Hollandia - Bavaria Brouwerij N.V.

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +45.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

The CANQuest (TM) is back on track and chugging (or Glugging) along today! It's nice to be back.

Another score from my visits to Binney's (South Loop) while passing through CHI-town recently. From the CAN: "Brewed with crystal clear water, finest hops, select grains and pure yeast". Let's do it!

Thanks to the detractor who said that he dislikes the auditory nature of CANs, this Crack and Gluggg is for you! I had never even considered that aspect of CANned beer, but now I live for it. My initial pour resulted in two fingers' worth of rocky bone-white head that fizzled like the time one of my bunkmates tried to hard-wire his alarm clock into his rack lamp. Arc & spark action, baby! Color was a pretty sunshine-yellow with NE-plus quality clarity, enabling me to see THROUGH the Sunday comics. No, not really, but it was crystal clear, just like the water they purported to have used. My oh my, but I CAN really get used to putting my nose into anything that is not an AAL. This had a pleasant lager sweetness without anything getting in its way. That also included hops, so don't look for a hops fix here, you lupulin junkies. Mouthfeel was medium with a very malt-forward sweetness on the tongue. Finish was incredibly smooth, relatively sweet with a mild hop bitterness at the extreme finish. Baby, where you been hiding all this time? You are getting a special place in my cooler! Relatively low ABV means that I won't stumble off the beach in a stupor. Me like.

Serving type: can

08-28-2010 21:15:18 | More by woodychandler

BMoney575

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +40.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Sampled on 5-25-07

Pours a clear pale gold with a huge, billowy head. Lots of bubbles rise to the surface leaving great retention and huge lacing.

Smell is a mild maltiness with a bit of very clean hops. Not skunky or adjuncty at all.

Taste is good, semi-sweet with a very good hop balance. Aftertaste is good and very clean.

Mouthfeel is very good, lots of carbonation make the hop spiciness that much better. The clean finish is fantastic.

Drinkability is outstanding, this beer puts every American macro to shame! Flavorful but light and easy to drink, this beer is a session winner.

Serving type: can

05-25-2007 23:38:45 | More by BMoney575

zachsmith

California

3.9/5  rDev +40.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2.99 @ food for less for 4 pints hell of a deal

the first time i drank it i cracked the can and drank thinking 2.99 how could it make a difference. I could barely get it down. The next one i got sophisticated and put it in a straight pint glass. What a difference. The bad smell vanished, it smellled sweet very clear. Head was about two fingers but went away quickly.
It has a sweet taste to it very pleasant. I is definately one that is in the rotation

Serving type: can

12-10-2010 05:01:37 | More by zachsmith

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.88/5  rDev +40.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hollandia (drank from a 16.9 oz. can) has a thick, slightly off-white head, a clear, very bubbly golden appearance, and a bit of lacing left behind. The aroma is of sweet grains, malt, and a touch of stinging hops. Taste is sweet grains, sugar, sharp hops, and water. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Hollandia finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, mild, mostly dry, and massively drinkable. Overall, this one is very good (and sold at a cheap price).

RJT

Serving type: can

07-22-2012 14:12:10 | More by RonaldTheriot

tesguino

Mexico

3.75/5  rDev +35.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A dutch pale lager; made with generous hops and malt, special for cheese, german, mexican and american food; pale appearance , smell like a boiled hops; taste good over the average; mouthfeel little bitter; its drinkability made special for the pilsner glass or serve in a mug. 80% recommended.

Serving type: can

10-17-2005 18:21:06 | More by tesguino

Greggy

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev +34.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance- The golden straw color pours into a pils glass leaving a 3 finger head that recedes slowly into a nice fluffy 1 finger head that also has some nice clinging lace on the glass.

Smell- Fresh lemon zest malt and a nice balance of hops. I was really expecting some skunk, but didn't taste even a hint of it. in addition to the fresh lemon, I detect a small touch of banana.

Taste- Clean refreshing but note a whole lot in the taste department. Maybe some light malts but the nose doesn't transfer much to the taste.

Mouthfeel- A touch low on the carbonation which may hurt the style a bit.

Drinkability- A good clean lager. I just may revisit it in the future. Lawnmower beer?

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 03:32:47 | More by Greggy

vacax

California

3.73/5  rDev +34.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Four pint cans for $3. Pours a straw gold color with large white head, fairly thick with good retention and lacing. Aromas of crisp honeyish malts, touch of earthy hops. Flavor is crisp and relatively hoppy for the style at first, very nice, the finish brings a bit of an adjunct twang with corn and a very small amount of dry malts, though finish is pretty crisp if not "tasting" this beer thoroughly. Pretty good Euro lager overall, some flaws, but for the price I am pretty pleased. Light body, pretty bubbly, not quite fizzy though.

Overall I was pretty pleased with this, drinkable stuff, pleasing taste, good price. A good buy for a few pints of lager. I think it is relevant to point out most reviews for this come from a green bottle and this sample is from the pint can.

Serving type: can

07-06-2010 07:24:40 | More by vacax

inebrius

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

There is no doubt Hollandia is the result of large commercial brewing. There is a plastic vibe surrounding all facets. Yet I can't help think that the low price of this brew must be altering perceptions. It should be tasted blind amongst it's peers.

Sulforous golden bubbly sweet grain with an iron swizzle stick. Good for camping, boating or all-nighters in Detroit.

Faced with a $5.50 sixer of 16oz. Hollandia cans to the shelves of red, white, gold and blue the decision is easy.

Serving type: can

10-07-2004 02:32:13 | More by inebrius

jettjon

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden clear with thick white head that fades slowly. Nose of citrus and pleasantly toasted oak. Burnt wheat seems to be the predominant flavor—an asset, not a liability. Grassy, light bitter flavor. Mouth is nicely watery and slightly bitter. Drinkability is good. A decent but unremarkable lager.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2005 02:56:22 | More by jettjon

GilaMinumBeer

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured vigorously into an oversized weizen glass.

A: Very pale straw/golden color. Thick, frothy, loosely formed head that is slow to dissipate with poorly formed lacing. No bubbles rising to the surface once the head has collapsed.

S: Profound mixture of a malted, dried grass tea. Some sour notes at the finish.

T: Smooth and malty, light hop finish, and very slight hint of sweetness left behind. Very slight bitterness perceived.

M: Very thin, watery. Little to no effervescence. Light carbonation.

D: Although very similar in appearance to a typical mass brewed American Pale lager, this beer was distinctly enjoyable or at least preferred over a domestic example. A little more "heat" would round this beer out nicely IMO.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2006 03:45:11 | More by GilaMinumBeer

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for the trade.Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is sweet, malts. Taste is also on the sweet side, some malts, a touch of bitterness. Feels light in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a good brew, great for a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

09-08-2010 22:31:10 | More by tone77

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 3.0: Poured out of the can a light golden color. Head foamed up to a half inch and then quickly dissipated, leaving a film around the edges. Lots and lots of CO2 bubbles all over the place.

-Smell 3.5: Very pleasant bouquet. I smell grains, corn and a bright yeast.

-Taste 3.5: Front is all about the carbonation; very little taste. Middle is nice: a light barley taste and a light alkaline hoppiness. Finish is very slightly sweet and more light barley. Lots of subdued hops in an otherwise dry, but pleasant aftertaste. Everything is balanced and smooth.

-Mouthfeel 3.0: Well-balanced carbonation for this type of beer. Pleasant.

-Overall 3.5: Very good, basic lager. I have tried lagers that cost twice as much as a four-pack of Hollandia, but are on par with it or somewhat below it. The price this beer usually runs ($6 for four 16.9 oz beers) is hard to beat for what you get. It certainly is not "swill," just a pleasingly low-key, well-executed European lager. Recommended for those who know what that is and what to expect.

Serving type: can

10-19-2012 02:44:00 | More by BeerDocT

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev +22%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a bland and boring beer in a green bottle but here it is another 90+ day so it makes a good lawnmower beer and would be easy to pound down several with an ABV of 5.0%.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2002 16:27:36 | More by jdhilt

ghisty

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

appearance- yellow. heady. pretty decent carb.
smell-faint grains, slight corn, maybe a single hop.
taste-very short, not complex, a bit foamy and light, honestly pretty uninteresting.
mouthfeel- very slight sharpness, pans out into lagery flat. slightly slick finish.
overall- this beer isnt something complex, its a sessionable, decent, lager.
not the best beer, but pretty far form the worst also, and its usually cheap.
a good filler if you are getting a few more spendy tall cans and want something
to go in between the beautiful ones. this beer would be refreshing very cold,
and I will probably drink it again.

Serving type: can

01-08-2013 23:50:10 | More by ghisty

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very clear straw yellow, lots of little bubbles, thick frothy white head, some nice retention.

Smells like a typical euro-lager with some hints of citrus and malt.

Tastes very dutch, like heineken with a subtle malt backbone. A nice refreshing beer, but that's all I can say about it.

Nice dry, crispy body and carbonatd finish, not something I'd try again, but on my quest to try every beer I must face the facts and try all these cloned lagers.

Serving type: can

12-08-2011 23:47:49 | More by GodOfBeer

Brent

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Seemed a bit over-worked and processed. Malt had a rough grain husk edge that was a bit detracting, but not enough to put me off the beer. Of its class, this is a bit ahead of the middle of the pack. Bright and clean, very drinkable but not a lot of soul.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2003 02:19:29 | More by Brent

nortmand

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Judging from some of the reviews I've read, cans are the way to go with this to get highest quality.

Pours slightly less pale than a usual pale lager. Some white head and minimal lacing.

Smell is grassy, honey straw type flavors typical of the style.

Tastes slightly sweet, with a slightly tart grassiness and a honey-bitter end. Leaves a distinctly honey aftertaste.

Sticky, squeaky mouthfeel. Kind of thin.

Overall, a very average beer, but not bad for a cheap lawnmower light. Just be sure to get the cans.

Serving type: can

10-20-2005 22:07:51 | More by nortmand

jsolack

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance:
Golden yellow with very thin head. Overage looking.

Smell:
Skunky nose typical of the style. Smells like sweet grain.

Taste:
Sweet grainy with very mild bitterness. Tastes really like a typical lager.

Mouthfeel:
Crisp and light in the mouth. Not too dry. Overall very nice.

Drinkability:
A nice lager... typical but very pleasent.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2004 03:31:37 | More by jsolack

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500ml can poured into pint glass22/2/12

A clear straw yellow with a short lived thumbs width of foam that leaves a little speck of lace

S cracker, lemon, sweet malt and hay, pretty straight forward but decent for the style

T the lemons a little off in the mouth but pretty close to the smell

M light in the mouth and the bubbles fluff it up a little, pretty clean aftertaste

O pretty basic stuff but not offensive, not something I'd go looking for but its drinkable

better then some of the other offerings I've had from these guys but still nothing to brag about

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 17:36:38 | More by wordemupg

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.16/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A-Pours gold with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly.

S-Grassy hops and a hint of malt.

T-A good balance between grassy hops and sweet malts. It has a little bite to it, but not much else. Its fairly bland.

M-Thin and watery.

D-Very drinkable since it is not the most flavorful beer and it has an average abv.

Overall, I prefer other versions of the style but this was good to try in a mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:33:05 | More by thegodfather2701

WesWes

New York

3.13/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a pale gold color with a white lace head. The aroma is decent. It is mildly skunky with that green glass smell, but it has a nice pale aroma with a bit of hop scent. The taste is average. It is dry and watery, but it has a fair malt and hop flavor. Again, it is skunky, but it goes down relatively smooth. The mouthfeel is average. It is a low bodied beer with less than average carbonation. This beer drinks decent; an average European lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2004 02:30:27 | More by WesWes

Hhawk06

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

It pours very golden and carbonated, with a big fluffy and frizzy head. Yes, inconsistent. Its smells maize-like but also bitter. The mouthfeel is light, crisp and a tad dry. The taste mainly is composed of a sweet corn characteristic. The finish is mostly sweet, but transfers nicely into a hop bitterness that dries out the palate. This brew is completely average. I'd call it a better version of heineken.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2004 01:52:14 | More by Hhawk06

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a pale yellow color with slight haziness. Head is bold and creamy, long lasting with very attractive lacing. Smell is grain like with moderate presence noted. Taste is clear, slightly malty and crisp. Taste rapidly dissapears from the mouth. Finishes is a bit dry and is somewhat enjoyable. Easy drinking and very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2006 23:53:43 | More by tgbljb

WHROO

Australia

3.1/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A; Clear Yellow, 1 finger head...recedes to a film of medium beads...average lacing. 6 lines of carbonation is all, would have like to see maybe a touch more.
S: Grassy citrus hops, only a hint of sweet malt. Grainy in aroma & taste.
T: nothing too wrong with the taste, just not much of it. Grainy & a little doughy...if anything it balances more towards some earthy hops instead of malt. Touch of bitterness to finish, & also finishes a little dry.
M: Quite light, carbonation seems just about right. Maybe a touch chalky if anything, but I didn't mind that - made it a little more interesting.
D: Very mainstreamish, & typical of an import lager that tries to please everyone, could have done with maybe a little more body & flavour. The price certainly makes this an easy drinker. Could buy a 6 pack & think "yeah. not too bad".

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2008 07:28:26 | More by WHROO

Gagnonsux

Texas

3.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was pretty much what I expected it to be: a fairly average Euro macro. Appearance is a nice wheat color, head is average, fairly high carbonation. Smell is rather weak, but clean, about what is expected from a Euro pale lager. Luckily no skunking here. Taste is middle-of-the-road enjoyable. Begins with rather weak hops bite, and finishes mildly sweet with some honey taste. For the money this is a nice, solid euro lager. It won't wow you, but it is a decent session cheapie. By the way, this beer tastes a lot like this brewery's Bavaria beer, except that one is a pilsiner.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2004 01:25:46 | More by Gagnonsux