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So I mostly drank in Gollem and Cafe Belgique. Gollem was my favourite, so many beers to chose from! And a nice atmosphere.
I also paid a visit to de BierKoning, which boast a huge selection of beers. I came away with 8:
Westveleteren 12
Moinette Blonde
de Graal Gember
Fonteinen Oude Geuze
Tripel Karmeliet
't Ij Vlo
Stouterix
Popperings Hommel

I also drank plenty of La Chouffe, how I love that beer! And Duvel Groen - a filtered Duvel, intended to be drunk at festivals straight from the bottle. Delicious, quite different. Also had a couple of 't Ijs, Kwaks, Barbar, Delerium Tremens, Hoegaarden GC and Das. Great being back in the Dam. It's been too long. Thinking of looking to see if I can get transferred there for a bit next year maybe!

And if you're ever drinking in Gollem, literally around the corner on Spuisstraat is a restaurant called November which is incredibly good value and does a fantastic chocolate mousse for desert. One of my colleagues went back 4 nights in a row just for the dessert!

So Ken, when are you breaking open the Westies?

Glad you enjoyed Gollem; it's a great pub. And being in a shop like De Bierkonning is just like how a child must feel when in Smyths Superstore a few weeks before Christmas: I want everything! So much to choose from (and so little baggage allowance).
I will check out that restaurant in October; there is another one on Spuistraat called Visrestaurant Lucius. It's amazing if you like fish.

I can't wait!

Should also mention; in case you have any Vlo left, that it is best to drink them as fresh as possible as they don't keep all that well. I brought back 6 and held on to them to have a beer tasting night with some mates. It never happened, and when I got to drink them, they were past their best - had gone quite "murky" and not the fresh zesty beer that I had in Amsterdam.

I'm going to try and leave the Westvleteren for as long as possible - a barman recommended leaving it alone as it's too young now.
I'll have to get into the Vlo soon so! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Also, in the Cafe Belgique I had the Moinette blonde and didn't like it - thought it was quite sour, slightly like a lambic. 2 days later I was in the de Bierkoning and he recommended me a bottle - told him i didn't like the one I had in the pub before and he agreed - he was there the previous night and it was off - too old he reckons. He seemed to be quite surprised that I was able to tell that it was not as it should be! I was happy anyway! So i gave it the benefit of the doubt and took a bottle

&amp;quot;kenmc&amp;quot;:1yt3v06q wrote: I'm going to try and leave the Westvleteren for as long as possible - a barman recommended leaving it alone as it's too young now.
I'll have to get into the Vlo soon so! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Also, in the Cafe Belgique I had the Moinette blonde and didn't like it - thought it was quite sour, slightly like a lambic. 2 days later I was in the de Bierkoning and he recommended me a bottle - told him i didn't like the one I had in the pub before and he agreed - he was there the previous night and it was off - too old he reckons. He seemed to be quite surprised that I was able to tell that it was not as it should be! I was happy anyway! So i gave it the benefit of the doubt and took a bottle[/quote:1yt3v06q]

Westvleteren , you lucky fecker

&amp;quot;DrJohn&amp;quot;:2b4ucd64 wrote: Actually, that's a Dam good location!
Very close to the Dam.
Café Belgique is one of my favourite pubs even if it is very small. Mind that steep stairs on the way back from the toilets!!
Don't forget Cafe Gollem, 't Loosje, In de Wildeman, Het Arendsnest, Elfde Gebod, De Zotte, 't Smalle.....................
I'll be there in October.[/quote:2b4ucd64]

Hey John, I was on call for my 3rd trip in 3 years to Amsterdam this year but finnancial reasons prevented me. Both times I've been I spent long hours in Wildemen and Gollem especially but I still haven't investigated Arendsnest and Belgique.... plus the others you mentioned. Whats your opinion on them? The first time I went there were lots of Belgian beers I'd never tried, the rarer trappists etc so I was intrigued by Gollem etc although now I'm dying to get to Arendsnest to try as many strange and unusual Dutch brews as I can