By Per ‘Napoleon’ vd Klauw
Disclaimer: I will not list every type of beer because you can keep splitting hairs until you start splitting atoms. I might omit your favourite, this does not mean that I don’t like it. It only means that I am a bozo
TLDR: Beer is good, ask me in person for tips
Most Koornbeurs drink beer, but not all of them.
I want to make that 100%, for those who are allowed to and want to drink alcohol. I do however completely understand that Grolsch is not everyone’s vibe. That is why I am making this beer guide for the people who either want to learn more about beer or just want to see if they maybe like it.
In general, beer comes in a great variety even within the Koornbeurs, from the lemonade with another name which is Grolsch Ralder 0.0 (a good pick) to Gouden Carolus Whiskey infused (also a good pick) which could kill an average Klauw after 4 glasses. Today I will run through a few styles which will probably be attractive to an unexperienced beerdrinker.
Fruitbeer
Types of this beer which are/were within the KB: Kasteel rouge, Martha, Kasteel Rubus, Lindemann’s Tarot d’or & Lindemann’s Tarot Noir, Delirium Red, Lindemann’s Apple
This type of beer is what is says on the label. A type of beer with fruit mixed in, depending on the beer you are mixing it with and the type of fruit in the beer you can get a huge difference in flavour. Most people seem do not really mind the artificial flavours, but it is really a hit or miss with that. In general the safest pick in this situation is either of the Tarots or Kasteel Rouge.
White beer (Witbier)
Types of this beer which are/were within the KB: Stadshaven great white, Texels Skiller wit.
A white beer (which is not the same as Weizen) is a type of beer brewed with a generally lighter grain, with added spices and citrus for a flavour. These types of beer are soft with a bit of a sour tang to it. When it is really fucking warm this is an amazing type of beer to drink, however due to the flavour it is a type of beer you have to get used to.
In general I like this during the summer. Stadshaven is a great type of beer to get started with but other white beers exist which I implore you to try.
IPA
Types of this beer which are/were within the KB: Ondersteboven Hangende harry IPA, Stadshaven Moray IPA, Uiltje bird of Prey, Delirium Argentum.
This type of beer is generally fruity and bitter. However it can vary in how bitter or fruity it is. This type of beer works very good when you are less of a sweet tooth, but you don’t like darker beers. This type of beer is really one which divides groups, people either love it or hate it. In general, I like this beer mostly due to the fact that the good ones are really good.
My main suggestion would be the Moray IPA because it is lighter on the bitterness, but still very fruity.
Belgian strong dark ale
Types of this beer which are/were within the KB: LeFort 10, Gouden Carolus whiskey infused, Kasteel Cuvée du Chateau, Gouden Carolus Classic, , Gouden Carolus Ambrio.
This type of beer is strong, dark and most likely caramelly. This type of beer is strong (the weakest one in the suggestion list is 8%), but still very tasty. It does however take some time to get used to, but I do know some people who prefer dark over light, so I wanted to mention this. It is nicer that Double or Quadruple beer which can be really strong of flavour, so this is a good starting point if you want to try beers.
My main suggestion for this is Gouden Carolus Ambrio. It is the weakest of the bunch and the cheapest, but it is still a very good starting off point for seeing if you like darker beers.
Blond
Types of this beer which are/were within the KB: Ondersteboven Disco Daisy, Stadshaven Kraken Blond
This type for beer is a bit heavier than a pils or a white beer. This however means that it does take a bit more time to get used to. In general, this is a good allrounder beer if you do not like pils, but you want to act like you still drink grolsch.
The best from this type is honestly any, blond beer is very varied, if you don’t like one that doesn’t mean you won’t like any blond beer.
Conclusion
Beer is very varied and comes in a lot of different types. If you don’t like it first, but found a type which you like now, good!! If you still don’t like it, that’s fine too. I just want to show why we have 3 fridges full of craft beers and why it is good to explore :).