Where does Grolsch beer come from

A. It comes from a town, once called Grolle, now Groenlo, in the east of the Netherlands. The brewery was established by a Catholic family called De Groen.

Q. Does it still have a swing-top

A. It still has a traditional top. In the 1950s the family tried to phase it out, but the Protestants in Holland allegedly protested so much that the family kept it that way. The customers said they liked to drink some of the beer and re-seal the bottle for another time.

Q. What flavour does Grolsch have

A. Grolsch has resisted pasteurisation and held its lagering (cold maturation) to a minimum of six weeks, while some of its other rivals from countries such as Germany manage just four, three or even two weeks. It has a fresher, more herbal, hop character than most international lagers and experts say, a cleaner malt background.

Q. What else does Grolsch make

A. It traditionally only made a seasonal lager called Bock, available only in the Netherlands each October. Three years ago in Holland, the brewery introduced a series of 'concept' beers, which included ingredients such as cardomom, mace and pimento.

The company has now introduced a similar series of beers in the UK, without the swing-top. On sale at the moment is Grolsch Zomer Goud, which is infused with lemon peels and the blossoms of linden and elder. The yeast is the type usually used in a wheat beer. The beer, which has five per cent alcohol per volume, is the first of several: later this year, Herftsbok, a sweetish, stronger lager, will be introduced; followed by Winter Vorst, a strong 7.3 per cent ale spiced with honey, cloves and orange peels. Next spring, at 6.5 per cent, comes a hoppier Lenten Bock.

For more food and drink questions and answers, click here

By Katharine MacColl