De Struise Brouwers

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $

The brewery is in an old school, so getting a lesson on beer and brewing from these guys kind of felt fitting. After listening to the guys and talking with them for a bit, some sort of dancers showed up to do some dances for them, and from what I gathered these guys do this every year. It was pretty neat and after the dancing and enjoying a beer with the brewers, I told them they were punk rock, just because they are really into American craft beers, and want to do something like that here. A really cool place and really cool people.

09-29-2011 21:41:08 | More by OWSLEY069

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.45/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 3 | $$

What to say that wasn't said yet. But since I have to use 500 char. at least, I will try to write at least some more :). I have been to this place many times before. The last time when I visited the struise was some weeks ago with my parents. Carlo welcome us and immediately gave us a glass with earthmonk. After we finished he explained the story behind the BD5 and also poured a glass for us. Only disadvantage of the day was the very low selection of the Struise brews they had that day for sale. Anyhow highly highly recommendable place to visit. Hope to go there soon again

07-02-2011 10:46:36 | More by rvdoorn

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $

Struise is located in the Oostvleteren province, far west and your best bet is to have a car. Very close to St Sixtus abbey, the most obvious plan is to hit both up in one day, especially if driving from some of the larger cities.

The school atmosphere is interesting, with class rooms converted to all sorts of new functions. Urbain took me on a tour of the place, he's slowly modifying all his available space to the needs of an emerging brewing powerhouse. I can't overstate how nice Urbain was, he was obviously in demand on the phone but took the time to visit with me and try some beers. Carlos wasn't there when I visited, but I understand from others that he's just as friendly.

The front hall of the main building is set up as their bottle shop, and you can get some wonderful De Molen barrel aged rarities in addition to Struise's latest beers. Also a great selection of barrel aged Mikkeller beers when I was there.

If you head to St Sixtus, as so many beer travelers do when they come to Belgium, you really should consider a stop here as well.

04-09-2011 06:47:48 | More by TurdFurgison

andrejes

Netherlands

4.64/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I go to the struise brouwers for a look and in 10 min. Iám sitting in de classroom learing everijthing about the beers and drink some beers. Carlo is the best he teld the right story after come Urbain in the shop and give us a drink of the Double Black!!! and a glass of Westvleteren!!! The guys are the best and very friendly!! We taste the Rosse, Elliot Brew, Haired Jeanne, Ignis Flamma and Pannepeut 2010!!! I al this without a apportment the guys want to tell us everthing about their beers. Many Thanxs

06-12-2011 11:42:17 | More by andrejes

beerpirates

Belgium

4.66/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in here recently after picking up 12’s from Westvleteren or when i helped Urbain with botteling @ deca and had a wonderful experience. Through the courtyard and past the random brewing tanks you enter the hallway of an old school that is now De Stuise’s bottle shop. They obviously have all of the available Struise brews, but also some other random bottles (I picked up a de Molen brew while I was there.) On most of our visit's whe met Carlo who was kind enough to take us into one of the classrooms and give us a sampling of several of their beers (to include a Several American beers , also dirty horse etc ... ) The Struise guys were very hospitable and helpful, and each of us left with at least a case of beer. This is really the highlight of each trip that i make in that direction -:)
Cheers to struise. !!

04-30-2011 10:52:54 | More by beerpirates

spoony

Colorado

4.67/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | $

A-De Struise is located behind a nondescript building front in Oostvleteren, a small village in Flanders. Upon walking through the building front and into the old school yard, you wonder if you are in the right place...the only giveaway that this place is brewery is the palate or two of bottles and odd pieces of brewing equipment laying around. Once you get into the classroom, however (it is literally an old classroom with school desks and chalk boards), things feel more normal. There is a wall with perhaps 20 taps and some tasting glasses and a few people mingling around sniffing and sampling. It turns out those taps pour all different types of De Struise beers including a number of works in progress or beers that have long since been discontinued...awesome. There are a few other beer tourists (one couple from California, a British gentlemen, and a pair of guys from Germany that were kind enough to share the wine they made with everyone). The vibe is friendly, sort of strange, laid back, and inviting.

Q-We tried perhaps a half-dozen different brews and all were great or close-to-great. The sours, in particular, were delicious, as were the better-known quads. I did not notice any guest taps, but the sheer power of the De Struise taps was more than enough to warrant a high ranking.

Ser-The gentlemen who assisted us was inviting, friendly, quick to offer a refill, and very knowledgeable about all of the beers on tap. We could have sat around for hours chatting beer with him and sampling.

Sel-I was pleasantly surprised to see so many taps on the wall and then to learn that many were experimental or out-of-production. The selection of bottles to purchase was more limited, but I didn't worry about that after my half-dozen free tasters. The large number of taps gave De Struise a more modern feel than many of the other Belgian breweries with the limited selection.

V-It doesn't get much better than unlimited, free samples. The prices for the bottle sales were also pretty reasonable.

06-09-2013 23:14:18 | More by spoony

jrallen34

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $

Glad the Brothers finally made this change and allowed for breweries to be reviewed... Located in very very small town on a non-descript street in Oostvleteren. This is the epitome of small town rural Europe. The school house opens at 2 so plan accordingly. The school house contains its new brewing equipment moving in, a class room, and an office. When you first walk in lined against the wall are tons of De Struise beer and rare De Molen ticks for sale, great prices. Below the beers are display shelfs showing off tons of rare beers they have been brought. The atmosphere is nostalgic and awesome, if not a touch too cold on the day we were there... As we walked in we were greeted by Carlo, one of the owners and the main entertainer of guests. He lead us back to the office where we met Urbain and shared a Mikkeller Jackie Brown. Urbain had some work to do and sent us on a trip to Westvletern with beerpirates to pick up his order of 3 crates of Westy 12! Westvletern is 6km away, located in farm country, beautiful... After we got back form Westy we spent a good 3 hours in the classroom with Carlo tasting every De Struise beer they had. The whole time Carlo provided great insight on how they came up with the beer, name, bottle designs, and general brewing knowledge like how they referment the beer to carbonate it when bottled. Towards the end Urbain showed up and spent plenty of time with us. Additionally, Urbain told us about a excellent bed and breakfast right down the road which was a perfect place to stay.

Bottom line if you're in Belgium you have to go here and hit up both De Struise and Westy. It is immensely informative, incredibly company and conversation with two very smart people, and great drinks.

02-27-2011 23:53:52 | More by jrallen34

Brabander

Netherlands

5/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

When you visit Belgium this is a MUST to go to!!

I have been there at least 15 times in the last 20 months or so. Usually i make a trip to Westvleteren to pick up some westy's and after that a visit to the Struise. Although the old school isn't quit ready yet you feel at home instantly. Carlo and Urbain are two great hosts and very enjoyable to talk with. They let you drink the whole palet they have and believe me; you will be very impressed if you never had the pleasure to drink some of their beers!

I will be there next week and next month and the months after that and untill now i never drank a beer there myself....As the driver i have to keep sober. But someday...

03-24-2011 21:08:05 | More by Brabander