Day one (in Europe)

After a long, but uneventful couple of flights, we arrived in Düsseldorf. But we are really starting the beer trip in Amsterdam so its off to the train station at the airport to catch a train to Amsterdam

Luis, Tom and Fred waiting for the train to Amsterdam.

But wait, the travel gets even more multi-modal: Once in Amsterdam we had to take the #17 tram out to Osdorp (the 'burbs) where our hotel is. Of course, it was the start of rush hour and it took 45+ minutes. After checking in and dropping our bags it was back to the tram stop to catch it back into the old town (where the beer) is. Since we where going against traffic it was a bit quicker: only 30 minutes. A short walk to In de Wildeman and we were ready for our first beer.


They are (in no particular order) Oijen Kluytmans, De Lekere Speciaal Bio and Drei Ringen Cor Deux. the Oijen was very spicy -- almost too much spice. We decided the Speciaal Bio was the best. Round two was Bavaria Hooge Bock (its Bock time in the Netherlands), Generaal Pardon Stout (billed as a "Belgian Imperial Stout") and Hellergoms Dubblel.

We need some food so we took a quick break for a sandwich and then headed over to 't Arendsnest. Our friend Robin wasn't but Maurits was and he did a find job of bringing us beer. We had the IJsbock from 't IJ brewery, Jopen Four Grain Bock and SNAP Pale Ale which was really an IPA and quite nice -- lots of cascade but that Belgian/Dutch yeast character. As a night cap we had Brand Dubblebock and the Ezelenbock.

We started to feel the beer and lack of sleep so it was back to the good old tram #17 and the hotel and sleep.