I want to bring back some Belgian beers.

[ontap78]

My wife and I are going to Russia in about a week and we have a day layover in Amsterdam on the way home ( now why couldn't I afford to go to Amsterdam before I was married?) .My question is, if I buy a few bottles of Belgain beer ( I should be able to find some) will I have any trouble bringing them home. And if there's no problem, how is the best way to bring them back. Any incite would be appreciated.Also, any beer suggestions would be welcome.

[stronk]

I have no idea about customs, unfortunately, but I can recommend a few beers. Don't be tempted to go overboard and buy everything you see; be as selective as you can and don't buy too many novelty beers or those you have never heard of (they are more likely to be a mistake than not).

Gulden Draak: dark, sweet, strong, slightly vinous

La Trappe (I like the quadrupel: dark, sweet, strong)

Delirium Nocturnum: not sure what this is like, I haven't opened my bottle yet

Abbaye des Rocs: dark copper, complex and vinous. Try to find their special (I don't recall the name), which is stronger and darker.

De Dolle Stille Nacht: Yummy. Sweet and complex; less than usual carbonation.

Gouden Carolus

Duvel: The original (some say the best) belgian blonde: sweet & bitter, hay-to-copper colour, vaguely herbal. Not my favourite style, but to each his own.

Grimbergen

Kwak: another blonde in imitation of duvel. Less strong and more bitter, but good and with the same nice herbal quality.

La Chouffe: my favourite of the blonde style.

Rodenbach grand cru: my father thinks it tastes like bile, but I reckon that, once you've got past the lambic sourness, it is extraordinarily complex and subtle. Enjoyable, if challenging.

Saint-Feuillien: if you can find these, they have a refreshingly different taste to the majority of belgians, in that they should be sweet and they smell sweet, fruity and malty, but are not emphatically so. Nice!

La Guillotine (can't remember the brewery): good, high-range, coppery belgian.

Gordon's Scotch Ale and Xmas: Strong, dark and malty, lovely caramelised taste.

Don't buy anything named after the devil beyond 'duvel', as the rest are mostly crap. Don't buy attention-grabbing names, as they're almost all crap as well. Especially don't buy anything that markets its high strength prominently (that's not to say not to buy anything that's strong, of course!).

Oh, and if you're lucky enough to find anything from Westvleteren, Rochefort or St. Bernardus, buy it (even if you have to throw away your toothbrush to fit it in the bag)!

And don't buy too many bottles, as they get heavy and annoying to carry everywhere.



The above is all based on a very recent trip I had to Europe, buying beer along the way, kulminating (geddit?) in Antwerp, where there was 'quite a lot' of the stuff...

[fidcastro]

I'm jealous. I love Amsterdam, and no, I don't smoke. My wife is Dutch, and we have a lot of relatives there.

The best place for you to actually buy the beers will be De Bierkoning (http://www.debierkoning.nl/) (the Beer King) which is really easy to find. From Central Station just follow the Damrak (the main street) to Dam Square. You'll know when you get there. The palace will be on your right at the edge of the square. Pass the palace on the left via Paleis Straat. De Bier Koning will be on your right after about a block and a half. If you get to the canal you went too far.

Stronk had some good suggestions, but a lot of that stuff is available in the US if you look hard enough. The hardest to come by are probably the Rodenbach Grand Cru and all three Westvleterens. Bierkoning always has Rodenbach, and they almost always have at least one of the Westvleterens.

Dutch beers are also quite good, especially those made by Chistoffel, the Robertus in particular. Jopen also makes some good ones. If you have time to spend sampling beers before you buy any, I highly recommend it, and there are two excellent places to do so very near De Bierkoning.

Cafe Gollem (http://www.cafegollem.nl/) is very close. Instead of stopping at De Bierkoning, proceed to the very next cross street and turn left. Then, cafe Gollem will be either in the first or second alleyway on the right. I think it is the second, but I am not positive. They don't open until 4, though, so don't go early. Also, it can get REALLY smoky in there, so if that bothers you, be forewarned. They have about 180 beers, and will carry everything that has been suggested thus far.

If you have an aversion to smoke (which I do) go to In De Wildeman (http://www.indewildeman.nl/). They have the only non-smoking beer tasting area in Amsterdam. Plus, they always have over 100 Belgian and Dutch beers, and also have 14 on tap. Last time I was there the beer list wasn't quite as long as Gollem's, but it was close enough. Finding it is also quite easy. Leave Central Station and go to the Damrak. Take the third alley on your right. You will go a block and a half (crossing Nieuwendijk, the main shopping street) and find In De Wildeman on your left. I think they open at 11, instead of 4 like Gollem.

This might be more information than you want or need, but I hope it is helpful. Don't forget your umbrella!

-Fid

[fidcastro]

Oh yah, about getting them back...

There is no limit, but you might have to pay some taxes at customs. I have gotten through every time without paying, but I don't guarantee you will be as lucky. My wife's cousin had to pay this summer when he brought me a case of Rodenbach Grand Cru. Then again, he isn't an American, so that might have something to do with it.

I usually take an extra roller carry-on bag solely for beer. Last time I brought back about 6 750ml bottles and 24 of the normal sized bottles. I just put shirts between the layers to keep them from clanging around, and never let anyone else handle the bag. It was heavy, but worth it.

Fid

[ontap78]

Thanks for the info.I can't wait to fill my carry on with a good selection of Belgians.

[ontap78]

My plane gets into Amsterdam at 5:30 pm and I just found out De Bierkoning closes at 7:00 pm and doesn't open until 11:00 am the next morning which is my flight time out of Amsterdam. Getting there in time will be real tough for me. I may have to settle for the evening bar scene.I'll be through there again in about 6 to 10 weeks again (Russian adoption) so maybe things will look better for that trip. The Russian beer scene is kind of a mistery to me. If anybody know what to drink there it would be appreciated.

[fidcastro]

Ouch. Bad timing for Bierkoning, but good timing for Gollem and Wildeman. I've spent many, many, many hours in both places. The bartenders are nicer at In De Wildeman, but the atmosphere is a bit more cozy at Gollem (except for the smoke).

I hope you have a good time, even though it is a very short stop.

[stronk]

As far as I can gather, Russia's pretty much miss-and-miss for beer. Terrible, bland, half-hearted, pilsneresque lager is about all you'll find, I think.

I'd love for someone to prove me wrong, though. You'd expect there to be at least some kind of strong dark beer out there, given the climate.

[tomciccateri]

The US Customs (ICE & CBP) has a website that does a very inadequate job of answering the question of "how much can I bring back". The only constant is the reference to "One Liter of alcohol duty free." I've never had a problem (so far) bringing back 8-10 half-liter bottles in my carry-on but airport security checkers are consistently inconsistent, uninformed and customer unfriendly. Good luck finding out in advance what your "customs duties" will be. Since the regs say that Customs will enforce the alcohol laws of the state of the port of entry, you might want to avoid returning to the US via Texas or Utah.
Before shopping at the Bierkonig or elsewhere, I pack a dozen gallon zip-lock bags to hold the bottles in my luggage. So far no "leakage", except for one half-gallon growler that wouldn't fit during a domestic trip. Another advanced planning tip - make a note of the brands that are available around home so you can choose wisely when shopping abroad.

op uw gezondheid

Tom

[evilredlight]

And bring back as many as you can hold in your bloodstream !!!!