’t IJ Struis

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Reddish brown coloured. Very strange aroma with notes of vegetables, earth and spices. The flavour is also strange and sweet.

Rating 1400. 11.2 oz bottle. Bought at State line in Md. Pours a deep amber/ light brown with a big fluffy cloudy light beige head and sticky cobweb-like lace. Aroma has some brett in it which is nice but isnt overly powerful initially. Lots of fruity esters like raisin and plum in the aroma, phenolic herbal and barnyard as well, and even a hint of cherry pie-like brett/pedio in there. Flavor has a sharp bite to it from the brett, lots of wild things going on- horseblanket, barnyard, clove, must, and a light tart acidity in the end. Some sweet caramel malts, some nuts, and a bit of hops in the finish. Brett produces some nice high carbonation but isnt too harsh and still goes down pretty easy. Nice aftertaste. This is a great belgian strong ale, that is enhanced by the brett, even though im not even sure there is supposed to be brett in here at all. I love brett, so this was kickass. I am wondering why no one else has noticed brett in this though.

UPDATED: FEB 12, 2008 Bottle@Home, Feb 08, 4.0: Re-rate and by now I have more experience and I’m also more critical. But still, this is a very good beer and underrated here. Maybe just a bit on the sweet side and I think it has lost it’s milky sourness over the years. Bottle@Home, Feb 02, 4.7: Dutch pride and underated at this site in my opinion! Light acid, light perfume, light spices and date aroma. Clear, red-brown, creamy light brown head, good lacing, sticky. Sweet, hopbitter, very full, prune flavours. Long bittersweet finish and a lasting alcohol burn.

Dark amber with considerable haze/yeast. Floral aroma. Acidic fruit flavors, grapefruit and pineapple along with candi sugar. Mouthcoating feel. With a semisweet finish.

Cloudy deep copper hue with good frothy off-white head and very good lace. The aroma has fruity notes of plum, strawberry, and currents. Additional dusty yeast esters, aromatic hops, cardamom, pipe tobacco and mocha malts. Wonderful nose indeed. The taste starts equally fruity and mildly tart, lots of yeast notes as well. Get some subdued bitterness, woody astringent qualities and flowery sublime notes. The mouthfeel is earthy soft and fruity twangy, dry and just a dose of alcohol noted. Of the three offerings I have had from tIJ, this is by far the best, highly recommended.

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.

Bottle (330ml). Poured hazy deep orange-brown with a thin creamy off-white head, plenty of floaties. Slightly bitter aroma of plantation sugar/carmel malt, yeast, spices, sultanas and hints of table cream and wood - nice and blended. Taste is similar, but a little muted, some grapeseed and alcohol bitterness. Mouthfeel average body and carbonation - nice, but nothing special.

Bottle courtesy of bierkoning. Thanks! Pours very cloudy, muddy, orange-ish, with a small fizzy head that doesn’t last. Aroma of grapes and wheat. Odd taste. Don’t really know what to make of it. Syrupy mouthfeel. Offputting at first, but it grows on you.