Holland

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Grolsch, Premium Lager (Holland) Grolsch is part-owned by Coors in the UK, but the Royal Grolsch company of Holland still brews this beer, in the swing-top bottle, a big-brand lager that I've always considered one of the best of its type. It pours a fairly deep gold with a decent white head. The nose is nettly and hoppy, with lots of pungent vegetal notes and a hint of toast. On the palate there's a nice play between bitter hops and a certain sweetness in the finish, and there's a nice supporting malt note that adds a bit of weight. Usually available on a cheap deal, it's a very good mass-market lager. 5.0% ABV, 45cl, ?1.29 or so, widely available.

Grolsch, Premium Weizen (Holland) Grolsch's wheat beer is available in Asda stores from 13th May 2008, but expect much wider availability before too long. Brewed from 60% wheat and 40% barley malt, it pours a cloudy, pale yellow colour with quite a fluffy and persistent white head. It has an attractively spicy and clove-like nose, with hints of Bazooka Joe bubblegum and coriander. On the palate it is clean and crisp, with a little bit of that herby bite, but mostly a medium-bodied layering of lemony fruit and more spicy undertones. There's just about enough bitterness, in a very drinkable and good quality wheat beer. 5.3% ABV, 50cl, ?1.98, Asda, Asda.

Gulpener, Korenwolf (Holland) The Korenwolf of this beer's name is in fact the name of a grain-eating wild hamster, found in the locality of the brewery, and pictured on the label. A mix of wheat, barley, spelt and rye, this beer is also flavoured with elderflower, corriander and orange peel to give a beautifully aromatic nose, where the note of coriander dominates over, high, estery wheatbeer character. On the palate it is quite creamy and rich, with a fine, dry hopinness and lots of fruity depth. There's a rich, earthy breadth to this beer and though refreshing, it offers plenty of complexity. Lovely stuff. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, ?9.96 X 12, Majestic.

Jopen, Extra Stout (Holland) (RP) Brewed with roasted malt alongside pale. two unspecified hop varieties are used. It started life as an occasional brew called Jubeljoop II but it was so well received by drinkers that Jopen decided to relaunch it as Extra Stout and put it on regular sale. The beer is jet black with a ruby edge. It has a rich aroma of dark, burnt grain, spicy hops and a hint of lactic sourness. It is bitter and sour in the mouth with powerful notes of bitter chocolate and espresso coffee, followed by a long, complex finish with bitter hops, burnt fruit and chocolate and coffee. It is on sale in the Netherlands in the Mitra chain of liquor stores and specialist beer shops at around 1.20 euro. Jopen doesn?t currently brew ? its beers are produced for it by several independents, including Van Steenberge in Belgium. 5.5% ABV, 30cl, brewery website.

Koningshoeven, La Trappe Dubbel (Holland) This beer is, famously, the only non-Belgian genuine Trappist beer. This was the version in the striking "Crock" (stone bottle), exclusive to Waitrose in the UK I believe. It pours a very dark chocolaty red colour, with a caramel-coloured head. On the nose there are all sorts of sweet summer fruit notes, a hint of briar, and plenty of toffee and chocolate. On the palate it is medium-bodied, with an immediate burnt toast flavour adding an interesting edge to mollasses and brown sugar. Some hops show through, and though I'd have liked a little more staying power - it rather dies away - it is a very good beer if not over-chilled. 6.5% ABV, 5.0, ?2.99, Booth's, Waitrose, quite widely available.

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