Looking for the tastiest house beer in the Netherlands

This is the fifth time Entree Magazine is organizing the election for the Tastiest House Beer of the Netherlands 2016. Join in!

The title of Tastiest House Beer in the Netherlands is up for grabs once again. In this case, it is not only important whether the beer is of very high quality, but also whether it fits the establishment. After all, every year the jury voices not only positive but also negative opinions. Of course, it is great that hospitality businesses develop (or have developed) a house beer, but – as the question invariably goes – do they make a conscious choice regarding the brewer and recipe, or do they simply accept what is ‘offered’ to them? Does the beer, in other words, fit the business, the company's story, and the concept?

Business card

After all, house beer should also serve as a calling card, one that can generate extra revenue. Rootz in The Hague, the winner in the light category in 2015, for example, deliberately chose a highly drinkable blonde beer. And with this, the establishment, known as a beer specialist, indeed gives its revenue a boost. Additionally, Paddy O’Ryan in Leeuwarden won last year with his Rosemary Porter in the heavy category. It is not unusual for an Irish pub (like this one) to have a porter developed, but if a regular establishment does that without further consideration, one might wonder if it is the right choice. Fortunately, there are plenty of advisors and beer sommeliers to help hospitality entrepreneurs in the process of finding the right house beer, because the story behind it must, of course, be right.

At least as far as the election for the Tastiest House Beer of the Netherlands 2016 is concerned. The competition jury will once again shine its critical light, literally and figuratively, on all entries this year, which will again all be served in the Royal Leerdam AnDer 1.0 tasting glass. The jury will select a winner and runners-up in both the light and heavy categories. For them, this will not only bring praise, professional recognition, and an official title, but also national media attention and confirmation of the quality they have on offer.

Sign up

So do you also have a house beer? Then register this via redactie@EntreeMagazine.nl (up to and including Sunday, November 13). Include ‘Tastiest House Beer 2016’ in the subject line and indicate the following.
Description of the beer (incl. alcohol percentage)
Motivation to brew it (or have it brewed).
Name of the brewery.
A (large) image of the glassware/bottle/label.

Participants will subsequently receive more information regarding the course of the competition. Label beers (with only a label from the establishment, not unique to the establishment) are excluded from participation. This also applies to the winners of 2014 and 2015.

NB

If you participate, you will be asked at the end of November to send your beer(s) in a few bottles by post or to deliver a keg on the day of the final tasting (in December). Preferably deliver keg beer in kegs and do not fill it into bottles yourself; this prevents loss of quality.

The jury

* Puck Kerkhoven
Henri Reuchlin
Theo Flissebaalje
Fiona de Lange
* Derek Walsh