T’was a night in that weird time between Christmas and New Year when you’re not really sure what day it is, you’re full of Christmas food, cheese and feeling a little confused, and a friend of mine suggested going to the pub.
I said yes (obviously) not least because the place she suggested sounded exciting: a taproom for a brewery founded by nuns.
Yes, you read that right. Nuns. And not just any nuns, either! These were the “converted sisters”, ’fallen’ women who had wanted to say goodbye to their sinful lives and join a convent… to brew some beer. I kid you not. These boss ladies said goodbye to their careers as ladies of the night and instead, brewed beer for the boozy parties of the militia protecting the city and arguably were indispensable in the development of late medieval Amsterdam.
And that’s how this pub came to be. It’s located near Newmarkt, on the grounds of the old Bethanien monastery, and whereas very little of the original structures remain, it’s still doing what it did best all that time ago: pouring some brilliant beer.
The pub itself is a fantastic mixture of old and new – some parts of it look like the most traditional brown café going, but others look like a modern eatery and then there’s the old copper brewing equipment. It’s got a lot of character and clearly a very loyal following – it can seem quiet and calm one minute and the next packed with people who know exactly what they’re there for: good beer, good food and good company. It gets loud and lively but that’s just the way I like it!
The food menu isn’t probably the most exotic one going but it has some really good staple pub grub like tostis, burgers, soups and pies, but the beer is definitely a reason to visit. Their own brews (like the Klooster IPA) are delicious and fresh and they have a nice selection of guest beers on tap and in bottle too. Traditional beer rules roost here, and it’s lovingly crafted and served in a perfect pour.
It’s bang in the centre, it’s got a great history and it has brilliant beer. I don’t know what else you need to want to visit this place. You should go now!
Amsterdam Beer Blog 
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