Blanche (Belgian white beer with malted wheat and spices)

Beer blanche (translated from French as “white”) is a Belgian ale, a top-fermented beer made with the addition of wheat. Another name for the style is “witbier”. The drink is not filtered, therefore, due to the yeast sediment, it looks cloudy, and when cooled, it acquires a whitish milky color.

Historical information

The blanche style of beer appeared in the monasteries of Flanders around the XNUMXth century, at that time ale was made only from local ingredients and hops had not yet taken a leading role in brewing, so they often did without it at all. Instead of hops, they used gruit, a mixture of herbs and spices. This ingredient quite successfully balanced the malt sweetness, besides, it had medicinal properties, making the beer more “intoxicating”.

The province of Brabant was especially famous for its blanche: by the XNUMXth century. more than two dozen farms and monasteries in the vicinity of the towns of Leuven and Hoegaarden specialized in “white beer”. Even as other beer styles gradually switched to using hops, witbier still paid homage to the original recipe. Over time, more “mass” styles came to the fore, lagers appeared, consumption of original ales declined, and small breweries began to close.

By the middle of the 1957th century, blanche had almost disappeared; in 1966, the last production specializing in it was closed. However, in XNUMX, after numerous experiments, brewer Pierre Celis recreated the style, and in the wake of people’s increased interest in the past of their country, “white beer” became unexpectedly popular. Pierre’s colleagues were not at a loss, they quickly got dusty blanche recipes from the attics and resumed its production.

In 1978, Celis renamed its production (Celis) to De Kluis, and in 1985, unable to cover the losses caused by the fire, he sold part of the shares of the Stella Artois corporation. Three years later, the concern merged with Piedboeuf and became Interbrew. In the same year, Pierre Celis himself left the company, disagreeing with the new policy of the enterprise and the established production technology.

In 1992, Celis opened the Celis Brewing Company in the United States and successfully brewed the Celis White craft style. Later he merged with the Miller company, and some time later he was again forced to leave his brainchild and return to Belgium. Miller, however, retained the Celis name for the brand, and when the venture closed in 2012, the brand and all rights returned to the brewer’s family (Pierre Celis died in 2011). Now, Christina, Pierre’s daughter, is engaged in the production of blanche, she follows the original recipes and adheres to the old technology.

Blanche is a prime example of how the life and prosperity of a beer style can depend on one single person. This ale is now produced by both craft and mainstream brewers throughout Europe and the United States.

Characteristics and cooking technology

Blanche differs from other wheat ales primarily in the presence of aromatic herbs, in particular coriander, orange peel and curaçao peel. Strength varies from 4.5% to 5.5%. When bottled, the yeast sediment is retained, secondary fermentation takes place and the drink turns out to be noticeably carbonated.

The color ranges from light straw to yellow gold. Forms a dense white foam in the glass. On the tongue, rounded, medium-bodied, dry finish.

To make the drink, take equal shares of unmalted wheat and pils barley malt. Some manufacturers add some oats (no more than 10% of the total grout). After fermentation and adding spices, a light, slightly sour spicy drink with pronounced carbonation, a distinct yeast taste and a complex bouquet is obtained. Hop bitterness is poorly expressed or absent, the tones of vanilla, citrus, honey, etc. are most vividly felt. The full range of ingredients depends on the manufacturer.

How to drink beer blanche

Blanche is a light beer, refreshing well in the heat and not overly intoxicating. When served, it is additionally cooled to 3-6 ° C. “White beer” is drunk at lunch, the drink goes well with any salads, fish, seafood, cheese, eggs, ham. You should not serve citruses and dishes based on them with Vitbier.

Blanche can be drunk from thin tall beer glasses, but tulip glasses will also work.

Famous brands

Hoegaarden Brewery, Brasserie Lefebre (famous for the Blanche de Brussels beer brand), Camden, Newburyport, Allagash, Avery, Port City, Saint Archer, Ommegang, Boulevard.

Differences between blanche and other wheat ales