’t IJ Struis

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Poured a dark brownish purple with a tan head. Very fruity aroma. Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Sweet and tart. A bit sour. Almost like a flemish sour and a belgian strong combined. Lots of flavor and the acohol is well hidden. Excellent!

This beer rocked my socks. As previously noted in many places, I am somewhat picky in liking Belgian strongs, so this was a nice surprise--and something I will be buying again. The aroma is candied oranges, molasses, rum, brown sugar, raisins, anise, wood, caramel, and some type of flower. Deep cloudy mahoghany topped with a diminishing offwhite head. Mouthfeel is moderately carbonated, thick, heavy, rish, coating, with a lasting maltiness on the swallow. Taste started sweet and syrupy, moved quickly to a spiced, fruity middle, and ended on a chocolate note. Excellent stuff.

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.

Pours a cloudy ruby with some off white head. Nose is musty in a way that reminds me of a traditional lambic. If I hadn’t opened it myself, I’d swear this had come from a bottle with a cork. Flavor is extremely unusual and unique. Man. Very faint sweet tone. I can say right away that it ends with a noticable perfume characteristic. Caramel is there too. Alcohol is noticable a bit too. This is one extremely complex BSDA. And add that it is Dutch too. Who would’ve thought. Feel is goog. Smooth with a nice bubble edge to it. Drinkable? Hell yes; but more for the experience. More of a sipper, but the unique qualities should keep a lover of the style coming back for another. You would never be able to tell what this might be from seeing it on the shelves. I mean a diamond label with an ostrich on it? Come on. Regardless. If you see it, buy it.

Pours 1 inch of sustaining tan head over a dark orange/amber body. Numerous flakes of sediment explore their new surroundings in my glass. Tight patterns of clumpy lace. Deliciously strong and sweet aromas of light and dark fruits mixed with barnyard funkiness. Similar flavors with additions of bubblegum, raisin, subtle coriander, and shoebox. Alcohol is present but well-balanced with a nice warming effect. Lively carbonation and medium/full body. Refreshing and well-balanced flavors. Great beer. So far, this brewery has yet to displease from their offerings.

Clear strawberry liquid with suspended sandy yeast specks. Thick, sticky, and patchy foam blanket. Very clean aroma of perfume, flower petals, yam, and tin. Sufficient amount of airiness and chalky yeast curb the elegant caramel and juicy, grapey malt undertones. Soft-bodied mouthfeel. Expansive bubbles scrub the palate before turning decadently creamy. Rich, chewy, dusty yeast and rose petals briefly contain the ester outbreak. Stunning interaction between the herbal hops and dusty yeast qualities. Light note of tin comes into play shortly after the sip before the thrusting herbal bitterness. Bright passion fruit and chamomile flavors meld effortlessly with the esters and sweet fruity malt goodness. Closes with earthy hop bitterness, herbal yeast, and just enough sweet, juicy maltiness to balance the dark fruit twang and herb flavors. Bitter herb notes linger in unison with the passion fruit, black currants, and chalky yeast whispers. This is teeming with a soft earthiness that is absolutely addictive, nevermind the fact that the high abv never becomes a distraction and the beautifully modest ester display. What a beer.

Habersham Beverage Warehouse, Savannah, Ga - 330 ml bottle. Pours a dark ruby red with a frothy, creamy mocha colored head. Clean, fruity aroma, some nectarines, citrus and brief floral notes with a back end of alcohol. Very full flavored, hints of chocolate, bubble gum, peaches, dates, and a touch of licorice and some prunes. Excellent flavor. Thick, creamy mouthfeel.

UPDATED: JUL 13, 2005 Dark brown color. Roasted malts. Rochefort like brew, but, ofcourse, not many beers match the quality of Rochefort or Westvleteren.