Gooische Brewery
The Netherlands
"Our goal is to craft Gooisch beer with sustainability in mind."
"What comes from afar is tasty”, according to an old Dutch saying. Sometimes it is, but on the other hand, we often overlook a lot of delicious things that are produced locally. Our headquarters are in Utrecht, and Hilversum is practically around the corner. There’s also a brewery in Hilversum where we had tried a beer before, but we had never gotten around to taking some good photos so we could add the Gooische Brewery to our website. That just had to change!
History of Foodhall Mout in Hilversum
This location holds a lot of memories for us. Where Mout Foodhall and the Gooische Brewery now stand, we used to visit the Euro Cinema during our high school days. But the history of this building goes back much further. Built in 1912 as a car garage, it reflects an era when owning a car was a luxury reserved for the few. The architecture had to radiate this as well. The unusual building had a large concrete span, a new building material at the time, and was built in Art-Nouveau style.
The garage did not stay there for long. Only a few years later the Nederlandse Sein Fabriek moved in. This company helped ensure that Hilversum is still the center of Dutch radio and television broadcasting. Over the years, the building served as a casino and a movie theater, but unfortunately, its charm was overshadowed by various additions that were built onto it. At the time we went to the cinema there, we had no idea of the architectural gem hidden behind that hideous facade. Thankfully, the building has since been beautifully restored, and much of its original Art Nouveau design has been brought back to life.
A brewery in Hilversum
In 2017, the restoration of the building was completed and it was given an entirely new purpose. Foodhall Mout in Hilversum consists of seven different cuisines, offering a diverse range of street food. From European to Asian and Latin American flavors, something for everyone! And, of course, great food calls for great drinks.
The Gooische Brewery which had been around for a few years, initially brewed its beers elsewhere. They could not pass up the opportunity to establish themselves in this characteristic building on the market square in the center of Hilversum. Today, they brew their beers right here.
Gooisch beer
The Gooische Brewery is committed to creating a truly local product, prioritizing collaboration with regional producers for their beer’s raw ingredients whenever possible. Where many Dutch breweries, for example, reach for hops from America, Australia or New Zealand for their IPAs, the brewery in Hilversum takes a different approach. For their Gooisch IPA, they opt for German hops, which require far less travel. This choice aligns perfectly with the brewery’s philosophy of sustainability and supporting nearby producers.
Gooische Bubbel is perhaps the ultimate beer for this rather posh region of the country. The Champagne beer is a refined yet approachable option, equally appealing to beer enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. One of our favorites, however, is undoubtedly Gooisch Zwart, a bottom-fermented Schwarzbier (a black lager), that's a rare find among Dutch breweries.
Gooisch Beer Festival in Hilversum
A good ending to the summer is the Gooisch Beerfestival that is held annually. It is not only about beer from Hilversum but also features dozens of beers on tap from other Dutch brewers. The 2024 edition welcomed guest brewers like De Kromme Haring from Utrecht and Belgian brewery De dochter van de Korenaar from Baarle-Hertog. All this combined with a variety of tasty snacks and two days of a program full of various acts, live music and DJs. It’s a beer-tasting event that’s grown into a Hilversum tradition. Be sure to mark your calendar for the next edition!
Updated: 23-01-2025
