Spontaneous fermentation

Buy spontaneously fermented beers at Belgian Beer Heaven

For thousands of years, beer was brewed using wild yeasts from nature. As a result, flavour could vary from one batch to another and quality was difficult to predict. Modern brewers therefore use controlled fermentation with selected yeast strains. This allows them to produce stable bottom-fermented beers and top-fermented beers.

Today, spontaneous fermentation is mainly associated with traditional beers from Flemish regions such as the Zenne Valley and the Pajottenland. Think of sour beers such as lambic and gueuze. An increasing number of craft beers are also made using wild fermentation. Discover the wide range of spontaneously fermented beers from Belgian Beer Heaven above and order easily online.

The brewing process of spontaneously fermented beers

1. Mashing: mix water, malt (usually barley) and unmalted wheat to release the sugars. Filter the resulting wort and then boil it with hops. The mixture is now ready for spontaneous fermentation.
2. Cooling: pour the hot wort into a coolship, a large, open and shallow vessel. This allows it to come into contact with wild yeasts in the air, such as Brettanomyces, Pediococcus and Lactobacillus.
3. Transfer to oak foeders: the real magic happens in these wooden barrels, where wild yeasts start the fermentation and bacteria produce lactic and acetic acids. This open-barrel ageing often lasts 1 to 3 years. This is also why spontaneously fermented beers contain no natural carbonation.
4. Blending and secondary fermentation: gueuze is created by blending young lambic (which still contains sugars for bottle fermentation) with old lambic (which adds complexity and acidity).
5. Tasting: spontaneously fermented beers are known for their refreshing acidity, deep complexity and distinctive Belgian character.

Well-known breweries producing beers with wild yeasts

• Cantillon Brewery from Brussels is renowned for its purely traditional approach, resulting in iconic beers such as Cantillon Gueuze and Cantillon Kriek.
• 3 Fonteinen Brewery in Beersel combines traditional craftsmanship with unique natural yeast strains from the surrounding area.
• Boon Brewery in Lembeek uses wild yeasts and bacteria from the Zenne Valley as the basis for classics such as Boon Oude Geuze and Boon Kriek.
• Lindemans Brewery from Vlezenbeek creates approachable lambics and fruit beers, such as Lindemans Cuvée René and Lindemans Kriek.
• Oud Beersel Brewery uses a traditional brewing method, a modern approach and a rich local yeast culture for its Oude Geuze and Oude Kriek.
• Tilquin Brewery is a relatively young gueuze blender in Wallonia, known for complex, characterful blends such as Gueuze Tilquin.

Order spontaneously fermented beers at Belgian Beer Heaven

Anyone craving true Belgian tradition will find an exceptional range of spontaneously fermented beers at Belgian Beer Heaven, from young, refreshing lambics to perfectly matured gueuzes and fruit variations with depth and character. These beers are the result of centuries-old techniques and a unique microflora from the Pajottenland and the Zenne Valley. That is precisely what makes them so beloved by beer enthusiasts worldwide.

• Wide selection of more than 1,600 Belgian beers
• Fast shipping or free collection
• Sturdy packaging, including insurance against glass breakage

Discover the full range and taste for yourself how spontaneous fermentation has produced some of the finest beers in Belgium’s rich beer culture.