How Lambic Is Fermented with 3 Fonteinen

Spontaneous fermentation is what happens when a brewer, winemaker, or distiller leaves the inoculation (the moment when yeast and bacteria come in contact with the liquid) up to whatever organisms happen to be in the air or on the fruit that they are fermenting.

Its an age-old practice, first by accident and then by intention, that truly puts Mother Nature at the helm of brewing magic.

It’s no surprise that I was very interested in learning more about spontaneous fermentation of Iambic beers. I sought out a Iambic brewer and gueuzesteker (blender) who could teach me more about the sour styles from the Valley of the Senne and the Pajottenland in Belgium. This is, in fact, the birthplace of Lambic beers. I was fortunate enough to spend the day with Armand De Belder of the 3 Fonteinen brewery, located in Beersel, Belgium. Over the years, Armand’s beers have been highly rated all around the world thanks to his attention to detail, use of natural ingredients, and passion for the craft. Just to give some context to his team’s work ethic, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen was named the best brewery in Belgium in 2015 by Ratebeer and the Third Best Brewery in the World.

When I first met Armand, I could sense the passion for Lambic that is in his blood. He drove me around the city of Beersel and showed me over 20 different gueuzesteker residences from the past. As we drove, he explained how the craft and the blenders of Lambic slowly vanished over time. We had lunch at the original 3 Fonteinen property that his father purchased in 1961, which is now the Restaurant 3 Fonteinen run by his brother, Guido. We discussed his familial relationships and his obsession with preserving a tradition shrouded in mystery.

What I sensed during our meeting that day was a man who worked extremely hard and gave everything he had to keep the tradition of making and blending Lambic from dying. He put his passion before himself, sacrificing his personal life to build 3 Fonteinen to the renowned brewery it is today. I could relate his journey to my military service; I understand the dedication required to make sacrifices for something you believe in. Selfless service to a higher calling can often lead to regret on some level, but as I saw first-hand the spoils of his dedication, it was apparent what his dreams and aspirations were. I hope you enjoy the story of Armand and 3 Fonteinen, and that you remember him when you next savor the sweet result of his hard work.

I hope you enjoy the episode and thanks so much to Lambic.info for giving amazing feedback on our episodes about lambic beer and also Dr. Ana Hranilovic, University of Adelaide for the amazing pictures of the different yeast and bacteria from their laboratory.
Links to 3 Fonteinen Brewery:
Website: https://3fonteinen.be/en/
Instagram: @3fonteinen
Facebook: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen

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Filming and Editing by: Yoel Kamara
Website: https://www.ymkfilms.co.uk
Instagram: @yoelkamara

Видео How Lambic Is Fermented with 3 Fonteinen канала Beer, Wine and Spirits