Postcard: A Dark Dutch Ale in Amsterdam

We landed in Amsterdam after an overnight flight and went almost immediately for lunch to Walem, a long-running, stylish cafe-restaurant along the canal on tony Keizersgracht in the city's center, where I drank a Hertog Jan Grand Prestige. Dark and fruity with a pleasing bitter edge and black cherry-cola finish, this Dutch ale was so potent at 10 percent alcohol that I was primed afterwards to nap off my jet lag.—by Betsy Andrews