’t IJ Struis

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottled 33cl. Hazy ruby with a nicely lasting lacing light beige head. The nose is really impressive- reminiscent of Orval. Candied fruits, hops and blackberries throughout. Maltier than Orval. Strong carbonation. Complex. I reveled in every sip. A fantastic beer!

UPDATED: OCT 10, 2006 (Bottle at The Rover, Göteborg) Pours hazy red. Liquorice and leather in aroma. Nutmeg and brown sugar. Sweet. Alcoholy nose. Dark fruits. Salty, strange bitter flavour. Medium body.

Bottle at Café Gollem, Amsterdam, 14th March 09. Reddish brown, very hazy. Lots of raspberry and caramel malt. Sweet but not special.

Light brown coloured, little carbonation. Large off white head. Fruity alcoholic aroma, with a herby touch. Full creamy body. Finish is strong, alcoholic, little dry near the end.

Well this is an odd smelling beer. Has a bit of funk, a sour cherry horseblanket note dominates, with a doughy sugariness in the background and just a touch sweaty. Perhaps a sherryish note that hints at oxidation. I wish I could tell how old this bottle was - but a little oxidation won’t hurt a beer this big. Cloudy red-amber color, foams quickly but fades to a thin dense head. Flavor is a tad oxidized, with a mild sourness, cherry pit tartness, and a papery finish. Lingering alcohol warmth and tingle. Bright carbonation keeps this fairly heavy alcoholic beer nice and lively in the mouth. I can taste some age in this beer, but I’m waffling about whether it detracts or adds to the final experience. I’m leaning towards "adds".

UPDATED: FEB 2, 2010 Nice dark coloured. Brown. A lot of yeast, malts and fruits. Complex flavour gets better when you let it rest for a while in the glass. Nice.

Cloudy, cloudy beer, muddy brown with orange burnished accents. Belgian yeasty aroma (spice - maybe cinnamon, nutmeg) but with a distinct English malting, earthy as heck, leathery, iron, blood. Suuuper tingly palate brings out a strange mix of earthy sweet molasses flavors and spicy phenols (clove, cough drop, nutmeg). Spice can be felt on the lips. Moderately sweet, a touch sour, no real bitterness. Spritzy palate as mentioned but also with some heft. Very earthy and a little strange, I can see why some people might not like it - but I want a beer to challenge me and this one does. Thanks to Edo for the bottle!

Bottle (in NZ) - lively pours, a hazy dark amber with a large frothy yellowish head. On the nose - medicinal, toffee, some fruit, and slightly nutty. Fruity and spicy, with warming alcohol on the palate. Big and bold, but just doesn’t ruffle my feathers.