Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (2008-2010) - De Struise Brouwers

Crosling

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This ale pours with a gloomy orange color and a huge, frothy and strongly lasting foam. Aroma is strongly reminiscent of the regular Tsjeeses, even still has the hops. Soft golden fruit, white burgundy, earth. Flavor is very pure, belgian. Well balanced and very sweet. It's a nice beer. But, it doesn't show a lot of wood character.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2009 20:18:23 | More by Crosling

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 20:05:04 | More by randylangford

Bnoise11

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-11-2013 19:47:31 | More by Bnoise11

BAsbill

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-30-2013 08:13:04 | More by BAsbill

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

03-24-2013 01:43:36 | More by Sparky44

imperiallibations

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-21-2013 03:18:27 | More by imperiallibations

Peyton5410

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-16-2013 16:32:27 | More by Peyton5410

roblowther

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

33cl bottle into a tulip glass. Pours clear copper/brown with a frothy off-white head. Smell is oranges, honey, leather...this is starting to sound like a scene from 50 Shades of Gray. Taste is nutty and biscuity, much sharper than it smells. Mouthfeel is pleasantly slick with a touch of stickiness. OK, now I can't get the 50 Shades references to stop. Overall it is a really nice beer, more intense than a strong pale ale normally would be. That gives it a lot of interest in my book. Haha. I said "book".

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 17:11:22 | More by roblowther

jheezee

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

03-06-2013 02:28:14 | More by jheezee

jmann40

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +20.2%

03-03-2013 02:16:55 | More by jmann40

GRUUMSH

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

01-27-2013 14:17:53 | More by GRUUMSH

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

330mL bottle to tulip.
Lot C810. Sampled 20JAN13

[A] Above average vigor on the pour creates a 2 finger high dense foamy head, barely off-white in color and developing a creamy texture as it fades. Retention is incredible. The body appears a bronzy orange with a high level of sediment floating around - even on a short pour. Lacing in thick concentric rings.

[S] Striking similarities to white wine qualities, like a clean chardonnay aged in stainless. The malt bill comes across very basic, probably largely pilsner, and a little Belgian candi sugar. Pear, fermented apple, white grapes. The fruity aspect increases as the beer opens up.

[T] The range of flavors is wonderful. Sure, it leans heavily towards the sweet end of the spectrum. But the fruit flavors mentioned above meld together in perfection. I honestly don't see any room for improvement here.

[M] Much chewier than you would expect for a BSPA. Most definitely the thickest mouthfeel that I've come across in the style - and it works phenomenally well. Carbonation is ample but not excessive, or even aggressive for that matter.

[O] This beer is freaking fantastic. The "Christmas" and "Brewed with Spices" indications on the label are nothing to worry about - at least with this amount of age. This will definitely be a repeat purchase, if I can find it.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:46:06 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330 ml bottle into tulip glass, lot C/8/10. Pours very cloudy reddish orange color with a nice 1-2 finger fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big apple, pear, golden raisin, grape, pepper, clove, earth, nutmeg, honey, oak, bread, floral, grass, and herbal spiciness. Very nice aromas with good balance, strength, and complexity. Taste of apple, pear, pepper, golden raisin, bread, honey, clove, earth, floral, grass, oak, and herbal spiciness. Good amount of earthy spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of light fruits, pepper, honey, clove, grass, bread, and earthy spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity of flavors with good balance of malt/spiciness; some slightly cloying spiciness after the finish but it isn’t detrimental; zero cloying sweetness. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a slick and creamy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden for 10%; with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Belgian strong pale ale. Very nice flavor complexity and balance; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering; I definitely enjoyed this more than the regular Tsjeeses.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:20:54 | More by superspak

starrdogg

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

01-08-2013 22:04:48 | More by starrdogg

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: The beer pours a cloudy reddish amber color with a foamy two finger off white head. The head fades to a thick ring around the pour.

Smell: Sweet dark fruits and candy sugar along with a lot of Belgian spice. There is a note that reminds me of cherry and almond.

Taste: Very similar to the smell. Lots of Belgian spice with a complex sweet flavor behind. I'm getting some caramel and a fruity note that remind me of cherries and almonds. As the sweetness fades in the finish, the spice notes remain. Very smooth overall.

Mouthfeel: The body is just on the syrupy side of medium with a ton of foamy carbonation and a very dry finish.

Overall: This isn't my favorite style, but I enjoyed this beer. The fruity notes were quite nice. I'm not sure I need another, but I'm glad I had this.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 03:40:27 | More by oline73

freewill35

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

12-15-2012 02:34:39 | More by freewill35

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appropriately cold night to have this aged 2 year plus beer. Lace lines. A bit of a foamer. Pours orange with a it of yeasty head. Great aromas: orange, grapey yeast, booze, nutmeg,coriander, white pepper, Cinnamon. Smooth mouthfeel, slightly drying finish concomitant with the wood oak to round it out. Good taste, though with all that going on its a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:42:21 | More by northyorksammy

aasher

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Retired eh? This beer pours a medium bodied cloudy bronze in color with a light off white lacing around the glass. The nose is big and malty with notes of honey, hibiscus, rose water, and Belgian yeast. It smells like a spiced tripel. The flavors, light and malty with plenty of Belgian yeast character and a moderate amount of all spice. It drinks medium in body and leaves a tad of Belgian yeast behind in the after taste with some citrus character. Overall it's an interesting tripel with nice spicing. This is one for the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:18:08 | More by aasher

Rollzroyce21

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

10-21-2012 06:32:38 | More by Rollzroyce21

cbnz

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

10-20-2012 07:15:39 | More by cbnz

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Side by side with regular Tsjeeses.

The beer appears a hazy and murky copper hue with a thin cap. The aroma offers Belgian yeast, bread, booze, malt, caramels. Smells nice. The aroma and flavor are distinctly Belgian in nature. A graceful flavor and feel on the palate. Soft and elegant with just a gentle warming alcohol finish. Lingering notes of caramels and yeasty bread. Fairly light in body with moderately low carbonation. Another solid beer from De Struise.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 01:33:15 | More by Huhzubendah

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. Lot C 8 10.

A: A cap of thin, white head. Fades fast. Murky-clear translucent.

S: Spicy-tart fruit (the same apricot and stone fruit from the original). Maple and molasses (the bourbon barrels mayhap?).

T/M: Interesting...It's as delicious as Tsjeeses, and the bourbon influence is patently obvious, something which is not always evident in these barrel-aged beers. The finish is soft and a touch unassuming. While the apricot is still present (and pleasant) it is muted and dulled by the boozy-sweet bourbon finish. Basically, this beer tastes exactly like Tsjeeses aged in oak casks, but I prefer the tarter, spicier original.

O: A great beer! Recommended, but my enthusiasm is dipped somewhat by overoptimistic expectations and the realization that the elements in Tsjeeses I loved are elements that are diminished, not magnified, by bourbon barrel aging.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 05:17:12 | More by AgentMunky

DARIVA

Netherlands

4/5  rDev -3.8%

08-22-2012 20:40:09 | More by DARIVA

impending

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

B

33cl into a tulip. Pours a fully hazed deep dull butterscotch orange, minor head even with an encouraging pour, minor lacing.

Aroma is sweet fruits that have begun to rot. Honey, oxidation and a little ethanol.

Taste is full and rich. Obvious slightly solvent alcohol. Little bitter, little dry. Grape, spoiled plum vinous notes. Tropical fruits as well, exceedingly sweet. Medium - full bodied mouthfeel. Warms well.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 22:43:33 | More by impending

dgilks

Australia

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cleanish dark golden colour with a small, creamy, off white head. Decent head retention.

Fruity with some apple and pear. Nice lightly hoppy notes. Quite good really though I find the sweet malt is a little syrupy.

Sweet malt and quite prominent hop. Not really all that bitter and there is a fair dose of ester as well. Very nice.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Solid.

A reasonable, strong pale ale. Nice esters, malt and balancing bitterness. Good.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 23:06:56 | More by dgilks