Downtown Victoria’s Herald Street Brew Works has launched a new seasonal beer to honour a relative of the head brewer whose heroic actions saved numerous people during the Second World War.
CODE NAME: The Quiet Man’ Stroopwafel Herfstbok was crafted in memory of Head Brewer Ryan Bangma’s Dutch great-grandparents and their legacy of housing, feeding and freeing Jewish families during Holland’s occupation.
His great-grandfather was Henry Hulstein and known as ‘the Quiet Man’ due to his typically stoic demeanor.
During Nazi Germany’s occupation of Holland, Hulstein and a group of Dutch rebels formed the Jewish Rescue Committee, to aid the Allied forces in secret.
Bangma chose to honour his family legacy by creating a Dutch-style beer, right here in Victoria.
His Herfstbok—meaning a strong, fall beer—is infused with rich flavors of caramel, vanilla and cinnamon.
The aim of the beer was to recreate the flavours of the intrinsically Dutch stroopwafel—a traditional Dutch treat.
Herald Street Brew Works says the result is a smooth, balanced beer that captures the essence of Dutch culture and the warmth of Bangma’s cherished family memories.
As the brewery specializes in one-off beers, it is not often they re-do the same recipe, but this beer is a rare exception.
“We never brew the same beer twice. Only variations of some of our more popular brew styles” said Bangma, Head Brewer at Herald Street Brew Works.
“But this one deserves an exception—it’s a tribute to my great grandparents’ courage and the sacrifices they made during one of the darkest times in history. It’s a story that I don’t want to be forgotten with a powerful message about community.”
This beer is typically released just before Remembrance Day every year and is still available in the Herald Street taproom, located in downtown Victoria, as well as in cans at the brewery.
For history buffs who want to learn more about the courageous and touching story of the Quiet Man, his full story is available online, here.
