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

beerpirates

Belgium

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the 16th christmas beerfestival 2010 in essen belgium

Pours muddy pale yellow with a great, creamy, small, white head. Aroma is sweet, lots of oranges, pineapple, apple, yeast and subdued oakiness. Wonderful, creamy mouthfeel. Flavour has a more defining presence of oak, sweet at first, then gaining a fruity tartness. Wonderfully balanced -
What à beauty

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2010 20:24:25 | More by beerpirates

Mar02x

Netherlands

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up in Gent, Belgium in summer 2011.

A - Finger of creamy off-white foam settles to a thin cap and thicker collar. Good retention, even if there isn't a lot of head volume. Some thin fingers of lace are left behind. Hazy dark orange-brown, with some yellowish highlights at the edges.

S - Fresh yeast character, but not overly spicy or phenolic. I must say that I drunk this rather cold, so it might totally be different when it a bit warmer.

T - Taste has a oak, wood and some peat in the character, particularly in the finish. Perhaps some fresh bread in there as well. Very mellow for 10% - perhaps even a bit too smooth. If you ask me I would tell that there is also some cinnamon to be discovered.

M - Carbonation is low to medium, Finishes quite dry and oaky. No perceptible alcohol heat

D - Really drinkable stuff, and although its beautiful complex its not heavy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 12:41:11 | More by Mar02x

JLeege

Illinois

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

11.2 oz bottle into a tulip.

Appearance- pours a light slightly hazy copperish color with a two finger fluffy white head. A little whispy lace is left behind.

Smell- Belgian yeast, obviously. Green apple and lemon notes. Some grass and a crisp hoppyness.

Taste- Starts out malty and sweet. A doughy caramel bread starts things off and then almost a cider like bite. That leads into some darker dried fruit notes. Some light spicing as well, clove, pepper, with the prevailing belgian yeast. A nice crispness towards the end from the Noble hops. The finish is fairly dry.

Mouthfeel- medium body and carbonation, pretty smooth. The abv's are hid pretty well, but you can still tell its a big beer.

Overall- Solid beer, a nice little spin on the BSPA style. The complexities come out more as the beer warms, but so does the ABV feel at the finish. Some ageing should do this well.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 03:45:57 | More by JLeege

deapokid

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on Thanksgiving 2010. Review from notes.

Pours a pale golden yellow with limited carbonation and a murky body (despite the lack of noticeable sediment). A regal tuft of foam tops things off.

Aroma of dark fruit and wintery spicing (spruce, pine, cinnamon) are at the forefront. The slightest hint of musty sweat sock accompanies the warming booze in the background.

Flavor profile consists of white grape, plum, spruce, black pepper, condensed milk, sugar cubes and a slightly dry ending. The alcoholic content of the beer warms you to the bone, which is nice on the day of the first snow.

Mouth feel is both smooth and bitter (dare I say, spicy) with a surprisingly lack of yeast on the back end (which isn't a bad thing). The fruit flavor resonates on the tongue, leaving behind a nice plum coating.

This is an extremely unique holiday effort and it doesn't seem to pack the tremendous weight you'd expect from a 10% ale, making it seem effortless to take down a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 16:10:29 | More by deapokid

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.8/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330 ml with strangely apocalyptic BBE date on its label: 12.12.12. Okay, I'll be drinking this when Divine's wrath strikes the Earth.

Immediately after the cap removal the beer starts to foam searching its way out of the bottle into La Chouffe tulip. White foamy head collapses into thin lacy film of agglomerated tiny bubbles atop of murky nonuniformly colored yellow orange-brown viscous fluid with snowstorm of floating yeasty particles. Swirling produces short lived patches of lace on the walls. Aroma dept is of predominant peppery & minor clovy phenolics with lots of fruity esters of citruses, honeyish and sugary with mild spicy alcohol. Intense peppery and citrusy (orange, lemon) flavors are wrapped into soft honeyish sweet malt followed by dry finish and pleasant bitter hoppy aftertaste that seems to be endless. Alcohol is there but well subdued. The bigger than medium bodied beer tends to be crispy on the palate but that is counteracted by fluid's relatively high viscosity. This beer is very corpulent for a triple (or golden strong which some claim it is). A smooth brew whose individual characteristics can be pointed at despite their wonderful mellowness. An excellent example of what barrel aging can do to a beer. Underrated and worth seeking it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 02:14:41 | More by crnipeter

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a clear dark amber with a towering few of inches of thick off-white head. Small, lively bubbles of carbonation mean it takes some time to fall away. A good looking brew.

S - Pear drops, medicinal phenols, peach, plum, sweet wine, vinous notes at the back. There is quite a lot in there without the aroma being particularly bold. Good nonetheless.

T - The start is sweet stone fruits with caramel joining in the middle. Medicinal phenols and a bit of alcohol heat pick up towards the end. The warming booze stays around in the aftertaste along with some breadiness and herbal hops/drying vinous flavours in the background. This is a young example so the alcohol may well even out if cellared, although to be clear it doesn't taste near its 10% ABV.

M - Persistent, tingling carbonation keeps the body feeling medium before finally fading towards the end of the drink. This allows a more creamy presence to evolve. A refined experience.

D - I really couldn't put this down once I started drinking it, even with the boozy element making itself known in the taste. I think the standard version is superior, but this is an exquisite beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 17:18:22 | More by haz77

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.97/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Tasting an 08' from the bottle. Small head...less carbonation than the regular t'Sjeeses. Golden color. Sweet malt aroma and taste without the citrus notes of the regular. Absolutely lovely balance and a beer I could enjoy daily. Wonderful balance without any negative aspects.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 03:00:54 | More by DenverLogan

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml 11.2 Oz. bottle. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Murky, dark amber, almost honey-like in color. Small ¼" head initially that fades to a cap, nice lacing though. Just like the standard Tsjeeses there is a large amount of yeasty sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

Smell: Spice sweetness erupts off this one, with a mild phenol or booziness. Much more complex than the non-reserva.

Taste: Excellent, sweetness up front (a little spice perhaps even a little citrus) with the mild phenol/booze flavor in the background, all held together nicely by hoppy bitterness. Very well balanced, you notice the alcohol more in this one, but that is not a bad thing in any way, in fact it added to my enjoyment of this beer.

Mouthfeel: As always from Struise well carbonated, and very, very smooth.

Drinkability: Excellent beer and superior to the standard Tsjeeses. Another solid offering form what is clearly becoming the best brewery in the world.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 17:01:55 | More by BobZ

CooperEllis

New York

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

11.2oz from SteveFinny (lovely gift, thanks Steve) split two and half ways.

I have to say, I know this is the beer I'm drinking, but based on other reviews I'm not sure what the major difference is.

The pour is as described, red/red ale, off-white topper. Not sticky at all, leaves only traces of lacing.

This smells smoked. I split it three ways and we all thought "wait it this a smoked beer"? but nothing seems to mesh with that. Otherwise a bit of white wine, some wood, and the usual assortment of spices.

Tart flavors immediately dissuade the thoughts that this was a 'smoked beer'. A bit of sucking on the brown sugar cube, a good about christmas cheer in the spices and faint vanilla notes. More yeast/bready. A bit of dark or candied fruit but the brown sugar sweetness is the most prominent.

I know others have written that there is some 'funk' here, but I don't find funk so much as characteristics of wine. The underlying thin wine notes help bring this together and keep it from being to sweet. With the smoke in the nose it's an assault on all your senses.

This is exceptionally enjoyable. There is a mildness to it that I don't typically find in Belgians which I'm enjoying. The mouthfeel is still solid enough to fit the stlye and the spices finish crisply.

(176th)

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 00:55:30 | More by CooperEllis

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: 1 finger khaki head, straw to amber. Tight bubbles, creamy head.

S: chocolate, bread, sourness, bready crust malt, belgian yeast.

T: chocolate, spice bomb punch, booze afterwards, caramel malt, no hop bitterness, strong toffee sweetness.

M: medium with sweet caramel thickness.

O: I definitely wouldn't get again. Belgian pale ale with spiced and strong sweetness. Gives me a slight headache when drinking.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 20:04:31 | More by JerseyKirk

Neffbeer

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33cl bottle marked Lot C,8,10 on the side of the label.
Poured into a tulip.

A: It pours a deep golden color border on amber with soft orange hues and decent clarity. After a careful pour there was a sizable two finger head with great retention. As the head fades it forms cloudy white caps and covers the sides of the glass with sticky lacing.

S: There is a spice filled bouquet up front with notes of coriander, mint, and clove. The hops are not lost in the mix as they provide a solid floral/herbal back drop. As the spices and hops fade strong notes of fruit emerge; peaches, grapes, apples, and apricots come to mind. It has a sweet center to the smell that very much reminds my of wildflower honey.

T: The flavors are magnificently complex and balanced at the same time. It maintains a strong spicy profile of coriander, clove, vanilla, and mint with a mild brush of alcohol and fruit. The hops have faded a bit on the palate, yet they still provide a pleasant floral note to the dry estery finish. There are hints of the oak, but overall it only adds to the overall profile.

M: Medium bodied with a deceptively viscous character.

O: I enjoyed this equally with the regular Tsjeeses. Overall the flavors are more rounded than the former, but who's to choose?

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 04:30:15 | More by Neffbeer

JoePat

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours an orangish amber color with a white heat.

The aroma is not really pronounced but I do get what I think is a berry aroma.

The flavor is malty, estery and some spiciness. Can't really elaborate on these but they go together really well.

The mouthfeel is rich and syrupy making this a little hard to drink but it is a great sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 01:01:39 | More by JoePat

xpimptastikx

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Best by date 12/12/2012

A - Pours a hazy copper with a single finger of off white head. It then recedes to a thing web and with light lacing.

S - Oak, apple, plums, candi sugar, clove, and a bit of alcohol.

T - Not as overpowering a the smell would lead on, but definitely more complex than the standard Tsjeeses. Oak, apples and candi sugar, with the spice and alcohol taking the backseat.

M/D - Low carbonation gives the beer a sticky full mouthfeel and fits perfect for the overall flavor. The oak aging made this much better than the standard Tsjeeses. Unbelievably drinkable Christmas beer. I just wish I would have bought more bottles.

The Belgians definitely have a different take on barrel aging, which usually just lends flavor without over powering it like so many American brewers. All of Struise's BA offerings have been phenomenal in my book.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2009 23:43:08 | More by xpimptastikx

Kshock

California

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a nice golden color, sits with a darker brown hue. Good white head that retains for a little while leaving some lacing but never completely dissipates.

S- Spicy estery yeast, a little alcohol. Nice nose.

T- sweetness with a little fruit behind it. Very clean finish that dries a little. very balanced considering the abv%.

M- very nice soft and light body with a little carb. Dries nicely into a very clean finish.

O- really nice beer, drinks dangerously easy. Well executed.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 01:26:08 | More by Kshock

brc

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

33cl bottle best by 12 12 12. Poured into tulip. Fair warning - mine was a gusher.

Pours a large head, takes its time settling. Decent lacing. Lots of floating sediment that doesn't want to settle out.

When uncapped there is immediately a yeasty bready aroma with some spicy notes. Some woodsiness, too, as I stick my nose in it.

Lots of interesting yeasty byproducts in the taste: banana and citrus in the front. The malt flavor is fairly bready, and you also get some vanilla notes and a decent brandy kick in the finish. Bitterness is medium to low.

Super thick and creamy mouthfeel, like a top notch stout.

The alcohol is definitely there, but it's not unpleasant. All the flavors are good, and I'd go for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 22:36:35 | More by brc

dgfair

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into Corsendonk Christmas goblet.

Pours a brilliant burnt orange color with a huge creamy, pillowy off white head. Leaves thick lacing all over the glass. Smell is slightly spiced with nutmeg and coriander notes. There is also a fruity undertone with a little apple, grape, and pear. Nice smell, but not super complex. Taste is fantastic with a delicious spicy fruitiness and a very nice hop balance. Fruity but never sweet due to the great balance from the generous flavor of spice and hops. Mouth is creamy and smooth and finishes surprisingly dry. Overall a great beer from Struise. Glad I have one more to save for a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 00:22:38 | More by dgfair

ILiveOffHops

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've loved most of De Struise's offerings thus far- Pannepot, Black Albert, and the original Tsjesses- so looking forward to this one.

1/3 liter bottle poured into a tulip glass. It's an opaque dark orange with a dense white head that settles down to a solid foam that covers the entire top. Spice! Clove, maybe...cardamom, almost medicinal. A really awesome yeasty earthiness. Then some soft fruit- raisins and apricot, and vanilla. The alcohol is present, and a little too hot. Carbonation is perfect.

Overall this is another great beer from De Struise. I love that typical Belgian phenolic here. I wish the alcohol was more subdued, and maybe more age would do this one well.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 01:51:59 | More by ILiveOffHops

lionchow

California

3.88/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazy golden amber with a thick creamy white head. Lots of small CO2 bubbles rising in the glass.

A - A bit of spiced pear cider mixes well with a faint maltiness. Not very robust but nice.

F - Nicely balanced, cotton candy sugariness, pears, brown sugar, an earthy spiciness more reminiscent of chai tea than most spiced beers, but it is fairly mellow. A touch of yeasty spiciness as well. A bit of lingering bitterness in the finish.

M - A touch of alcohol burn with the good level of carbonation is nice.

Overall very well balanced and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 05:42:01 | More by lionchow

seasonsix

New York

3.18/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a murky golden brown, with a finger of head that dies down.

S - getting some winter spice and honey sweetness.

T - really sweet, sort of like a tripel on steroids - but the flavor leaves you just a little too soon. there is a heat to this beer that builds up as you sip it, which is really nice.

M - low carbonation, would of loved a bit more fizz with this type of beer.

O - Don't get me wrong - worth checking out. Hearty and well spiced christmas beer, I was just expecting the flavor to be a little more fleshed out.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 13:57:22 | More by seasonsix