Could it be? Sun? Let's celebrate knowing the sun still exists with something amber in a glass. Cafe de Spuyt doesn't have a terrace to speak of, but the selection, location and atmosphere make up for it.

Amsterdam - Netherlands

Thursday, March 4 at 8:00 PM

Attending: 7

Details: http://www.meetup.com/beerpub/calendar/12756127/

9. “I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers this morning what the rest of us said last night.” Greek proverb

8. “I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.” Tom Waits

7. “People who drink light ‘beer’ don’t like the taste of beer; they just like to pee alot.” Capital Brewery

6. “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.” Ernest Hemmingway

5. “Work is the curse of the drinking class.” Oscar Wilde

4. “Beer will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no beer.” Freddie Freak

3. “A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it’s better to be thoroughly sure.” Czech Proverb

2. “You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.” Frank Zappa

1. “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Benjamin Franklin

The Old Nickel happens to be Amsterdam's only beer hotel (but we'll stick to the large cafe area). 2 minutes from CS, the cafe is decorated with wood-carvings and paneling from the Captain's quarters of the 17th century ship of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. Join us as we try not to get sea sick while we sample beers from the 70+ menu.

Amsterdam - Netherlands

Thursday, February 4 at 8:00 PM

Attending: 33

Details: http://www.meetup.com/beerpub/calendar/11826491/

2. There are 19 different versions of Guinness (5 or 6 main types in 19 variations, according to the late Michael Jackson).

3. According to a diary entry from a passenger on the Mayflower, the pilgrims made their landing at Plymouth Rock, rather than continue to their destination in Virginia, due to lack of beer.

4. A barrel contains 31 gallons of beer. What Americans commonly refer to as a keg is actually 15.5 gallons, or a half-barrel.

5. The first beer cans were produced in 1935.

6. Before thermometers were invented, brewers would dip a thumb or finger into the mix to find the right temperature for adding yeast. Too cold, and the yeast wouldn’t grow. Too hot, and the yeast would die. This thumb in the beer is where the phrase “rule of thumb” comes from.

7. In 1788, Ale was proclaimed “the proper drink for Americans” at a parade in New York City.

8. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It’s where we get the phrase “mind your P’s and Q’s.”

9. The original text of the Reinheitsgebot (Germany’s Beer Purity Law) only had three ingredients: barley, hops and water. Yeast wasn’t mentioned for another 35 years.

10. George Washington had his own brewhouse on the grounds of Mount Vernon.

11. After consuming a bucket or two of vibrant brew they called aul, or ale, the Vikings would head fearlessly into battle, often without armor or even shirts. In fact, “berserk” means “bare shirt” in Norse, and eventually took on the meaning of their wild battles.

12. The Budweiser Clydesdales weigh up to 2,300-pounds and stand nearly 6-feet at the shoulder.

13. 12-ounces of a typical American pale lager actually has fewer calories than 2 percent milk or apple juice.

14. In 1963, Jim Whitaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. A can of Seattle’s own Rainier Beer made the ascent with him.

Escape Leidseplain and join us at a little Belgian jewel tucked away from the tourists. They’ve got great Belgian food if you care to arrive early for dinner. Odds are it will be busy!

Cafe Zotte
Raamstraat 29

Amsterdam – Netherlands

Thursday, January 7 at 8:00 PM

Attending: 13

Details: http://www.meetup.com/beerpub/calendar/11826486/