Dutch brewers do not neglect any of the points of their motto: "It takes cold, malt and conscience to brew a decent beer." The sacred adherence to technology is the secret of the amazing beer from Holland. Another reason may be the long history of the drink, which has become as integral a symbol of the state as wooden shoes, windmills and luxurious tulips.
Beer style icons
The most famous brewery in the Netherlands is called Brouwwrij de Molen. It is located in an old mill and Menno Oliver, an icon of the Dutch brewing style, tells the guests about the process of making Dutch craft beer.
No less popular is a company where they have adapted to brewing beer in a large vat right in the church. Services in the building are no longer held, but there are more than enough parishioners for another reason: a drink from Jopen Bier in the city of Haarlem is a visiting card among other attractions. Rock concerts are also often held in the church, finally erasing the boundaries between all sorts of habits alien to a believer.
Bocks, stouts and more
The most popular Dutch beers:
- Aged and strong "boki" are brewed four times a year. Every season, the inhabitants of Holland receive their "boks", made by the method of top fermentation.
- Classic lagers are produced by Heineken and Brand. There is a Beer Museum in Amsterdam, which details the brewing technology.
- Trappist beers are beers made by Trappist monks. Usually it is expensive, but very tasty and worthy of the money that was given for it. This is undoubtedly a beer treat with a variety of flavors. You can try the masterpieces of monastic brewing in the refectory at the monasteries.
Small brewers to the kingdom
The National Small Brewery Festival has only one drawback. It is held the next day after the Queen's Day celebration, and therefore many fans of the foamy drink simply do not have the energy to visit the town of Hertogenbosch, 40 minutes from Amsterdam. The program of the holiday includes many sorts of beer brewed by representatives of the small beer business in the Netherlands.
By the way, Trappist monks also participate in the festival. Their main secret - "Beer does not tolerate fuss and should be enjoyed in peace, quiet and peace."
Trappist tip: chill the bottle to + 16 ° С for 24 hours, and then pour into a wide glass rinsed with cold water, tilting the neck at an angle of 45 °. Naturally, the bottle must contain an unpasteurized Trappist drink. And may grace be with you.
