This post is a part of the 2015 New Beer Every Day Beer Diary Challenge, #ottbeerdiary. Over the course of 2015, I will be trying a new beer every day. Please read the background in the link above, and enjoy reading about the most recently tasted beers below. If you’d like to join the challenge as well, let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out Grown-up Travel Guide and his #grownupbeerdiary, where Andy Higgs came up with the diary format in use below. You can catch up on all of our posts as part of the challenge under the tag ottbeerdiary.
Day 248: September 5, 2015
Diary entry:
Today I attended the 2nd annual Brewda Bierfestival in Breda, the Netherlands. This is one of my favorite festivals of the year, with a good crowd of real beer lovers, and a collection of smaller, quality Dutch breweries on hand pouring their beers.
There were 15 breweries present this year, including a few I’ve never tried before. At first the crowd was rather tame due to the rainy weather, but as the afternoon progressed, the crowd grew quite a bit. Craft beer in the Netherlands has really taken off, and it seems every festival is growing too big for their spaces and quantities of beer. By the time I left, with a few hours to go still for the festival, most of the breweries were out of the majority of the beers they brought with them!
I tried a number of the beers on offer from the breweries, and also took part in a bottle share, so all in all, a really fun day!
Jolly Roger Scavenger by Raven Bone Hill – Lots of vanilla. Definitely get the chili pepper as well. Though flavor, not spice. And decent hoppy bitterness.
Salem by Katjelam – Very Bretty. Nice sourness.
Smokey The Barracuda by De Kromme Haring – Nice smokey flavor. A little sweet underneath.
1501 Coffee Stout by Berghoeve Brouwerij – Hit of chocolate and coffee, then a little sour. Nice.
Blue Dot Double India Pale Ale by Brouwerij Ruig, Rooie Dop, and Hair of the Dog – Nice bitterness. Really enjoyable!
Limited Edition: Imperial IPA El Dorado by Brouwerij Bliksem – A bit more sweet to me for an Imperial IPA. The bitterness is there, but it is hidden. Let it sit. It gets better in the glass.
Uilevriend – mango orange weizen by Het Uiltje – Very fruity Mango and orange. Enjoyable.
Pentagon by Brouwerij Frontaal – Nice rich flavor. Very good.
Schaterhand DIPA by Raven Bone Hill – Nice bitterness. Exactly what I expect from a DIPA.
Tevreden Oordeel by Berghoeve Brouwerij – A very good Double IPA
F*ck De Kerstboom Staat In De Fik!!! – Christmas stout, orange, vanilla and coffee
Winterstout (2012) by Duits & Lauret – Nice rich flavors
Billiard by Brouwerij Frontaal – Very dark flavors. Coffee and Chocolate
And the bottle share:
Green Walnut by Brouwerij Oud Beersel – Very nice. Sour, yet smooth. Not biting.
O.N.E. by De Struise Brouwers – Caramel and fruit. Quote nice.
Beer Geek Breakfast Brunch Big Blend by Mikkeller – Nice coffee flavor. Not sure about the barrels. Too much coffee.
Dark Hollow Chocolate & Coffee Aged by Blue Mountain Brewery – Dark chocolate and coffee? Ok!
Mexican Cake by Westbrook Brewing Co. – Nice bite from the chili. Not too overpowering. But you taste and feel it.
Lou Pepe Gueuze (2011) by Brasserie Cantillon – Love this beer. Sour. But smooth!
T.H.R.E.E. by De Struise Brouwers – Lovely barrel flavors. Almost all barrel. But it’s excellent!
The Beer:
Name: Juffer Helena
Style: India White Ale
Producer: Berghoeve Brouwerij
Alcohol content: 5.0%
Bottle size: 0.15l draft
Purchased from: Brewda Bierfestival in Breda, the Netherlands
Juffer Helena by Berghoeve Brouwerij of Den Ham, Netherlands. My first beer at the Brewda Bierfestival in Breda. India White Ale. Looks like fruit juice. But has an excellent soft bitterness. Not much carbonation. Was very tasty, and an excellent way to start the festival.
