Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (Oak Aged)

Formerly brewed at De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Brown bottle, 11.2 ounces, drunk at L’autre oeil, savoured on November 30 2012; eye: caramel, hazy, no effervescence, minuscule ring of brown head; nose: yeast, spices, malt, caramel, alcohol; mouth: yeast, spices, malt, caramel, alcohol, alcohol warmth, finale in alcohol with presence of malt, medium-full body, below-average carbonation, mildly sweet, alcoholic texture; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 11,2 onces, bue à L’autre œil, savourée le 30 novembre 2012; œil : caramel, voilée, pas d’effervescence, minuscule anneau de mousse brune, pas de dentelle; nez : levure, épices, malt, caramel, alcool; bouche : levure, épices, malt, caramel, alcool, chaleur d’alcool, finale en alcool avec présence de malt, corps moyen-corsé, carbonatation sous la moyenne, moyennement sucrée, texture alcoolique; en résumé : bien

33 cl bottle.
Originally rated on 20090721.
Pours copper color with a small head. Aroma of spices, fruits, some plums, caramel and herbs. Flavor of spices, caramel, malts, citrus fruits and wooden notes. An interesting and complex brew. Very nice.

Additionally labeled XMas Ale 2011 on the side. Cloudy amber pour with a 1 finger, creamy eggshell head and some floaties. Lots of caramel, toffee and tart fruit in the aroma, fruity and tart yeast notes with a little bread dough, hints of nuts coriander and sweet bread spices. The flavor brings lots more toffee and caramel, stone fruit, spices, fallen leaves, sweet, crusty white bread, nut skins, raw turbinado sugar, dark fruit and light woody notes. Heavy mouthfeel with a creamy entry, syrupy middle and slightly more dry finish with a little slickness, dryness and warmth from the alcohol settling in. Really tasty stuff, nice warmer upper.

Tobacco and smokey wood up front, neither is particularly strong though so that's good. Spiced, smooth, huge malt base rises from the depths at the end. Caramel finishes it off. Way better than the base.

Aroma: Smelling of toffee, caramel, raisins and vanilla.
Appearance: A foggy amber colored beer. A high off-white head with good lacing and good curtains.
Taste: Tasting toffee, burnt sugar, sweet dried fruit.
Palate: Medium low carbonation, a soft texture. A good body with a slightly dry finish.
Overall: In all a very tasty after dinner brew, should maybe have been stored a few more years.
Note: Bottle 330 ml, No 11. (Vintage 2010) Reviewed 2013-02-09.

Bottled August of 2010.
Appearance: The body is an ugly opaque mud color with light tan sediment floating throughout, the best way I can describe this is to get dirt in a cup and swirl it around for a bit, not black or super dark brown dirt, but more of a reddish. The head is very nice, creamy and thick with a very light tan color, great retention. I’m not sure how I feel about this.
Aroma: The aroma reminds me and my girlfriend of strawberries and cream with slight berries, definitely fruity and slightly sweet, very appealing though a tad weak.
Taste: The intro is a bit citrus, a touch bright, but the beer gets malty quick with fruity strawberry or raspberry overtones, though not tart they lean sweet and a tad dry by the finish. Slight spices are noted throughout with brown sugar flavors. Slightly sweet and very intriguing.
Palate: Thick and soft on the tongue, a bit placid and a touch bready.
Overall: This is an excellent beer, I don’t know what to make of it really, but I’m enjoying this greatly.

Bottle. Pours cloudy and chunky copper with a minimal off white head. Aroma is medium caramel malt, grain, cinnamon, oxidation, spices, prune, overripe fruit, toffee, dust, honey. Taste is heavy sweet. Body is medium, carbonation is soft. Finishes dusty, honeysweet, alcoholic and phenolic.

Bottle. Unclear copper orange with some yeast chunks floating around in it. Small no lacing off white head. Aroma is caramel malt, over ripe fruit, prunes, honey, dusty, musty. Oxidation. Taste is heavy sweet, light bitter, body is medium+, texture is oily, carbonation close to flat. Finish is sweet with caramel and fruit notes.

Cobriza mate. Buena espuma blanca, muy jabonosa. Aroma dulzón. Oleosa, con bastante cuerpo. En boca frutas confitadas, azúcar de caña y recuerdos a las barricas de madera. Quizás excesivamente dulce, lo cual no deja rastro del alcohol.

On draft at Monk’s Cafe; I almost have to rate this twice; served way too cold on draft, it took 20 minutes to have any flavor; previously enjoyed from bottle served properly, it was delicious; this time, after warming had more of what I was looking for; a little tart (God, I could go for a little tart right now!), medium to full bodied; "bready" aroma.