15th and 16th century beer types of the Netherlands

Data borrowed from Leen Alberts Bier Drinken met Maten, Jaarboek voor de Middeleeuwse Geschiedenis 13. Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren BV, 2010. (page 158-165)
and G. Doorman De Middeleeuwse Brouwerij en de Gruit.  's-Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff, 1955. (page 96-98)

Translated from Dutch to English; including measurements from metric to US (C) by Susan Verberg, 2017.

The following recipes are collected from city ordinances regarding sales, regulations and taxes concerning the Dutch city brewing industry. Two recipes were listed directly from a primary source, all others were sourced from reprinted documents, often transcribed city ordinances republished in the 19th and 20th century. If interested, please use the bibliography of Alberts or Doorman to find these publications as they are too numerous to list here, and often are of restricted access.

Unfortunately for us the experimental brewers, only the grain ratio's were recorded; the addition of hops can only be inferred from the names of the beers listed. These probably are also not herbed beers as by the 15th and 16th centuries gruit as an herb was not in common use anymore. As the brewing efficiency of medieval brewers is deemed lower than in our modern times, a 50% discount instead of the 65% discount is used for the modern equivalent of the "stamwortgehalte" (amount of sugars in solution, in metric: grams in solution per 100 gram wort). In the table of Alberts the stamwortgehalte is the identical to the amount of wort in kilo's per hectoliter beer, divided by half (which I recalculated to pounds per gallon for those of American inclination). I opted to keep the stamwortgehalte numbers (for now) as they offer a good comparison between recipes, and between information by Doorman and Alberts. Where my copy of Doorman's thesis was lacking (indicated by a "?") I used Alberts formula to recalculate the stamwortgehalte. I also used Alberts formula to calculate the volume percentage of alcohol for the recipes from Doorman's thesis, as those were listed without.

Keep in mind that not only through selective breeding the bulk of several of the grains enlarged, not all grains were malted before adding to the wort either (especially wheat), and the process of brewing was a lot more dependent on outside temperatures (whether or not the weather cooperated). There is also a consistent slight difference in the stamwortgehalte numbers between Doorman (D) and Alberts (A). This is attributed to Doorman using 19th century amounts for the measurements used (which tend to be slightly larger), while Alberts based his calculations on medieval amounts, using several 16th and 17th trade measurements publications. Measurements also differed regionally, with each city using their own standards, while also accounting for imported sizes. This makes for tedious work trying to recalculate medieval grainbills from city accounts.

With these ratio's and the expected alcohol per volume in hand, the experimental brewer should be able to recreate these truly medieval beverages! Go Forth, and Make Beer!

				medieval	modern
TYPE	GENERIC			equivalent	equivalent	stamwort	vol. %
year	City	grains	ratio	# per G	# per G	gehalte	alcohol
1366	Gouda	malted oats	77.1%	4.44	2.22	26.6	8.3%	A
		malted wheat	22.9%
Grainbill: 13 vaten; 45 schepels havermout, 9 schepels tarwemout.
1451	Utrecht	oats	79.3%	2.05	1.03	12.2	3.8%	A
	(thin beer)	barley	20.7%			11.5	3.6%	D
Grainbill: 20 smalvaten; 10 mud haver, 2 mud gerst.
1454	Utrecht	oats	40.6%	3.05	1.52	18.3	5.7%	A
	(thick beer)	barley	31.8%			18.1	5.6%	D
		wheat	27.5%
Grainbill: 21 grofvaten; 10 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
3rd qrt	Gouda	oats	55.2%	2.99	1.49	17.9	5.6%	A
15th C		barley	20.2%
		wheat	24.6%
Grainbill: 30 stuck / stocx-sticx; 19 zakken graan: 50 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 15 schepel tarwe.
1475	Amersfoort	oats	57.8%	4.70	2.35	28.2	8.8%	A
		barley	22.6%
		wheat	19.6%
Grainbill: 16 vaten Hamburger maat; 10 mud haver, 3 mud gerst, 2 mud tarwe.
Source: Hantvesten, 42.
1475	Naarden	oats	57.3%	2.82	1.41	-	-	A
		wheat	18.0%			?		D
		barley	24.6%			16.88	5.3%
Grainbill: 16 vat (Hamb.); 10 mud haver, 2 mud tarwe, 3 mud gerst.
						-	-	A
1484	Amersfoort	oats	57.4%	3.69	1.85	?		D
		wheat	18.0%	2.36	1.18	22.14	6.9%
		barley	24.6%
Grainbill: 16 vat, 25 grofvat (zeeexport tot 30 vat); 10 mud haver, 3 mud gerst, 2 mud tarwe.
<1487	Amsterdam	oats	36.6%	3.26	1.63	19.5	6.1%	A
		barley	35.8%
		wheat	27.6%
Grainbill: 20 tonnen/vaten; 36 schepel haver, 27 schepel gerst, 16 schepel tarwe.
1484	Amsterdam	oats	36.6%	2.60	1.30	15.6-13	4.9-4.1%	A
		barley	35.8%	2.17	1.09
		wheat	27.6%
Grainbill: 25-30 vaten; 36 schepel haver, 27 schepel gerst, 16 schepel tarwe.
1488	Gouda	oats	?	2.37	1.19	-	-	A
		spelt or amer	?			15.6	4.9%	D
		wheat or rye	?
		barley	?
Grainbill: 30 stocksticx; 19 zak haver, spelt of amer (Tricicum dicoccum), tarwe of rogge, en gerst.
1488-95	Gouda	oats	62.6%	3.27	1.64	19.6	6.1%	A
		barley	23.9%
		rye/wheat	13.5%
Grainbill: 28 stocxsticx; 20 zakken mout: 60 schepel haver, 20 schepel gerst, 9 schepel tarwe/rogge.
1491	Utrecht	oats	60.3%	2.92	1.46	-	-	A
		barley	39.7%			19.2	4.8%	D
Grainbill: 20 smalvat; 13 mud haver, 6 mud gerst.
1491	Utrecht	oats	74.9%	2.05	1.02	-	-	A
		barley	25.1%			13.5	4.2%	D
Grainbill: 24 grofvat; 17 mud haver, 4 mud gerst.
1491-2	Utrecht	oats	69.7%	2.33	1.17	14	4.4%	A
		barley	30.3%
Grainbill: 24 grofvaten; 15 mud haver, 5 mud gerst.
ca 1492	Gouda	oats	65.7%	2.81	1.41	16.8	5.3%	A
		barley	20.1%
		wheat/rye	14.1%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 19 zakken mout: 60 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 9 schepel tarwe/rogge.
1497	Leiden	oats/rye	40.3%	1.29	0.65	-	-
		barley	37.0%			8.5	2.7%	D
		wheat	22.7%
Grainbill: 14 zak haver of rogge of mesteluyn (mengsel v. tarwe en rogge), 5 zak tarwe, 9 zak gerst.
1497	Leiden	oats/rye	40.1%	1.31	0.66	-	-	A
		barley	38.3%			8.6	2.7%	D
		wheat	21.6%
Grainbill: 28 vat; 12 zak haver of rogge of mesteluyn, 8 zak gerst, 4 zak tarwe.
15th C	Amsterdam	oats	35.9%	2.52	1.26	-	-	A
		wheat	25.7%			?		D
		barley	38.4%			15.08	4.7%
Grainbill: 20 volle ton; 9 mud haver, 4 mud tarwe, 9 zak gerst.
1500	Wijk bij Duurstede	oats	40.2%	3.62	1.81	-	-	A
		barley	34.8%			23.8	7.4%	D
		wheat	25.3%			21.68	6.8%
Grainbill: 24 grofvat; 10 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1501	Gouda	oats	64.5%	2.63	1.31	15.7	4.9%	A
		barley/wheat	21.2% (57.1% / 42.9%)
		rye	14.3%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 18 zakken mout: 55 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst / 12 schepel tarwe, 9 schepel rogge.
1513-4	Gouda	oats	55.9%	2.48	1.24	14.9	4.7%	A
1518		barley	22.8%			14.5	4.5%	D
		wheat/rye	21.4%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 17 zakken mout: 45 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 12 schepel tarwe/rogge (hart coerens).
1515	Gouda	oats	50.8%	2.43	1.21	14.5	4.5%	A
		barley	23.3%
		rye	25.8%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 17 zakken mout: 40 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 15 schepel rogge.
1522	Utrecht	oats	40.6%	2.29	1.14	13.7	4.3%	A
		barley	31.8%
		wheat	27.5%
Grainbill: 28 grofvaten; 10 jud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1527	Gouda	oats	55.8%	2.21	1.11	13.2	4.1%	A
		barley	25.6%
		wheat / calloet (?)	18.7%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 15 zakken graan: 40 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 9 schepel tarwe/calloet
1530	Utrecht	oats	40.6%	2.10	1.05	12.6	3.9%	A
		barley	31.8%
		wheat	27.5%
Grainbill: 28 grofvaten; 10 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1534-5	Amersfoort	oats	69.7%	2.15	1.07	12.9	4.0%	A
		barley	30.3%
Grainbill: ca. 30 grofvaten; 10-11 mud haver, 3-4 mud gerst.
Source: SA Beroepen Holland, dossier 939 III, film 4587, na tellernr. 259.
ca.1550	Gouda	oats	39.6%	1.56	0.78	9.3	2.9%	A
	(dunbier /	barley	36.3%
	thin beer)	rye	24.1%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 11 zaken graan: 20 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 9 schepel rogge.
ca.1550	Gouda	barley	51.9%	2.18	1.09	13.1	4.1%	A
	(dikbier /	oats	42.4%
	thick beer)	rye	5.8%
Grainbill: 31 stocxsticx; 15 zakken graan: 32 schepel gerst, 30 schepel haver, 3 schepel rogge.
ca.1550	Haarlem	malted barley	53.8%	2.27	1.14	13.6	4.3%	A
	(dubbel bier /	malted oats	39.6%
	double beer)	wheat	6.6%
Grainbill: 41 stock stucs/tonnen; 21 zal gerstenmout, 20 zak havermout, 2 zak tarwe.
ca.1550	Haarlem	malted oats	45.4%	1.39	0.69	8.3	2.6%	A
	(enkel bier /	malted barley	54.6%
	single beer)
Grainbill: 41 stock stucs/tonnen; 14 zak havermout, 13 zak gerstemout.
TYPE	HOPPED			medieval	modern	stawort	vol. %
year	Place	grains	ratio	# per G	# per G	gehalte	alcohol
ca.1340	Delft	malted oats	64.2%	3.95	1.97	23.7	7.4%	A
	(turfbier, bogbeer)	malted wheat	35.8%			18.9	5.9%	D
Grainbill: 24 stic; 72 achtendeel havermout, 24 achtendeel tarwemout.
1404	Utrecht	oats	63.9%	3.24	1.62	19.4	6.1%	A
		wheat	36.1%			13.2	4.1%	D
Grainbill: 20 (smal)vaten; 12 3/4 mud haver, 4 1/4 mud tarwe.
1407	Haarlem	oats	67.9%	3.19	1.60	-	-	A
		wheat	26.7%			?		D
		barley	5.4%			19.13	6.0%
Grainbill: 14 stick; 36 achtendeel haver, 9 achtendeel tarwe, 2 achtendeel gerst.
1407	Haarlem	malted oats	68.2%	3.47	1.74	20.8	6.5%	A
ca 1440	(Haarlems bier)	malted wheat	31.8%			20.5	6.4%	D
Grainbill: 14 1/2 stucks; 36 achtendeel havermout, 10 achtendeel tarwemout.
1433	Utrecht	oats	69.7%	2.80	1.40	16.8	5.3%	A
	(hop or koyt)	barley	30.3%			15.8	4.9%	D
Grainbill: 20 smalvaten; 12 mudhaver, 4 mud gerst.
1433	Utrecht	oats	70.2%	3.67	1.83	22.2	6.9%	A
	(double hop)	wheat	29.8%			20.3	6.3%	D
Grainbill: 20 smalvaten; 16 mud haver, 4 mud tarwe.
1501	Haarlem	oats	64.8%	3.24	1.62	-	-	A
	(hopbier)	wheat	19.8%			?		D
		barley	15.4%			19.41	6.1%
Grainbill: 14 1/2 stick; 36 achtendeel haver, 7 achtendeel tarwe, 6 achtendeel gerst.
1501	Haarlem	malted oats	63.9%	3.36	1.68	20.1	6.3%	A
1544	(Joopenbier)	malted wheat	36.1%			?		D
Grainbill: 14 1/2 stics; 36 achtendeel havermout, 10 achtendeel tarwemout.
TYPE	KOYT			medieval	modern	stamwort	vol. %
year	Place	grains	ratio	# per G	# per G	gehalte	alcohol
1407	Haarlem	malted oats	35.6%	2.68	1.34	16.1-13.8	5-4.3%	A
ca.1440	(kuitbier)	malted barley	34.6%	2.30	1.15
		malted wheat	29.8%
Grainbill: 25-26 vate; 24 achtendeel havermout, 18 achtendeel gerstemout, 12 achtendeel tarwemout.
1433	Utrecht	oats	69.7%	2.80	1.40	16.8	5.3%	A
	(hop or koyt)	barley	30.3%			15.8	4.9%	D
Grainbill: 20 smalvaten; 12 mudhaver, 4 mud gerst.
1433	Utrecht	oats	48.2%	3.60	1.80	21.6	6.8%	A
	(double koyt)	barley	31.4%			20.1	6.3%	D
		wheat	20.4%
Grainbill: 18 grofvaten; 12 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 3 mud tarwe.
1447	Utrecht	oats	40.6%	3.05	1.52	19.2	6.0%	A
1451	(double koyt)	barley	31.8%
		wheat	27.5%
Grainbill: 20 grofvaten; 10 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1462-1486	Wijk by Duurstede	oats	54.9%	3.09	1.55	18.5	5.8%	A
	(Goudse kuit)	barley	20.3%
		wheat	24.8%
Grainbill: 30 stuck; 19 zakken graan: 50 schepel haver, 16 schepel gerst, 15 schepel tarwe.
1462	Utrecht	oats	40.6%	2.67	1.33	16	5.0%	A
1465	(dikke kuit /	barley	31.8%
1484	thick koyt)	wheat	27.5%
1495
Grainbill: 24 grofvaten; 10 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1486	Wijk by Duurstede	oats	40.6%	2.74	1.37	16.4	5.1%	A
1500	(Utrechtse kuit)	barley	31.8%
		wheat	27.5%
Grainbill: 24 grofvaten; 10 Utr mud haver, 6 Utr mud gerst, 4 Utr mud tarwe.
1498	Haarlem	malted oats	35.6%	2.07	1.04	12.4	3.9%	A
	(kuitbier)	malted barley	34.6%
		malted wheat	29.8%
Grainbill: 30 sticken; 24 achtendeel havermout, 18 achtendeel gerstemout, 12 achtendeel tarwemout.
1501	Haarlem	oats	42.9%	2.22	1.11	13.3	4.2%	A
1519-20	(kuitbier)	barley	34.7%
		wheat	22.5%
Grainbill: 31 stuck; 32 achtendeel havermout, 20 achtendeel gerst, 10 achtendeel tarwe.
1515	Zutphen	oats	40.3%	1.45	0.72	-	-	A
		barley	38.5%			9.5	3.8%	D
		wheat	21.2%			8.68	2.7%
Grainbill: 32 vat; 9 mud haver, 6 mud gerst, 3 mud tarwe.
1515	Zutphen	oats	40.3%	2.85	1.42	-	-	A
		barley	36.7%			18.8	7.6%	D
		wheat	23.0%			17.06	5.3%
Grainbill: 20 vat; 11 mud haver, 7 mud gerst, 4 mud tarwe.
1544-5	Haarlem	malted oats	49.1%	1.21	0.61	7.3	2.3%	A
	(enkel kuitbier /	malted barley	50.9%
	single koyt)
Grainbill: 31 stucken; 10 zak hvermout, 8 zak gerstemout.
1544-5	Haarlem	malted barley	61.8%	2.49	1.25	14.9	4.7%	A
	(dubbel kuitbier /	malted oats	38.2%
	double koyt)
Grainbill: 31 stucken; 20 zak gerstemout, 16 zak havermout.
1548-9	Haarlem	malted oats	49.1%	1.17	0.59	7-5.6	2.2-1.8%	A
1550	(enkel kuitbier /	malted barley	50.9%	0.94	0.47
	single koyt)
Grainbill: 32-40 tonnen; 10 zak havermout, 8 zak gerstemout.
1548-9	Haarlem	malted barley	61.8%	2.41	1.21	14.5-11.6	4.5-3.6%	A
1550	(dubbel kuitbier /	malted oats	38.2%	1.88	0.94
	double koyt)
Grainbill: 32-40 tonnen; 20 zak gerstemout, 16 zak havermout.