Alcoholic Drinks
Wine plays only a modest role in Dutch cuisine, but there are many brands of beer (mainly lager) and strong alcoholic liquor. The most famous Dutch beer producers are Heineken in the west, Grolsch in the east, and Bavaria in the south. Traditionally, Noord-Brabant and Limburg had a strong beer tradition, brewing many different types of beer (not unlike beer in Belgium). However, in the 20th century, big brewers took over many of these smaller breweries or offered them a license to sell their beer brand, while stopping their own production.
Of the range of bitters, Beerenburg is the most famous. Strong liquors include Jenever (distilled malt wine and the precursor to Gin), Brandewijn (brandy) and Vieux (Dutch brandy, (Dutch imitation Cognac), but also Kandeel (made from white wine), Kraamanijs (a liquor made from aniseed), Oranjebitter (an orange-flavored brandy, which is traditionally served on festivities surrounding the royal family), Advocaat, Boerenjongens (raisins in brandy), and Boerenmeisjes (apricots in brandy).
Read more about this topic: Dutch Cuisine
Famous quotes containing the words alcoholic and/or drinks:
“An alcoholic has been lightly defined as a man who drinks more than his own doctor.”
—Alvan L. Barach (1895–1977)
“This fellow mixes his metaphors the way a toper does his drinks and, I daresay, gets just as tipsy on them.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)