t IJ Columbus

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

The bottle i had was 9% not 6%. Very dry fruity spice aroma and finish. The dryness was amplified by the fig sweetness up front, peppery and earthy throughout. The dry dustiness kinda reminded me a bit of orval in mouthfeel. A kinda apricot/plum fruitiness warmed in the finish.

11.2oz, notched at 02/06. My bottle says 9% ABV. Pours a cloudy brown orange with dark brown sediment, and a large, creamy offwhite head. Aroma of brown sugar, citrus, some sour yeast (the kind I can’t stand, which I attribute to old beer), misc spices--not a terrbly strong aroma. The taste has the addition of dust and some alcohol up front, but--maybe it’s simply the strain of yeast that imparts this sour bleh flavor--but I simply don’t like it. Medium bodied, soft carbonation. There is just one lace on my glass, though it does thicken and thin. Pretty. Not a horrible beer, as it seems that many like it, but I simply don’t care for it.

11.2 oz bottle bought for ~$5.50. Poured a hazy dark orange with a thin white layer of head that persists. A little lacing as well. The aroma is not strong, but there is a slight sweet citrusy smell along with some spiciness, vaugely reminiscent of anise. Taste has a decent sharp sweetness and spiciness to it, but it doesn’t linger very much. Mouthfeel thinner than I like for Belgian styles. Good, but one can get more, better beer for a buck or two more.

Bottle sampled with Stegosaurus. Pours hazy golden with a large eggshell colored head. Aroma of citrus, fruit, and sweet. Flavor is citrus, fruit, and carbonated. Excellent beer.

Rich dark fruitiness, with some nice citrusy hoppiness, and a great spicy caramel maltiness, melds very nicely with a bit of yeastiness throughout. Super creamy texture, this is really quite tasty. A very nice surprise.

Massive frothy head. Pours a hazy amber. Nice carbonation and good lacing. I thought the appearance was perfect. A slight spicy aroma. A nice mild citrus taste but also a little malty. Just a overall wonderful Belgian style.

On tap at the brewery. Served warner than should be for such a strong ale. Pours an amber to gold color, with a thick head. The body is medium to light, with a very slight sweetness. The finish is a bit sweet and lingering. There’s no hint of the 9% in the aroma, taste or finish.

Murkiness commands the look of this brew, cast in an amber hue, nestled under a neat, creamy head. Aroma: soft and lightly citric, spritz of spice. prodigious yeast. Yum....big citric bite, lush yeast, nice huge hoppiness...pleasing on the palate, quite tasty...some of those Dutch can make a nice Belgian, can’t they? Creamy, tasty mouthfeel, wonderful tang on it, exceptionally smooth, rewarding and worth the drinking. Worth the coin, however? I paid nearly $5 for this bottle..despite it’s goodness, I probably won’t again.