Grolsch

From the instant I saw this beer right up to the momentous and inevitable Wikipedia fact check, I was hoping “Grolsch” was an Ancient Germanic word for beer. Alas no, it’s just a derivative of Groelle, the Dutch town where Grolsch Brewery was founded in 1615.

But even if Grolsch doesn’t literally mean beer, Groelle was not a bad place for an aspiring ale-drinker. The following joke comes from roughly the same time and place as Grolsch beer: A man walks into a pub and is shocked to find a woman drinking there. After staring at her for some time he walks up to her and kisses her on the mouth. She of course slaps him silly. He apologizes immediately, saying, “I’m sorry, I thought you were my wife! You look just like her.” The woman responds angrily, “You’re a disgrace, you worthless, good-for-nothing drunk!” He mutters, “That’s strange, you sound just like her too.”

Taste:

That’s just a taste of the illustrious Dutch tradition of making and drinking beer, best represented in America through Heineken. Like Heineken, Grolsch is a Dutch pilsner. And it shares Heineken’s clear bitter taste and green bottle (which, according to true beer connoisseurs, damages the taste by letting in too much light). But Grolsch also has a taste of its own, something totally distinct. It hits the top of your palate with the same heady kick as horseradish or wasabi, making it a great beer to drink with sushi or spicy food.

Impressions:

Grolsch is a relatively versatile beer, definitely cheap and easy enough for a party or a ball game–and it certainly does come in kegs. But personally I prefer it as a dinner beer, with a peppery steak, or better yet a salmon filet. It’s also, out of a whole fridge full of variety beers, the first thing I grab when I come home from work. Very drinkable but with a touch of originality (and dare I say it, class) that you might not find in an American beer, Grolsch is a perfect mid-level beer. The Dutch have done it again.

Party Value: 2.5/5

Class Value: 3/5

Taste Value: 3.5/5

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