North Holland Archives - Fruity Monkey Beer

22 September 202322 September 2023

Discovering the Best Beer Tasting Events with Biergilde Hoorn at Proeflokaal Charlies

The best beer tasting events follow a theme, or focus on local beers. They are even better when held in a welcoming pub, bar or café that presents a well curated beer menu. Biergilde Hoorn’s beer-tasting evenings held at Proeflokaal Charlies is the perfect example. It’s a fun event, with excellent hosts and friendly attendees. And a diverse selection of beers to taste, which people may not usually drink, is a bonus. We are pleased Biergilde Hoorn and Proeflokaal Charlies invited us to be the first guest after the summer.

The organisers are Rob from Hoorn Beer Guild (Biergilde Hoorn) and Monica from Proeflokaal Charlies. Their monthly proefavonden (beer-tasting evenings) happen every third Wednesday. Each month, a barful of enthusiastic beer devotees gather to sample six beers. The primary focus is local beers, whether home-brewed or commercial releases. But interesting brewers from outside the region are also invited too.

Best Beer Tasting Events at Proeflokaal Charlies — Photo by Proeflokaal Charlies

Fruity Monkey Beer is from Den Helder, which is in the same province as Hoorn: North Holland. Both Den Helder and Hoorn are maritime cities in the northwest, not far from each other. We are thus considered a local commercial beer producer.

Discovering beers and breweries in a fun environment is the evening’s aim. While also learning as much about beer as possible. Biergilde Hoorn and Proeflokaal Charlies not only meet those goals, but exceed them in every way.

Rob and Monica invite the brewers and producers themselves to present and explain their beers. So we are delighted to have been asked to tell the Fruity Monkey Beer story and discuss our fruit beers.

In a busy Charlies, we introduced Peach, Passion Fruit, Raspberry, Strawberry, Coconut Vanilla and My Oathkeeper, our Imperial Oatmeal Stout. The attendees blind-tasted our beers, before giving their opinions and an honest verdict. We then spoke and explained what they had tried. Our fruity-fresh flavour adventures were popular, and the candid feedback was a useful insight. We made some new friends and new fans; but others who prefer more traditional tastes remain unconvinced. And that’s what make the beer world go round. So we’re more than happy.

Rob and Monica coordinated the evening with superb attention to detail. Rob also acted as compere. We enjoyed it very much and will attend again. But a visit to Proeflokaal Charlies (and Hoorn) is worthwhile at any time, thanks to an impressive beer range. There are 11 special beers on tap, many changing often, and over 100 different bottled beers. Not only Dutch and local, but also from Belgium — it is an ambassador for Trappist Orval.

We recommend Biergilde Hoorn, Proeflokaal Charlies and the proefavonden to any beer lovers in the area. But our recommendation is unnecessary, for their success is already guaranteed. Everything they do puts the beers, members and customers first. And that makes a huge difference — it’s what makes it a stunning success.

Hoorn is the place to be every third Wednesday for some of the best beer tasting events you’re likely to attend. Recommended.

Proeflokaal Charlies
Dubbele Buurt 4
1621 JV Hoorn NH

https://www.charlies.nl/

https://biergildehoorn.nl/

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.

17 August 202317 August 2023

Set sail for Herberg de Compagnie: the distinctive food and local beer experience in Enkhuizen

Beer & Food Paired in a Dutch restaurant

With appetising dishes from the kitchen and Fruity Monkey Beer on the menu, Enkhuizen visitors and locals can experience Dutch beer food pairing excellence at Herberg de Compagnie during the hotel, restaurant and bar’s 10th anniversary year.

Tourists flow into Enkhuizen because of its maritime history. For 100 years or more the Dutch East India Company criss-crossed the globe from Enkhuizen. From its harbour, trading ships sailed to Asia with European goods, ideas and culture. And tropical flavours drifted back into Dutch taste consciousness.

Its strategic maritime location helped Enkhuizen gain city status over 650 years ago. And it remained one of the most important cities in the Netherlands for centuries. The tide may have turned on its fortunes as a port, but Enkhuizen remains a haven for exquisite food and drink.

From its location on the outer harbour, Herberg de Compagnie steers a well curated menu. For more than a decade, this hotel, restaurant and bar has welcomed drinkers, diners and guests. It sails against the wind to offer superb food and distinctive local beers.

With 26 beers on tap, and around 60 in bottles, Herberg de Compagnie offers something special. A unique food and drink experience on the waterfront overlooking the Ijsselmeer.

Herberg de Compagnie’s name references Enkhuizen’s history and the Dutch East India Company. Its literal meaning is the ‘inn’ or ‘hostel’ of ‘the Company’. Close your eyes and take an imaginary voyage back in time to Dutch inns of a bygone age. Warm, cosy, welcoming and friendly, with hearty food and refreshing ales. Now open your eyes; today’s Herberg de Compagnie matches that description, exactly.

Excellent food tastes even better with the perfect beer pairing. Herberg de Compagnie’s kitchen and grill serves honest, appetising dishes for all tastes. While its bar — known as the ‘beer pub of West Friesland’ — stocks almost every beer style and flavour.

Pairing food with the right beer for a unique taste experience is easy at Herberg de Compagnie. With Fruity Monkey on the menu, diners can complement their meals with a renowned local beer. Luscious Peach, Strawberry or Passion Fruit flavours go well with almost any dish — any time of year.

Rich, full-bodied fruity-fresh flavour adventures are the perfect meal accompaniment, ideal for Dutch-beer food pairing. And having tropical flavours on the menu harks back to Enkhuizen’s trading past. Ships laden with a worldful of unique flavours once moored near today’s Herberg de Compagnie.

Find Herberg de Compagnie near Enkhuizen station and the Ijsselmeer ferry crossing. Now an inland sea, the Ijsselmeer once formed part the North Sea until Dutch engineers dyked it. That was almost 100 years ago. With such rich history nearby, Herberg de Compagnie is the ideal place to begin exploring.

So batten down the hatches for an enjoyable visit to Herberg de Compagnie. With Fruity Monkey Beer at the helm and a high-quality kitchen aft, set sail for an amazing experience.

Herberg de Compagnie
Spoorstraat 10-14
1601 GG Enkhuizen

All photos: https://www.herbergdecompagnie.nl/

17 July 202318 July 2023

Finding the best beer in Haarlem is easy with Fruity Monkey Beer at Bar Boeff

Two bottles of the best beer in Haarlem at Bar Boeff

Find the best beer in Haarlem at Bar Boeff, the city’s cosiest living room. Relax in the bar’s comfortable embrace and enjoy a sense of adventure with Fruity Monkey Beer. Feel at home in the inimitable ambience and savour the exciting, distinct beer range.

Haarlem was home to a vibrant Dutch brewing industry for centuries. Thanks to the city’s position near the North Sea sand dunes, which acted as water filters. By the 17th century, over a hundred breweries in the city brewed using clean water from beneath the dunes. Within a couple of hundred years, they’d all closed.

Nowadays, a handful of successful craft beer breweries operate in Haarlem. But remnants of the city’s beer-related past are everywhere. Beer and brewing heritage remain important to the city’s culture and identity. Several of Haarlem’s craft breweries are among the most well-known in The Netherlands. And Haarlem’s nightlife reflects its past, but with today’s contemporary approach to comfort.

Fruity Monkey Beer in Haarlem at Bar Boeff

Bar Boeff offers visitors a range of exclusive tastes and unforgettable flavours. Including North Holland’s fruity-fresh flavour sensations, which excite customers and staff. In Bar Boeff, Fruity Monkey Beer has found a kindred spirit. Both are discerning rascals putting high quality food and drinks first. Fruity Monkey Beer’s mischievous, playfulness feels right at home in Haarlem’s living room.

A short stroll from the city’s historic heart, this city-centre bar exemplifies ‘gezelligheid’. It is a casual, welcoming, sociable, cosy place to gather and enjoy great beers. Beer-lovers enjoying the range of special beers are sure of a memorable experience.

Bar Boeff aims to be unique, a goal it achieves with ease. It offers lucky customers a beer selection they cannot find elsewhere in Haarlem. Bar Boeff skips ubiquitous, generic brands and offers a well-curated beer menu instead. Fruity Monkey Beer is on the menu, of course.

Bar Boeff also does something few other bars do. And that’s what makes it special. It follows a model found in many other European countries, but rarely seen in the Netherlands. Customers can inspect the cans and bottles arranged on the bar before choosing what to drink. That makes a huge difference to discerning drinkers. Bar Boeff ensures customers choose the perfect beer every time.

Fruity Monkey Beer accompanies delicious dishes and unique cocktails. Both of which are Bar Boeff’s specialities. Lower-alcohol organic fruit beer made using 98% natural ingredients has a broad appeal. Not too sweet, bitter or sour, Fruity Monkey complements Bar Boeff’s impressive reputation.

With Haarlem a firm Dutch favourite for beer-tourists, Bar Boeff is a go-to destination. Its success is combining a home-from-home atmosphere with inviting food and drink. So, if you’re looking for the best beers in Haarlem, swing by Bar Boeff at Kleine Houtstraat 58.

While in the snug embrace of Bar Boeff’s Chesterfield sofa, try a Fruity Monkey Beer adventure. It is like taking a voyage to tropical lands without leaving home.

23 June 20233 July 2023

Enjoy warm summer chilling with refreshing fruit beer from Sterk Amsterdam

A drawing of Amsterdam houses in the summer behind photos of beer bottles

Beer-loving residents and visitors in Amsterdam-West pour into Sterk Amsterdam. It’s the Amsterdam bottleshop for summer, thanks for an extensive range of speciality brews. But it’s not just beer. There are delicious delicacies for everybody: wine, spirits, sake, foodstuffs, sweet candy and much more too. Sterk Amsterdam even serves beer fresh from the tap alongside its sales of bottles and cans. And just for the summer, visitors can experience Fruity Monkey Beer’s tropical flavours.

Due to its bustling vibrancy, De Clercqstraat is the perfect location for Sterk Amsterdam — a household name since the ’50s.. This part of the city is a cultural hub, attracting tourists and Amsterdammers alike. Located a short walk from the main city hotspots, the area’s nightlife has a personality of its own. Beer-loving locals are regulars at Sterk Amsterdam, while visitors enjoying everything the areas has to offer appreciate Sterk Amsterdam’s hours. It’s open from morning till past midnight – even later at weekends.

Find Fruity Monkey Beer and much more in Amsterdam this summer

Summers in Amsterdam can be sweltering. And the perfect way to relax and chill during warm weather is to enjoy beer with a fruity-fresh flavour adventure. Sterk Amsterdam stocks Fruity Monkey Beer during the summer season, adding yet another exciting beer style to its extensive range. Whatever your taste in beer, whatever style or flavour you prefer, Sterk Amsterdam something for you. It’s the Amsterdam bottleshop for everybody.

Even if you don’t need beer just now, Sterk Amsterdam is also your local convenience store. Soft drinks, snacks, teas, freshly baked bread and more — a complete range of products that is carefully chosen for you. Specialising in products from the UK and USA, Sterk Amsterdam has an international vibe and attracts the area’s expats. All keen for a taste of home. There is even a webshop to make shopping at Sterk Amsterdam even simpler.

Sterk Amsterdam’s motto is ‘Sterk heeft het’ – ‘Strong has it’, a suitable, appropriate claim. So, as the temperature rises, why not pop into Sterk Amsterdam and see what refreshing delights it has for you. We recommend the tropical flavour delights of Fruity Monkey Beer. Our thirst-quenching beers are perfect for warm summer days and balmy evenings. It’s an Amsterdam bottleshop summer, so visit Sterk Amsterdam and find something special fruity-fresh to enjoy.

Sterk Amsterdam
de Clercqstraat 7
1053AA
AMSTERDAM

Shop for Fruity Monkey Beer.

23 June 202310 August 2023

Local craft-beer convenience flies off the shelves at Albert Heijn SchootenPlaza

Craft-beer on shelf at local convenience supermarket

Lekker lokaal — delicious and local. Albert Heijn, the largest Netherlands’ supermarket chain, offers superb local craft-beer convenience. Beer lovers in Den Helder can now enjoy local brand, Fruity Monkey Beer, at AH Schootenplaza.

Don’t you hate when you have a thirst for local beer, but supermarkets stock only big brands? It’s the same at many convenience stores — little support for local businesses. Imagine finding local independent products that burst with fruity-fresh flavours and tropical aromas. It’s a craving you share with most craft beer and artisanal-brewery lovers. The good news is that more retailers, bottle shops, bars and restaurants recognise it. They recognise an increasing taste for local independence.

Yes, until recently only specialist bottle shops and liquors stores stocked local brews. And it’s right that those outlets remain most popular with drinkers. They’re the place to go for unusual, unique beers and expert advice. But artisanal beer producers can now reach new audiences that want convenience. Shoppers with less times want to grab some tasty, flavoursome beers from the local area. And guess what? That’s possible now thanks to forward-thinking supermarkets and convenience stores. They put their communities first and support local business.

So next time you visit supermarkets or convenience stores, choose something produced nearby. You may find a lot of regional choice, but if you don’t, why not ask the manager to stock it. Let’s support local business.

Beer boxes in a shopping trolley in front of supermarket marketing showing its environmentally friendly focus

AH offers local supermarket craft-beer convenience

Albert Heijn (AH) and other contemporary retailers favour local suppliers, especially beer producers. And that is no surprise. To put it another way, they are often the place to introduce local beers to busy shoppers on-the-go. Progressive retailers, such as AH SchootenPlaza, are leading an important change.

It’s easy to now pop a few Fruity Monkey Beer flavours into your basket when shopping in Den Helder. And there are other local beers too. Once you’ve got the taste for local products, there’s no going back. You’ll always choose products produced in the neighbourhood. Then you’ll see local businesses prosper and the community will be stronger together.

Furthermore, supporting local business is greener, better for the environment. And who doesn’t want a cleaner planet? The environmental focus at AH SchootenPlaza is easy to see in the supermarket’s marketing.

Local beers on the supermarket shelf in a convenience store

All you have to do is find what’s local on the shelves while grocery shopping. And AH SchootenPlaza is one retailer making that easy. In a nutshell, shop local and support local. AH SchootenPlaza at Vrede en Vrijheid is open every day 08:00–22:00. Why not pop in for Fruity Monkey Beer and other great local beer tastes. While you’re there, let the staff and management know that you value the option to buy local produce. It will improve the independent beer industry as a whole — and that’s a great thing. Lekker lokaal is a wonderful thing.

AH SchootenPlaza
Vrede en Vrijheid 19
1785RL Den Helder
022 363 0713

Where to pick up Fruity Monkey Beer.

19 June 202323 June 2023

Fruity Monkey eyes up a culinary feast as H. Halman keurslager serves ideal Oog Op Food Festival beer

Advert for H. Halman keurslager at Oog Op Food Festival with ideal Beer

Keurslager Hans Halman pours the ideal food festival beer at Oog Op Food Festival in Callantsoog. And visitors will agree: Fruity Monkey Beer proves an excellent accompaniment for a culinary feast.

Foodies attending this Sunday’s Oog op Food Festival are in for a gastronomic treat at Dorpsplein in Callantsoog. Imagine for a moment, the best restaurants and food trucks from across the North Holland region preparing the finest gourmet food in one place. Needless to say, eager visitors will enjoy delicious food served best with fine wines and local premium beers.

Crowned the province’s best butcher, Keurslager Hans Halman will present fine meats and award-winning gourmet dishes from nearby Den Helder. The Hans Halman team will also demonstrate their excellent taste by pairing a wide range of flavours with complementary beers.

What is the ideal food festival beer?

Fruity Monkey Beer is an ideal food festival beer, perfect for food pairing. It’s pretty obvious, since it is organic, produced using 98% natural ingredients and contains the finest fruits from around the world.

Gastronomic connoisseurs wishing to indulge their taste buds are urged to visit Keurslager Hans Halman at Oog Op Food. By doing so, food lovers have the opportunity to discover why locally produced beers are perfect to enjoy with a wide variety of dishes. Alongside superb meat quality and tasty delights, the team will pour Fruity Monkey Beer’s Lime Wheat, Passion Fruit and Peach.

So, on Sunday 25th June head over to the Oog op Food Festival in Callantsoog. You’ll find it open at the Dorpsplein from 14:00-21:30. And it is not just superior food and excellent beer: you can enjoy a mixture of fun, music and excitement throughout the day. But don’t take our word for it — you might be surprised what you find. So why not discover new flavours, experience distinctive tastes and savour the best from the region.

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.

Tag: North Holland