A Small Guide to Dutch & Belgian Craft Beers 🍻

One of the things Dirk loves the most about the Netherlands and Belgium is the incredible beer culture. From centuries-old abbey traditions to modern craft breweries experimenting with bold flavors, there is always something new to discover.

For our international guests: if you have time during your stay, we highly recommend trying some of these beers. Below you’ll find a few of Dirk's personal favorites, along with some famous classics from the region.

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Dirk’s Recommendations – Dutch Beers 🇳🇱

Tip: De Moersleutel – Fruit Bomb IPA

A vibrant and juicy New England–style IPA packed with tropical fruit aromas. Brewed by the innovative Dutch craft brewery De Moersleutel, this beer bursts with flavors of mango, pineapple, and citrus. Perfect for IPA lovers.

Tip: Brouwerij ’t IJ – Columbus

A strong and bold Dutch pale ale with a slightly bitter finish. Brewed in Amsterdam next to the iconic windmill brewery, this beer has spicy hop notes and a pleasant malt backbone.

Brouwerij 't IJ - Now this brewery is actually situated in the heart of Amsterdam. For those who wants a true Dutch experience please visit their tasting rooms at ''Proeflokaal de Molen''. The brewery is next to a windmill. Visit their website: https://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/en/tasting-rooms/proeflokaal-de-molen.

Brouwerij ’t IJ – Zatte Tripel

One of the most famous Dutch tripels. This Belgian-style tripel is full-bodied with fruity aromas, light sweetness, and a slightly spicy finish.

Jopen – Mooie Nel IPA

A powerful American IPA from the Haarlem-based Jopen brewery. Expect strong hop bitterness combined with citrus and tropical fruit notes.

Tip: La Trappe – Isid’or

A smooth and elegant Trappist amber ale brewed by the monks of La Trappe. It offers caramel, dried fruit, and subtle spice flavors with a balanced finish.

Texels – Skuumkoppe

A popular dark wheat beer from the island of Texel. It has creamy foam, hints of caramel and banana, and a slightly sweet taste.

Uiltje – Birds of Prey IPA

One of the most iconic Dutch craft beers. This West Coast IPA is crisp, bitter, and packed with grapefruit and pine hop flavors.

Hertog Jan – Grand Prestige

A rich and complex Dutch barleywine that ages beautifully. Expect deep flavors of caramel, chocolate, and dried fruit. Some people even cellar this beer for years.

Dirk’s Recommendations – Belgian Beers 🇧🇪

Belgium is often considered the world’s beer capital. Many breweries have been perfecting their recipes for hundreds of years.

Tip: Tripel Karmeliet

One of the most famous Belgian tripels. Brewed with three grains (barley, wheat, and oats), it delivers a complex flavor with citrus, vanilla, and spice notes.

Tip: Tripel d’Anvers

A smooth and elegant Belgian tripel from Antwerp. It balances sweetness and bitterness with fruity yeast aromas and a warm finish.

Tip: Westvleteren 12

Often ranked among the best beers in the world. This legendary Belgian quadrupel is brewed by Trappist monks and offers rich flavors of caramel, dark fruit, and spice.

Westvleteren 12 is widely considered one of the best beers in the world. It is brewed by the monks of St. Sixtus Abbey, a small Trappist monastery in the Belgian countryside.

What makes this beer so special is not just its taste, but also the philosophy behind how it is brewed and sold.

A Beer Brewed with Purpose

Unlike most breweries, the monks do not brew beer to make profit or expand their brand. They brew only enough beer to support the monastery and maintain their way of life. Because of this, production is intentionally very limited.

Extremely Limited Availability

Westvleteren 12 is famously difficult to obtain. The beer is usually sold only directly from the abbey, and buyers must reserve a small quantity by phone in advance. There are strict limits on how much each person can purchase, which adds to the beer’s legendary reputation.

''Westvleteren 12 is my absolute favorite. I do have a lot of favorites, but I guess this is the best beer I've ever tasted in the world'' - Dirk

La Chouffe Blond

A lively Belgian blonde ale with fruity notes and gentle spice. Recognizable by the famous gnome on the label.

Duvel

A strong and iconic Belgian strong golden ale. Despite its light color, it is powerful and complex with fruity yeast aromas and a dry finish.

Affligem Tripel

A classic abbey-style tripel with fruity aromas, soft bitterness, and hints of banana and clove.

Brugge Tripel

A smooth Belgian tripel brewed in Bruges with a balanced profile of malt sweetness, fruitiness, and gentle bitterness.

Chimay Blue

A famous Trappist dark strong ale known for its deep flavors of chocolate, raisins, and caramel. It is also excellent for aging.

A Few More Beers Worth Trying 🍺

If you want to explore even more during your stay, here are a few additional favorites:

Gulden Draak (Belgium)

A powerful Belgian dark strong ale with rich caramel and dark fruit flavors.

Rochefort 10 (Belgium)

A complex Trappist quadrupel with notes of plum, chocolate, and spice.

Oedipus – Thai Thai (Netherlands)

A unique spiced tripel brewed with lemongrass and Thai herbs.

De Molen – Rasputin (Netherlands)

A bold Russian imperial stout packed with roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee flavors.

🍻 Dirk's advice: If you see one of these beers on a menu during your trip, give it a try. Dutch and Belgian beers are known for their quality and diversity — and tasting them is part of the local experience!

Cowsout (Cheers!),

Monica & Dirk