t IJ Natte

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

Pours a dark, cloudy, caramel-orange color with a massive, foaming, off-white head. The foam settles slowly to a small blanket, leaving solid rings and spots of sticky lacing all over the glass. The aroma is a bit of a surprise for a beer that is classified as a Dubbel. I’d call it more of a Belgian Ale, as the primary scents I pick up include yeasty bread, dry, bretty funk, herbaceous green leaves, and doughy, lightly caramelized malts. Flavors show lightly sweet caramel, toast, lightly sour, slightly peppery yeast, and mild herbs. There’s quite a bit of funkiness going on here, almost as if it is a distant cousin of a Jolly Pumpkin brew. Medium bodied and moderately carbonated, it goes down smooth and finishes semi-dry. If there’s any knock at all on the beer, its that it has a slight medicinal character that I’d imagine comes from the herbs. That aside, this is a really nice, refreshing, summertime beer that I’d really like to get more of. Underrated, for sure. A Dubbel, however, this is not, at least in my opinion.

Bottle into L’Abbaye du Val-Dieu Trappist glass. This cellared bottle was from Sept. 2002. A geyser upon opening. Pours a customary for the style cloudy yet rich orange-brown with a rocky, dusty tan head. Slight thick lacing as glass empties. The aroma was sweet and spicy. Very pleasant and a nice start. Initial flavors are punchy: some sweet with the cherries mentioned by some, plus a definite high note of sour. Not precisely sour, but quite an unexpected taste for the style. Overall, a thin sweetness spars with the sours and tarts and brett, etc. mentioned by others. I have a feeling this has aged with some authority and attitude. I’d be eager to try it fresh, so to speak. This was a challenging drink. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because so much conflict of flavor and off the rails for the style action was taking place.

On tap at the brewery. Pours a nice caramel brown with a beige-white head. Sweet aroma, no alcohol present. Tastes nice and smooth and filling mouthfeel, low/medium carbonation. Dusty feel is right, as well as a dry finish. A good dubbel, but atypical with a strong sour flavor.

Pours cloudy copper with a tall white head, lots of particles swimming in this one. Very spicy aroma, still sweet and malty. Lots of fruity character to the start, citrus, plum and caramel. Finishes lightly tart with a lot of spiciness. Medium body with a lightly bitter finish.

Had this on tap at the brewpub, Amsterdam, 27th Oct 2009 Pours murky amber with a whitefilmy head. This has a slightly muted nose but there is a touch of vanilla and spice. Good warmth from the alcohol, this like the other beers is quite lovely. A7 A3 F7 P4 Ov15 3.6

Bottle: Deep rusty amber with visible proteins floating around, topped by a creamy, but fading off-white head. Somewhat tart aroma for a Dubbel. Nice Belgian character, with a plummy fruityness, apple skin, orange peel notes, dark caramel malt; appetizing. Creamy mouthfeel. The flavor has a light tartness upfront. Fruity, plummy notes, candied granny smith apples, light orange peel, musty wood-like notes, subtle roastyness, caramel malt, slightly oxidized, with a zingy, slightly spicy finish; along with subtle roasted toffee notes. A unique and intersting Dubbel.

Bottle. Very acidic nose, light cherry. Cloudy light brown with minimal head. Flavor is nothing like the nose. Only a touch of acidity, more sweetness, can‘t nail down the fruit. Palate is full bodied but very smooth.

Bottle. Pours a a nice amber-brownish colour with a big though short lasting head. Good champagne mouthfeel. The aroma is very malty with caramel and spices. The flavour ha s good toasty maltiness with caramel, spices, dark fruits and yeast. Toasty sweetish finish.