Beer festivals Archives - Fruity Monkey Beer

4 September 20238 September 2023

Beer enthusiasts set sail for the Helders Bier Festival: celebrating another successful year

Celebrating the best of Dutch beer at Helders Bier Festival

Celebrating the best of Dutch beer festivals in 2023 is the fifth edition of Helders Bier Festival in Den Helder. Over the years, this distinctive event has gained a formidable reputation. Its fresh approach is always enjoyable and rewarding for visitors. Location, intimacy and high-calibre breweries create a special ambience, unlike any other. Helders Bier Festival is loved by locals and dedicated out-of-town beer enthusiasts.

Helders Bier Festival feels like an indoor garden party curated by food and drink experts. It’s a good-natured storm of welcoming rowdiness. So come and enjoy the relaxed, pleasant environment and friendly atmosphere. Excellent organisation at this level is unusual: well-considered and well-planned.

As Fruity Monkey Beer’s home-city event, will be pouring tropical taste delights. Swing by and say hello to the team from the nearby Monkey House. And enjoy fruity-fresh flavour adventures!

Den Helder’s industrial-chic destination

A mere 75 minutes from Amsterdam, the port city of Den Helder is home to around 50,000 people. Most city visitors are en route to Texel, the nearby wildlife and leisure-pursuit island. But many stop to explore the city’s nineteenth-century history and industrial chic.

The Netherlands has a rich maritime past, and Den Helder remains the navy’s operational centre. For tourists, the city’s beating heart is Willemsoord, the former naval dockyard. The area’s recent gentrification is impressive. Today’s features include many of Napoleon’s early dockyard designs and a modern maritime museum. Alongside many other attractions, such as Theater de Kampanje – the jewel in Willemsoord’s crown.

Theater de Kampanje’s urban design

This former maritime building is home to the annual Helders Bier Festival. Once called the Koninklijke Marine Stadshal, Theater de Kampanje retains its character. It is an historic masterpiece of seafaring industry.

Theater de Kampanje sits between historic ships and nautical monuments. It houses a multi-use theatre, conference centre and event facility for up to around 2,000 people. The building’s adaptive reuse won a 2016 Arie Keppler Prize. An award for exemplary achievements in social and environmental architecture and authentic, sympathetic urban design.

Enjoy beers, bites and banging tunes

The light, airy and stylish main hall at Theater de Kampanje is ideal for a beer festival. Held over two days, Helders Bier Festival is a celebration of superb local and international beer. There is top music and excellent food too. Unlike other Dutch beer festivals, Helders Bier Festival caters for every taste. Wine from Tap & Joy, Molotov Cocktails and cider are available too.

And then there is Fruity Monkey Beer. As a local beer producer with an international presence, we are proud to represent Den Helder.

Helders Bier Festival is a masterclass in relaxation. The layout encourages interaction with brewers and conversation with other festival-goers. Settle into an abundance of comfortable seating and savour the best beers around.

Celebrating the best of Dutch beer (and international too)

Local beer producers from the Noordkop region around Den Helder are well-represented. We are there, of course. Fruity Monkey Beer visitors can enjoy Coconut & Vanilla, Passion Fruit, Peach, Raspberry or Strawberry. And there is My Oathkeeper, our popular Imperial Oatmeal Stout collaboration with Piggy Brewing from France. We are also tapping several other Piggy collaborations, which are only available on draft at festivals and events.

Other Noordkop favourites include Stadsbrouwerij Helderse Jongens, Brouwerij Stokerij Texel, Callantsoger Bier, Ouwe Skilder Brouwerij, STOKED! and Brouwerij Egmond.

Brewing in other parts of the Netherlands is represented too. Haarlem (Uiltje Brewing Company), Bodegraven (Brouwerij De Molen), Harlingen (Havenbrouwerij Het Brouwdok) and Amsterdam (Brouwerij Het Paleisje). Amsterdam’s renowned Foeders also presents IPAs, Dark Beers, Sours and classic styles.

International beer is also a key feature at the Helders Bier Festival. From the USA, Stone Brewing represent brewing talent from across the pond. As do Dutch-US importers All Kinds Of Beers, who present a well-curated selection of the finest Stateside beers. Regular Helders Bier Festival attendees from Italy include Mister B and Canediguerra. Belgian favourites St. Bernardus are regulars too, and always popular.

Within easy reach

Celebrating the best of Dutch beer festivals in Den Helder is easy. The city is reached by direct train from Amsterdam. Theater de Kampanje is only a few minutes’ walk from the station. Helders Bier Festival is open on Friday 15 September (15:00–22:00) and Saturday 16 September (13:00–20:00). Tickets are €15 in advance and €17.50 on the door. Entry includes a tasting glass and two tokens. Buy your tickets here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfonDQBM8yU

Follow Helders Bier Festival on Social Media using the #heldersbierfestival hashtag.

20 July 202320 July 2023

Discovering Great British Beer tastes: Fruity Monkey Beer at GBBF, CAMRA’s main London festival

Great British Beer festival (GBBF) for discovering tastes

Fruity Monkey Beer is discovering Great British Beer tastes at GBBF. The Great British Beer Festival is in London, 1–5 august at Olympia. And we’ll be there for a visit to see what it’s all about.

Beer culture in the UK is among the strongest in the world. The UK’s official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And it has its own beer styles and customs. Whether England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, each region offers distinctive style variations.

Although it was once called Real Ale, the UK’s most well-known beer style is now known as Live Beer. The Great British Beer festival is thus the Live Beer Experience. Live Beer is usually low in carbonation and lower in alcohol that beers from elsewhere in Europe or the USA. Brewers use traditional ingredients and mature the Live Beer through secondary fermentation. This must happen in the vessel from which pubs and bars serve the beer – usually a cask. Most important: publicans dispense Live Beer without extraneous carbon dioxide. There are many Live beer styles. Drinkers enjoy bitters, golden ales, traditional IPAs, milds, pale ales, porters and stouts.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is the UK’s largest single-issue consumer group. It represents the interests of Live Beer. It protects pubs, breweries, beers and drinkers’ rights. CAMRA also runs the Great British Beer festival.It’s where people in the capital, London, discover great British beer, cider and perry tastes.

But it’s not all live beer. CAMRA also represents cider and perry – apple- or pear-based beverages. These are the UK’s traditional ‘fruit beers’, although they are not brewed per se. They are natural, historic and need few steps to produce. Makers of cider and perry use only fresh apple and pear juice and yeast, natural or added. That is it. There is no added CO2. Although extra fruit flavours are sometimes added.

Ciders and perry abound at GBBF. And there is an increasing number of craft, artisanal and traditional beers. There include beers and other beverages from mainland Europe and the USA. GBBF visitors can enjoy a few fruit beers too.

Fruity Monkey Beer is about the swing into the UK drinks market. Its crisp, clean, comforting flavours are ideal. They are popular with beer drinkers and pub or bar regulars who prefer another taste. Drinkers of wine, cocktails or spirits love Fruity Monkey Beer. It suits a broad range of UK beverage consumers in all four nations. Fruity Monkey Beer already sells in diverse markets.

This is Fruity Monkey Beer’s first visit to the Great British Beer festival. But GBBF visitors are unable to try the fruity-fresh flavour adventures this year. But we are present all week to speak with hospitality, importers and distributors. The demand for Fruity Monkey Beer in the UK is growing. So, we aim to meet suitable partners to help Fruity Monkey swing across the north sea into new markets.

27 June 202313 July 2023

Enjoy a Shanghai surprise with Fruity Monkey at the Pink Beer Festival

Visitors to the Pink Beer Festival can enjoy European or global beer imports in Shanghai. Visit the Fruity Monkey Beer booth for bold, colourful, luscious beer from Holland.

Fruity Monkey Beer is popular in the Asia-Pacific region. Beer lovers there enjoy the lush, mouthwatering flavours and vivid, full-bodied tastes. The premium Dutch beer will be a highlight over two weekends at the Pink Beer Festival in Shanghai. Visitors can taste the latest batch of Fruity Monkey Beer’s crisp, cool refreshment.

Biowan Craft produces and exports Fruity Monkey Beer in North Holland. Brewed in Belgium, the beer range is organic and brewed using 98% natural ingredients. It also contains ripe, scrumptious fruits from around the world.

The Pink Beer Festival is at Nan Feng Fair, Hongqiao District (100 Zunyi Road), Shanghai. It starts this Friday and is open weekends, 30 June–09 July, 14:00–22:00. You can gather, eat, drink and play while tasting great craft beer. Tickets are in high demand, so get yours now. Single Early Bird Tickets are 29 RMB, or 39 RMB at the door.

Besides Fruity Monkey Beer and other European beer imports to Shanghai, there are many other domestic and international breweries too. Several well-known Belgium brewers offer traditional styles that never fail to impress. For example, Delirium (Huyghe), Het Anker, MOOFEE, St. Bernardus and Lindemans. With over 150-years’ experience, Canada’s Moosehead Breweries Limited will be popular too. As a leading US craft beer brand, Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co. spearheaded the popularity of IPA. Mastri Birrai Umbri offer a taste of Italian artisanal brewing. And domestic beer brewing excellence is present too. Blue Village Brewery, Brewing Gravity, Postwave Brewing and Chaba Brewing represent regional beers. Other breweries pouring national beer delights include Hop Fan and Short Tail Cat.

And there’s more. Visitors can enjoy the finest wine, cocktails, coffee, ice cream, foods and snacks.

If you’re in Shanghai this weekend or next, see you at the Pink Beer Festival’s Fruity Monkey Beer booth. Enjoy Shanghai’s European beer imports.

Lady in front of a large yellow inflatable monkey holding a coconut and labelled Fruity Monkey

Large yellow inflatable monkey labelled Fruity Monkey holding a coconut

13 June 202323 June 2023

Enjoying top North Holland beer festival success

Brewery ready for visitor to enjoy top North Holland beer at a local festival

Fruity Monkey joined breweries and visitors enjoying top North Holland beer festival success in Alkmaar at Noord-Hollands Bierfestival 2023.

Now in its 16th year, the Noord-Hollands Bierfestival takes a proactive approach to introducing new beers. It therefore introduces both lesser-known beers and established, award-winning favourites from across North Holland. Because thirsty drinkers are keen to discover liquid gems while supporting local businesses, presenting a deliberate mix of old and new producers is smart.

Alkmaar’s Hal25 is only a few minutes’ walk from the sweltering shoppers and diners in the city’s bustling centre. Most importantly, it offers a large spacious interior that breathes cool industrial chic. But even this number of chilled brews, breweries and beer lovers are no match for the sun’s searing rays. As the afternoon temperature soars, visitors are thankful for a cold Dutch craft beer. And Fruity Monkey Beer’s lower alcohol fruit beers proved popular with those seeking a refreshing difference.

Four people behind a social cutout enjoying top North Holland beer

Swinging by the fruit corner for tropical North Holland beer

From its fruit corner, Fruity Monkey poured its core range and Piggy Brewing collaborations for a bunch of new fans for two fun-filled, beer-packed days. The peachy location between two breweries packing a heavyweight flavour punch – Bierverbond and Brouwerij ‘t Blauwe Hert — made Hal 25’s ‘(Voor) Café’ a popular hangout. Meanwhile, the province’s diverse breweries delivered a flavoursome taste and unique beer-style experience from Noord Holland in the main hall. As for the revellers, most enjoyed brews from the extensive beer selection while relishing warm summer sunshine on the outside terrace.

Beer producers from accross the province, including BEER_Brouwers, Bennebroecks, Blitz Brewing, Biermunitie, Bierverbond “Roode bier”, Breugem Bier, Brouwerij Astronaut, Dampegheest, Brouwerij LOST, Brouwerij Het Paleisje, Brouwerij Piek, Brouwerij Tamesteut, Biertje Buur, Callantsoger Bier, Eric’s Beer Craft, Gooische Bierbrouwerij, Gulden Triomfator, Le Grand Crue, Ouderkerks Goud, Brouwerij ‘t Blauwe Hert, Waterland Brewery, and ZuidWerff Bier.

The Noord-Hollands Bierfestival: where visitors enjoying top North Holland beer drink with intelligence and taste.

16 May 202313 June 2023

Fruity Monkey taps into success during Dutch Beer Week

Pouring essential Dutch beer taste at Bierproeffestival.

Fruity Monkey poured unique flavours and tapped distinctive tastes alongside other key brewers during Dutch Beer Week at Bierproeffestival, the essential Dutch beer taste festival.

Empty social cutout at Bierproeffestival

Leading brewers present essential Dutch beer taste at Bierproeffestival

Over three days thousands of devotees poured into Den Haag (The Hague) to sample many of The Netherlands’ leading beers. Interested newbies, seasoned brewing enthusiasts and passionate, hardcore fanatics tapped into diverse flavours, tasted myriad styles, and discovered new favourites. Local, national and international worshippers of water, yeast, barley and hops, who prayed for bold, ambitious flavour adventures in the city’s Grote Kerk, marvelled at the miraculous array of liquid gold in all its glory.

More than 40 Dutch breweries served over 250 brews at the 10th Dutch Beer Tasting Festival (NL Bierproeffestival), the highlight of Dutch Beer Week (Week van het Nederlandse bier). Brewing talent present included that from Amsterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht and Rotterdam, as well as other important brewing locations across the country – a fine combination of Holland craft beer brewers and innovation or traditional top- and bottom-fermented artisans.

Fruity Monkey Beer stand at Bierproeffestival

Breweries and beer specialists included Alfa Brouwerij, BE+ER Bierbrouwers, Bierbrouwerij Borne, Bierbrouwerij Maallust, Brand Bierbrouwerij, Brouwerij Avereest, Brouwerij De Werf, Brouwerij Oudaen, Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Budelse Brouwerij B.V., BV Gulpener Bierbrouwerij, Crooked Spider, Dare to Drink Different, DAVO, De Leckere, De Molen, De Prael, Eiber Bier, Fightstreet Brewery, Gallivant Brewery, Hertog Jan, Jopen, K.E.G.S., Kompaan Dutch Craft Beer Company B.V., Koninklijke Grolsch, La Trappe, Lindeboom, Lowlander Beer, Maris Lager, PopHop, Rauw Brouwers, Stadsbrouwerij Argentum, Stadshaven Brouwerij, Texelse Bierbrouwerij B.V., Two Chefs Brewing, Uiltje Brewing Co., VandeStreek Bier, Vet & Lazy Brouwerij B.V., Wispe Brouwerij, and X-brewing.

Fruity Monkey’s mischievous, distinctive beer bunch represented Den Helder. Visitors swinging by our stand began a tropical journey into fruity-fresh sweet, tangy, tarty, zesty tropical flavours. Each adventurer discovering their preferred Strawberry, Raspberry, Pomegranate, Peach, Passion Fruit, Lime Wheat and Coconut & Vanilla destinations.

Our popular collaborations with France’s The Piggy Brewing Company showcased how simian playfulness complements porcine robustness. When Monkey met Piggy! – our NEIPA proving a much-loved customer favourite. Guests hoping to find a sour delight at this weekend’s temporary Monkey house were thrilled with Water Park, a gose bursting with bold cherry and rhubarb tones.

However, most popular was My Oathkeeper, our 12% Imperial Oatmeal Stout collaboration with Piggy, hand-pumped and served at ambient temperatures. Demand was high, with many customers proclaiming it the best beer at the festival. Monkey was so pleased that room-temperature My Oathkeeper will once again be poured by hand at June’s Noord-Hollands Bierfestival in Alkmaar. Be quick to try it before it escapes.

17 April 202323 June 2023

Fruity-fresh adventures at the Dutch Beer Tasting Festival 2023

2023 Dutch Beer Tasting Festival, The Hague

Swing into fruity-fresh adventures with Fruity Monkey Beer at the 2023 Dutch Beer Tasting Festival (bierproeffestival) in The Hague. Held in the Grote Kerk from 11–13 May, this is the 10^th edition with more than 40 of the best Dutch breweries showcasing over 250 beers.

Try Dutch Beer Tasting at Bierproeffestival 2023

The Dutch Beer Tasting Festival kicks off the annual Dutch Beer Week (Week van het Nederlands Bier) in style, so why not join the Fruity Monkey Beer bunch and try our mischievous fruity-flavour adventures. Experience a fresh taste of the tropics.

Order your tickets now.

17 April 202325 July 2023

Discover the Fruity Monkey Beer bunch at the Noord-Hollands Bierfestival

Swing by the North Holland Beer Festival 2023 (Noord-Hollands Bierfestival) in Alkmaar on 9–10 June and discover great beer from across the province and beyond.

Join us at North Holland Beer Festival 2023

The Fruity Monkey house is in North Holland, so the Monkey keepers will be there, pouring fresh fruit beers. Visit us and join the Fruity Monkey bunch by trying all our mischievous natural flavours.

Tickets available online.

Tag: Beer festivals