The brewery Brouwerij 'T Ij opened its doors in October 1985.
The company is located in the former Funen public baths in the center of Amsterdam.
Here, for over 30 years, you can enjoy the best beers in town.
Let's take a look back at the history of Brouwerij 'T Ij.
Brouwerij 'T Ij : article summary
Brouwerij 'T Ij: a success from the start
On November 7, 1985, the first beer was launched at Brouwerij 'T Ij: Zatte. The brewery was enormous growth.
Just behind the brewery stands a distinctive mill (commonly known as Molen van Oost), also depicted on the brewery's labels.
However, the traditional method was not always satisfactory, which prompted the brewery to acquire more modern equipment.
The first brewer was Kaspar Peterson. Before he started brewing, he earned his living as a musician. In the early days, he received a lot of help from different establishments such as :
- Slaghmuylder brewery in Ninove (Belgium)
- The KIHO brewing school in Ghent
- NIBEM (Netherlands Institute for Barley, Malt and Beer Brewing)
Thanks to his work, Kaspar won the "De Zilveren Knots" in 1994. This is a prize awarded annually by Amsterdam's beer tasting room.
Dutch 100 % products
Until 1999, malt arrived from Dingemans malting plant in Strabroek, Belgium. The yeast was originally supplied by De Koninck.
However, when the Antwerp brewery was forced to terminate the contract, the brewery developed its own yeast.
Brewing took place around twice a week in 1999. Annual production was around 1,800 hl. A total of 90 % of production is consumed in Amsterdam and its immediate surroundings.
In 2005, the establishment began using organic raw materials, which also led to the addition of the EKO quality label.
In 2007, the brewery's tasting room was renovated. The boiler was moved up one floor, as was the office. This made the tasting room much larger. In 2007, over 2,000 hl were brewed annually. Significant growth for ever-greater production.
Brouwerij 'T Ij: the arrival of a new brewer
In May 2008, the brasserie was taken over by Patrick Hendrikse and Bart Obertop. Hendrikse is an Amsterdam-based restaurant entrepreneur who sold the majority of his business to to devote themselves fully to brewing IJ beer.
Patrick and Bart were already employed by Brouwerij 'T Ij and owned a café at the same time. Peterson stipulated that the new owners would leave the brewery unchanged for several years.
A colossal future project
On September 25, 2015, Duvel Moortgat became interested in the brewery. Duvel can support the brewery financially, but can also help in brewing technology and distribution.
In February 2018, the brewery won a competition concerning the destination of the three Zeeburgereiland silos, a new tasting area.
The plans for the interior of Les Trois Rois, as the project was called, were at least as ambitious. They included:
- An indoor play area
- A sauna
- A brasserie
- A laboratory
- Office space
Brouwerij 'T Ij: what are the opening times?
Today, while the Trois Rois project is still under construction, you can visit the main brewery and enjoy a good beer with friends. You can visit:
- Every day from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Guided tours of the mill and its facilities are available:
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday 3:30 p.m. (English) and 4 p.m. (Dutch)
Brouwerij 'T Ij is an interesting place to visit for all beer fans. During your trip to Amsterdam, if you want to relax after a long day of sightseeing, I recommend that you visit the site and order one of the establishment's specialities.
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