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Find a Brewery in Amsterdam

Off the beaten path… Something different on Tap

As is known the world over, Holland is a beer country, with one of its biggest exports being Heineken beer from Amsterdam. The former Heineken brewery is a major tourist attraction, a visitor’s center called the Heineken Experience. It's a fun place to visit, especially on a rainy day (frequent travellers may know that It sometimes rains in Amsterdam).
But as well-known a brand as Heineken is, there are also smaller Amsterdam based breweries with really good beer! Here are a few worth visiting and drinking…

Brewery ‘t IJ

Housed in a former squatted building, this brewery produces 250,000 liters of A-grade organic beer on a yearly basis. Check them out by doing the tour or settle yourself on their terrace in the summer and have a few. Writer’s recommendation: the Zatte, the brewery's all-time classic. Moderation while drinking one or two of these is advised (8% Alc.)

Brewery De Prael

Founded as an initiative to reintegrate people with long-term psychiatric illnesses back into the labor market, this brewery knows its beer and its aficionados. On their website (sadly in Dutch only) you can find beer recipes, a how-to on brewing the stuff and more. Be sure to check out their gift shop, because they have a lot to sell you (a beer brewing kit being one of them)! Writer’s recommendation: the Johnny, a traditional blond beer. This easy to drink beer is a good thirst quencher after a day of sightseeing (5,7% Alc.)

Brewery De Bekeerde Zuster

Not far from the previous brewery, this brewery makes some nice beers, which they also serve in their restaurants: De Beiaard en De Klos. On Wednesdays or Thursdays you can watch the brewers work their magic. On other days, you can check out the brewery during a guided tour. Writer's recommendation: the Manke Monnik (the limp monk). Even though this monk’s got a limp, it’s a beer with a good kick (7.2% Alc.).

P.S. the above beers are served in a lot of bars in town. A great bar, or as we say here in Amsterdam: a temple, which serves a lot of these beers is Café In de Wildeman. If it’s not on tap there, it does not exist!

Posted Jun 27, 2011 by Martin van der Velden
Self-proclaimed poster child of Amsterdam a.k.a. The Amsterdam Oracle. Can be found on his roof terrace or on the Amsterdam streets trying to run things. Also Sales Manager of Perfect Visit.