Outblack - De Struise Brouwers

Philousa

California

4.88/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Inky black in the glass, with a hint of purple in the light, and with a lot of tiny bubbles. Let's just say it's well carbonated. First thing my nose says is mint. Kinda strange for a beer of any sort, but it's an interesting, inviting aroma. I also get chocolate, toast, vanilla and slight sugar, alcohol and, oddly enough, rosemary aromas. Creamy and toasty flavors fade to chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. I get some of the spices described earlier, but it's muddled and I'm not able to pick them out as easily. An alcoholic burn lingers on the palate, warmly reminding you of the nectar you just consumed.

This is one hell of a beer. It's categorized as a Belgian strong dark, but it reminds me more of an imperial porter because of the mouthfeel and lack of yeast flavors. It seems to me that the ingredients had more to do with the flavor of this beer than normal, which is not typical of a Belgian beer, but I ain't complaining. It's very complex and smooth. I can't say enough how smooth this is, and I guess that's where you can distinctly label this a Belgian, as the yeast has so much to do with the mouthfeel. I tried this on nitro tap at City Beer Store but didn't take notes. It's just as smooth from the bottle. I usually can tell that one thing or another offset a high ABV, but this beer conceals the alcohol on all fronts. It's careful to remind you of its potency in the lingering aftertaste, though. This is a beer with many levels and one which I hope to be enjoying many times in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 04:33:19 | More by Philousa

Brabander

Netherlands

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was at the old school building last monday with my buddy Apophis666, his girlfriend Lore and her father Henk. We had a great time with Urbain and one of the beers he opened for his visitors was the new Outblack. I was the driver so i had to wait to drink this beer at home. That's what i did last night.

Poured (of course) in my Struise glass the beer looks perfect. What a deepdarkbrown colour! The bulblight has problems to go trough it. Some carbonation in the glass. The perfect head, that's what Struise is all about, a nice view and even better taste.

The smell is good, some spices and candysweetness.

The taste is outstanding because of the ingredients used. I tasted some 'salmiak' and 'drop'. Two dutch words for dark candy. Very very well done.

You did it again Urbain!

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 10:27:33 | More by Brabander

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured in a chalice.

A: Pours a deep brown to black color. Forms a quite big and dark beige head when poured. Quite aired. Retention is low, however it never disappears completely leaving an almost brown and bubbled layer. Many lacings are left

S: Strong on dark chocolate. Belgian yeasts. Fruity and liquorous. Very spicy, notes of anis, cinnamon and mint. Intense flowery hops. Perfect nose

T: Very tasty beer, an Struise (thanx god :p). Sweet upfront. Chocolate, roasted malts, hints of coffee, Belgian yeasts. Again, very spicy. Hints of anis and mint. Stingy hoppy bitter end

M: Extremely creamy beer. Molasses. Medium carbonation. Delicious bitter aftertaste

O: Absolutely drinkable beer despite the 10% ABV. An Struise, nothing else to say

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 23:32:47 | More by eduardolinhalis

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Verrrry dark brown in color; its nearly black. Head is a creamy light mocha color, 2 fingers, and lacing like a champ.

Rich and malty, light sweetness, caramel, dark fruits and a dash of hops.

Big roasted notes, with some chocolate sweetness, dark fruits pleasant citrus and nice bitterness. Finish is a hair smoky.

Feel is nearing full bodied, creamy, slick, slightly coating and super smooth.

The alcohol is non-existent in my opinion. It's extremely tasty and unique. Drinkability is exceptional.

I may be ordering more sooner than expected...

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 01:53:44 | More by EgadBananas

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Again, follows the base Black Albert in appearance, black in color. This time there is a thinner head at 1/4", creamy tan, and provides curtains of sticky lace.

Smell: Chocolate sweetness but the spice hits you quickly (maybe cardamom?) on the nose, a lot of spicy complexity going on here, again some coffee underneath.

Taste: The spicy cardamom flavor is pleasantly up-front, followed by a mellowed Black Albert combination of coffee and chocolate. Sweeter (much) than BA, but again smooth and delicious on the palate.

Mouth feel: Once more Struise excels here, smooth, creamy, and (this time) very light on the palate.

Overall: Again, as maybe I've come to expect from Struise, an incredibly flavorful beer, alcohol is completely and I mean COMPLETELY masked, very smooth, and very tasty. Urbain's collaboration's seem so inventive and so unique, really definitive of the term craft brewer in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 03:05:41 | More by BobZ

Fulkrum78

Tennessee

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle I picked up at Bruisin Ales. Pours pitch black out of the bottle with a thick tan head that hangs around. Smell is complex, and very interesting. Somewhat piney, kinda reminds me of something I can't put my finger on. Taste is thick and rich, almost syrupy in the mouthfeel. Very full bodied. More of those pine notes. Interesting, lots of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 03:47:44 | More by Fulkrum78

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

$6.99 for an 11.2 oz bottle. Lot 01/01/2011

A: black, opaque color with nice full rocky tan head that dissipated but kept it all the way
S: incredibly full and rich, intriguing with deep roasted malt, caramelization, EtOH, dense
T: very good beer - deep roasted malts up front that carries through with nice bitter finish but not overpowering, reminded me of a bitter chocolate pudding, EtOH is very noticeable in finish, this probably should age for a few years and will be amazing, drinks well beyond its age
M: chewy and creamy at the same time, very smooth
O: very good beer

To my taste this is not a black IPA as described. reminds me more of an aged old ale and a young American imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 02:16:42 | More by wisrarebeer

Cmack15

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow what an interesting beer. The aroma is so unique, not sure I have ever smelled a beer like this before, getting some malty notes backstage and citrus notes front stage. The taste starts of with a strong citrus note then ends with malty sweetness. This beer has a lot going on and that is exactly why I like it so much. The mouthfeel is a lot lighter and smoother for a beer with this dark color. Simply put an amazing beer
Cheers

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 00:59:35 | More by Cmack15

Chincino

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I picked up a bottle of Outblack from the store at the Alvinne Festival in Belgium and brought it back with me to the US. I tried it the other night and was very impressed with this beer.

It poured very dark in color, almost black with a large mocha color head which dissipated fast. The aroma to me smelled of chocolate, malt, and honey. It was thinner than I expected. The alcohol content was well-hidden with this beer.

Great beer-I hope to try it again someday.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 11:22:22 | More by Chincino

Duffman929

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured at lord hobo in cambridge.

Pours dark black with a tan head that was light.

Smell is of cherries and chocolate with a floral aroma. Different than anything I have smelled.

Taste is of tartness from cherries and then transitions to a bitter floral nature from the hops and chocolate.

Mouthfeel is smooth, medium body. Not much carbonation.

This is an interesting combination for me, as I adore cherries and dark chocolate. I would drink this again and again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 03:04:01 | More by Duffman929

FosterJM

California

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

599th Review on BA
Bottle to Saints/Sinner
330ML

App- Classic Belgian brown with gigantic head to it. Split two ways, so the head was a bit tame. No cling to really speak off and it was a bit clearer than I thought.

Smell- I really love what the Belgians can do with a few strands of yeast, some rye and some candy sugar. This smelled so lovely. It was sweet, yeasty and a bit bready.

Taste- This is exactly why I love this style. This was a bit of a twist with the hops and brewed with a black IPA mix to it. The rye and the sugars bring out the balance of flavors.

Mouth- Medium bodied and a soft medium. The bubbles of the yeast and the rye are two great resounding flavors.

Drink- Damn I love this style. Flavorful, balanced, unique. This was done with a twist and it was so tasty. I'd love to have more of this.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 04:33:32 | More by FosterJM

gatornation

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

from a 11.2 oz bottle..loved the label

A-pours a black color with some black cherry striations in it with a big fluffy tan/cheery head that reveals chunky lacing

B- super fresh smell with ginger,spearmint,some chocolate a touch of dark fruit,a dash of nutmeg,..one of the best BSDA ive smelled

T- follows the nose..so good..again i get ginger softly coating citrus hops with light roasted chocolate malts, soft dark fruits with nutmeg and spearmint and a touch of funk..a treat

M- soft carbonation, smooth creamy velvet texture slightly dry with fruits and mints and citrus a nice funk taste on the palate nothing overpowers ..abv well hidden

O- a superior brew that i wish i could drink/buy more often i do have access to it,,but cant always buy it..superior ..highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 21:29:58 | More by gatornation

Kendo

New York

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from the bottle into a Piraat tulip-snifter-type glass. On the pour it appears brown as it glug-glugs out of the bottle, but in the glass it's more black, with a 1+ finger light tan head that retains well.

S: The nose is different from any beer I've ever smelled, so the brain is having some trouble putting it all together. I'm getting dark and dried fruits, something slightly smoky, some spice (cinnamon, perhaps) and chocolate malt.

T: I like this. Like the nose, the flavors bounce all around. Unlike some beers where too much going on is too much going on, here they play nicely together. I'm getting tart or sour cherries - if you'd told me there were cherries or cherry juice in this beer I'd say, "Ayup. No doubt." There is underlying chocolatey malt that oddly enough isn't noted up front in the sip; more like in the aftertaste. But chocolate malt is clearly there. Also some roasty malt. Alcohol is definitely noted, finishes a touch hot. Also a drying, roasty bitterness at the end so that it finishes pretty clean.

M: Fizziness is quite active (I'm burping a lot - my wife said it "feels foamy" and that's a good description), but gentle on the palate. Call it medium in heft, but the carbonation allows it to drink like a lighter beer.

O: Excellent. They say this is a hybrid/blend of a Black IPA and a BSDA - I don't get enough hoppiness for the IPA part, but whatever you call it, I like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 04:03:15 | More by Kendo

chrisgn

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a goblet. Started with 2 fingers of foamy head. Head sticks around with good lacing on the glass. Appears opaque dark brown.
Aroma consists of raisin/fig, brown sugar, and faint alcohol.
Excellent mouth feel and carbonation.
The beer tastes exactly as it smells. raisin, brown sugar, and a little alcohol burn on the end.
This beer is like a cross between a quad and Belgian dark strong. Also has some stout characteristics in the mouthfeel and the head. Very complex flavors and aromas. This is a very interesting beer. I wish I got another bottle to age for a while, but it is great fresh.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 23:56:41 | More by chrisgn

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap (as I recall) during the Belgian event at Max's.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is pretty attractive in this one, as I pick up chocolate, malt balls and vanilla. The beer smells fairly sweet, and my first sip confirms that it is. Otherwise, this beer is really pretty tasty on the palate, and I appreciate the rich, full, smooth mouthfeel. It seemed to enhance the chocolate, vanilla and light coffee all the more. There's a hint of heat on the finish, but it's not excessive, and really isn't too bad considering the abv. in this beer.

Very easy to take, despite the high alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 16:02:23 | More by johnmichaelsen

ngeunit1

California

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Dark black, bit of brown around the edges, finger of frothy khaki colored head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Roasted milk chocolate malts and caramel malts, grapefruit, orange, citrus, and light pine hops, rye, wheat, Belgian yeast, spices, light booze.

T - Roasted milk chocolate malts, caramel malts, grapefruit, orange, pine hops, bitterness, spicy rye, wheat, Belgian yeast, spices, hint of coffee, light booze.

M - Medium-full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a roasted, bitter, dry, warming finish.

D - Really nicely balanced and complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 03:47:54 | More by ngeunit1

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

opaque dark black liquid coming forward. Very large three inch plus head of off white colored froth coming over the top and settling down after what seemed like forever into a nice little layer of about a half inch in height. Excellent side glass presentation as well.

The aroma was rich, big notes of coffee and chocolate in here for sure. Semi sweet with a notch of bitter hops underlying it and loaded with a smoked, almost peat like aroma as well. Notes of dark figs and prunes rattling around in here as well. The flavor was about as spot on as I could imagine. Rich notes of coffee, dark German chocolate and figs were the big players here. The warmer it got the more it seemed to pick up on that smoked like flavor. Notes of earthy hops, light but noticeable were swirling around in here, really taking hold and pushing this to the forefront. Luscious and creamy feel, dominating by an active carbonation profile that really never let this one become dull or boring in anyway

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 04:52:26 | More by mikesgroove

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep brown, almost black with some sediment. Full, creamy, frothy, almost meringue like, light khaki colored head. Great retention leaving a nice lacing.

S - Starts with a great mix of dark fruit (raisin, fig and date) and grapefruit citrus. Slight fruit punch-like and a blueberry/pomegranate juice (maybe cranberry) aroma. Touches of coffee and chocolate along with a touch of roasted malt. Interesting.

T - Starts with an interesting fruitiness. Dark fruit (fig especially and a fair amount of raisin and date) along with citrus (grapefruit and orange). The combination of the two provides that blueberry/pomegranate/cranberry juice kind of flavor. I enjoy the mix. Mid sip and in the background throughout there is a nice earthy and sweet cocoa and coffee flavor. Sweet, tart and earthy mixture.

M - Light to medium body and above average carbonation. Slightly sticky finish but there is a prickley feel mid sip.

D - I throughly enjoyed the bottle and it went a little too fast. I liked the mix of flavors and thought it was well balanced and enjoyed how the flavors complimented each other.

Notes: Overall I quite enjoyed this and thought it was pretty unique. Two different styles mixed well (in my opinion) creating something unique. Not sure how often I'll get this (price) but I'm really glad I gave it a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 01:21:49 | More by FreshHawk

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Acquistapace’s Covington Supermarket in Covington, Louisiana. (Bet you never thought your beer would make it to a random shelf in Louisiana) for like $6. Awesome.

Poured from 11oz bottle into tulip. Lot 01/01/2011...bottled on or bb..not sure.
Pours a spectacular deep brown with amber hue and a crazy tan thick foamy head. It looks soooo creamy and good.
wow..big chocolate aromas, dried plum (prune), and sugar aromas pretty much dominate this one. Taste is so unique. Really dark chocolate, cinnamon/spice, dried fruit, spicy, then the dark chocolate hits again. I dont get much of the IPA on this, but I deff see the belgian dark.
Its a super tastey brew, creamy yet a slight sharp/bitter mouthfeel, but you would never know the abv... overall this is a fantastic brew. De Struise is just simply amazing...way to go Carlos! (and Stillwater).

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 03:29:56 | More by DrinkSlurm

yamar68

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 330ml to Duvel tulip:

Pours with very minimal clarity and an excited medium brown head. Milky, stubborn consistency with decent lacing. Head is incredibly dense, like insulation.

The nose is scattered with caramelized sugars. Honey, oats, milk duds, not much of an alcohol presence, cocoa, brown sugar, hot chocolate bits.

Taste is extremely unique. The nose suggested something run of the mill but this is far from it. Grapes and booze up front... all those various chocolate hints don't show themselves as clearly on the tongue. Some Belgian yeast surfaces after a bit of warmth. Very interesting.

Overall, this is exactly what I want from a pricey brew - not a textbook example of the style, but an adventurous take on a genre that you thought you knew. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 03:54:51 | More by yamar68

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks a beaut! Maybe not black, but an incredibly deep dark brown for sure, with a firm, foamy, filthy-white (as in Peanuts' Pigpen "white") head that leaves bits of lace as it lessens.

Whoa...didn't expect such a minty vibe in the aroma, but there it is...spearmint and peppermint, with a kind of medicinal and/or intensely herbal edge. Not sure what to think, and certainly no idea what to expect, taste-wise.

The peculiar but pleasing minty vibe hangs around in the taste, and I guess this is the hop character. It transforms on the tongue into a more black licorice sort of vibe than I'm picking up in the smell. Yet another example of a Belgian brewer taking the hop-centric inclinations of younger, cutting-edge US brewers and incorporating that into their own unique approach (I do realize this was a collaboration with Nevada's Stillwater brewery). But there's more, much more: something like chili pepper-infused chocolate is a major component of the flavor, and there's a sweeter, gooier chocolate/fudge vibe as well, and also bittersweet baking chocolate. So, yeah, there's a chocolaty thing going on here. Seriously bright herbal notes take up their share of space, and wow, despite the uniqueness and peculiarities of this beer, it remains totally balanced, totally drinkable.

Texturally this is just terrific. Super-smooth, ultra-silky, it glides across the tongue and down the throat like liquid velvet. I wonder if the use of four different malts (barley, oat, wheat, rye) is a huge part of why this feels the way it does. And come to think of it, those are probably adding to the exotic taste of the beer just as much as the hops and yeast.

Drinking Outblack, you feel you're experiencing something rare and special, something worth taking slow, taking care to contemplate each sip but not think too hard about it and just enjoy it. Another totally unique and special Belgian ale. Oh yeah, I dig. This is just great. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 19:00:28 | More by Metalmonk

djmichaelk

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle into a big cabernet glass. Jan 2011 bottling.

A - Pours a dark, murky black. Big three fingers of off-white head, fading to a thick cap with great retention and maybe slightly patchy lacing. Looks more like a nice stout than a BSDA or Black IPA.

S - Anise, spicy hops, dark chocolate, and cocoa. It almost singes the nose hairs. I like it.

T - Much more subtle than the nose indicates. Cocoa and hoppy spiciness dominate the front palate. Bitterness from the hops plus some roast in the mid, and the finish is all dark chocolate and coffee bitterness. Wonderful for the style(s).

M - Thick and creamy, with a long dark finish. Not dry so much as it's heavy and lingering.

O - I've seen this described as a Belgian IPA, a Black IPA, and now a BSDA. I think more than anything it's a Belgian Stout. At any rate, it's a solid beer. Much better than I expected. Worth importing, and recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 08:02:05 | More by djmichaelk

xpimptastikx

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a nice dark brown with a tan finger of head, moderate lacing. Looks like a BSDA to me.

S - This is nice. Dark fruits with roasted malts and nice citrus hop note.

T - Initial sweet of a BSDA, malt, raisins, slight spice of yeast, with a nice hop finish.

M/D - A full body and good carbonation are spot on like they are for most struise beers. This is definitely better that a "Cascadian Dark Ale", and is more drinkable, at least for my palate. It's nice now, but I'll have to sock away 2 for future years to see how it changes once all the hops are gone.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 23:37:01 | More by xpimptastikx

mmercede

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Teresa's Next Door.

A: Jet black with some caramel colored head.

S: Some nice roastiness and dark chocolate with a great saison yeast characteristic.

T: Great dark malts and dark fruits typical of a quad. However, the saison yeast is an amazing addition adding levels of spice and esters.

M: Definitely full bodied but not overly syrupy. Actually goes down quite easy. Has a nice low level of carbonation.

O: An amazingly complex and unique brew. Would love to try it again!

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2011 04:22:26 | More by mmercede

rinhaak

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

11 oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Pours a thick, dark black with faint hints of red. There is a very thick and foamy browned head.

The nose is intense with smoked malts, chipotle, coffee grounds, spearmint, prunes,

The taste is wild with an absolute collision of flavor. At first the tongue tastes a sort of postage stamp flavor, which matures into a smokey mint. Strong herbal notes with wild roots (sarsaparilla? burdock? dandelion?). The hops are present, though generally covered by a dark caramel/coffee/ash combination. A strong booziness throughout, it finishes with a bit of campfire smoke.

The beer has a velvet mouthfeel and coats your tongue with its silky goodness.

Overall, this is not a beer for the faint of heart. It just might be the most unique beer I have ever tasted, and I give De Struise props for thinking well outside the box. The ABV notwithstanding, it's far from a session ale; I almost recommending splitting a bottle with a friend. It is so intense it can almost be too much.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 03:33:04 | More by rinhaak