Amstel Beer: Can Americans Enjoy This Brew?

Amstel is a Dutch beer that is brewed and bottled by Amstel Brouwerij in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded in 1870 and was bought by Heineken in 1968. Amstel is available in the US, but only the light version seems to be sold there.

Amstel Light availability in the US

Amstel Light is available in the US, with several reviews from US-based users on BeerAdvocate.com. The beer is also available at Total Wine & More, with listings for Amstel Light 12-packs in both bottles and cans, as well as 6-packs of bottles. However, all of these products are listed as out of stock for both delivery and pick-up.

According to a discussion on Reddit, Amstel Light can be found in the US, but regular Amstel is harder to come by. Some users suggest that it can be found in certain regions, such as northern Pennsylvania and the northeast, and that it may be available at stores with a good relationship with their distributor, as it is owned by Heineken.

Where to buy Amstel in the US

Amstel beer is available in the US, although it appears that only the Light version is widely available.

Amstel Light can be purchased at Kroger, where it is sold in 6-packs of 12 fl oz bottles for $9.99. It is also available at Total Wine & More, where it is sold in 12-packs of 12 oz bottles or cans, as well as 6-packs of 12 oz bottles. However, it appears that these options are currently out of stock for both delivery and pick-up.

If you are looking for the regular (non-light) version of Amstel, your best bet may be to try stores with a good variety of beer, as it may be considered an "import" by some shops. You could also try ordering it from a local shop with a good relationship with their distributor, as Amstel is owned by Heineken.

Online delivery services such as Drizly may also be worth exploring, where you can enter your delivery address to find options available in your area. Additionally, websites like beermenus.com can be useful for tracking down specific beers and finding out where they are available for purchase.

Amstel's history

Amstel is a Dutch beer founded in 1870 on the Mauritskade in Amsterdam. The brewery was founded by Charles Antoine de Pesters, Johannes Hendrikus van Marwijk Kooy, and Willem Eduard Uhlenbroek. De Pesters and Van Marwijk Kooy were brothers-in-law, both from affluent families in Amsterdam. Uhlenbroek's father owned a small sugar refinery in the city. The Amstel Brewery was named after the Amstel River, which was used as a refrigeration source to keep the beers cold.

The symbolic first stone of the brewery was laid on 11 June 1870, and the first brew was completed on 25 October 1871. The first beer was delivered to clients on 9 January 1872, and the brewery was officially opened on 15 January 1872. At this time, its annual brewing capacity was 10,000 hectoliters (220,000 imperial gallons). For the purpose of storing the beer, winter ice from canals was kept in special double-walled cellars.

Originally, Amstel beers were mostly consumed in Amsterdam. The expansion outside the city ran parallel to the development of the Dutch railway network, with agents appointed in towns along new railway lines. In 1883, Amstel began exporting its lager to Great Britain and Indonesia, and in 1884, a special export bottling plant was built for "tropical" beers for the Dutch East Indies and other overseas markets. On 1 January 1891, the firm De Pesters, Kooy & Co., operating as the Beiersch Bierbrouwerij De Amstel (Bavarian Beer Brewery De Amstel), became a public limited company.

By 1915, production had increased twenty-fold, and by 1926, Amstel constituted a third of all Dutch beer exports. In 1941, Amstel, together with Heineken, bought the Amsterdam brewery Van Vollenhoven's Bierbrouwerij, which was closed in 1961. In 1954, Amstel built a brewery in Dutch Guiana, and a few years later, it became the first Dutch brewery to export beer in cans. At this time, total exports of Amstel beer amounted to 101,000 hectoliters.

In 1968, Amstel was bought out by Heineken International, and in 1972, the Amstel Brewery in Amsterdam was closed, with production moving to the main Heineken plant in Zoeterwoude. The building on the Mauritskade was torn down, but the administration building was kept and became part of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam.

Amstel's breweries

Amstel Brewery (Dutch: Amstelbrouwerij) is a Dutch brewery founded in 1870 on the Mauritskade in Amsterdam. The brewery was founded by Charles Antoine de Pesters, Johannes Hendrikus van Marwijk Kooy, and Willem Eduard Uhlenbroek. De Pesters and Van Marwijk Kooy were brothers-in-law, both from affluent Amsterdam families. Uhlenbroek's father owned a small sugar refinery in the city. The brewery was named after the nearby Amstel River.

The symbolic first stone of the Amstel Brewery was laid on June 11, 1870, and the first brew was completed on October 25, 1871. The first beer was delivered to clients on January 9, 1872, and the brewery officially opened on January 15. At this time, its annual brewing capacity was 10,000 hectoliters (220,000 imperial gallons). For beer storage, winter ice from canals was kept in special double-walled cellars. Originally, Amstel beers were mostly consumed in Amsterdam, but the expansion outside the city soon followed, running parallel to the development of the Dutch railway network. Agents were appointed in towns along new railway lines.

In 1883, Amstel beers were exported to Great Britain and the Dutch East Indies. A year later, in 1884, a special export bottling plant was built to pasteurise and package "tropical" beers for the Dutch East Indies and other overseas markets in metal kegs. On January 1, 1891, the firm De Pesters, Kooy & Co., operating under the name Beiersch Bierbrouwerij De Amstel (Bavarian Beer Brewery De Amstel), became a public limited company. In 1915, Amstel's production had increased twenty-fold, and by 1926, Amstel constituted a third of Dutch beer exports.

In 1941, Amstel, together with Heineken, bought the Amsterdam brewery Van Vollenhoven's Bierbrouwerij, which was closed in 1961. In 1954, Amstel built a brewery in Dutch Guiana. A few years later, it became the first Dutch brewery to export beer in cans. At this time, total exports of Amstel beer amounted to 101,000 hectoliters. In 1958, a subsidiary of Amstel produced its first beer in Jordan, and in 1960, the company opened a third subsidiary in Curaçao. Two new breweries were opened in 1963, one in Puerto Rico and one in Greece.

In 1968, Amstel was bought out by Heineken International, and the Amstel Brewery in Amsterdam was closed in 1972. Production was then relocated to the main Heineken plant in Zoeterwoude, and the original building on the Mauritskade was torn down. Only the former administration building was kept and has since become part of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam.

Amstel's calorie content

Amstel beer is available in the US, although some sources suggest that only the Light version is available.

Amstel beer has a calorie content of 31 calories per 100ml, with 0% fat. This is true for the Amstel Lager Beer in bottles of 300ml and 650ml, as well as cans of 440ml.

Amstel Light, on the other hand, has a calorie content of 95 calories per 12oz can, with 0% fat. The calorie breakdown for Amstel Light is 0% fat, 83% carbs, and 17% protein.

The calorie content of Amstel beer is relatively low compared to other beers, which may be due to its low alcohol content.

Frequently asked questions