It was a daring move, setting up a Brewery in Grolle in 1615, the height of the Dutch Revolt. Eighty years of war made things difficult for our founder, Willem Neerfeldt and his family, but they persevered.

Around 1650, Willem took on Peter Kuijper, an ambitious apprentice brewer. Infatuated by Willem’s daughter, Peter did his very best to impress, trialling and revising formulas. His first two brews were instantly rejected. However, his third included a second variety of hops, unique to the 17th century. The first hop was for Aroma, the second for Bitterness, giving it a more substantial depth of flavour. It’s a triumph to this day and Grolsch is still brewed with two varieties of hop, giving it its bold, distinctive taste.