On 16 January 2026, a wonderful day took place at Baxbier in Groningen, showing what the Dutch beer community can achieve when it comes together for a good cause. Eighty breweries from all over the Netherlands gathered on a voluntary basis for the Beer Geeks Beat ALS 2026 brew day – a day full of passion, collaboration and support for ALS research.
At The Swaen, we are extremely proud that we could contribute with our malt. It feels special to be part of such a meaningful initiative through our raw materials. Not only because we love beer, but because we believe in the power of our community to make a real difference.
The collaboration beer for this edition became an 8% Italian Grape Ale. A fresh and aromatic beer with a distinctive twist:
- A blend of malt and 20% grape must.
- Subtle dry hopping with Nelson Sauvin Cryo and hop kief.
- Kveik yeast delivering a lively and expressive flavour.
In total, around 6,000 litres of this special beer were brewed during the brew day. The goal? To donate the full proceeds to Stichting ALS Nederland.
pArt of Science
Each year, the label is designed by someone with a personal connection to ALS. This time, the choice fell on Frank Bos. He was a biomedical scientist with a young family when, at the age of forty, his life was turned upside down. What started as a loss of strength in his left foot, soon became a living nightmare with the diagnosis of ALS. Frank was determined to live at least another 1,000 days – a milestone he reached shortly before the Beer Geeks Beat ALS 2026 brew day.
Frank is also the driving force behind pArt of Science. This a platform where microscopic scientific images are elevated to works of art. One of his own striking images was chosen as the label for this edition of Beer Geeks Beat ALS.
A beer with a mission
Beer Geeks Beat ALS started as an idea within a Facebook community of beer lovers. It followed the passing of Oscar Wagner due to this devastating disease. What began small has grown into an initiative where more brewers join forces year after year.
The goal remains unchanged: to raise awareness and funds for ALS research. Since its launch in 2018, more than €500,000 has already been raised for Stichting ALS Nederland. That is not only an impressive amount – it is proof of what our shared passion can achieve.
On the brew day itself, it was not just about the beer. It was a day of meeting, sharing knowledge and raising a glass together to the future. Brewers from large and small breweries stood side by side, talking about recipes, techniques and inspiring stories.
And that is exactly what this initiative is about: not one brewer, not one beer, but a community beating as one for a greater cause.
What’s next?
The official release of the Beer Geeks Beat ALS beer is scheduled for 14 March 2026 at Brouwerij Kompaan in The Hague. After that, the wider public will be able to taste the beer through specialist retailers and beer shops. We very much look forward to celebrating this beer – and everything it represents – together with you.
Cheers to collaboration, our craft, and above all, hope for a world without ALS.
