To celebrate Untappd’s version of the Kentucky Derby, they have also released a new badge. It is available from 29 April until 1 May, the date of the running of the actual Derby.
To get it, you simply need to check into a beer from one of the following styles: Farmhouse Ale – Saison, Pale Ale, Stout, Sour, Lager, Belgian, Pilsner, Porter or Wheat.
This is the badge for Gueuze (or Geuze) beers. Have five to claim the badge.
A style of Lambic, this Belgian style is typically made by blending a young (roughly 1 year old) Lambic with an older Lambic (2 to 3 years old). The mix is then bottled and further fermentation occurs to create the Gueuze.
A resulting mix is dry and sour. Traditionally served in champagne style bottles, the term is now protected by the EU (as is Lambic). Notable producers include Boom, Lindemans, Belle-Vue (owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev) and Timmermans.
Have 5 beers brewed by Trappist breweries to earn this badge. It levels all the way to level 100.
An order of Catholic monks, they are named after La Trappe Abbey in France. The group began brewing beer in the 1600s and haven’t stopped since. While they also make other products like Cheese, clothing and coffins, they are best known for their beer and particularly their Dubbels, Tripels and Quads.
The order now has their own group to represent their interests – the International Trappist Association.
There are currently 14 Trappist Monasteries recognised by the association as breweries. Of these six are based in Belgium while the others are in the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, the USA and the United Kingdom. The most famous is Westvleteren 12, which is often called the best beer in the world!
Besides Westvleteren, the other 11 Trappist breweries are Westmalle, Chimay, Rochefort, d’Orval, Achel (all Belgian), La Trappe and Zundert (both Netherlands), Engelszell (Austria), St. Joseph’s in Spencer (USA), Tre Fontane (Italy), Tynt Meadow (UK), Mont des Cats (France) and Cardeña (Spain).
Check in 5 different Lambics to gain this badge. Lambic is a Belgian style of beer that is unique because it is left and allowed to ferment naturally, with wild yeast. The natural yeasts in the area around Brussels give Lambics their distinct dry yet sour taste.
After fermentation, Lambics are aged in barrels for over a year. Usually old port or sherry barrels are used to add additional yeasts and flavours. Untappd currently recognises seven different styles of Lambic: Traditional, Faro, Fruit, Framboise, Kriek, Gueuze and “Other”.
Lambics are one of the few styles where there is a tradition of adding fruit. Raspberry (a Framboise) or Cherry (a Kriek) are popular enough to be their own styles, but other fruit such as peach, grape or other berries are also commonly used.
A Gueuze is a combination of both old and young lambics blended together. This blend is then further aged to make a delicious, dry style of Lambic.
A Faro is also a blend, this time between a Lambic and a younger ale, sweetened with brown sugar.
Dubbels, Tripels and Quads are three styles of strong Belgian beer that are associated with the Trappist brewing tradition. Have 5 to gain this badge.
Originally brewed by the Trappist Monasteries, these styles are known as Abbey beers when made by other breweries.
While the styles are sequential in terms of malt used (a Dubbel uses double the malt, a Tripel three times, etc) the end product of each is quite different.
A Dubbel is a dark, rich and fruity style of ale that was first brewed in 1856 by Westmalle.
A Tripel on the other hand is a golden pale ale that is much more drinkable.
Traditionally Tripels are the strongest Trappist style, however Quadruples are a recent invention. They are also known as Grand Cru’s and are dark and fruity much like a Dubbel.
While the three styles have differences in flavour and appearance they are all strong, rich Ales that share the same history. Whether yours is a local Abbey beer or a genuine Trappist, seek out a Dubbel, Tripel or Quad today. Oh My!
Celebrating two styles of beer from the Flanders region of Belgium, have 5 Flanders Red or Flanders oud Bruin’s to claim this badge.
These sour red and brown beers have been brewed for centuries. The beers are defined by their patient ageing in oak and nuanced blending which creates low carbonated tart, almost musty, beers. Flanders Reds are probably more well known of the two, and are sometimes know as the Burgundy of Belgium. The fruity, cherry, plum notes are certainly more reminiscent of wine than beer.
Oud Bruin, or Flanders Brown, are similarly aged in oak but the result is less fruity and wine-like. Both rely heavily on the art of aging and blending and it takes a true craftsman to produce a good Flanders Red or Oud Bruin. They are certainly not a beer that is designed to be enjoyed by the mass-produced lager drinker!
This badge is for Witbiers. Have 5 to gain level 1.
A traditional Belgian style that literally means wheat beer, they are usually spiced by coriander and orange peel.
The style had fallen into obscurity until it was very successfully revived in the 1960s with Hoegaarden (now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev). Another well known Witbeer is the American Blue Moon Belgian White (Molson Coors).
It’s fair to say Belgium punches above its weight when it comes to beer (and chocolate). Belgian styles like Tripels and Dubbels, Lambics, Flanders Reds and Oud Bruins, Witbiers and Saisons are world renown, as is the Trappist brewing tradition.
Belgian Holiday is the country badge for Belgium, so have 5 Belgian beers to get this one. It levels up after every 5, all the way to level 100.
Commercially, two of the most successful Belgian brands are Stella Artois (a lager) and Hoegaarden (a witbeer). They are both now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Other well known brands include Duvel (independent), Jupiler, Leffe (both Anheuser-Busch InBev) and Rodenbach (Palm breweries).
Belgian beers all traditionally have their own branded and uniquely shaped glass that the beer is served in. These range from the Hoegaarden’s hexagon shaped tumbler glass to Pauwel Kwak’s test tube, and everything in between!
Untappd Badges 