment the beer. Beer is not lambic if it is produced outside the Senne River Valley. If a brewer from outside this region attempts to brew in this style, they have to add yeast in the brewery. They should call it “lambic-style” or “p-lambic” (for “pseudo-lambic”). Or they should call it by another name.
3. TRAPPIST, when applied to beer, is a very specific term. It means these three conditions are all met:
1. The beer is brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery.
2. Brewery ownership is by the monks of the monastery.
3. A significant portion of the brewery profits go to charity.

There is no “Trappist style.” (Trappist breweries make dubbels, tripels, witbier, blond ales, quadrupels.) Trappist beer is brewed by Orval, Westmalle, Rochefort, Chimay, Westvleteren, Achel, or Koningshoeven. Period. Any other brewer or marketer using the term to describe a beer other than those seven is either making an honest mistake, or is attempting to borrow from the reputation of another brewery.

Beer is really about flavor, ingredients, technique, history, food pairings, great beer spots, brewers, festivals, and variety. But we did want you to know that certain words – words sometimes used to describe beer – have very specific meanings that shouldn’t be confused with marketing spin.

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Merchant du Vin, America’s Premier Specialty Beer Importer Since 1978

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