Shark Pants - De Struise Brouwers

richmof

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark but clear orangey-brown colour. Two finger creamy head (not sure what was wrong with the other reviewers beers).

On the nose I get citrus (predominantly orange plus peel), as well as biscuity malt.

This is a pretty intense beer. One of the more bitter imperial IPAs I have tried, with a quinine quality to the hops, as well as orange rind. It is not just bitter hop though: I also get a nice nuttyness from the malt. This is my kind of thing. The closest comparison I would make is to Troubadour Magma but I find this beer better balanced (the alcohol doesn't overdominate).

As I mentioned above, I am not sure what the other posters were referring to with the carbonation. Mine has a nice mouthfeel and is perfectly carbonated.

This beer is a one-off collaboration by Struise with the 3 Floyds brewery from Indiana I think (have never heard of 3 Floyds). I like it. It makes me want to try one of 3 Floyds but I have zero chance of finding it here in Brussels.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 21:28:24 | More by richmof

Danny1217

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%

06-17-2013 05:51:43 | More by Danny1217

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

06-13-2013 06:45:26 | More by HopsMatt

Nolen12

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

06-11-2013 03:27:59 | More by Nolen12

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-18-2013 02:37:42 | More by hotsudge

DStoked

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.5%

05-17-2013 18:28:59 | More by DStoked

jeroen78

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-13-2013 14:22:46 | More by jeroen78

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%

05-08-2013 11:38:34 | More by ADTaber

SStein

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%

05-07-2013 07:29:16 | More by SStein

BelgianBeerPope

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-20-2013 13:17:29 | More by BelgianBeerPope

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

04-12-2013 03:50:02 | More by cadaugherty

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

a deep amber almost purple in color with 3 fingers of creme colored fluffy head which left tons of sticky lacing on the glass. the smell is of alcohol, belgian yeast, banana, grassy hops. the flavor is still super hoppy for its age, lots of caramel, definitely an alcohol bite, sweet tripel-like flavor.. maybe from candi sugar? a resinouse lingering bitterness.
a heavier medium body beer with moderate carbonation, rich and creamy.

a very nice sipper. i can't fathom what this was like when it was fresh, 300 ibu??!! it definitely balanced out nicely over time, though the alcohol is very present.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 01:40:21 | More by facundoCNB

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to dfclav for this one, thanks Mike. Shared with rudzud.

Huge fluffy pillowy 1+ finger head, fades slowly with tons of lacing, murky dark mahogany copper thing-like color.

Nose is very Belgian like, funky yeast, De sruisse yeast typical, fruity and nutty, caramel and candy molasses-y aromas, light bready biscuit, etc. Then hops but not as hoppy as I expected for a supposed 300IBU beer, with earthy chewy syrupy hops, candy syrup light nutty thing going on.

Taste fluffy malt, candy sweet flavor, nutty, caramel, toffee, syrupy biscuit toffee like flavor. Then Belgian yeast flavors, Light spices, biscuit, esters, light phenols, candi syrup, etc. Then booze, some warming booze but plenty of phenols and esters, some sweetness. Nutty flavors, stone fruits, toffee, burnt brown sugar. Bitterness is there but not anything like I expected, more like dry bready earthy chewy spicy candy hop flavor with a decent bit not huge bitterness. Eventually, bitterness ramps like crazy, eventually almost ridiculously bitter, spicy earthy chewy hops, but not palate destroying crazy bitter.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, syrupy sticky, decent carb, some warming booze.

Overall ok but nothing like I expected, nothing too special, but cool to try.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 13:21:13 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.71/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to JLindros for sharing this bottle.

A - Poured into a palm tulip a dark hazy chestnut hue with a massive two finger off white head that fades to leave super thick blankets and side lacing.

S - Aromas of de struisse yeast, caramel, slight citrus, not much hops.

T - Taste is tons of toffee! Soooo much burnt sugar and toffee with a bitter hop finish. Uhh....this is 300 IBU?! Bullshit. Also....this is a Belgian ipa....uhhh OK.

M - Mouthfeel is decent enough with solid carbonation

O - Overall I was slightly let down by this beer. Not much bitterness with Ltd of toffee and caramel.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:23:04 | More by rudzud

Mattias

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

01-25-2013 20:48:01 | More by Mattias

Jspriest

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -17.1%

01-22-2013 05:31:30 | More by Jspriest

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap, served in a tulip

Orange tinted body with a deeper core of amber. A fluffy slightly off-white cap rises one finger and settles slowly, leaving spider web lacing in its wake. Orange, tangerine, pine resin, and a bit of an herbal note underneath. A sturdy caramel/toffee malt bill stands tall. Citrus invades the palate first. Sweet, juicy fruit up front with sturdy caramel and biscuit malt through the middle. The finish is bitter citrus and clean toffee. Medium body, good carbonation. Decent lingering finish of fruity notes and bitterness. This is missing some of the spiciness typically found in the style, but it delivers a hop bitterness I have not encountered before in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 17:54:15 | More by ColForbinBC

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a cloudy red-tinted copper, with a beautiful thick, towering light tan head. This takes some time to recede. There is no visible carbonation. A powerful start.

S - Resinous and citrus hops, plasticky phenols, green apple, some breadiness. Disappointingly restrained.

T - Initial flavour is grapefruit and lemon, before bready malt takes hold. Molasses and some fresh dark fruit are present in the middle. A phenolic note runs throughout, sometimes platicky and other times more medicinal and slightly boozy. The aftertaste lingers with resinous hop and caramel.

M - Medium mouthfeel becomes richer once the soft tingle of carbonation disappears by the middle of the drink. Not as outrageously good as many De Struise beers, but certainly better than most.

D - Hoppy, but in a restrained manner. Belgian flourishes throughout, with the alcohol masked well enough to catch you out. Certainly interesting and one of the better interpretations I've had of a Belgian-style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 11:54:36 | More by haz77

dglgmut

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%

10-27-2012 13:50:22 | More by dglgmut

t0rin0

California

2.5/5  rDev -36.2%

09-18-2012 23:46:37 | More by t0rin0

ironfistmargate

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

09-11-2012 16:11:59 | More by ironfistmargate

Morningstorm

Netherlands

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%

09-04-2012 14:39:12 | More by Morningstorm

russwbeck

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Really nice orange color with at least a finger of white head. Retention and lacing are great.

The aroma is musty and sweet, focusing on citrus and belgian yeasts. Very nice pine, fruit, sweetness balance.

The taste is light, bright, and delicious. This is exactly what I want a Belgian IPA to taste like. Sweet and bitter. Belgian yeasts, clove, citrus, orange, pine, and hop resins.

Medium body with a perfect amount of carbonation. Slightly chewing. Dry aftertaste.

Just a wonderful Belgian IPA. Quickly became one of my favorites in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 00:57:54 | More by russwbeck

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Served in a tulip glass, slightly hazy, dark amber color, nice fluff of white head that retained moderately well and left a bit of lacing on the glass. Aroma is a bit subdued, sweet with malts, brown sugar, fruity, yeasty. Similarly, it's pretty sweet taste-wise, almost a little too sweet for me, malts and sugars, peach, pear, cherry, yeast, spice, with a slight hop bitterness finishing things off. Alcohol is pretty tame. Mouthfeel is on the chewy side, medium body. Quite enjoyable overall, but one glass was enough for the session.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 13:01:45 | More by Rifugium

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Apex yesterday. Was told this was a De Struise/3 Floyds colaboration beer.

The beer pours a slight hazy amber color with reddish hilights. The beer has good head retention and lacing as well. On the nose, this beer is quite attractive. It smells a lot like vintage pannepot, but with with some underlying citrus as well. In any event, I pick up a nice array of cherry, light vanilla, milk chocolate, light brown sugar and dry citrus. As good as this beer smells, it's even better on the palate. The flavor profile tends to replicate the nose, but I love how the hoppy bitterness kicks in on the finish, drying out an otherwise moderately sweet beer. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, with a long, spice filled, hoppy/bitter finish. Alcohol is VERY well integrated into the flavor profile, and there's no heat whatsoever on the finish.

This is a very nice beer... the bartender at Apex indicated that only two kegs came into Oregon, and that Apex snatched them both. Smart move on their part...

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2012 16:33:21 | More by johnmichaelsen