t IJ Struis

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

caramel/toffee aroma. murky brown with a small cream colored head. big burnt caramel flavor which dominates everything. hints of chocolate. tastes like sugar babies candy only liquified. i love it.

Clear strawberry liquid with suspended sandy yeast specks. Thick, sticky, and patchy foam blanket. Very clean aroma of perfume, flower petals, yam, and tin. Sufficient amount of airiness and chalky yeast curb the elegant caramel and juicy, grapey malt undertones. Soft-bodied mouthfeel. Expansive bubbles scrub the palate before turning decadently creamy. Rich, chewy, dusty yeast and rose petals briefly contain the ester outbreak. Stunning interaction between the herbal hops and dusty yeast qualities. Light note of tin comes into play shortly after the sip before the thrusting herbal bitterness. Bright passion fruit and chamomile flavors meld effortlessly with the esters and sweet fruity malt goodness. Closes with earthy hop bitterness, herbal yeast, and just enough sweet, juicy maltiness to balance the dark fruit twang and herb flavors. Bitter herb notes linger in unison with the passion fruit, black currants, and chalky yeast whispers. This is teeming with a soft earthiness that is absolutely addictive, nevermind the fact that the high abv never becomes a distraction and the beautifully modest ester display. What a beer.

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".

Bottle: I swear I have never had so many beers that gush on opening as t’ IJ beers. Most of these end up all over my floor. This one followed suit as the previous. Gushed a hazy orange brown with a huge lacing beige head. Aroma is fruit and yet also a sweet caramel or toffee. Taste is sweet and fruit, but very medicinal, leads me to believe it is a bit infected.

Strong caramel in aroma, even a bit of chocolate. Dark brown with a medium head. Full bodied and smooth. Sweet caramel with dark fruits. Also slightly citric and yeasty. Nice.

Dark burnt amber color fading to dark brown and establishing a thin yet firm khaki layer of froth. Crisp apple pie fumes flow, deeply authentic with a pinch of cinnamon and a subtle sweetness underneath. Apple flesh malt flavors absent all sweetness, a slightly acidic bitterness rides in the background..growing stronger..the apples start to brown, the flesh getting softer, and maltier...the acidic bitterness growing..

Odd little beer, at first I thought it was from Struisse, too bad it might have been better. all in all this was a strong belgian w/ out much else to say about it.. very drinkable but nothing to write home about.

Hazy dark amber color,large off white head that had a good hang time then faded to leave a bit of a lace behind.The aroma was yeasty with some nice fruity notes some hints of spice and a bit of band-aid as well Hmmmm.The flavor was mildly malty with some flavors of dried fruit raisin maybe some plum with a slight yeasty thing going on as well as a noticeable alcohol hint in the middle,the brew seems a bit on the heavy side for me but definately goes down nicely.Pretty nice brew and well worth trying again.