Brouwerij Troost

My roommate discovered Brouwerij Troost about two years ago and it has essentially become her second living room. Every sunny afternoon, every Friday after work, every "let's just grab one beer" that turns into four — Troost is where she ends up.

Troost is a local brewery with a few locations around Amsterdam, but the one in De Pijp is the original and, in my opinion, the best. It is on Cornelis Troostplein, tucked into what used to be a monastery. Yes, a monastery. The building is beautiful — high ceilings, exposed brick, big communal tables — and there is something deeply satisfying about drinking craft beer in a place where monks used to pray.

They brew everything on-site. You can literally see the brewing equipment from your table. The beer menu rotates, but they always have their core range: a solid blonde, a hoppy IPA, a smooth amber, a rich porter. My roommate's favorite is the IPA, which she describes as "what an IPA should taste like but usually does not." I am more of a porter person myself, and theirs has this chocolate-coffee thing going on that is dangerous in the best way.

The beer flights are the move if it is your first time. You get four or five small glasses of different beers, which lets you figure out what you like without committing to a full pint. My friend Dave, who "only drinks Heineken," tried a flight here and now orders the tripel every time. Troost converted him. They convert everyone.

The food is better than it has any right to be at a brewery. Bitterballen (of course), but also burgers, ribs, sharing platters. My roommate swears the Troost burger is one of the best in Amsterdam. I think she might be slightly biased because she has eaten approximately 200 of them, but she is not wrong — the patty is thick, the bun is good, and they do not over-complicate it.

In the summer, the terrace is the place to be. It is on a quiet square, with trees and space to spread out. My roommate and I spent an entire Saturday afternoon there last July, starting with beer flights and ending with dinner, and it was one of those perfect Amsterdam days you remember.

They also do brewery tours if you are into that. My coworker went on one and came back weirdly enthusiastic about yeast. The tours include tastings, obviously, and the brewers are happy to nerd out about the process.

There is also a Troost at Westergas, which is a great industrial space in Westerpark. Bigger, more of an event venue vibe. My roommate goes to that one for food festivals and special tap events. But for a regular afternoon or evening out, De Pijp is the one.

One thing to keep in mind: on sunny days the terrace fills up fast. Like, really fast. If it is a nice weekend afternoon, try to get there by 2 PM or you will be standing. Evenings are more manageable. And in winter the inside is cozy enough that you do not miss the terrace.

If you like beer, or even if you are just beer-curious, Troost is essential. It is local, it is good, and it is the kind of place where you feel like you are doing Amsterdam right. My roommate would also like you to know that the IPA is particularly good right now. She mentions this to everyone.