t IJ Struis

Brewed by Brouwerij ’t IJ
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Well this is an odd smelling beer. Has a bit of funk, a sour cherry horseblanket note dominates, with a doughy sugariness in the background and just a touch sweaty. Perhaps a sherryish note that hints at oxidation. I wish I could tell how old this bottle was - but a little oxidation won’t hurt a beer this big. Cloudy red-amber color, foams quickly but fades to a thin dense head. Flavor is a tad oxidized, with a mild sourness, cherry pit tartness, and a papery finish. Lingering alcohol warmth and tingle. Bright carbonation keeps this fairly heavy alcoholic beer nice and lively in the mouth. I can taste some age in this beer, but I’m waffling about whether it detracts or adds to the final experience. I’m leaning towards "adds".

Bottled(330ml). -Hazy brown caramel coloured, medium sized persistent beige head, acidic fruity (cherry) nose. The aroma is malty, slight yeasty, nice hoppy and caramelish with notes of spices, cherries and coriander. Alcohol is well balanced. Dry sweet finish. So far the best of seven ’tIJ beers I’ve tried.

Pours a four finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Slight malty nose. Flavor is sweet almost candy like but enough tartness keeps it balanced. Sweet piney finish. High ABV is not noticeable. Pricey at $6.20 for a 330ml bottle from Tully’s Beer and Wine Wells, ME.

Bottle @ Beer Circus, Croydon. Pours murky brown with beige head. Aroma is of banana / orange / earthy. Taste is spice / caramel, nice carbonation on the tongue slightly acidic and earthy. A refreshing brew. Very drinkable

Bottle at home. Unclear red/brown - light beige head. Fruity, berries, wine-like notes. yeasty, spicey, caramel, berries, light earthy, medium complexity. OK !!

Brown of color with a beige head. An aroma of spice, caramel and alcohol notes. A flavor of spice, caramel and oak.

Pours a cloudy ruby with some off white head. Nose is musty in a way that reminds me of a traditional lambic. If I hadn’t opened it myself, I’d swear this had come from a bottle with a cork. Flavor is extremely unusual and unique. Man. Very faint sweet tone. I can say right away that it ends with a noticable perfume characteristic. Caramel is there too. Alcohol is noticable a bit too. This is one extremely complex BSDA. And add that it is Dutch too. Who would’ve thought. Feel is goog. Smooth with a nice bubble edge to it. Drinkable? Hell yes; but more for the experience. More of a sipper, but the unique qualities should keep a lover of the style coming back for another. You would never be able to tell what this might be from seeing it on the shelves. I mean a diamond label with an ostrich on it? Come on. Regardless. If you see it, buy it.

Date: 04/01/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Brick Store Pub

muddy copper, nice tan head, rich sweet malty aroma, tart moldy horse blanket flavor, stays rich and moldy

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
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