Changes

Even within the small subset of lambic brewing and blending there is a rich linguistic history that is brought to light in the terminology and usage between two distinct language groups. Though it is true that Belgium has had a long history of linguistic division, it is also evident that, at least within the lambic brewing world, there is some friendly crossover. After 1794 when the territory of Belgium was integrated into the larger French empire, the French language was fully imposed upon all of its citizens. After Napoleon's defeat, the Congress of Vienna proclaimed the "Kingdom of the Netherlands" which included Belgium. The new king, a Dutchman, imposed the Dutch language on the entire kingdom. Both Walloon and Flemish people revolted against this authoritarian king and more revolts took place that eventually led to the creation of an independent Belgium in 1830. The current Belgian constitution calls for three economically autonomous regions in Belgium (Wallonia, Flanders, and Brussels), and lambic breweries are situated in all three of them. For the lambic fan, drinking in some of the language history can go a long way in helping to appreciate the rich story of the beer, its homeland, and its purveyors.