Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (Bourbon Barrel Aged) - De Struise Brouwers

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.76/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

33cl bottle - 2011 vintage, batch 11. Pours an amber hue with a loose, half inch, off-white head that dissipates into a consistent soapy skim. Nose expresses ethanol, candi sugar and something slightly herbal. Taste follows nose with a hint of toffee and candied fruit, but some hops bittering cuts through the flavor profile. A trace of anise and medicinal at the back. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a slightly oily texture. Carbonation is lively - a bit too assertive and somewhat gassy. Overall, this beer comes off as a barrel-aged Belgian Strong Pale. I liked, but didn't love this beer as there really was no impression of the bourbon character present for me. Pretty much the same as the Port version in my opinion; however this offering had a more pronounced ethanol character.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:09:35 | More by Jwale73

stumac

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours up a murky apple juice look. Decent white head, subtle lacing. Smells of green sour apples, lemons, candy sugar. Tastes is a trip. It starts with a crispy Belgian carbo bite, subtle caramel malts explode into tart fruits. Banana peel, cherries, red apples. Then muttles into an earthy, oaky, lil bit of vanilla finish. Musty, yet clean. Sticky mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Very tasty you rapscallions.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 04:53:59 | More by stumac

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.01/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep clear hazy brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of candi sugar with caramelized malt, light toffee and some light bourbon notes are also perceptible. Taste is a very drinkable mix between some caramelized malt with light toffee notes with some residual candi sugar notes, candy ester and some light bourbon notes with some vanilla also perceptible. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I was expecting the bourbon notes to be more apparent but this is still a very enjoyable and easily drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 19:51:23 | More by Phyl21ca

thierrynantes

France

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

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from La Cervoiserie, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : amber color with tan foamy head.
Smell : caramel, yeasty and bourbon aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : sweet malty and light fruity flavors, spicy and woody finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Belgian Strong Ale (vintage 2011).

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 19:15:26 | More by thierrynantes

kojevergas

California

3.56/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Tsjeeses Reserva (Bourbon Barrel Aged). 10%. Bottle served into a Samuel Smith's nonic glass at a tasting. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger khaki colour head ofnice cream and thickness. Retention is impressive for the high ABV; around two minutes. Body colour is a clear copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Pale malts, caramel, spice, ginger, cane sugar, honey, pineapple, bright fruit, and honey sweetness. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Spice, cane sugar, pale malts, honey, fruit acidity on the climax, ginger, malty sweetness, and an oak tone. Subtle hints of artificial vanilla. I get hardly any bourbon or stonefruit. A bit imbalanced.

Mf: Quite tingly and wet. Good thickness and carbonation.

Dr: Quite drinkable for the high ABV. I like it, but the bourbon is very restrained. Alcohol does come through a bit. Another solid brew from De Struise.

Low B

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 21:16:29 | More by kojevergas

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.4/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2011 vintage
Pours murky coppery-amber body with orangeish glow, capped by an inch of beige head that
eventually sets to stable veil.

The advertised bourbon barrel is nearly imperceivable to the nose initially, but grows as
the beer warms. Aroma is mostly spice and fruits: spicy phenols and esters reminiscent of
oxidized apple slices, sultanas and oranges play the dominant role supported by brown sugar and musty undertones.

The bourbon that yields warming sensation is obnoxiously evident when it comes to the flavor
featuring prominent oak-character, apple, orange and sultanas, peppery phenols and phenolic
bitterness that lasts throughout the finish. The bourbon is just to hot and doesn't integrate
well - the abandoned non-bourbon oak barrel-aged version was a way better.

Bourbon barrel-aging is a great tool to hide flaws of poorly crafted brew or to add complexity to the base-beer. Neither is needed with Tsjeeses. It's a pity so many brewers succumb to the BBA trend to please the masses even at the cost of spoiling the beer. (330 ml, BB 12-26-2017, into tulip).

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 23:46:42 | More by crnipeter

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2013-01-24 in Columbia, PA. This is lot C/8/10 (from the code on the bottle)

A - Fairly clear with some particulates orange-brown with a 1/2-finger off-white head and mild lacing.

S - Belgian yeast funk, some sour, overly-ripe apricot, spice.

T - Figgy pudding, plum, holiday spices, orange marmalade, light bourbon and tart apricot. It's pretty sweet but yields to drying alcohol and moderate hop bitterness.

M - Medium body and light-medium carbonation. Semi-smooth yet prickly.

O - I like this quite a bit better than the regular Tsjeeses I had earlier in the month. The bourbon barrel aging helped moderate some of the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 23:18:46 | More by Tucquan

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Can't believe I made it to the Struise school house. This beer was one of the few I picked up while there.

Pours out a coppery/amber that is slightly hazy and full of visible carbonation. Slightly off-white head.

Smells of sweet berry, cherry, and pear fruitiness, wood from the barrel, spice and some alcohol.

More alcohol and spice coming in the taste. Fruity and yeasty as well. When warmed you get much more barrel character.

Lots of carbonation on this bad boy. Scrubs the hell out of your tongue.

Such an interesting brew. A must try from these Belgian dudes!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 09:31:36 | More by MattSweatshirt

DoubleJ

California

4.61/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

One of the few remaining bottles left at Bruery Provisions before its closure, yet the small selection may had been the reason why picked up this bottle. Belgian Xmas ale is a good thing, seeing one with a year of age makes the anticipation more anxious. From a 330 ml bottle, on to the beer:

Toasted orange that accidently received a dash of Christmas red.The head on top forms an inch thick, dropping to a lace around the glass. A pleasant nose, mixing some Xmas pudding, plums, candied fruit, rum, raisins, and some alcohol.

It's very flavorful, and despite that is actually quite mellow overall. That makes it even better. The flavors of pineapple, dark rum, raisins, brown sugar....oh, here's the bourbon. There's a hint of chocolate too. It just gets better and better. Add that to the great mouthfeel, which is full bodied yet very soft on the palate, as is the carbonation. Unlike the aroma that gives a little booze, I can't find the alcohol in the beer's taste. Incredicble. The soft aftertaste of rum soaked raisins makes an uplifting final impression.

I had been thinking that I backed myself into a corner after trying some many beers over the last year (many which I approved), but nothing WOW!!! (except for Stone Enjoy by IPA) to my liking. It's great to get that feeling again, and Tsjeeses Reserva is just the medicine that I needed. If you can find it, get it now!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 09:12:06 | More by DoubleJ

heymikew

California

4.6/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This was the winner at our annual winter beer tasting party! (Four reviewers, 20 beers)

Very complex and yummy. Kudos to the talented brewers at Struise!

Tasty with fruit and spice notes , then dark fruit with caramel and vanilla hints of pepper and earthy woods. the oak is there and bourbon undertones.

We've had the regular Tsjeeses for the past few years and it alwasy scored well but this is a step up and will be on the list every year as long as they are producing it.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 04:17:59 | More by heymikew

ehammond1

California

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap (2010)

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

(Aged for 2 years)

A hazed golden amber with a very small, creamy off-white head. Leaves the glass with large collections of bubbles of stick. Unremarkable, but it definitely makes me want to drink it.

Lots of fruit elements coming through in the aroma (from the hops and yeast) in the way of sun-dried cherries and figs, some pepper, dried grapes that are turning to raisin, and oak. Really, this is quite the complex aroma. There's only a very mellow bourbon character to this, but it's there, and incredibly well integrated. However, the interesting, complex, divine yeast character is what separates this beer. It's quite nice.

The flavor is just as complex as the aroma, and express a lot of similar characteristics. Lots of dark fruits and oak shine through, along with a moderate bitterness, and some integrated, and complementary bourbon. It comes in to lend a spice not found in most barrel-aged offerings. An exceptionally drinkable, complex beer.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. I suppose I would like this to have more carbonation, especially for the style, but it's a tough thing to complain about when a. the beer is barrel-aged b. it's over two years old, and c. it's this darn delicious.

This one was not only interesting, but it was marvelously delicious. I would like to have this one again and will if I can ever find it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 21:49:10 | More by ehammond1

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-orange brown color with a smallish off-white head and little lacing

S-malt, dark fruit, brown sugar, cloves, hints of bourbon

T-toasted malt, dark fruit, molasses, cloves, coriander, hint of vanilla, very light bourbon presence

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth and not at all boozy

O-a tasty BSPA for sipping, but did not have as much of a bourbon presence as I had hoped for and I had difficulty distinguishing it from the regular version

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:59:28 | More by MDDMD

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-dark amber with a thin almost non existent white head. lots of floaties. motionless body. looks heavy and still, like a swamp.

S-very strong pale belgian malts. very malty, lots of caramel and sugars. some rawness. very big smelling. intimidating almost.

T-holy snikies. this is amazing. this is a perfect BSPA. comes in with toasty pale belgian malts and caramels and spices, quite impressive with the spices. peppercorn mostly. the after-taste though...it comes very late, but with a great hit of bourbon barrel. wow this is complex, and not subtle whatsoever.

M-good medium to heavy carbonation with a fairly dry finish

O-Might be the best BSPA I've ever had. Wow. it might also be the only barrel aged BSPA i've ever had...and it works. Dang, this brewery will not let me down!! please go out and find this, if you can't find it, message me and I will help you out!!

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:08:58 | More by AdamBear

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

So, exactly how much complexity can you cram into a Belgian pale ale? The fine brewers at Struise have seemed to find more depths, layers, and varieties of taste with help from used bourbon barrels which were used during six months of wood aging.

The beer pours with a somewhat muddy appearance of burnt orange and goldenrod hues. The haze murks up the snifter but testifies to its full "non-filtered" flavor. A creamy and fluffy off-white head separates from the liquid and caps the beer with long standing foam and intricate patterns of lace left behind.

Fruit and spice fill the nose- first a cidery apple note rises, then grape, pear, under ripened berries just before richer notes of dates and figs rise as the beer warms. Spicy white and black pepper, aniseed, cumin, and coriander also get bolder and spicier when I dive deeper and deeper into the session until the scent of musty and vinous woods, wine-like acidity, and vanilla laden oak accompany those last few drops.

Flavors take quite a journey across the palate, and once again are lead by fruit. A mix of wine-like fruits of pear, apple, and grape create a refreshing taste that are in perfect contrast to the early wine-like acidity, white pepper, and soft celery seed. Morphing into oranges, dried lemons, and raspberry- the the develops darker fruit taste at middle palate. Then the richer taste of figs, cherries, sultans, and dates invite a balance of fresh cracked black peppercorn, vanilla, caramelized oak, and sandalwood to signal the beer's finish. Earthen hops add to the mix and become just one of those spicy wood flavors that weave into the flavor profile seamlessly.

Medium bodied, there are those moments when the wine-ish acidity and thinness signal lighter bodies, but then the caramel, dark fruit, and carbonation makes the beer seem creamier than that. But as the carbonation dispels, the beer's spicy sweetness turns earthly bitter, tannin/powdery-dry, and with bourbon-style warmth to finish.

Tsjeeses Reserve is one of the most complex Belgian strong pale ales on the market. Balanced to near perfection, the beer gives new tastes to be explored with every sip. It's one of those beers that's less about enjoyment and more about exploration!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 17:25:32 | More by BEERchitect

Brabander

Netherlands

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this bottle some weeks ago when i had my Belgium day: picking up Westvleteren and the up to Struise.

Poured this one in the Struise glass as it should be. Nice pour with lots of head and some carbonation. Nice lacing which sticks in the glass. The fluid is a bit cloudy but not much. Nice lightbrown/copper colour. Smell of bourbon but not too overwhealming.

Taste is good with the 10 percent of alchol very well hidden but also giving a good contribution to the beer. Well balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 16:08:31 | More by Brabander

beerdrifter

Germany

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at a great little beer store in Arlon, Miorge Mihoublon. Vintage 2011, best before 26-12-2017. Hazy copper-amber pour with two finger off-white head that fades quickly with decent lacing. Fruity, woody, spicy nose with hints of caramel, clove, raisins, and just a touch of banana, vanilla, and booze. The bourbon is conspicuously absent. The wood and fruit carry through nicely to the taste as well. Hints of oak, dates, plum, caramel, vanilla, apricot, grass, and as it warms and opens up, a very subtle bit of bourbon. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly syrupy with a nice woody, subtly bitter finish. Was hoping for a bit more of the bourbon to come through, but as always, another winner from De Struise!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 17:06:55 | More by beerdrifter

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.73/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a Duvel Tulip glass.

Lot C from 8/2010.

A: Pours a deep amber color which is slightly cloudy. Forms a huge yellow creamy head with good retention and many lacings formed and left. A thin layer remains for long time and the lacings are quite molasses

S: Absolutely delicious nose. Sweet, spicy and veeery woody. Strong notes of Bourbon. Fruity with notes of grapes. Very malty too. Some flowery hops and alcohol

T: Perfect. Slightly sweet upfront. Very fruity with strong notes of grapes, oak, caramel malts, whiskey and spices (black pepper and cinammon). Considerable hops bitterness in the end

M: Heavy and molasses body. Medium carbonation. Bittersweet and woody aftertaste

O: Excellent beer. Very whiskey and spicy. A beer to be slowly appreciated

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 20:21:23 | More by eduardolinhalis