Kits anything like Lambic Gueuze?

[drbell]

As Im sure you can guess, I have just returned from Belgum - mmm what beer.

The trip round the Cantillon Brewery really got me into lambic sour beer. I know Im not going to be able to produce actual lambic beer from kits (and I dont want to try anything beyond kits currently - making my task even harder) but does anyone know of any kits that have that sour kick to them?
I did try some beers while I was there which had a similar sour kick that were not lambic, so perhaps there is hope?

[steve_flack]

Lambic is really tricky as it's a blended beer that you need a number of different Vintages of. You might find a Flanders red like Rodenbach easier to achieve (the yeast is currently available from Wyeast).

I once made a Kriek from a light hopped blonde ale that I added sour cherry juice concentrate to (1L of CherryActive juice in 5 gallons) and let ferment out. It had a tart sour edge. Nothing like a full on proper Kriek but more than the sweetened versions.

[mysterio]

Lambic is really tricky as it's a blended beer that you need a number of different Vintages of.

That's only for Gueuze, you can do a straight Lambic without blending - Cantillon's Grand Cru Bruocsella is one of them.

Lambic would be pretty hard to do from a kit I reckon but apparently you can make a good extract lambic. You'd still need aged hops, a blend of souring yeasts&bacteria (available from yeast companies like White Labs & Wyeast). It's not beyond the capabilities of a homebrewer but it is a bit of a project.

I'm having a go at a Flanders red ale (Rodenbach) this year, as Steve says you can get a yeast blend which produces a similar beer if you treat it correctly, you'll have to order it in though.

[steve_flack]

Lambic is really tricky as it's a blended beer that you need a number of different Vintages of.

That's only for Gueuze, you can do a straight Lambic without blending - Cantillon's Grand Cru Bruocsella is one of them.

Quite right, I got my Gueuzes and my Lambics mixed up.

Lambic would be pretty hard to do from a kit I reckon but apparently you can make a good extract lambic. You'd still need aged hops, a blend of souring yeasts&bacteria (available from yeast companies like White Labs & Wyeast). It's not beyond the capabilities of a homebrewer but it is a bit of a project.

I guess it would be a bit overhopped for style but you could try starting from a wheat beer kit (The Brewferm Wit one?) and fermenting it with the sour yeast mixes. It's going to take 6 months to a year to finish though....

[Chris The Fish]

the breferm ambiorix has a sour note although not a very defined one, and it gets more subtle with age however with a bit of creative tinkering you may get it sourer (different yeasts?)

[mysterio]

You could always brew a kit like that (brewferm ambiorix) and dose it with tiny amounts of lactic acid (from HB shops) and acetic acid (vinegar). Maybe not entirely authentic but it might move you in the right direction.

[drbell]

Thanks for the replies. As I suspected, it might be a bit beyond my time, space and equipment levels at the mo - but something to aim for i think...