Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’: Operation Amsterdam

My homey "Ster" servin' up some U.S. goodness at her
Amsterdam-based Beer Temple beer bar.
Let's go to Europe!

Hey Craft Beer Lovers!

I am trippin’ literally! On the real, I flew into Amsterdam to start off a beer cruise labeled AMAWaterways’“Tulip Time”—their first beer-influenced excursion—which I am covering for you, my homies! In fact, this trip is the one I chose as a gangster selection in my annual Ale Sharpton Holiday Gift Guide here? Anyway, on my first day, I hit the pavement hard once I got to the ship to unload my luggage and then hit the streets.  

One of the destinations on the cruise’s itinerary was to check out the rich history of the Heineken Experience, a museum-ish venue exhibiting how the Heineken family’s brewing empire came together. And yes, the beer tastes totally different. No skunk. No haunting aftertaste. No nothin’ but a cleaner, refreshing sip served the traditional way or damn cold as the pics illustrate! Speaking of which, I am going photo-heavy while I am here because the Internet is hella shaky when hittin’ the seas.

Kicking it with my homey Anna who lives in Amsterdam, she answered my demand to see the “java” hype at a “coffee shop” before hitting up the 30-tap, American-craft-beer-stacked Beer Temple pub—we’re talkin’ about 30 taps of U.S. goodness ranging from the Prairie Artisan Ales to Dark horse Lagunitas and Dark Horse. Hell, Temple’s super cool manager popularly recognized as “Ster” said I could post my sticker on her Temple’s door next to Terrapin Beer Co.’s, my Athens, Georgia neighbor down the street from my condo in Atlanta! Ultimately, this bar is a must when you visit my second beloved “A-Town” and helps make your adjustment from the hoppy IPAs and robust imperial stouts that you are accustomed to in the States if you live in my country, to the Pilsners, Belgian brews, and lagers overall that dominate the taps here.

Anyway, I love taking you with me wherever I go because anyone reading this is fam! Enjoy the photos and be sure to hit up my Instagram as well!

Yes, let's cut to the chase. This is a listing of what "roasts" are available in one of Amsterdam's infamous coffee shops. You go in, they hand you...errr..visitors papers, and you...errr...visitors pick what they want. They have pre-rolled spliffs too and space cakes. People are in there chillin', playing cards, drinking tea and simply enjoying the finest weed legally.

Oh yeah! Jumped the gun. This is our AmaWaterways ship called the Amalyra. Five levels of chillin', eating, and sippin'! The staff was ridiculously hospitable and pampering. I loved it.

Crate diggin' at Record Mania.

An American beer bar? Well, sorta. But this is in Amsterdam! All hail Beer Temple!

My homey and resident of Amsterdam showed is a helluva time! These are buttons from her design firm. 

They get their biking on in Amsterdam! just watch where the hell you are going when crossing the street. They will eff you up!

Old Amsterdam makes some awesome cheese! These were my steez, sharp and free! At least the samples were.

I rode one of these trains. I gave Grolsch some love since my boy designs their bottles in Amsterdam too.

Folks spinnin' in the Heineken Experiences's basement.

This is a lil' refreshment in-between hitting the streets in Amsterdam. This brew is called Gauloise at 6.3% ABV. I wasn't mad at it.

Look for more city coverage soon, my homies. I come back to Amsterdam to hit up some more amazing spots, but for now, we are off to the ext one. And like I said, peep my Instagram too! No pics are repeated.
Cheers! Oh wait, Proost!

Ale