Amsterdam is a city of beautiful canals, friendly faces, and a very liberal approach to societal norms. As we wandered from street to street and rode the city trams, there was an exciting vibe in the city – despite near freezing temperatures and gray February skies. While the coffee shops are well known for their herbal remedies, Amsterdam is a great Mecca for beer as well – and I’m not talking about the kind that comes in green tinted bottles with smiling “e”s! Fellow beer enthusiasts, Amsterdam has to be a stop on your list for some incredible Dutch and Belgian craft beers – some of it so special that it’s in very limited supplies at only a few select beer places in the city.
An international reputation as some of the “best beer in the world” – Westvleteren!
Before I go any further, let me pay homage to some great people I recently met – Chris and Merideth, the official “beer geeks” (Check out their website and blog); as of last week they have now visited over 800 breweries. Additionally, Merideth recently published a book called, “Teachings from the Tap” available on Amazon.com.
They were in London last week and I joined them at three of their beer stops during their week- long “working” beer tour. Having the chance to hang out with them over a few pints, talk a bit about beer & breweries, and get some recommendations for our Amsterdam adventure was awesome. They were so much fun to hang out with and I hope to meet up again at a future point when we move back to the US.
Back to the Amsterdam planning…in addition to visiting the tourist sites like the Van Gogh Museum, Heineken Experience and Anne Frank house, Jim and I started to organize our own list of beer stops. But after arriving in Amsterdam and stopping at the 1st beer bar on Chris’s list, we trashed our list in favor of going to Chris’s recommended places only….Yes, they were that good! Chris and Merideth – we can not thank you enough for all the wonderful beer we enjoyed last weekend. As we roamed the Amsterdam streets and boarded trains to other Dutch towns, we felt like we were following in your footsteps, even down to the same weather conditions you had when you last visited the Amsterdam area!
Where: In Central Amsterdam, a short 10-15 minute walk from the main train station. See map.
Why you should visit: You will not be disappointed at the choice of quality beers available, including 18 different beers on tap and hundreds of beers in bottles. They focus on Dutch and Belgian beer but also have a variety of other options to suit all tastes.
Overall comments: Dark mustard yellow ceilings and old wood surroundings made me feel like I was in a real authentic European bar. With an equally impressive draft beer menu, it’s a place you could settle in, get comfortable and lose all sense of time. Each beer came in its proper signature glass and the service was impeccable. I tried the La Trappe beers, while Jim had a Hel & Verdoemenis from Brouwerij De Molen ( a brewery we’d visit the following day), one of his favorites. He also couldn’t resist trying the Wildeman Flying Dog IPA, a beer inspired by the Flying Dog teams’ visit to In De Wildeman last year. Amazing beer.
Where: Not far from the central Amsterdam area. See map.
Why you should visit: Want to get familiar with the best Dutch craft beers in the marketplace? This is the place to go. There’s a tremendous amount of choices – at least 20-25 Dutch beers on tap.
Overall comments: On a Saturday late afternoon, there was not an empty seat at the bar or tables. For those who prefer a quieter atmosphere, there is a downstairs basement area with tables, but we opted to stay upstairs and enjoy the livelier atmosphere on the main floor. The long bar allows for some very nice bar seats and space. Tables are jammed in wherever there is extra space, allowing only a very narrow walkway in between the bar and tables.
I first sampled a Texels Wit beer, my least favorite beer that day. On the other hand, Jim enjoyed his Ramses beer, a flavorful barrel aged stout at 9% ABV. I also tried the Jopen pilsner, a great refreshing change to the stronger Belgian beers I sampled at In De Wildeman, and a prelude for the beer we’d try a day later at the actual Jopen Brewpub on our venture outside of the city.
Where: In Central Amsterdam, about a 20 minute walk from the main train station. See map.
Why you should visit: Specializing almost exclusively in Belgian beer, this was where Jim was able to purchase and drink the famous Westvleteren 8 beer for the first time.
Overall experience: The beer bar is dark and old, filled with so much beer memorabilia/beer bottles that on numerous occasions I had to be extra careful not to knock them off the wall behind me. Okay….this could have had something to do with our two earlier beer stops, or that I’m klutzy on occasion, but I’m sticking to the fact that there were lots of beer bottles on display! 🙂 There is a bi-level seating area up a small set of stairs, with space for approximately 25 people or so. It’s a great space where you can overlook the bar below.
All in all, a wonderful day of cool beer cafe destinations, some Amsterdam touring, and a great way to begin our exploration of the Dutch and Belgian craft beer scene. The next day we’d continue our journey and head outside of the city to the towns of Bodegraven and Haarlem. To be continued on my next post – Around Amsterdam: Beer Day Trips…
March 3, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Thanks for your kind words. It was great to meet you in London. And hopefully, we’ll see you (and Jim) again soon. Cheers!