The Beer Temple is an American Beer Bar in Amsterdam. I had never heard about them until last week when an old friend invited me to join him for a couple of brews. We hadn’t talked in over a year so it was a terrific time to catch up on old stories.

Rolf is a bigger beer addict than I am could guide me through quite a few of the beers and give me a couple of tips here and there. The selection is massive with 20 beers on tap, and dozens more in bottles. Varying from loads of American IPAs, stouts and other ales to some non-Americans by BrewDog, Minerva and even some special Duvels.

I didn’t make any notes, so this is from the top of my head:

Rogue – Yellow Snow IPA
A very bitter IPA, with heaps of hops and quite some maltiness. I remember it getting more bitter near the end of the glass, or I got more attuned to drinking beer.

Nøgne ø – Imperial Stout
My first Norse beer. While it was oozing out of the tap, I expected a very thick and cloying stout, but that turned different. Quite a crisp one with some gentle notes of espresso and roasted malt.

Flying Dog – Raging Bitch Unfiltered 2010
Big on grapefruit, as expected. This is still a terrific beer, but I do find that I’ve been getting used to more different brews. This one could have been a bit more challenging.

Read the more elaborate review!

Minerva – Stout Imperial
A Mexican stout, in the same flavour area of the Nøgne ø, but somehow not as good. Still good, just not AS good.

Mikkeller – Texas Ranger
A porter with chili peppers. It was quiet a spicy beer with the chili playing a quite prominent role. It wasn’t overpowering which is a good thing. Quiet fun to try this one!

I was a happy camper when leaving the bar. Luckily I came to Amsterdam by train, since, obviously, driving was out of the question yesterday. I never planned to drink 5 beers, but there was too much available to go home after one or two (or three or four)!