Taste History
Before beer was made with hops, gruit was the ingredient of choice. This herbal sourdough was the main ingredient in the beer brewed by medieval brewers in the 12th century—until it became clear that beer had a longer shelf life after being fermented with hops.
The monks at the Augustinian monastery brewed their own medieval beer right where you’ll soon be experiencing the HOFcollege. Discover the herb-brewed gruit beer and the 15th-century hopped beer. And take a look inside De Sleutel brewery—which, according to its owners, dates back to the Middle Ages and was long considered the oldest brewery in the Netherlands. Taste the “Soet bier” from Adriaan Mels’s 17th-century brewery on Voorstraat, or the famous Dordrecht Christmas beer, Paulus Jonas.
About the HOF Lectures:
The HOFcolleges bring the Middle Ages to life from unexpected perspectives. What would your life be like in the Middle Ages? Find out during the HOFcolleges: lectures with a twist.
Practical information:
Lecture: 3:00–4:00 p.m. in the Statenzaal at the museum; followed by drinks starting at 4:00 p.m. at the HofSpot museum café.
