Svea IPA - De Struise Brouwers

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Svea IPA.
330 mL bottle with no freshness date. Poured into a tulip glass. Produced a nice rocky tan white head, with quite good retention. Colour is a ruby brown, a rather dark shade with strong carbonation and good lasting film and lacing. 3.75

S – lemon citrus, also a lot of malty barley notes present, granary, fresh yeast notes, light florals, brown sugar, some of the sour rye character coming through. 4

T – not what I expected, a sour rye citrus candy character, a prominent floral character, a caramel maltiness, soft graininess and bitter grainy malt toast, crisp biscuit on the finish with a mild hoppy bitterness. Some firm yeast, with dry barnyard and some hay. Finishes with more lingering malt caramel and florally hops. 3.75

M – highly drinkable with an underlying sweetness, moderate body and carbonation, a slick hop bitterness on the finish. 3.75

The intriguing part of this is that it draws on so many divergent aspects, somewhat assertive pilsner hopiness, Belgian yeast, some rye sourness, and a lot of malt backbone. Altogether not sure how well this works or where to class it, definitely a unique offering. The flavor and balance are pretty good but complexity here is pretty limited, and I can’t really foresee returning soon. More of a unique experience than a well-crafted beer. 3.75

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:16:13 | More by mick303

beerpirates

Belgium

3.51/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

33 cl bottle poured into ly the bruery snifter

Head is almost white and settles quickly.
The beer is a dark, slightly hazy amber color.
Aroma is yeasty and sweet. Tastes a bit malty, sweet (sugar) and some hops. Carbonation is medium, overall a pretty smooth mouthfeel.
Finish has hints of sugar, smooth bitterness and a bit dry. All in all, this is a nice beer. However, not what I expect from and IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 19:26:10 | More by beerpirates

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle. Wide Stem glass. Enjoyed on mar´13. Deep brass in color, orange to the light. Beige foam, wide creamy crown. Copious lacing rings. Amazing ripe fruit, caramel & toasted malt aromas. Toasted slightly sweet malt upfront is shaked by increasing citric/floral bitterness. Medium & flavorful body. Soft carbonation. Oily to watery mouthfeel. Citric astringency. Sweet malt finish. Orange zest & ripe fruit on the aftertaste. Well balance between sweet malts & sharp hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 17:07:56 | More by GONZALOYANNA

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A-chestnut brown with a thin cream colored head

S-smells like an aged IPA. very herbal with sweet gum and honey

T-well this doesn't taste like much of an IPA. comes in with a flavor of herbs, caramel, and a nuttiness. it's a faint flavor with a weak matching after-taste

M-thick medium carbonation with a watery finish

O-it's not a terrible beer, but it's not a good IPA. all of the flavors are muted, not very bitter, not hint of hops. i wonder what this tastes like very fresh though.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:19:26 | More by AdamBear

brureview

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

In a tulip, the beer poured a golden honey color with no head.

The aroma from the head was weak for an IPA, a light honey--fruit.

The mouth feel is very tart.

The beer has a very unusual taste. Not very hop forward for an IPA, some fruit, but the alcohol masks the fruitiness especially as the beer warms.

Overall, unusual, interesting, but I prefer American IPAs, with strong fruit, strong hops, and more IBUs. There was too much alcohol presence in this beer. I won't try it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:20:43 | More by brureview

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Jan 2014. Purchased from a Belgian webshop a while back and stored in my garage. Hopefully it hasn't aged too badly. The label mentions a ton of grains and hopping with noble hops (?).

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Bottle conditioned. A darkish orange-amber hue with good clarity and plentiful carbonation. Yields a vast head of creamy off-white foam with good retention; this slowly subsides to a thick surface layer. Aroma of sweet, fruity Belgian yeast with notes of grass, mild citrus, earthy yeast esters, caramel and stewed hops. A warming whiff of booze in the background.

Tastes of fruity Belgian yeast with a restrained hoppy character and a dry finish. Notes of grassy hops, mild citrus, caramel, banana, a hint of clove and stewed hops. Quite sweet and distinctly boozy. A subtle dry bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with a faint spicy quality. Nice body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of fruity yeast, sweet caramel and mild hop notes.

Interesting and rather nice. Pretty subtle for an IPA - the hop notes don't exactly break down the door. Although if noble varieties were used I suppose their flavour would be more delicate than a typical American IPA. Plenty of yeast character in evidence and the malt shines through well; a beer with good balance. The booze does come on a bit strong though, giving it a distinctly solventy twang. Worth sampling if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 23:03:56 | More by jazzyjeff13

ccrida

Oregon

3/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into my large Gulden Draak tulip, Svea IPA is a murky, dark orangish brown. Small off-white color and no lace.

Smell is herbal, fruity, earthy. Complex. A bit sweet, some orange candy, but mostly herbal. Fresh cut grass.

Taste is malty, earthy, sweet, bitter. Pretty complex english style IPA, nothing distinctly Belgian about it (some of the Brittish ale esters are as fruity as the Belgian's). The malt here is too dominant for my taste. Complex, but not really that tasty to me. A little uncured tobacco leaf.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a touch slick.

Drinkability is ok, not offensive by any stretch, and fairly complicated, but also not that enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 03:45:06 | More by ccrida

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a somewhat dark amber color for an IPA. Floral hops for the most part with a bit of citrus peel and berries. Toffee and caramel malts give a pronounced sweetness as well. The flavor is lightly bitter with a moderate hop profile of floral and citrus peel notes. Minimal pine notes in the background. Sweet malt flavors of bread and toffee, a hint of caramel as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 03:20:09 | More by womencantsail

mrfrancis

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a murky amber with an enormous, pillowy off-white head.

S: Delicate aromas of candy sugar, biscuit, caramel, grass, citrus, and spicy yeast are present on the nose.

T: Notes of candy sugar, cinnamon, clove, biscuit, chalk, talc, lime, lemon, bitter orange, herbs, and grass wash across the palate. The finish is dry and chewy with biscuit, caramel, and bitter citrus flavors.

M: On the lighter side of medium in body, very dry, and very chalky. Carbonation is delicate and tingly. Alcohol manifests as a subtle warmth on the finish.

O: This is a fairly solid Belgian IPA, but I can't say that it really stands out in any meaningful way. Still, it's very much worth a try, though.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 12:47:19 | More by mrfrancis

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

If highly hopped Belgian ales are going to make it out of the bullpen and into the starting rotation, they have this regal ale to thank. Struise has masterfully taken the recipe for Belgian pale ale and rearranged their proportions to meet that of the driest and hoppiest beers to be found.

Pouring a hazy rusty-bronze color, the beer's bottle conditioning is evident as the bulk of sediment is reserved for the bottle and not the glass. Nearly billowing over the snifter, the carbonation erupts into a high and airy froth. Decorated with yeast spice, the beer nearly equals rocky textures before receding slightly. Neither retention nor lace is a problem here as the beer carries its froth 'til the last sip with the adornment of lacing along the way.

The breadth of all-things-Belgian is captured in the nose. Wave after wave of malty caramel and bread crust first, then subsequent waves of winy fruit, spicy alcohol, earthen hops, grasses, and herbal all take turns challenging the sense of smell. The mild restraint from the full brunt of hop aromas keep the beer Belgian-balanced.

Flavors follow suit, but as soon as the expectation of malt sweetness of caramel, crusted bread or confection is anticipated... none- the bone dry malt taste passes by the front palate and ushers in the slight zinfindale must taste that borrows taste and textures of red grapes, dried apricot, and berry-like tartness. Met with the balance of yeast-derived white pepper and fresh cracked black peppercorn, the balance is pushed into overdrive with the hops. Very earthy from there on, the hops contribute flavors of muddled grasses and herbs with a stemy twig-like taste that hinges on sassafras, wood bark, and perfumy sandalwood.

Even with the complexity in taste and aroma, the real magic of the beer lies in its texture. The beer erupts with carbonation with every sip, pulling the terse weight of malt from the tongue and ushering in the evaporation of taste well before the finish. The beer whimsically dissolves on the palate like cotton candy, except with the warm, earthy spice and soft pang of alcohol, carbon, and pepper. Effortless in its ease of drinking, this beer captures all of what Belgian ales do best.

Where the IPA fan in me wants to see more tilt toward hop aroma, flavor, and bitterness; this more balanced option pulls my attention away from the expectation of hops and into the balanced world of fruit, spice, and earth and reminding me with each sip that this is the beer is controlled by Belgian artisans.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 17:00:32 | More by BEERchitect

largadeer

California

3.1/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Ruddy amber with good clarity and a tall lasting head.

Smell: Herbal, botanical, somewhat minty. Earthiness, bready malt, tea. Fairly clean.

Palate: Bitter herbs, black tea, earthiness and a touch of lemon. Very English, more reminiscent of an English IPA than anything. Pretty clean yeast profile. Slightly bready, but rather dry and attenuated. Bitter herbal finish, slightly astringent.

Overall: Decent, not really an enjoyable hop profile, but it's clean and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 06:58:22 | More by largadeer

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Neat and different take on an IPA. Poured at a good temperature with a voluminous, cream-colored, foamy, frothy, billowy, fluffy, textured head that just sits there and lots of clingy lace. Color is a slightly hazy amber with some particulates and oodles of extremely tiny bubble trails. Aroma is malt, hop, wet cardboard, resin, yeast. Flavor's like nose and has a very balanced package of sweet, bitter, and tang to appreciate. It's a little understated while delivering the goods. Body is good, although there is a mineral quality that accents some bitter & tang highpoints that are a touch coarse. Finish is like flavor, a bit boozy, and on the long side. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 02:03:40 | More by drpimento

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, bottled december 2011

A- Foam immediately starts to gush out of the bottle and it doesn't stop to slowly flow out for a long couple of minutes. Final pour is a deep murky copper colour with a huge fluffy white head that shows decent retention and nice amounts of lacing on the glass

S- Pungent/spicy herbal hop notes, expecially pine, among an actually quite sweet grainy malts base, with a bit of yeast earthyness

T- Crisp grainy/crackery malts, with yeast and sugar in the mix bringing a persistent, sweet background feel. Hop notes are on the herbal side, with pine and maybe a slight touch of tobacco. Some background citric notes may be noticed on the tongue. Some bitterness in the aftertaste, but still overall sweeter than i expected

M- Medium to light body with quite high carbonation, as the appearance suggested. Overall i feel like mouthfeel is not very clean: i realize that this is belgian but yeast gets a bit too much in the way for the style in my opinion. High carbonation brings a lively feel and partially hides the yeast issue

O- Has great drinkabilty for it's ABV. A thirstquenching and somehow highly satisfying beer, despite not so high complexity. Perfect balance between it's bitter hoppy character and it's residual sugary sweetness, unless you are looking for a hop bomb

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 21:38:09 | More by Cozzatoad

DARIVA

Netherlands

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice beer but not extremely special.
Sweet and sour taste which has got a good tingle.
The malt is also well represented with some flavor of crackers and raisins.
For me, this beer is just above average.
Also the yellow color and the foam looks very good.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 17:22:14 | More by DARIVA

mulder1010

Australia

2.7/5  rDev -26%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

330 ML bottle poured into a tulip

A-- Poured pretty much all head. Literally a 5 finger head. Slight gushing from the bottle. When head receded it left a hazy, dark orange amber colored body. Huge, rocky light brown head. Great staying power to the head and retention. finally faded to a rocky collar. Lots of little carbonation beads and safe to say pretty lively.

S-- When opened the bottle got a lot of candied pine, grapefruit, and orange. Belgian yeast is very obvious. In the glass it was more about fresh cut grass, toasted carmel and candied sugar. Just quite faint in the glass. Not at all like when first opened.

T-- Bland, real bland. Some fresh cut grass and pine. Not much else.

M-- Far better beer in mid and back palate. Candied Orange, grapefruit, grass, and toasted carmel in the mid and black. Light bodied and medium carbonation. Dry in Front and mid palate, candied orange blossom in back with some residual sweetness.

O-- Decent but not real exciting. For the most part pretty bland until the back of the palate. Not enough to save this though.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 12:09:45 | More by mulder1010

Mar02x

Netherlands

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - What a huge head on this IPA, a stayer too. - The Fluid is brown with yellow swirls.

S - Mostly pine and grass

T - A light sweet beer with fresh pine. A bitter aftertaste that doesn't linger around.

M - The body is a bit to thin as is the taste, but what do you expect from an IPA.

O - An OK IPA, but not in anyway special.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 19:59:59 | More by Mar02x

dgilks

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Lightly hazy amber colour with a big, fluffy, long lasting, off-white head. Good head retention.

Lightly soapy, grapefruity, orangey aroma with a touch of pine. Almost classically American hop profile but the soapiness is a little odd.

Lots of sweetish malt with plenty of bitterness as well. The citrussy hops are good but fall a little empty through the midpalate. Slightly soapy.

Medium body with moderately-high carbonation. A touch overcarbonated.

Overall, this is not the world's best IPA. It starts off nicely but feels a bit unbalanced and lacking in hop flavour through the mid-palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 06:07:51 | More by dgilks

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

11.2oz brown bottle poured into a cervoise. The brew appears a hazed amber to orange color with a yellowish stained tan head. Initially the cap forms with 3 fingers worth of strength but as the carbonation comes out of solution, the cap grows another full finger that protrudes above the rim of the glass. (If I didn't see it for myself, I honestly wouldn't believe it.) A stream of carbonation rises through the brew nearly non-stop and it takes quite awhile before the first sip can be taken.

The smell of this brew has some fruity and zesty rind aspects somewhat like orange, lemon and lime. There is an herbal character present that blends into some grassy elements mixed with a bit of mineral inclusion mixed with sulfur. The grainy backing has a bit of toasty appeal to it and a hint of some stinky cheese.

The taste has minor zesty elements upfront reminiscent of lemon, lime and orange. The typical expected hop bitterness is present with a flavoring that is both fruity and floral. The malt provides a toasty grain flavor that is somewhat bready to biscuit-like. The hops give off more flavor than bitterness which is an enjoyable mix. Towards the backend, the hops get a bit more juicy and include a light element of pine/spruce.

This is a medium bodied brew with a very active level of carbonation. The alcohol is very well integrated for 7%. The overall balance of flavor included in this is very interesting. Initially I thought this beer was just "ok" but as it warmed up and some of the carbonation was swirled out, this really started to grow on me. This beer is a fine example of why you shouldn't judge a beer by the first sip. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 03:24:02 | More by stakem

Casey10

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This was a really nice beer huge head lots of carbination. It had really nice citrus notes and some grassy taste as well. The mouthfeel was nice overall expensive as a one off but always nce to try something new might have again but didn't blow me away as a regular IPA. Worth trying but not going out of my way to have one either.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 02:17:14 | More by Casey10

Philousa

California

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep ruby copper, clear with active carbonation below the thick, four finger head. Sharp grass aroma with a bit of floral hops. Lots of malt in the background, amber hints to a pale malt base, reminding me of a rich, sweet biscuit. The carbonation prickles the tongue with the first sip. Yeast starts the flavor department = tart, with lemon esters, then bitter, hops take over. Very earthy. Yeast adds a rich caramel and burnt biscuit flavor. Mealy and a bit thick in feel. No doubt this is overcarbed, but once you let it settle down a bit, it's good to go.

This isn't like other Belgian IPAs I've had. The Belgian yeast and darker than normal malt really separate it from the pack. The malt especially. It's more complex, and this might be the first time I've really stood up and took notice of an IPA's malt. The hops and malt go very well with the Belgian yeast. Done well all around.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 05:18:20 | More by Philousa

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

part of my Hoppy Holidays line up.

Lighter copper color, clean and clear. The head, oh my...the head. It was huge. Lots of foam here. Too much, which drops it down from a 5. Probably about 1 1/2 HANDS of foam. Good lord...

Aroma lead me to believe this beer would be just overcarbonated and that's it. Faint caramel and fainter pine. Some tropical notes and candied sugar sweetness....like a Jolly Rancher minus the fruit.

Flavor rescues this beer. The tropical notes really come through and pick up the pine by the boot straps. Malt gives it some balance and keeps the pine from turning metallic. A bit boozy on the end.

A nice IPA with some Belgian yeasty and candied qualities. Foam was too much, but that's a minor issue

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 23:26:31 | More by Mebuzzard

beesy

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured fom a bottled listed as lot 15 with a bottle date of 03/12/11

A - pours a light orange with a 3.5 finger off white head.

S - hop and belgium yeast pehenols and slightly musty

T - a little harsh. Prob should have been drank fresh, but this bottles returned home with me from Vegas at the end of Oct. Lots of phenols up from that give way to a firm hop bitterness paired with a grainy, oaty taste. The grains actually taste quite good.

M - fairly light. High amounts of carbonation may be working here a little.

D - somewhat low being this is not the most enjoyable belgiun ipa ive had.

Overall, i could see how this coud be a tasty brew if it were fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 02:29:32 | More by beesy

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark murky orange with a towering head. Some retention which leaves some splashy lace.

Pine and malt in the nose, with some funky yeast.

Pine up front, balanced by some toasted malt, a little bready sweetness, some funk (but not enough). Bitterness has character- a well defined hop presence (not bitter for the sake of bitterness). Finish is malty and hoppy.

Carbonation here is big and tingly -- almost gets in the way.

Not bad. Good hops, over carbonated structure, and not quite enough funkiness. Decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 13:18:10 | More by OtherShoe2

mrand01

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330mL bottle labeled "Lot 15|12|2011| BOTTLED O3/FF" poured into a DFH tulip.

A: An opaque amber/brown with a thick 1" frothy white head. Insane head retention, it just won't die! Almost no lacing left behind.

S: Hops & belgian yeast. Hop character seems to have mellowed a little bit.

T: Interesting, not really like an IPA any more, so I guess this bottle is a bit past it's prime. That said, this is still an excellent brew. Some caramel sweetness to go along with a solid malt backbone. Hops are still here, but barely.

M: Medium bodied with insane carbonation. Very frothy.

O: I'm not sure why I keep buying Belgian IPAs, I'm clearly not a giant fan of the style (save for Anchorage Bitter Monk). That said, the execution here seems spot on, just not my cup of beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 21:54:58 | More by mrand01

3rdRowTailgater

Louisiana

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Pours a cloudy, dark orange color with a lot of frothy cream colored head that lasts and lasts and leaves nice lacing.

The smell is funky with earthy notes with some fruitiness. Not a lot of hop aroma.

Has a farmhouse taste with Belgian funk. Also notes of caramel, biscuit malts with a slight earthy hop flavor. Nice balance and complexity.

Lot of carbonation, to be expected. Good mouthfeel and lingering taste.

It's a good Belgian IPA, one that I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 02:19:51 | More by 3rdRowTailgater