Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A beer of Belgian origin made from malted barley and unmalted wheat that is fermented by naturally occurring airborne yeast and often flavored with fruit.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A Middle English form of limbec.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A strong, traditional Belgian beer.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Belgian French, from Dutch lambiek, lambik, perhaps from alteration of Lembeek, name of a village near Brussels, Belgium, or from alteration of Dutch (bier) alambiek, (beer from an) alembic (perhaps in reference to the alembiclike shape of the brewing vat), translation of French bière alambic : bière, beer + alambic, alembic (from Old French; see alembic).]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word lambic.

Examples

  • The resulting brew, known as lambic, is too tart for most tastes and is traditionally aged and blended to make geuze, or softened with the addition of sugar, cherries or other fruit.

    Drives That Leave the City Behind 2011

  • Take sips of two dozen different beers and the lambic will be the one you remember.

    Tracking an Ancient Belgian Beer 2009

  • In Brussels, Moeder Lambic 8 Place Fontainas; 32-2-503-60-68 is among the most traditional of Belgian beer cafes, specializing in the obscure sour brews known as lambic and gueuze.

    NYT > Home Page By EVAN RAIL 2011

  • But they can also range to darker, or more sour if blended with the third Belgian traditional style of "lambic".

    MBR In Chicago – Lost Abbey, Inferno Ale 2009

  • I have a feeling that this beer is mademore for lambic or lighter beer fans, but there is a real lack of hop character.

    Kevin Burns 2009

  • I have a feeling that this beer is mademore for lambic or lighter beer fans, but there is a real lack of hop character.

    New York Beer 2009

  • A short drive through wheat, barley and potato fields leads to the Lindemans brewery www.lindemans.be in Vlezenbeek, one of the larger lambic breweries, where you can stock up on crates of Pecheresse, a peach-based beer that is recommended to be served in Champagne flutes to accompany Waldorf salad or Belgian waffles.

    Drives That Leave the City Behind 2011

  • I have a feeling that this beer is mademore for lambic or lighter beer fans, but there is a real lack of hop character.

    The New York Cork Report 2009

  • Hosted by Brabo, and dubbed "Toast on the Terrace," the Friday evening happy hour features a spread of Chimay, brie, goat and other cheeses; charcuterie (including prosciutto, pate and salami); and -- the happy part -- unlimited glasses of a red sangria flavored with lambic beer, Cabernet, apples, peaches and apricot.

    Something for the Weekend: Sangria on an Old Town rooftop 2010

  • Tosh had left his beer in its paper bag on the kitchen table—lambic, like she thought.

    The Half Life Jennifer Weiner 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.