t IJ Struis

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

Bottle courtesy of bierkoning. Thanks! Pours very cloudy, muddy, orange-ish, with a small fizzy head that doesn’t last. Aroma of grapes and wheat. Odd taste. Don’t really know what to make of it. Syrupy mouthfeel. Offputting at first, but it grows on you.

Garnet brown (pretty hue). Ok head. Caramel and toffee. Molasses cookies. Overripe fruit. Not as good as some of their other beers because of a bit of unpleasant sharpness in the aroma.

4/07 Re-rate: Numbers bumping up. This time the aromas and flavors came through better, more balanced: grapes and apples, coriander, significant floral touch, spicey, yeasty and dry, leathery (even a touch of that brett / burnt rubber taste I get in some gueuzes) finish. Original rating: Poured a reddish brown color with a large head that wouldn’t fit in one pour. In fact, this was one of those bottles that just exploded upon opening, making a big mess for the unsuspecting opener. Aroma was of caramel and spices. The flavor was caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and candied apples. Finishes with a light spicey bitter touch, keeping it from being too cloying or sugared. Reminded me of the N’Ice Chouffe I had: good, but nothing to long for. Mouthfeel was moderately bodied with significant carbonation.

Pours a dark, ruddy, caramel brown color with a burnt orange tinge. A thick, creamy, beige colored head displays excellent retention, leaving strong, well defined, foamy lacing behind. The aroma shows the signature ’t IJ funk throughout, with musty, peppery yeast permeating a malty base of caramelized apples and candy sugar. Flavors follow suit, with caramel and orchard fruits intermingling with sharp, dry, spicy yeast notes. The result is a unique contrast between sweet, sour, and dry that just seems to work in a funky sort of way. Medium-full bodied and moderately carbonated, the yeast dries out whatever sugary sweet textures that the malts attempt to impart. I call this brewery the Jolly Pumpkin of Europe, and brews like this go a long way to substantiate that claim. Great beer.

Poured into a Tripel Karmeliet tulip glass, Struis is a solid ruddybrown color, with cocoa-tinged tannish foam resting neatly atop. Looks alright by me. Nose: yeast and spice hit a two-pronged attack, and fruit takes up the rear, dark ones, plums, and dates, and grapes, and raisins, and more. Drink it in deeper and the spices have taken over, peppers and clove and more. Definitely dubbel-ish, this. Rich and lovely. Taste it: wonderful! A big explosion on the palate, a delirious blend of dark fruits, spices, and hefty malt, uplifted by Belgian yeast that adds a wicked funk to the proceedings. Berries become bigger in the flavor profile, grape stands tall, as well. And then up comes plum! This is a fun beer, to be sure. Full-bodied, long finish, impeccable flavors, evident, but untroubling alcohol. A great Belgian beer from the Netherlands, and why the hell not? I will return to this one, that I can guarantee!

The off-white head was thick and solid, whilst the body was like murky muddy water that had been stirred up. Lovely medium nose of spice (cinnamon) and yeast. Tastes of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and then a touch of warming alcohol. Not full bodied which made it enjoyable to drink. Cheers!

Orange red in color. Big and malty. It has a smooth and full palate. Not great.

Bottle. Cloudy reddish/amber body. Huge creamy light-brown head. Light acidic fruity nose; apples, cherries and citrus. Taste is sweetish. Ripe oranges, peaches, sweet toasted malts, fresh hops. Dry bitter finish. Yum!