Boot 122 Utrecht
Red light boat turned brewpub
Utrecht used to have a unique red light district: 'het Zandpad'. On the river Vecht, in between the Overvecht and Zuilen neighborhoods, used to be a street with one-way roundabouts on both sides, with houseboats parallel to it. These houseboats didn't have any houses in them, but what is in Dutch called a peeskamer, something like a 'love room'. Yes, the rooms with the big windows and red lights. People would drive up with their cars, and just cruise along the houseboats to have a look at the workers offering their services.
'Het Zandpad' closed down around 2013, and some of the boats ended up used elsewhere. A few of them ended up in the former industrial area turned hipster neighborhood Werkspoorkwartier, and one of the now houses one of the best but slightly hidden brewpups of the city: Boot 122.
Boot 122 is specialized in classic German beer styles, such as Schwarz, Rauchbier, Märzen and many more. A lot of these styles aren't that popular in these IPA and Sour dominated times, which makes a drinking session at Boot 122 all the more fun and inspirational.
Boot 122's own beers (and more!) are brewed in an old garden shed right next to the boat, and are amazing. And if you fancy some dancing or other cultural endeavors after your beer, both De Nijverheid as well as NAR are right around the corner.
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