t IJ Columbus

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

Draught at the t’IJ brewpub. Amber color with small floating chucks and creamy head. Bittersweet, very phenolic, peppery, worty and toffeish aroma and flavor. Some orange and lemon flavor. This was the best of the beers tasted at the brewpub and I was quite dissappointed. I very much prefer the dryer bottled versions of IJ beers.

Pours to a caramel colored body with a lasting tall dense foamy white head. Lots of large particulate. But, one must hold it to the light to notice it. The aroma is mineral laden yeasts and yellow apple skins. Biere de garde like. The flavor is yeasty, dusty, some sort of fruits like apples or pineapples, and aged hops. The palate is heavily carbonated, very creamy, and mineral laden. This one tastes very similar to other ’t IJ beers I’ve already had.

From an 11.2 oz bottle from Grapevine Travellers in Medford, MA. Wow, what a surprising aroma! I can only describe it as candy-spicy-urinal. Huge, fluffy white head. Flavor is quite interesting, too. If you could imagine a ’dry beer’, like a ’dry wine’, that’s the malt flavor. Followed by a spicy-bitter hop presence, and then a ’hot’ alcohol flavor. Big time spiciness in this beer-- I can’t tell if spices have been added or if it’s just the effect of hops and high alcohol content. Very bubbly. Anyway, interesting brew-- but not great. Will probably complement the cheese I’m about to eat.

After 2 years of trying to assess beers with a level of seriousness I have never, never ever seen a more attractive beer in the glass. Massive creamy frothy head, a dead-ringer for whipped cream. Lovely glowing dark orange; the Orval chalice is working a treat. Sweet malts on the nose with signature spice and nutmeg, hugely appealing although a little more subdued in this beer that some of the other ’tIj offerings. Flavours slightly under-deliver; licorice and spice early. The malts pick up pace, driving a bitter note, but the alcohol does swamp a touch on the finish, leaving some heat. This does lessen over time however. Nice herbal, nettle underlay right through the palate.

Bottle. Pours a pretty copper-like golden amber with a big big bubbly yellowish head. Aroma is spicy, with lots of oranges with a barn-like feel to it. Flavour is very special - there is a slight malty caramel base with plenty of hot spices and herbs. Finish is slightly bitter and vinious. All in all a very well-balanced beer with a heavy spice touch. There are so many impressions that they are hard to differentiate... really good, though :o)

Draft - Hazy amber golden body, creamy off white head; Very fat, tomato like spicy nose; Very soft carbonation, soft texture bitter and sweet; Slightly bitter fat finish, spicy aromas. Strange!

Bottle 0,33ltr: Amber coloured ale with some fruits and spices taste and this makes a well balanced beer.

Golden colour. Rather earthy and basement aromas from the yeast, and herbs from the hops. Acid and sour taste that reminds me of a belgian gueze even though it’s much sweeter.