Brouwerij 'T Ij

Words by Simon Difford

Address: 7 Funenkade, Amsterdam, 1018 , Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 320 1786
Email: info@brouwerijhetij.nl
Website: view Brouwerij 'T Ij’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Beer bar
Food: Tapas/plates & dishes

Review

Brouwerij 't IJ means 'brewery at IJ' - the lake behind the windmill which houses this brewery. In Dutch the name sounds like 'egg', hence the brewery's logo of an emu standing over an egg. Dutch humour may not translate well but beer aficionados will love this small, speciality brewery and I have to profess a liking for it's well hopped, strong and flavoursome Columbus amber ale.

The bar is slightly bizarre and scuzzy, but in an endearing way. Dusty empty beer bottles line narrow shelves that run around the white tilled walls of the room. Long, well worn, wooden tables house an unusual bunch of locals, tourists and beer heads. Look out for the broken emu egg light shades hanging over the bar.

This it literally a brewery tap of a bar and the stainless steel vessels of the working brewery behind are visible through the windows behind the bar. They brew a wide variety of different beers, non-beer drinkers should start with their wheat beer and progress through the range to the legendary Columbus.

On clement days drink alfresco on the large terrace in the shadow of the windmill's blades.