Brewed and Bottled in A'dam

I would be remiss if I blogged throughout this whole voyage and didn't mention the copious amounts of beer and wine I've had the opportunity to try. A large component of our program involves dégustations (tastings) and writing notes about the colour, aroma and flavour of the beverages ("Smells like literal dirt", "Tastes like... grapes").

I joke but honestly I feel I've developed a better appreciation for all things sensory. It's eye (nose and mouth) opening to bring my complete attention to the moment and fully appreciate what life has to offer (the fact that life offers me fermented grapes is admittedly a huge bonus).

Beer box decorations for the 150th Anniversary Party at the Heineken Experience

So, this weekend I traveled to Amsterdam! We had bought tickets online in advance for the Heineken Experience, a brewery and visitor centre for the Dutch Pilsner. By a brilliant twist of fate (thanks, universe!) it turned out to be their 150th anniversary party. This meant we were credited back our full balance and got to drink free beer!

We were walked through the brewing and tasting processes (so basically I "studied" the whole time) and I even found a gem of a story to tie into my blog...

Touché, wall decal! Taken at the Heineken Experience.

"The Star Story: The famous red star on all Heineken labels dates back to the early 14th century and is one of the most ancient and mysterious symbols in the history of beer making. It is said that medieval brewers hung the enduring symbol of the star over their vats to protect their brew and guarantee its quality. The protective powers of the five-point star symbolized earth, fire, wind and water, with the fifth star point representing the unknown element that the brewers believed was 'magic'."

I've always known that beer is a magical substance, but it's encouraging to hear that it is a notion that has been agreed upon throughout the ages! Proost (cheers)!