klompen

My trip to the Netherlands is less than 2 weeks away (can hardly wait!). I'm looking for some recommendations on Dutch beer brands that will suit my tastes.

Heineken is definitely out, as well as Amstel - these are the only brands I've seen here in the U.S.A. (and Amsel is so bad that I actually poured it down the drain.)

My tastes run towards stouts and other dark beers such as porters. Samuel Adams Boston Lager is okay in a pinch, but anything lighter is definitely out.

Are there any brands of Dutch beer that fit my tastes? I'd like to avoid buying 6 bottles in the grocery of something that I won't like that well.

madamtrashheap

To avoid buying 6 bottles at a time whilst guessing, perhaps go into a bar in each place you visit and ask what a)the local beer is; and b)what beers might suit your tastes. If you don't try them you won't know!

Not sure where you're going in the Netherlands, but look out for Palm (Beligian, but very popular in the south around Tilburg and Eindhoven), both the Speciale and the Rodenbach if you can find it; La Trappe, which is a Trappist beer brewed in the Netherlands, might also run to your tastes, but go for the Dubble or above. Also the "bock" style (which is origially German) beers might tempt you, but again it depends on the producer as some as a little lighter than what you like. And don't write Grolsch off - they make an Oud Bruin which is a dark lager and is nice a caramely and although sweeter than you might be used to, has a little bitterness at the end.

Proost!

bilboburgler

You are looking for beer in Holland when you have Belgium just over the border?..... Like looking for alcohol in a dry state when there is a wet one next door.

Still, have a look at http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/North_Sea_Drink.php to get an overview.

Southam

Serious and dedicated research in Rotterdam a couple of years ago suggested that most of the special pints were actually from Belgium. The only stand-out microbrew I found was Pelgrim, beside the church where the Pilgrims launched. http://en.rotterdam.info/visitors/pl...ry-de-pelgrim/
Here is a useful pub and brewery guide which looks home-made http://patto1ro.home.xs4all.nl/amsintr.htm#smallbrew
You should take advantage of any occasion to sample beers made by the lambic process, truly back-to-nature, even though they may be too light for a stout drinker. Wikipedia has a nice discussion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambic

boyreporter

Yeah, nthing Belgian beers. Try all the Trappist ales (Chimay, Rochefort, Corsendonk, Orval, Westvleteren, Achel, and La Trappe), most of which have three varieties; the dubbels seem darkest.

Also, while there's no need to drink Heineken or Amstel if you're not big on lagers, know that they taste different in the Netherlands.

FoFoBT

If you go to Delft, check out the Klomp Bierhuis. http://www.bierhuisdeklomp.nl/assortiment

And you could also give Hertog Jan a try (Dutch brewery that's now part of the InBev family)
http://www.hertogjan.nl/site/01-Home.php
Here's their beer roster:
http://www.hertogjan.nl/site/04-Speciale-bieren.php

hetismij2

In Amsterdam try Het Ij. http://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/index_en.htm

dfourh

hetismij2's recomendation of the Tij brewery is spot on - - not only very good micros, served up fresh, but wonderful location by a canal and under a windmill. The place is usually jammed, but they keep the suds flowing fast at the walk-up bars, and unless it's raining outside is the place to be. I go there whenever I'm in Amsterdam. On layovers I also go to the http://bierkoning.nl/ which is right by the Dam and fill up a well-padded carry-on with beer, and then check the carry-on as a 2nd bag at Schiphol (if Bier Koning is closed, I go to or to www.crackedkettle.com/ ).

This is a great webpage with maps, ratings, and pictures:
http://patto1ro.home.xs4all.nl/pubs.htm
And check out more recommendations at Ratebeer and Beer Advocate:
http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/Count...terdam/144.htm
http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/Count...terdam/144.htm

moosey

I also agree with the recommendation to try the Ij. And I agree with boyreporter - Heineken is definitely different there compared to what they export.

Two other points to note - many small bars have only one or two beers to choose from - there will be a sign outside letting you know (unlike in the US where there may be a Miller sign outside but they sell everything). Also, you can buy single bottles in Albert Heijn (grocery store) - an inexpensive way to sample a few if you are drinking in your hotel or someplace.

Rastaguytoday

I used to travel to Amsterdam quite frequently, 4+ trips a year, for many years. In a brown bar you'll probably get Heineken. Occasionally, you'll stumble on a Grolsch.

Go out with the locals and they are all ordering Belgium beers, of one ilk or another.

Go figure. Now that Budweiser is no longer and American beer, maybe it'll start tasting better.

Southam

It's practically impossible to track down where that glass of an international brand actually was poured out of the brew kettle. For a period of time Heinekin was brewed in Canada under licence but I can't sort out the current situation. Legend had it that the Canadian-made Heinekin was "imported" into the US, saving substantial ocean shipping costs. Same legend about Guinness (what a harrowing thought.) And Sapporo owns a good brewery in Guelph, Ontario, that sends its "Japanese" beer south.
On the other hand, I've never heard anyone complain that Bud or Coors Light made in Canada tasted different, probably because so little taste is involved anywhere.

Vttraveler

Here's a link to a thread with Belgian beer recommendations. When our friends who now live in Belgium lived in Amsterdam, they used to drink a lot of Belgian beer
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...mendations.cfm

Rastaguytoday

Southam - agreed.

In the U.S. beers like Foster's, which almost no one drinks in Australia, is brewed in Canada. Kirin is brewed in Los Angeles by Budweiser.

If it's any consolation, there are a lot of beers that aren't brewed in their home countries for export, at least not far, not only in the New World, but in Europe also.

Southam

So far as I can see, nobody drinks Foster's in Canada either, or at least not in the central part of the country. Foster's was taken over by SABMiller last year although the very valuable Fosters wine holdings were spun off (wine's bigger than beer in Oz now.) Anyhow Molson, which had been selling Foster's in Canada, merged with Coors a few years ago and the Foster label gradually disappeared. No loss, although I did enjoy a can of Victoria Bitter tonight, mostly for old time's sake and with the printed assurance that it had been imported from Melbourne.

Rastaguytoday

Southam. I was lucky enough to spend 6 weeks in Singapore, where I could get ahold of Victoria Bitter. A lot more Aussies drink this than that American beer Foster's. I'd go to Carrefour and buy it by the case.

I live near the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. I read about a year ago that Foster's was the largest winery owner in the world.

However, in the wine business, it changes from day to day, seemingly.

klompen

Thanks, all. Unfortunately Belgium isn't on the list this time, but I can attest to the truth that nobody makes beer better than the Belgians. Chimay is wonderful even on this side of the pond, and Grimbergen is a favorite from a visit to Bruge.

I figured that Belgian beers would be readily available in NL, but on previous trip to NL it just hadn't been a priority to include beer. This time we're renting an apartment for 3 weeks so they'll be opportunities to sit in the evening and enjoy.

Brouwerij 't IJ is already on the list for when we visit Amsterdam. I wasn't looking for more brew-pub type places, but your recommendations have me reconsidering it for sure!

I can also confirm, that Fosters and others are indeed made in Canada so that they can still be sold in the U.S. as "imported" - fortunately some of us have figured out how to read labels ;-)

dfourh

>>>>>>I figured that Belgian beers would be readily available in NL, but on previous trip to NL it just hadn't been a priority to include beer. This time we're renting an apartment for 3 weeks so they'll be opportunities to sit in the evening and enjoy.

If you're going to be there longer, then definitely hit the Bier Koning and talk at length with the proprietor about different styles and what is hot lately (both Dutch as well as Belgian, as well as others). Dedicated beer people like that love to take time with people who are not just swaggering in to pick up a mass-produced lager, and who show interest in their interests. You will find LOTS of rarities and different styles to enjoy. If you look at the links, then also be sure to visit the Arendsnest at least once, because it dedicates itself specifically to quality Dutch beers.

A GREAT beer daytrip from Amsterdam is Utrecht. It is a fantastic place to visit, because it as vibrant as Amsterdam, but without the foreign tourist quotient (as is Leiden). The town is a unending line-up of wonderful outdoor cafe's, and then there is a Belgian pub there with a lineup of great taps and an amazing bottle list, and Berts Bierhuis is actually my favorite bottle shop in all of Belgium, and a delightful place to visit - - plus it is a gorgeous walk through town to get there. They don't speak much English though. Though if you are thinking about picking up some Westvleteren 12 (the holy grail of bottled beers) it will be cheaper there than it is in Amsterdam - - in fact all their beers will be cheaper, and their selection is stunning.