"Good beer-speakeasy vibe"...that is T'Uiltje gone beer bar in a nutshell. With a range of house hops and malts with absurdly catchy names (Fuck! De kerstboom staat in de fik! For example), these guys and gals are about to turn the haarlem bar scene on it's head. Since the opening of the Jopenkerk there hasn't been a real focus in the craft beer scene in haarlem..until now. 30 taps and various specialty bottles, from t uiltje and renowned European craft brewery's (mikkeller, brew fist, het ij, to name a few), brings a slice of the west to the sleepy hollow of the zijlstraat. A side street that doesn't get much attention in haarlem other than a busy byway to the center, is now home to a very "American" concept brought about by the passion for "west coast" brewing. I would know, I'm California after all. Raw interior architecture and design are very appealing giving it a hole in the wall vibe with modern amenities. No bs, minimal and functional. The space is warm and inviting. Pint glasses taking the space of candleholders on the tables. The stools need to be taller though ...as I'm writing this, sitting here for an hour, my back is struggling to figure out to support myself bottom up or top down. The table at chest level and my feet at sitting level on the foot rests of the table. Perhaps a wall unit table such as that in cut throat barber shop? . I'm an IPA man, so, I begin with the most dry, piney IPA I can ask for. Thornbridge Jaipur- IPA in it's more extreme form. Amazing. Like a rush of piney, dry, hoppy goodness puckering my mouth with citrus and florals all at once. Next I move onto the beer flight (oh yes) the card....start with the house IPA (single hop, so, not my cuppa), good, and peppery then the velduil (a red), the ransuil (stout), and then the unforgettable "fuck, de kerstboom staat in de fik!". The last one is a cofee and chocolate oatmeal stout, that explodes with both flavors, yet has a smokey undertone that is not overpowering, hence why I enjoy it (I usually hate smokey beers), yet hits the front of the tongue with hop/pine bitterness that does not linger. This is truly what the same says (A burning Christmas tree - with a chocolate and coffee filled holiday celebration)! I am now done writing, ff een uiltje knappen!! read more