Some people have a special bond with The Swaen. That is why we asked around to hear what they have to share. In a series of interviews, you get to know the company through the eyes of our employees, former colleagues, long-standing and new customers, distributors, and even a few legends of the industry. We give the floor to Tsjomme Zijlstra, owner of Kaapse Brouwers. This is Celebrating The Swaen with Kaapse Brouwers.
When did you first hear about The Swaen?
That was in 2019, even before the start of our own production brewery. At the time, we were fully focused on preparations and orientating ourselves towards raw materials and partners. During BrauBeviale in Nuremberg, we started talking with you.
How long have you been working with The Swaen?
We have been working together since 2024. From that moment on, your malts truly became part of our beers.
How would you characterise The Swaen in one sentence?
A pleasant, approachable malthouse with a family-business atmosphere, delivering high quality.
What do you look for in a malthouse, and how does The Swaen meet that?
Above all, we look for a malthouse with which we can have close and direct contact. Not just to place orders, but especially to gain knowledge about malts and their applications. The Swaen fits this perfectly by actively thinking along with us.
What is The Swaen’s greatest strength?
For us, this is mainly the project in which The Swaen malted our own, regeneratively grown barley into Gerse Gerst. That makes the collaboration very personal and unique. Seeing your own barley literally come back as malt in your beer is something we are incredibly proud of.
How important is the story behind malt for your beer?
That story is very important. I think a new generation of breweries sometimes forgets that beer is just as much an agricultural product as wine. It has an origin, a terroir, and its flavour can vary from year to year.
What does The Swaen mean for your beer?
That our beers are made with high-quality malt, backed by a strong and local story.
Which Swaen malt did you start with, and which ones do you use today?
We started with Swaen© Dutch Pilsner. By now, this has grown into a wide range of Swaen malts. From roasted malts to Dutch Pale Ale and Swaen© Munich Light: depending on the beer, we always find something that fits.
Can you describe a brewing moment where Swaen malt really made the difference?
During our first brew with Gerse Gerst, we discovered that the efficiency was much higher than we were used to, and that the flavour was beautifully pronounced. That was a great experience.
If you had to choose one Swaen malt forever — which one and why?
Gerse Gerst, of course. We hope to continue this project for many years to come.
What is the most surprising beer you have ever made with our malt?
I couldn’t really choose just one. We once brewed our Craft Pils with three different base malts, one after the other, to experience their influence on the beer. It was very special to taste those differences in the final beers.
Which moment with The Swaen has stayed with you the most?
Our visit to the malthouse. It was very special to see all the steps our own barley goes through, and to watch that literally happen in front of our eyes. It makes the whole process tangible. Truly special.
What do you expect from The Swaen in the future?
That they will remain our supplier for a very long time.
Where do you see The Swaen in 10 years?
That’s a tricky question. But ideally: holding a beer of our own at our festival, where we celebrate our 20th anniversary together. 😉
From a chance meeting at BrauBeviale to malting their own regeneratively grown barley – Kaapse Brouwers and The Swaen share a partnership built on quality, story and craftsmanship. Want to explore what that kind of collaboration could mean for your brewery? Get in touch with our team or discover our full malt range.
