Brouwerij 't IJ
Funenkade 7
1018 AL Amsterdam
T: 020-622-8325
www.brouwerijhetij.nl

"It's the place where they make beer in the windmill" we were told by several locals. And sure enough, when we turned the last corner there it was: an honest to goodness, real live, up-close windmill. How cool was that? Well, all that wore off when we had our first beer and the barkeep explained that, no, the brewery is separate from the windmill, and the windmill is a private residence, and the owner is getting tired of people asking for a brewery tour. Still, the brewery - immediately adjacent to the windmill - offered six taps with their pils, dubbel, wit, tripel, spicy amber and barleywine. After a sampler we settled on the Ijwit wit (7%) and the Columbus spicy amber (9%) for the duration of our Quest research. Prices were the most reasonable of any that we paid over our two-week journey: 1.9 to 2.8 Euros for an 8-ounce pour. There are about a dozen communal tables and a bar inside, and tables and chairs outside (the Dutch seem to have a higher tolerance for cold). We were among the first to arrive after the 4PM opening and the place was jammed by the time we left at about, well, when it was dark. There was a never-ending trading of rounds with our new BFFs Joop and Hans. Put Brouwerij 't IJ on your Amsterdam must-do list.