t IJ Natte

Brewed by Brouwerij ’t IJ
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Pours to an electrified shade of mahogany red, thick with sediment. Aromas of molasses, charred prunes and figs, cherry favor syrup. Tastes very earthy and dirty - honey, iron, and rotted oak. Rather rich and heavy palate - both intensely carbonated and also sort of lifeless. Lacks gracefulness.

Bottle. Pours dark clear amber. Head is yellowish off white with small bubbles. Aroma is yeasty with lots of berry-like tones. Oranges, apricot, cherries and raspberries. Quite high carbonation. Taste is ’dark’ - based on caramel and the yeast, it maintains a dry chocolate/peppery darkness to it - and finishes suprisingly sour. Not that terrible full mouthfeel.

bottled. Dark amber with the the usual ’t IJ unruly head - big, pillowy and rapidly swelling. Fruit, yeast and spice in the nose. Taste is yeasty with some caramel, fruit and rum. Pleasant fruity bitter finish. It’s good, but there’s something not quite right about it.

bottle. golden amber with lots of carbonation and a bubbly head. wonderful fruit aroma with a touch of spicy sourness. slight tart taste with some fizzy carbonation on the tongue. fairly bitter end with a light/medium mouthfeel.

Bottle. Amber colour with orange hue. Beautifull off-white head of medium duration. It has a very powerful aroma of fruit and yeast. Nice acidity in the fruity aroma. Average finish - but where is the hops?

Bottle 0,33ltr: Great Amsterdam-Dubbel dark brown coloured with some fruity- raisin taste and well bitter ending.

I was impressed with this Dutch version of a Belgian Dark Strong. It’s a little darker and not quite as strong, but the strong raisin and burned sugar aromas come up from the tan head and warm the nostrils. Oxidization is evident right up front. Every beer I have had from ’t IJ has been oxidized, so it has to be planned.

Bottle dated Sept 2002. Cloudy reddish brown, moderate head with good lacing and retention. Aroma is raisin, dark sugars, hint of chocolate, some spiced funk. Flavor brings this, medium to light body and slightly oxidized. Fairly tart, don’t know if that’s because of the age or not. Overall it just wasn’t that enjoyable.