Seefbeer

 Overall Impression A belgian heritage ale, brewed with buckwheat as main grain other than barley and wheat, with delicate fruity aroma and bold maltiness.

Aroma

Medium-low to medium cereal aroma, white bread, cereal. Medium to high fruity flavor, tropical (banana) and stone fruit (apricot). Medium-low sweet aromatics (vanilla) and low spiciness (ginger, nutmeg) are optional. Low floral from hops.

Appearance

Straw to almost clear yellow with a thick white head, medium-sized bubbles, compact texture.

Flavor

Medium fruitiness, with notes of banana and peach, medium malty sweetness and hints of herbaceous. Bitterness is medium-low, balance is toward malts. Rustic herbs and grainy in aftertaste, with low to medium notes of tropical fruit and citrus. Finish is dry with a lingering herbal and floral hop character.

Mouthfeel

Medium body with thick viscosity, medium carbonation, no astringency, medium creaminess.

Comments

Some describe it as a complex, traditional Belgian ale, while others find it a bit one-note after the initial complex flavors. Buckwheat gives a bit off-centered grainy, fruity (citrus) notes while leaving yeast express with sweet hints of tropical fruits.

History

Seef was a white beer, that next to barley and wheat also contained buckwheat and oats. Seef actually had been a typical countryside beer from Seefehoek, Antwerp’s district now. Not only did Antwerp have a Seefhoek, but surrounding villages like Brasschaat, Herentals, Hoboken and Wilrijk had one too. Moreover, the Seefhoek district that came into being in Antwerp around the year 1860, was largely populated by people who had come from the countryside. An old sample of Antwerp brewing yeast was retrieved at Leuven university, and thus for the first time in almost a hundred years the seef could be brewed again: an unfiltered multi-grain beer with malted and unmalted buckwheat, oats, wheat and barley. It was only the first step of a daring plan: Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie invested all their savings in the new Seef, now written with a capital letter as a registered trade mark. Initially brewed elsewhere, it was introduced in 2012 and became an instant hit in Antwerp and beyond, in 2017 they opened their own brewery.

Characteristic Ingredients

Base malt is pilsner around 50%, then 5-10% for each grain like wheat, oatmeal, rye and buckwheat, as old recipes says. Continental hop for balance, but yeast is slightly esters prone.

Style Comparison

More neutral and less body than a Weissbier, more fruity than a Witbier. less earthy and spicy than a classic Saison.

Vital Statistics

IBUs 18 – 25 SRM 3 – 6 OG         1.052 – 1.058 FG         1.006 – 1.008 ABV 6.0 – 6.8%

Commercial Examples

Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie Seefbeer

 

Contributor

Angelo Ruggiero

Additional Sources

Lost Beers (website)