My Amsterdam Trip

[keelkemper]

I recently returned from a beer drinking sojourn to Amsterdam and thought I would discuss my experience for anyone who may be interested. I will be brief.

Any trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a trip to the BierKoning Store located at 125 Pallestraat, very near dam square. Super store, almost like a museum of beers. I had to laugh when we arrived, there was an anxious local who was worried that they were out of Sam Adams lager! I had a Sammy at the airport in Boston and chuckled at the irony of having flown such a distance for "world class brews"...But a great owner who was very helpful, but his helper, a lovely lady is more typical of european service...which with all due respect is rather poor.

Top Beers that i sampled and can rate as 5 star

Rochefort 10, 8, 6
St. Bernardus Abt 12, Prior#8
Fantome Black Ghost
Abbayye Des Roc - Grand Cru
Saison Dupont
Fantome Saison
La Chouffe

You simply cannot go wrong with any of these beers. I am sure there are more, but it was only for a long weekend...I wound up bring home in a suitcase 14 Large bottles and 18 small bottles of beer, all wrapped in bubble wrap...no problem with US customs and i was given the full anal probe.

Rodenbach Grand Cru- must be me...essense of a cow stomach, the only beer i poured out, absolutely hideous!

My favorite Bars: only 3 make this cut, but i must have gone to 10 at least.

Ardenest - super place, super bar tender, not to miss their house brew. Very friendly, which for some reason goes along away with me. So this place is a must!

Cafe Belgique - I had my favorite beer of the trip here, St. Bernardus ABT #12 on draft...i was like suckling at the tit of aphrodite! The special Vlo was fine, brewed specially for Bier Koning...and of course Lachouffe on draft is always a sure bet.

Winjand Fockink - another very unique place, with great decor, ambiance, and a variety of good beers.

Inn De wildeman - Oh they raved about this place, and all the press must have gone to the owner's head...we laugh and called it the home of the beer nazi... a real ass hole, who is pompus, arrogant and just an unhappy guy! Only two of us in the place, and you thought we pissed on the floor for the treatment we received...we quaffed a La Trappe double, which is all he could grunt out, when we asked politely for his suggestion...I am sure many people have had a great time here, but for me...I couldnt of got out of there fast enough. Not recommeded!

Westvleteren simply not available, as the BierKoning guy put it..it simply too far to drive for a three case limit...besides he says',,the Trappist Rochefort is better. The Trappist Rochefort is simply amazing.

Questions/....please...

[eppie]

As for the Westvleteren, it's a 5 case limit (unless it's changes in the last year) and I agree, the Rochefort is better. It is true though that the St. Bernardus are Wesvleteren clones (a little less good in my opinion) and you liked those so much. Maybe you should try to find the Westveteren someday.

The Rodenbach is an aquired taste (if you eventually aquire it). A lot of people hate West Flemmish Reds, but Duchesse du Bougogne (sp?) is my wife's favorite. I like that sort on a really hot afternoon, but I'm rarely drinking beer before the evening.

Did you try any Dutch beers? I know Xaos recomends Brand and another I can't remember. I do like to drink local so I'm always looking for tips the next time I jump over the border.

And just a comment on European service as you call it. It takes some getting used to, but is not as bad as it seems. When people aren't working for a tip, they don't gove you that smile ear-to-ear, at you table every 4 minutes, telling you jokes, trying to be part of your evening service. They hang around and when they are needed you call them (but DON'T whistle). Being used to American service it feels like they're ignoring you, but the are just leaving you alone.
________
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[P-Train]

Sounds like you had a good time. Too many beers to sample there!
No wait... not enough time to sample all the beers...

I agree with eppie one the service aspect. In fact, I liked it better than American style. We went to see some windmills and the Red Light District, too. I had a blast!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by eppie

The Rodenbach is an aquired taste (if you eventually aquire it). A lot of people hate West Flemmish Reds, but Duchesse du Bougogne (sp?) is my wife's favorite.

I like both beers very much. And I agree they are an aquired taste.

[keelkemper]

thanks so much for the comments. Specifically, the comments about European Service. The point is well taken, i can tolerate most behavior, i dont require to be waited on, in fact over waiting sucks Here is an example of my experience. I asked the the service person at bierkoning if I could have the beers wrapped and bagged, (as the owner had done for me the day before because i was traveling, now mind you I had just bought huge amount of the most expensive beer in the place. The response, I received "I cant be bothered with that"...made us laugh...we did eventually get out beers in bags.
It simply more than "were not bothering you", "hanging out, waiting for your beacon call"n order to provide service, When you walk into a bar, its nice to have the propietor, whether owner, or groid,,,smile and be glad to see you , rather than act like you have imposed...now mind you, you can find bad service in the USA...i dont look for it, i am too busy looking for the good beer.

I

[keelkemper]

Yes to the answer of the Dutch beers, I mean wouldnt that be completely a loss, to not try them. to me the Brewery Ij was what i pprefered, I love the Columbus dark ale, I didnt go to the brewerey, i wanted to save something to return for,,,I tried others, the Strius sp...but i most remember the Columbus...

De Konicks is certaintly better than Heiniekn/amstel and is avialbe at the airport,

I spent a day at Ardenest worshipping the celebrated "Dutch Brews", locally brewed and on tap, the bar tender, a really great chap....My first words were: "ive come along way to get a good lesson in dutch beer"...he took it from there...a very memorable experience. I clear my throat and a beer appears...

[Wit Memo Jeff]

Originally posted by keelkemper
Any trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a trip to the BierKoning Store located at 125 Pallestraat, very near dam square. Super store, almost like a museum of beers.

In 2002 I was in De Bierkonig store in Amsterdam when a somewhat drunk fellow ahead of me in line asked for Heineken. The proprietor replied, "We don't have Heineken. We sell beer." (They also sell an impressive selection of glassware).

Amsterdam's brewpub, Brouwerij 't IJ, in the last remaining windmill in Amsterdam, makes some of the best beer I've had anywhere, bar none.

In the blow-my-own horn dept., here's a link to an article about beer (and biking) in Amsterdam that I wrote for a now-defunct local free music paper. http://www.witmemo.com/amspit.htm

[eppie]

QUOTE If your idea of heaven just might be a quaint, old city of unspeakable beauty consisting of 300-year-old houses on stately canals and known for its relaxed attitude to all forms of hedonism, a bicycle culture that's home to great chow and truly lovely bars where drinking beer is a dignified, noble pastime, then strap on your wings and halo and catch a flight to the Dutch capital of AMSTERDAM. : /QUOTE

If you want the same thing without so many forms of hedenism, and the buidings are 200 years older, and the beer 2000 times better, come to Brugge, Belguim.
I don't say this as a proud resident (which I am), but as someone who would never have come here unless someone else gave me this advice and I changed my travel plans. I'll try to keep it short so here are the strong points:
Lovely medievel city filled with canals
best beer in the world
friendly english speaking people
much cheaper than A'dam, Paris, or London
If you're not convinced, you're not thinking (or really into weed), and if any of you come, tell me. If we don't get together for a beer or two, I'll at least steer you in the direction of the best beers and pubs.
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[Wit Memo Jeff]

Originally posted by eppie If you want the same thing without so many forms of hedenism, and the buidings are 200 years older, and the beer 2000 times better, come to Brugge, Belguim.[/B]

eppie, I have indeed heard from friends the same wonderful things about Brugge, and it is definitely on my must-visit list for my next European trip, whenever that might be (not too long I hope)! I'm looking forward to it, and in the meantime leafing thirstily through M. Jackson's guide to Belgian beer.

Jeff

[Herb Ninja]

I was in Amsterdam a week ago, been gone for a couple months traveling Europe. Thats quite surprising to hear that you had such a bad experience in De Wildeman. I received excellent service from three different bartenders on many different occassions. When I was there a few years ago I also had excellent service. There is basically nothing I can say that is bad about the place. It has 18 beers on tap, something like 180 in the bottle, i've always had friendly service, and its the only pub that I know of with a non-smoking section in Amsterdam. I highly recommend it.

My visit to the Ardenest wasn't too bad, but I much prefer De Wildeman in every way.

[keelkemper]

I certaintly cant disagree with your assessment Herb Ninja, I was only reporting my experience, which was bad...perhaps their may be a difference during the winter and summer season..different bar tenders etc....I still have two large bottles of St. Bernardus that I have saved for a special occassion...

[Herb Ninja]

Originally posted by keelkemper
I certaintly cant disagree with your assessment Herb Ninja, I was only reporting my experience, which was bad...perhaps their may be a difference during the winter and summer season..different bar tenders etc....I still have two large bottles of St. Bernardus that I have saved for a special occassion...

I've been there in Winter and Summer, but maybe you experienced a bar tender that I never met. It sounds like the person serving you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I hope the next time your in Amsterdam you give it another try and you get a reasonable bar tender.

Since were on the topic of Amsterdam, I thought this was funny. I went to the bierkoning and bought some beer, then I asked where I could find some ice. I wanted to cool the beer down since it wasn't stored in a refrigerator. "Ice?" He replied. "Frozen water" I said, to clarify. "You can't" He said. "Not here, i'm wondering where in Amsterdam I can get ice, like a supermarket or something." I said, thinking that he misunderstood. "You can't." It appears that they don't sell ice in Amsterdam, at least not from what ive seen, or this guy either.

[keelkemper]

I experienced the same thing.....so i just drank the Rochefort #10 at room temperature, which didnt distract from the quality one bit...