13,701
edits
Changes
no edit summary
As with the naming of commercial beers as "lambic", there are many opinions on whether or not homebrewed sour beer should or should not be labeled as "lambic". While using the label "lambic" is an easy way for homebrewers to communicate what style of beer they have brewed, such labels are often harshly criticized by traditionalists in the sour brewing and fans of lambic communities. Ironically, another sign of this potential misuse of the term "lambic" by homebrewers is that when a homebrewer makes a 100% spontaneously fermented beer, they usually will not call it a "lambic" so as to avoid confusion with the typical sour brewing process which involves pitching lab cultures. Successfully homebrewing a 100% spontaneously fermented sour beer is not an easy feat, and great pride is taken by homebrewers when achieving success with these traditional methods.
That all said, labeling homebrew as "lambic" has few consequences little consequence other than potentially forming a habit that some sour beer producers (and fellow homebrewers) might find disagreeable. We encourage all homebrewers to educate themselves about the production of Belgian lambic beers, as well as the arguments for and against labeling homebrew as "lambic" and deciding for themselves which philosophy to endorse.
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1222370691124476/?comment_id=1222797634415115&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D See this MTF thread for comments about the BJCP and homebrewers calling their sour beer "lambic".]