’t IJ Natte

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

Serve in Trappist glass

Bottle. Plummy, brown sugar aroma with a dark yeast component. Lots of malt and some red berry. Dark brown body with a rubied edge and a tanned, creamy lacing head. Dry, slightly sour taste, again with the brown malt and dark caramel and yeast, a tad slimy with hints of toast and nuttiness, lesser chocolate and muddled fruit. Plums and raisins. Some funky worked leather. Light cherry. Angular woody herbal notes remind of a winter seasonal. Faint tea leaves and spice. Medium body with a dry, earthy finish. A very stylish, interesting brew, the acidic and wild overtones lead it in a whole new direction.

Judging by the other ratings here, seems to benefit from aging; I’d seen this bottle sitting on the shelf for a full year before buying it (and the label says it was best by Feb 06, a full 30 months ago). Have to assume now that this has brett in it - what a serendipitous buy!

One of the nicest looking beers I’ve had in a long time, though I had to pour very carefully to avoid the big chunks of yeast in the bottle. Luminous reddish amber with a fluffy beige head sitting in a glass goblet. Luckily the rest of the beer backs up the appearance. Spicy, fresh nose, with all sorts of aromas fleeting in and out of perception. A deep draught brings frsh brown bread, caramel, figs, coriander, and brown sugar. The finish is a touch sweet and some more carbonation would be nice, but I’m totally nitpicking.

Brown, cloudy color is inviting. I’m getting buttered popcorn in the nose, with a little sugar. A full malty taste has hints of chocolate. Not for the weak at heart. I should mention that I sampled this at the ’t Ij brewery and it was delicious. (Be sure to get there early enough to grad a table. TIP: take the #10 tram there).

Darker in color than the other t IJ beers, but this lacks the sweet, syrupiness of the delicious t IJ Struis. A touch of sourness adds complexity. Good, but short of great.

A dark brown appearance with a large head. This one was bent a little more sour than most dubbles Ive had. The main flavor going on here is chocolate followed by some raisins and nutmeg. There is some citrus detectable in the aftertaste. It looks like I enjoyed this more than most.

UPDATED: AUG 1, 2007 (Bottled, too cold) Very hazy darkish amber with a small head and big yeast clumps. Sourish aroma of cloves and green apple with light dried fruitiness. Anise-spicy, sourish-malty, yeasty and flowery flavor with some fermented strawberries and a dry, mildly bitter finish. Medium-bodied palate with smooth carbonation. A pleasant, light and flowery, somewhat Orvaly (although not as strong) brew. (Bottled, was 6-4-7-4-13=3.4) Dark brown color, small head. Sour, yeasty aroma. Malty, nutty, sourish flavor. Medium-bodied, somewhat carbonated, sour palate. Strange as a dubbel, but quite ok as a beer.

Bottled (33 cl) at het Amsterdamertje, Göteborg, Sweden. Hazy amber with medium off-white head. Fruity, a bit animalic, spicy and yeasty. Meidum bodied with soft carbonation. Well balanced, would certainly gain from a bit more dryness.

Bottle. Hazy, orangey amber with a big yellowish head that left nice lacing. Great fruity aroma, that is vinous and spicy at the same time. Spicy flavours, fruit, even a bit of chocolate, nice bitter finish. ’t IJ does not let you down.