Police investigate Grolsch beer tasting contamination

Eleven people fell ill on Saturday afternoon after tasting water during a tour of the Grolsch brewery in Enschede. The water may have been contaminated with caustic soda, according to local broadcaster RTV Oost.

The group of nine visitors and two guides had been given shot glasses of the spring water used to brew the beer, a tasting that has been part of the tour for years.

One of the victims told RTV Oost that several people noticed a strange, sour taste and a burning feeling in their stomach after drinking it. Members of the group became nauseous and vomited, and the broadcaster said they may have suffered internal burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach.

Several ambulances went to the brewery, and a German trauma team was called out but turned out not to be needed. All 11 were out of hospital on Sunday, and one spent the night in hospital, Grolsch told public broadcaster NOS.

Police have started a forensic investigation, and the labour inspectorate is also investigating. A police spokesperson told NOS it could have been an accident, “or something else could be going on”.

Grolsch said the tap the group drank from is separate from the rest of the production process, and that the quality and safety of its beer “are not and have not been at risk”. The company said it would not comment on possible causes while the investigation is ongoing.