t IJ Struis

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

4/2004 bottle. Pour reveals a medium amber-caramel colored body, with light oranges, coppers and golds all noticeable. Large, well-retained head, per usual for the brewery, with plenty of sediment remaining in the bottle. Aroma has notes of strong belgian yeast, light candi sugar and plenty of caramel malt. Light raisins and berries. Flavor parallels the aroma quite well, with lightly sweet caramel and raisins, figs and dates on the finish. A low amount of residual sugar does not give it too sweet a flavor. Lately I’ve been turned off by high abv BSAs, due to the powerfully sweet and warming nature of them, but this one hid the 9% abv nicely and was more restrained in flavor. Giving the beer time to breath creates a soft mouthfeel. A bit of oxidation from the age loosens up the body, but it makes it surprisingly drinkable for a 9% BSA. So far, T’Ij is 2 for 2 in my book. Excited to try more.

I’ve had this beer plenty of times at the brewery but never rated it. I had it again the other night in a bottle at Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia, PA. It poured with a big sustained head. Color is brown with reddish tinge. Nose is complex... malty, yeasty, fruity, alcoholic. Huge body, almost coats the tongue. Yeasty and fruity with a bit of caramel. Well balanced. It’s hard for me to objectively rate this beer because my fondness for Brouwerij ’t IJ is too great. Can’t wait to get it on draught again....

This is a nice medium bodied strong ale, Nice carmel color and nose is toffee and yeasty. A little extra carbonated when I open it bubbled over. A litte expensive for what it is.

Bottle - big, beautiful aroma of cherries and berries. Quite cloudy and red with a creamy white head. Flavor matches the aroma - many cherries, very fruity and yeasty. A very well hidden 9%. A touch fizzy and soft on the palate. This is a beautiful beer!

This beer has a brown/red body - hue apperance and a coarse light brown scum collar. I have drunk the beer from the bottle and it had a lot of carbonic acid. The initial flavor taste is fruity with a little bit sweet afther tast.

Dark brown color. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is dark malts, chocolate and raisins. A medium bodied Belgian strong ale. Malts are chocolate, brown sugar, a touch of cherry and molasses. Nice smooth taste. Lots of fruit flavors mostly cherry and blackberries (?). Hides the 9% alcohol very well. A little warming with a touch of alcohol bite at the finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is slightly sweet, touch of alcohol.

Good appearance on the glass even though there do appear to be some floaties here and there. Good rich nose which complements the weather outside in the northern hemisphere. There is a warming undertone that finishes off well in a dry after palate. From the bottle regretfully as I didn’t get to the bar.

Dry, chalky aroma with strong molasses notes. Served in a semi-transparent plastic cup. Opaque. Dark brown. Off-white head. Very good Belgian strong ale flavor. Wonderful, actually. Would buy again.