Brouwerij 't IJ
Brouwerij 't IJ has been in Amsterdam since 1985, in a former bathhouse next to a wooden windmill. The brewery is known for Belgian-style beers, such as Zatte, Natte and IJwit. At Hoptimaal you'll find them in 33 cl, including witbier and bock.
- LocationAmsterdam, Noord-Holland
- Founded1985
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.49 · 1.7M ratings
- At Hoptimaal1 in stock · 3 in total
In stock now 1
Previously at Hoptimaal 2
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
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A bathhouse, a windmill and a musician
Brouwerij 't IJ started in 1985. Founder Kasper Peterson, a Dutch musician who wrote a few hits, started the brewery in a former municipal bathhouse. That made 't IJ one of the first Amsterdam breweries to brew well-made Belgian-style beer.
The taproom and part of the brewhouse are still in that building, next to the windmill that gives the brewery its nickname. It is the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands still standing, although it doesn't belong to the brewery. The name refers to the IJ, the river north of the city centre. You pronounce IJ as 'ei' (Dutch for egg), hence the egg on the labels. The ostrich in the logo comes from Peterson himself, who was a fan of ostriches. Because that bird had no direct link with the brewery, he added the windmill and the egg.
In 2008 Bart Obertop and Patrick Hendrikse took over the brewery. In 2013 a second production brewery opened a few hundred metres away. Since then the old bathhouse has been used to brew the beer for the brewery's own bar. Since 2019 there has also been a second taproom in Het Blauwe Theehuis in the Vondelpark.
Belgian styles as the core range
The best-known beers from 't IJ come from the Belgian corner. Zatte is a tripel of 8%, Natte a dubbel of 6.5%. Alongside them, IJwit (a wheat beer), Columbus (a strong amber beer of 9%), 't IJ IPA (6.5%) and Blondie (4.8%) are in the permanent range.
With those beers 't IJ grew into a household name in the Netherlands, and demand was big enough for a second brewery. In the taproom, most of what is brewed is on tap. With your beer you get cheese or sausage. The organic soft cheese is made from the milk of sheep that eat the spent grain from the brewing process.
't IJ at Hoptimaal
At our shop you'll find beers from 't IJ in 33 cl. The range consists of witbier and bock, with strengths from 0.5 to 6.5%. On Untappd, 't IJ IJbok, 't IJ Sunny Side Up and 't IJ Vrijwit are highly rated. Exactly what is in stock varies, so check the webshop.
Drink the witbiers fresh and cold, which brings out the freshness and the spices best. A bock deserves a bit more patience: take it out of the fridge a while before pouring, and the malty side and the sweetness come through better.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Brouwerij 't IJ come from?
Brouwerij 't IJ comes from Amsterdam. Kasper Peterson started the brewery in 1985 in a former municipal bathhouse, next to a wooden windmill.
What kind of beer does Brouwerij 't IJ make?
Mainly Belgian-style beer, such as the tripel Zatte, the dubbel Natte and the wheat beer IJwit. They also brew Columbus, an IPA and Blondie, among others.
Why is there an egg on the 't IJ labels?
You pronounce IJ as 'ei' (egg) in Dutch. The original ostrich in the logo had no link with the brewery, so Kasper Peterson added the windmill and the egg.
