’t IJ Natte

Brewed by Brouwerij ’t IJ
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Serve in Trappist glass

Murky dark copper with suspended yeast and chunks on the bottom. Thinnish light tan head. Light but steady carbonation. Aroma of oranges, caramel rice cakes and what appears to smell like an empty fish tank (moldy fish smell). Initial impression - A dark Saison. Wacky burnt steak flavor, some tartness and savory herbiness. Yeast pour is dark (just sits on the top). Fairly mellow, lightly bubbly. Thick maltiness emerges as does a roasted aroma. Farmy and yeasty though. Sourish lip smacking sweetness. Finishes chalky and hoppy, with an edge of sweetness. Strange.

Bottle from the brewpub. Pours hazy dark amber with a foamy beige head. Aroma of dark caramel tinged with chocolate. Full bodied with foamy carbonation. Cooked fruit and spice, but I still think there’s a touch of cacao here. Finishes a little yeasty and more bitter. Good.

Bottle. Rich amber beer with a big dark cream colored head. Orange, spice, sweet malt aroma. Spicy, orange, yeasty, malt flavor. Yeast, orange, and spice linger. Medium body. Fairly dry, bready finish. This is a beer that’s just calling out for some Brett.

Bottle. Brown beer with a strong head. The aroma is mildly spiced and smokey, and the flavour is quite malty, mildly roasted and spiced, and warming. Overall a reasonable beer.

Huge frothy head. Orange brown color. Caramel, nutmeg and licorice in the aroma and flavor. A hint of sourness coming up. Remarkably refreshing. Malty and a firm body. Unususal, but nice beer.

Chestnut coloured beer, end of bottle pretty ’unclear’. Good, creamy, whipped cream-like head, yellowish. Sourish nose, with some nice fruity acids, but also a bit lactic, on a malty background. Light citrus in the taste, but also a touch on the edge of infected. Malty, still sweet underbuild, fruity flavours of fresh figs. Caramel and some higher alcohols. Medium bodied, ends significantly lighter. Rather typical for ’t IJ. I call this "infected", but this kind of "infection" I’ll tolerate anytime.

(Bottle) Pours a lightly hazy deep amber body with a moderate taupe head. Aroma of plums, chocolate, maple syrup, and toasted malt. Flavor of malt, dark fruit, caramel, and herbs with a mildly bitter finish.