It’s All About The Coolship
If you’re vaguely familiar with the craft beer sector, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘coolship.’ For the uninitiated, the coolship is not a spacecraft, but it is pretty cool. It’s a shallow, open-top vessel where spontaneously fermented beers, specifically the Belgian style like Lambic and Gueuze, start their transformation from sweet wort to mature, artisanal wild beers.
Traditional Lambic Brewing: A Perfected Art
Lambic beer isn’t your average beer that you can find in any regular pub or liquor store. It’s a type of beer where the brewing method plays as significant a role as the ingredients used. Known for its distinct-tasting variants, the Lambic has a fruity, vinegar-like and often a dry cidery taste with a slightly sour aftertaste. These unique, delectable flavours are products of a process that dates back hundreds of years, and perhaps unsurprisingly, they can’t be rushed.
Lambic: The Beer That Marches To Its Own Yeast
Traditionally, Lambic is brewed from 60% malted barley, 40% unmalted wheat, and aged hops and undergoes spontaneous fermentation. This distinct brewing style diverges from the commonly employed ‘inoculation method,’ where yeast is purposely added to ferment the brew. Instead, Lambic relies on natural and wild yeasts and bacteria present in our environment for fermentation, and this is where the coolship literally steps in.
Fermentation Magic in the Coolship
Post boiling, the hot wort is transferred to the coolship. Located within the brewery, often in the attic, the coolship is left open to the air overnight, allowing the wild, native yeasts and bacteria to cool the wort down and trigger the fermentation process. Then it is transferred to oak or chestnut barrels, where it rests and ferments for years, maturing into the divine beverage that we know as Lambic.
Spotlighting the Coolship on the Silver Screen
Bringing to life this art of traditional brewing, a recent film has successfully managed to capture the magic that takes place within these shallow, open basins in the most captivating and celestial manner. Highlighting the critical role of the coolship in Lambic brewing, the film has helped in elevating its profile in the craft brewing industry, and has drawn the attention of craft beer fans worldwide.
A Cinematic Homage to a Brewing Heritage
Complete with rhythmic scenes and melancholic notes, the film is a visual treat for beer enthusiasts that provides an unprecedented look into the heritage, tradition, and method of Lambic brewing. It highlights how each brew is different, taking on the characteristics of the environment, including the specific types of wild yeast found in the air and the particularities of the brewery’s location. The film impeccably unfolds this majestic wild-brewing world and the star of the show, the coolship, bringing its magical essence to homes worldwide.
The Impact on Beer Culture
The visual storytelling of Lambic brewing through the lens of the coolship has had a profound effect on the beer culture. While Lambic may not be a new style, the film has illuminated and explained to a larger audience why it’s different and why it stands out in the crowd. The unique and organic process of brewing lambic in a coolship goes a long way to explain the often higher price point of these artisanal beers, fostering an understanding and appreciation among craft beer enthusiasts.
Art Meets Artisanal Brewing
Perhaps the most consequential impact of this film is the illuminating recognition it brings to the artisans behind Lambic. By shedding light on the brewing process and the role of the coolship, it has given viewers an appreciation for the skill, patience, and devotion needed to brew Lambic. As the coolship lands in the hearts of more viewers worldwide, one thing becomes clear: when art meets artisanal brewing, it’s a toast to the brewers and the craft beer culture itself.
