The Best Beer in the Netherlands
To drink or not to drink? That is no question! 🇳🇱
I’ve been all over the world, traveled full-time for almost four years now, and tasted a few hundred beers. Yet I’ve only written about beer just once.
Seems crazy, right???
For someone who always talks about beer and has posted hundreds of photos of it on social media, it doesn’t make any sense to not share these edifying experiences.
So I’m gonna start writing about the beer.
My Dutch Beer Experience
We spent six weeks in Europe early last year and visited four countries.
There were definitely a lot of options to choose from, but since I was staying in the Netherlands, most of my drinking pursuits happened there and that will be the focus for this article.
During this time I consumed way too much biertje for a guy who has worked so hard to keep my weight off, but I’m also in an area that has unlimited options for world renowned beer.
How could I say no?
Besides, I don’t want to be rude to the Dutch people by not supporting their economy. So I had to suffer for the greater good.
Heineken. Amstel. Grolsch. Bavaria.
These are what most people would think of when it comes to Dutch beer.
Sadly they are absolutely the worst beers in the Netherlands. If I want to smell weed I’ll smoke it. Or if I want to drink piss water, have a Bud Light.
I can’t understand why anyone would believe these brands to be among the best because they aren’t even close. Sorry!
My opinion are the Dutch aren’t as good at brewing as their neighbors, but there are a lot of microbreweries who could be amazing. That being said, the Belgians certainly take the prize for overall best beer.
However there are some fantastic beers I’ve enjoyed from beer makers in the Netherlands. They are as followed.
La Trappe
Made by Monks but tastes like heaven. La Trappe has a rich history for brewing this sweet nectar of the gods. And my praise for their work is high!
La Trappe Blond, La Trappe Tripel, and La Trappe Bock have been fantastic but I hope to try the others soon. They are definitely the best and full of flavor.
ALFA
By far the best beer I’ve consumed is Alfa Idel Pils, an incredibly different and complex lager. This is interesting because lagers are not my favorite choice, yet there’s something about this beer that made me love it.
The Alfa Idel Pils is light, tasty, and refreshing with only a 5% alcohol content. I’ll be visiting the brewery soon to try their Spring Bok and Super Strong.
Brand Bier
Perhaps people from the northern side of the Netherlands think Brand Bierbrouweri is what I think about Heineken, but for a larger brewery they make some great stuff like the IPA and Powerful Blond.
Brand is a fantastic beer, reasonably priced, and heavily served in the Limburg region like Sittard and Maastricht.
Not done yet!
The mentioned brands are brewed in the Netherlands so they take priority. However the amount of kick ass beers in this region are astounding!
Chouffe Brewery
This Belgian beer is one of my favorites in Europe and the United States, but certainly cheaper to buy over here (approximately $4.50 for a liter at Jumbo).
La Chouffe is their standard blond beer filled with unique flavors and great for any occasion. I’ve also enjoyed Cherry Chouffe, a vibrant variety with notes of strawberry, almond, spices and sweet Port. MC Chouffe is also unique and worthy.
Gulden Draak
The Golden Dragon from Belgium has also been enjoyed during my stay. I love the taste of Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple, a deep amber beer at 10.5% alcohol volume. It’s a full bodied flavor without being too heavy to drink a couple glasses.
Brew Dog
Hazy Jane is a New England IPA that includes notes of pineapple, mango, stone fruit and a hint of mandarin in the mix. Brewed with oats and wheat and unfiltered for a smooth, juicy finish. It’s perfect for a nice day outside.
Brew Dog is a Scottish brewery with a cool history and a love for punks. So they get a rebel yell and a nod for their efforts.
Rodenbach Fruitage
I’ve enjoyed this extremely refreshing red-brown ale numerous times. It’s usually served with a couple cubes of ice, a slice of lime, and a leaf of mint, making it so easy to drink several without even thinking about it.
Rodenbach Fruitage is brewed by the Swinkels Family Brewery, a larger producer of Dutch beer brands.
I certainly hope to tackle more microbreweries and other beer brands when we return this year. Whatever I discover I will let you know.
Cheers!!! 🍻