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- Alaska -
Anchorage to Fairbanks
- Alpharetta and
Cumming, GA
- Asheville,
NC
- Athens, GA
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Belgian
Beer Tour 1998
- Belgian
Beer Tour 2000
- Belgian
Beer Tour 2001
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland,
OH 2002 Craft Brewers Conf.
- Ft.
Collins, CO
- Greenville,
SC
- Louisville,
KY
- London,
UK 2002
- Minneapolis/St.
Paul
- Nashville,
TN
- New
England - RI, ME, NH
- New
Orleans, LA Beer Tour 1999
- New
Orleans, LA Beer Tour Photos 2001
- New York, NY
- Germany:
Munich, Bamberg, Kulmbach, and Berlin
- Philadelphia,
PA
- Salt Lake
City, UT
- Savannah,
GA
- Tampa, FL
- Chimay
Trappist
- Orval Trappist
- Rochefort
Trappist
- Westmalle
Trappist
- Westvleteren
Trappist
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Wildeman
3 Kolksteeg (#1 on map)
ph. 20-638-2248
If you enjoy great beer, no trip to Amsterdam would be
complete without a visit to this remarkable beer café. Its
charm,
atmosphere, and beer selection make it one of the best beer bars in the
world. It is found (at times with some difficulty) on a small
alley
just off Oude Brugsteeg. There is a rare non-smoking room to the
right
of the main bar as one enters the front door, and only light snacks are
offered. The beer selection is somewhere around 200 and includes
draft
selections from Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK! I have
always
been impressed with the bartenders and staff at Wildeman -- they are
interested
in their customers and ready to talk about beer and recommend a
selection. Fans of the Michael Jackson "Beer Hunter" television
series from the
late 1980's will recall the Trappist-style ale tasting that was filmed
in
the right bar.
- Opens around noon most days, closed Sunday.
Arendsnest
90 Herengracht (#2 on map)
ph. 20-421-2057
The photo to the right shows Robin, one of the fine staff
at Arendsnest, pulling a glass of exquisite Dutch ale. Make it a
special point to visit this extraordinary beer cafe that only serves
Dutch
brews. Our group was amazed as we looked at the beer list that
includes
so many craft beers from small breweries in the Netherlands that we had
never before encountered! Peter van Arend is the owner of the
Arendsnest (Eagle's Nest) and has a right to be proud of what he has
accomplished here. If you are at a loss as to what beer to order,
simply consult the
staff who will be happy to make a suggestion. The list of beers
we
sampled here includes: Waddenbier (Dubbel from Friesland with hints of
berry,
toffee, and fruit), Buorren Bier (from De Friese brewery with a nice,
sour,
Flanders Brown Ale aroma and flavor), Birre Bier (honey beer with
honey,
spice, and cinnamon notes), Haerlemsch Brewery Old Ale (more like an
Imperial
Stout and Barleywine combination), Hertog Jan Grand Prestige
(chocolate,
plum, rich malt notes), Jopen Hoppen (hoppy, dry, fruity and spicy),
X-Porter
(made by homebrewers who contract with a brewery to produce this
effervescent
beer with espresso/chocolate character), Czaar Peter (sweet, rich, and
chocolate-like with 8.5% abv), Stadsbrouwerij De Hemel (beer "from
heaven" with a spicy, malty, buttery, rich taste of a big Tripel), and
Oster (flavors of Porter and clove from a northern fishing village).
If all this beer arouses your appetite, the Lieve restaurant next
door has Belgian/Dutch food and
a good beer selection.
- Arendsnest opens at 4 PM daily.
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Café Westers
1e Constantijn Huygensstraat 35 (#3 on map)
ph. 20-612-1691
This pleasant pub is in the area of Amsterdam near the
Rembrandt and Van Gogh museums. It has an appealing menu and a
good beer selection that includes seven taps (La Chouffe, Affligem,
Maredsous, Dekoninck, and one beer from 't IJ brewpub being standouts)
and around ten bottles (including Girardin Gueze, Westmalle Dubbel and
Tripel, Hoegaarden, Orval, Rochefort 8, Forbidden Fruit, and two
products from Chimay). This is a quiet café during the day
that can become quite busy in the evening.
- Opens around 11 am daily.
Beiaard
30 Spui
(#4 on map)
ph. 20-622-5110
The photo to the left is of Dean, Gail, Kerri, Jeff, and
Erin outside the Beiaard pub near the center of Amsterdam. To the
right is one of the friendly and helpful staff who are glad to help you
make a selection from over 60 delicious beers. The café
has
large windows that overlook the happenings on the street and a bright,
glass-enclosed
sitting area. Beiaard is part of a respected line of pubs in
Amsterdam
that has recently purchased the closed Maximiliaans
brewpub (which they
plan to
reopen later in 2003 with their own line of house brews).
Tapvreugd
11 Oude Hoogstraat (#5 on map)
ph. 20-623-3609
This interesting pub is near Kloveniers Burgwal canal and has
a "smoke menu" along with a very decent selection of beer.
Westmalle Dubbel and Tripel, Hoegaarden Gran Cru and Duvel
highlight the beer menu. The place is very cozy, smoky, quiet and
relaxing. It is just down the street from the former location of
the now defunct Hoogte pub that is mentioned in many beer guides.
-Opens around 4 PM daily.
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The staff at 't IJ works hard to keep up with beer
demand from the crowds at the bar.
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't IJ
7 Funenkade (#6 on map)
ph. 20-622-8325
This unique brewpub definitely ranks as one of the top beer
destinations in the world -- it brews its beer under a windmill in a
space that used to be a public bath house. The opening hours are
very limited, and visitors should always expect a large crowd of locals
and international beer hunters. Squeezing through the thick crowd
of interesting folks to get a beer at the bar is part of the fun at
this brewpub. The brewery was opened in the eighties by
songwriter and homebrewer Kaspar Peterson
and has a cool, funky atmosphere about it. You should try to grab
a taxi over to this area of Amsterdam, as it is a pretty long walk from
the center of town (just tell the cab driver you want to go to "the
brewery
under the windmill"). Try the Struis (9%), Columbus (9%), Zatte
(an
8% Tripel), and Natte (a 6.5% Dubbel). Peanuts are also available
at
the bar for one euro. Ton Zijp, one of the bartenders at 't IJ
also
works as a salesperson at the Bierkoning beer store in Amsterdam and is
a
wealth of beer information (and a very friendly fellow).
- Open from 3 PM to 8 PM Wednesday to Sunday.
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Boulevard Café
3 Cruquiusweg (#7 on map)
ph. 20-693-3299
Walk left out of 't IJ and go to the first major road to
find the Boulevard Cafe. This pub and restaurant offers a nice
beer
selection and several meals prepared with beer. Boulevard has a
helpful
staff and a family atmosphere. It resides in part of an old train
station. The beer menu is cased in metal and weighs around four
pounds
(the manager did this to prevent the menus from being taken by
patrons).
Be sure to try any appetizer or entree that includes Abbey
cheese;
and the ice cream made with Trappist beer is delightful alongside a
glass
of La Chouffe ale.
- Opens at 10 AM Monday to Friday and 2 PM on Saturday
and Sunday. Food is available between 5 PM and 9:30 PM.
Groene Olifant
510 Sarphatistraat (# 8 on map)
ph. 20-620-4904
Once you are forced to leave 't IJ brewpub because of their
limited hours, be sure to walk over to the "Green Elephant" pub which
stays open much later. From 't IJ walk toward the Texaco service
station across the street and then head down the street to the left of
the Texaco. The pub is about three blocks on the left. The beer
selection is a bit
small, but very well thought out in this neighborhood pub. The
layout
of the place is split-level with a small upstairs area that overlooks
the
main bar. A bartender (standing) is going over the beer menu with
Dean,
Erin and Jeff in the photo above.
- Open from 11 AM until around 1 AM daily.
't Smalle
12 Egelantiersgracht (# 9 on map)
ph. 20-623-9617
This narrow pub with a small upstairs area has six taps
(Heineken, Vos, Wieckse Witte, Affligen Blond and Dubbel, and a
rotating beer from
Gouden Carolus when we visited) and five decent bottled beers including
Westmalle Tripel and Duvel. Smalle is found in a quiet area of
Amsterdam
to the west of the central Dam square. I have heard from others
that
the food here is quite good, but the staff was shorthanded and
stressed-out
the day we visited, so food was not available.
- Opens at 10 AM seven days a week.
Belgique
2 Gravenstraat (#10 on map)
ph. 20-625-1974
This Belgian pub is very near touristy Dam square and includes
a respectable list of almost 50 Belgian beers. Trappist cheeses and
sandwiches are available, and seating is very limited. On the day
we visited
the beers were served a bit too cold and in the wrong glasses.
Nevertheless, the beers were delicious and the experience was
enjoyable.
- Opens around 4 PM and is closed on Tuesday.
't Loosje
32 Nieuwmarkt (#11 on map)
ph. 20-627-2635
This beautiful café is located on Nieuwmarkt square and
offers 15 bottled beers and nine drafts. Bottled selections
include: Westmalle Dubbel and Tripel, Duvel, Brugse Tripel, and
Hoegaarden Gran
Cru. La Chouffe and a few of the IJ beers highlight the taps.
Be
careful when you order a beer here -- on the day we visited four out of
six beers brought to our table were not what we ordered.
Beer
prices are quite low, however. Food at Loosje is quite good with
sandwiches, salads, hard rolls, tortillas, and soups being mainstays on
the menu.
- Opens around 10 AM daily.
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Ton Zijp will answer your beer questions at
Bierkoning.
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Bierkoning
125 Paleisstraat (#12 on map)
ph. 20-625-2336
If there is space in your luggage to bring excellent beer home
with you, be sure to make a trip to the Bierkoning retail beer store.
This is one of the best beer stores in the world -- it boasts a
remarkable selection of ales and lagers from around the world.
You'll also want to check out the array of beer glasses for sale
behind the cash register. The downstairs nook offers ciders,
fruit beers, and Belgian Lambics, while the upstairs shopping area
contains Trappist beers, Dubbels and Tripels, Barleywines, Belgian
Ales, Scotch Ales (oh my, the list goes on and on). The staff is
very helpful and is more than willing to discuss which beers are right
for your tastes. All major credit cards are accepted (with an
added 5% service charge).
- Opens around noon daily and closes in the late afternoon.
Brouwerij De Prael
13 Helicopterstraat (#13 off the bottom of the map)
ph. 20-408-4470
This small brewery is outside the center of Amsterdam in
an industrial zone to the south -- it is easily reachable by taxi for
around 25 euros (in 2003). In the picture above and to the left
is co-owner Arno Kooy showing off bottles and cases of the De Prael
beers. Above and to the right are Arno and brewer/co-owner Far
Kok. Arno and Far once worked with patients at a local mental
hospital, and their love for homebrewing compelled them to open De
Prael. They are still tied to the hospital, however, because the
brewery provides some rehabilitative employment to a few patients who
enjoy the experience of packaging and labeling the beers.
Not only does this brewery provide a valuable community service,
but
they produce excellent Dutch and Belgian styled ales. The beers
are
named after old Dutch singers of tear-jerking songs: Johnny (5.7%
blonde
ale with wheat and spicy phenol character - unfiltered and
unpasteurized), Heintje (5.4% Wit beer with wheat and malt -- like a
nice Hefeweizen with clove and banana character), Mary (9.6% Belgian
Strong Dark Ale with delightful notes of figs, toffee, raisin, pepper,
and alcohol), and Willy (8.5% winter beer with candi sugar, Hallertau
hops, and pilsner, Munich, caramel, and chocolate malts).
Seasonal beers are also produced. It is quite odd that this
brewery exists completely on the second floor of their building!
Tours that include a tasting can be prearranged for four euros
per person.
Please be sure to purchase and support these delicious craft
brewed
beers!
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Zotte
29 Raamstraat (#14 on map)
ph. 20-626-8694
Our group absolutely loves De Zotte. Found near
Leidseplein, Zotte is on a quiet side street to the southwest of the
center of Amsterdam. This is definitely a Belgian pub with a wide
array of Belgian Ales, Belgian staff, and incredible Trappist cheese
tarts (Abdijkaastaarts).
Try pairing a Trappist ale with a huge platter of Trappist
cheeses
(usually Orval and Chimay). It is quite fun to sit at the center
of
the bar at Zotte and watch the bartenders pour the wonderful beers into
their beautiful glasses. Don't miss this pub -- it is worth
searching
out!
- Opens around 4 PM.
Gollem
4 Raamsteeg (#15 on map)
ph. 20-330-2890
Gollem is a classic brown café (with walls stained
brown from years of smoke) that just happens to have one of the very
best beer selections in the city. Amsterdam's beer fans and beer
tourists love this place. For many years Gollem has proudly
featured a huge beer
menu that includes many hard-to-find examples (such as the rare
Westvleteren Trappist ales from Belgium). The photo above and to
the right shows the bartender carefully pouring our heavenly
Westvleteren 12. Trappist cheeses are also available. The
atmosphere here is friendly, cozy,
and candle-lit.
- Opens around 4 PM.
Owen and Kerri admire the old brewing
equipment.
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Jeff, Erin, Kerri, Dean, and Gail
toast our great beer journey to Amsterdam.
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Heineken Experience
78 Stadhouderskade (#16 on map)
ph. 20-523-9666
The old Heineken brewery near the center of Amsterdam is now a
multi-media museum. For 7.50 euros per person participants can
experience all manner of Heineken history and displays. The
beautiful horses that still pull the Heineken carts through town are
here, along with the old brewing tanks and mash vessels. An
over-the-top virtual "ride" through the Heineken bottling line is an
experience you'll not soon forget. Three small glasses of
Heineken (or soft drinks) are offered as you meander through the
experience, and a souvenir glass is presented upon your departure.
No beer fan should miss this elaborate and entertaining diversion.
- Open from 10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday to Sunday.
Other bars worthy of a visit...
- Elfde Gebod, 5 Zeekijk, ph.
20-622-3577. Good beer selection near the central train station.
- Geneugten, 54 Kerkstraat,
ph. 20-625-0934. Brown café near Leidseplein with an
interesting selection of beers in 750 ml bottles.
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