Beers from Netherlands
The Netherlands boasts a long and rich brewing tradition, combining historical brewing methods with modern innovation. Best known for its iconic international brands like Heineken, the country also offers a diverse range of beers, from classic lagers to unique craft brews. Dutch breweries produce a wide variety of styles, catering to different tastes and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing pilsner or a complex Trappist ale, Dutch beer has something to offer every beer lover.
Types of Dutch Beers
Lager (Pilsner)
The most well-known style of beer from the Netherlands is the lager (or pilsner), a light, crisp, and refreshing beer that is brewed using bottom-fermenting yeast. Dutch lagers are typically characterised by their light malt body, moderate carbonation, and a clean finish.
Heineken: One of the most famous beers globally, Heineken is a classic Dutch lager with a slightly sweet malt flavour and mild hop bitterness. Its light, refreshing taste makes it a popular choice for casual drinking and it’s widely available in the UK.
Amstel: Another popular Dutch lager, Amstel is known for its balanced taste. It offers a malty backbone with a subtle hop bitterness, making it a smooth and easy-to-drink beer.
Grolsch: Famous for its distinctive swing-top bottle, Grolsch is a Dutch lager with a slightly fuller body than Heineken or Amstel. It has a malty sweetness with a crisp finish, complemented by a mild hop bitterness.
Witbier (Wheat Beer)
Witbier, or wheat beer, is another popular style in the Netherlands, particularly during the warmer months. These beers are brewed with a significant portion of wheat, giving them a cloudy appearance and a light, refreshing taste.
Bavaria Wit: A traditional Dutch wheat beer, Bavaria Wit is light and refreshing, with flavours of citrus and coriander. It has a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a mild, fruity sweetness, making it a great summer beer.
La Trappe Witte: Brewed by the famous Trappist brewery, La Trappe Witte is a Belgian-style witbier with a fruity, spicy flavour. It has notes of orange peel, clove, and coriander, and its light body and refreshing finish make it a popular choice for those looking for a crisp, yet flavourful, beer.
Trappist Ales
The Netherlands is home to one of the few certified Trappist breweries in the world, La Trappe, which produces a range of traditional Trappist ales. These beers are brewed by monks within the walls of the monastery, and each offers a unique flavour profile.
La Trappe Dubbel: This dark ale is rich and malty, with flavours of caramel, dried fruit, and a hint of spice. It has a smooth, slightly sweet finish and a medium body, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy more robust beers.
La Trappe Tripel: A strong golden ale, La Trappe Tripel is known for its complex flavour profile, with notes of fruit, spice, and a slight alcohol warmth. It has a rich, full-bodied texture and a dry finish, making it a more intense but rewarding beer.
La Trappe Quadrupel: This is the strongest of the La Trappe range, with a deep, malty flavour. Rich in caramel, dark fruits, and a touch of spice, Quadrupel has a smooth, warming finish, perfect for colder weather or pairing with rich foods.
Craft Beers and IPAs
The craft beer scene in the Netherlands has grown rapidly in recent years, with breweries producing a range of experimental and flavourful beers, particularly India Pale Ales (IPAs) and other hop-forward styles.
Brouwerij ‘t IJ IPA: Based in Amsterdam, Brouwerij ‘t IJ produces a range of craft beers, with its IPA being one of the most popular. It has a strong hop character with flavours of citrus, pine, and tropical fruits, balanced by a malty sweetness.
Oedipus Mannenliefde: A unique saison-style beer brewed by the craft brewery Oedipus, Mannenliefde features lemongrass and Szechuan pepper, giving it a distinctively spicy and herbal flavour. It is a refreshing and slightly funky beer, perfect for those who enjoy something different.
Bock Beer
In the autumn, Dutch breweries traditionally produce bock beer, a strong, malty lager that is darker and richer than the usual pilsners. This seasonal beer is often enjoyed during cooler months.
Grolsch Herfstbok: Grolsch’s take on the traditional bock beer is rich and malty, with flavours of caramel, dried fruit, and a hint of roasted malt. It has a smooth, warming finish and is perfect for autumn and winter drinking.
Amstel Bock: Known for its deep, ruby-red colour and sweet, malty flavour, Amstel Bock is another great example of Dutch bock beer. It has notes of caramel, dark fruits, and a slightly smoky finish, making it a comforting beer for colder evenings.
Flavours of Dutch Beers
Light and Crisp
Most Dutch lagers, such as Heineken and Amstel, are characterised by their light, crisp body and clean finish. These beers often have subtle malt sweetness, moderate carbonation, and a mild hop bitterness, making them easy to drink and highly refreshing.
Fruity and Spicy
Witbiers, like La Trappe Witte, have a fruity and spicy profile, often featuring flavours of citrus, coriander, and clove. These beers are light and refreshing, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel that makes them perfect for warmer weather.
Rich and Malty
Trappist ales and bock beers from the Netherlands offer a much richer flavour profile, with deep malt flavours of caramel, dried fruit, and spices. Beers like La Trappe Dubbel and Grolsch Herfstbok have a more robust and warming taste, making them ideal for colder months.
old and Hoppy
The rise of craft beer in the Netherlands has brought with it more hop-forward beers, particularly IPAs. Beers like Brouwerij ‘t IJ IPA are bold and bitter, with vibrant flavours of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit, offering a more intense drinking experience.
Dutch Beers Available in the UK
Many Dutch beers are widely available in the UK, particularly popular lagers like Heineken, Amstel, and Grolsch, which can be found in supermarkets and pubs. For those looking for more artisanal options, beers from La Trappe and craft breweries like Brouwerij ‘t IJ may be available at specialist retailers and online craft beer shops.
Conclusion
Dutch beer culture is diverse, offering everything from crisp, refreshing lagers to complex and robust Trappist ales. The country’s brewing traditions are strong, but its craft beer movement has introduced new and exciting styles, making the Netherlands a fascinating country for beer lovers. Whether you prefer the lightness of a pilsner, the richness of a bock, or the boldness of an IPA, Dutch beers provide a wide range of flavours and experiences to explore.