In search of the taste of Rembrandt’s beer
CRAFT, the trade association for independent breweries in the Netherlands, is making a documentary and a new contemporary beer with a group of brewers, historians and TV chef Perry de Man. What kind of beer was in the glass in Rembrandt’s painting “The prodigal son in an inn” from 1635? Rembrandt’s beer is the starting point of the new documentary series ‘In search of taste’. In this series, beer brewers, art and beer historians, and culinary all-rounder Perry de Man (DJ, chef, De Toko Rotterdam, Falafval, 24Kitchen) not only go in search of the taste of Rembrandt’s beer back then, but they also show how they managed to brew the beer in the painting with the taste of today.
3 minutes read
What did the beer Rembrandt drank taste like?
The painting, inspired by the story of the prodigal son, shows a young couple raising their glasses in a cheerful mood. They are none other than Rembrandt and his wife Saskia – the painting is therefore called Self-Portrait with Saskia. A 17th-century selfie. Beer brewers and drinkers ask themselves only one thing when they see the painting: what did the beer Rembrandt drank taste like?
In search of the taste of Rembrandt’s beer
CRAFT decided to find out and made the documentary ‘In search of taste’. Partly due to the centuries-long tradition of brewing beer in the Netherlands, the series is a fascinating quest for old recipes and contemporary taste. With a good dose of humour, Perry de Man takes the viewer on a whirlwind mix of fascinating history and modern brewing science. Assisted by brewers, art historians and beer historians. The series of four short films shows how today’s brewers have succeeded in translating Rembrandt’s beer into a contemporary beer.
Watch the trailer below!
VROLIJK is the contemporary take on Rembrandt’s beer
Based on an entirely new, carefully designed brewing recipe, the members of CRAFT have created a beer based on Rembrandt’s painting. The beer is light in colour, has around five percent alcohol, is fairly dry in taste and has a unique, drinkable character thanks to the use of a touch of smoked malt and spices such as star anise and coriander. The beer is exclusively made and served by CRAFT breweries under the name VROLIJK.
The documentary ‘In search of Taste’ can be watched from today on the website of Craft Brouwers, where you will also find more information and the availability of VROLIJK.
You can already watch the first episode below!
we previously wrote about various types of beer
Website: CRAFT