Tsjeeses Belgian X-Mas Ale
De Struise Brouwers

Tsjeeses Belgian X-Mas AleTsjeeses Belgian X-Mas Ale
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From:
De Struise Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #42
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Ranked #11,058
Avg:
3.99 | pDev: 10.78%
Reviews:
252
Ratings:
483
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 11, 2023
Added:
Dec 14, 2006
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  92
Tsjeeses is a jolly, blond winter ale with a fluffy white cap. Its aroma is elegant with hints of fruit, spices, refreshing herbs, and noble hops. The taste is robust, very complex, and quite dry for its style. This warming ale is our gift to you for the holidays. Enjoy!

Brewed and bottled on the Deca Brewery in Woesten-Vleteren.

EBC:14, IBU:32, OG:1093, FG:1018, ABV:10%
Hops: Marynka, Brewers Gold
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kjkinsey:
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Rated by kjkinsey from Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

May 29, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of robotic_being
Rated by robotic_being from Illinois

3.92/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2013 vintage drank in 2023.
Jul 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.63 by Beecham from California

Dec 31, 2022
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

3.36/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
330 mL bottle. 2015 bottle, so probably not doing this much justice. Deep amber. Smells of cardboard and dark fruits. Tastes a little better. Sweet caramel, dark fruits, herbal hops lend an earthy finish. Lightly spice lingers. Medium heavy. Good, but way too old. Will re-review if I try it fresh.
Dec 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.35 by arzt from Germany

Jun 30, 2020
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Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

3.71/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Decanted from an 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottle into a Captain Lawrence muffin top, custom taster pint glass; this is the 2013 Vintage (lot 5183647514|bottled 07/2014). Again, trying to get everything in for those of those of you with decoder rings and crystal balls.
A: Pours a murky brown color with a less than one finger, wheat colored head, actually fairly decent retention, and modest rings of lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel more molasses, cocoa, pumpernickel bread, white pepper, honey, and apricot.
T: Sweet. Flavors very much derived from the nose. Certainly some orange zest, more than a touch of cinnamon, and maybe some sarsaparilla. Bitterness solid but definitely in the background this year.
M: Full bodied with solid carbonation up front, moderating with time, impressive for something in the bottle so long. Chewy, really.
O: This still tastes a lot like an English Old Ale to me, but more consistent with the Christmas spices I expect.

Previously, decanted from an 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottle into a Tree House snifter glass; this is the 2012 Vintage (lot 120713042012|bottle lot 16|G|HH). Bottle also says T&J No. 11. Trying to get everything in for those of those of you with decoder rings and crystal balls.
A: Pours a murky brown color with a less than one finger, wheat colored head, rim retention, and minimal lacing.
S: Aromas of caramel more molasses, pumpernickel bread, white pepper, honey, and apricot.
T: Sweet. Flavors very much derived from the nose. Certainly some Graham cracker and maybe a touch of cinnamon. Strong, really too strong bitterness leaves a pepper/cumin flavor lingering on the palate (especially initially).
M: Full bodied with solid carbonation up front, moderating with time, impressive for something in the bottle so long. Chewy, really.
O: This tastes a lot like an English Old Ale to me. Maybe I am just being provincially American, but got only a jot of Christmas spice throughout. That said, really didn't know what to expect and it was enjoyable enough within those style boundaries. Perhaps my palate just isn't sophisticated enough. This is a bit old: I have the 2013 Vintage and let's see how that goes.
Dec 14, 2019
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Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York

4.19/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bourbon barrel aged variant (2013 vintage).

Rusted coppery brown. Pure white head...large soapy bubbles cling to edges.
Montmorency cherries, Belgian candi nose, tart and semi-sweet. Chocolate malt balls, ginger and clove spice.
Chinese five spice, dried sugar plums, orange peel, crusty brown bread, cardamom tea, and raisin. Bourbon aging imparts a woody and sweet toffee treacle. Not overly boozy, but it has some legs.
Dec 11, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Unknown vintage, possibly a few years; drank 4/19/14 @ the Yarchives.

Orange rust murkiness; lots of off-white flotsam.

Minimal off-white head; almost no lace.

Apple cider nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Watery apple cider flavor; drinkable but not very good.

A far cry from Tsjeeses Reserva's majestic greatness. Oxidized, perhaps?!
Nov 10, 2019
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 11.2 oz bottle in a snifter. This 2011 vintage pours a
lightly cloudy orange tinged tea color with a light head of quickly
dissipating foam that leaves behind a faint ring and scant dusty
layer. Nose of Belgian candy, subtle fruit, subtle dark breaded
notes, and faint Belgian spice of coriander. Flavors lightly exceed
the nose with brown sugars and candy sugars dashed with dark
cranberry bread. Tea and orange zest also show with warmth
amongst a light coriander note. Mouth feel is low carbonation,
medium light body, and a lightly sweet finish.

Overall, a nice brew, but would be better fresher.

Cheers
Nov 09, 2019
Photo of RayCannata
Rated by RayCannata from Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pretty dark, murky for a pale ale. Modest foam. Malty and sweet, almost cloying. The spice is mild. Really enjoyed this one alot.
Oct 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.29 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Mar 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Jan 13, 2019
 
Rated: 2.55 by bigbutter from Virginia

Dec 25, 2018
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
was lucky enough to have my neighbor share a bottle of the 2012 vintage this weekend, as we drank through way too many christmas beers in one sitting. this one has ages super well, and i actually liked it better than the bourbon barrel aged version from 2013, which he also graciously shared in the same absurd session. this one is a little cloudier, a less pronounced red looking color, more of a copper, with some haze and a short off white head that settles fast. it smells amazingly mature, i get a light tannic and oak thing, although im not sure this sees any way. i get some lightly faded hops which add perhaps a little oxidation here, plenty of raisin but its not fruity or sweet, and a belgian yeast thats stood the test of time, peppery and slightly vinous, malt base like a barleywine rather than anything belgian, at least at this stage. all of this is true in the flavor too, lightly nutty, decadent without being sugary, brandy notes, dried plum, star anise, black tea, faint orange peel, black pepper, candied pear, and a liquid breadiness bringing it all together. not particularly boozy, in great shape for its age, and a really nice christmas beer without forcing the holiday vibe at all, which i greatly appreciate in this day and age. always a treat to drink beer from de struise, they all seem to age so well. this rules, id love to try it fresh sometime too!
Dec 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by shelby415 from Oregon

Dec 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.02 by paleoplant from New York

Nov 12, 2018
Photo of joaopmgoncalves
Reviewed by joaopmgoncalves from Portugal

3.69/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured to a Mikkeller tasting glass.

A: Body is very orange and and crystalline, head is minimal but looks like a BSPA with some more darker and orange-y tones.
S: The aroma is very strong of belgian candi, caramel and molasses.
T: Taste is mostly of belgian candi, to an extend that's even too intense.
M: Body is medium. Alcohol is unnoticed. Bitterness is low. Sweetness is medium high.
O: Not the most interesting beer to have in Christmas due to its intensity on belgian candi and caramel, but it's still drinkable.
Oct 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by marcrech from Brazil

Aug 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by JohnTurano from Florida

Jan 22, 2018
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Reviewed by MelonLord from Indiana

3.37/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
2008 vintage (!) that i got for $2.50(!) on discount

It looks like belgian beer but up against a light it almost looks like wine or really dark mead, thin ring of very small bubbles with a little carbonation in a 10oz snifter filled halfway.

smell is sweet belgian beer smell. It almost smells like wood, earthy mosses next to a honeydew plant with a very sweet floral note. Then over that it smells like old beer. maybe some medicinal smells going on? the spices have taken on a different character probably.

Sweet taste. Reminds me of a barley wine or old ale but not a super sweet one. Belgian beer taste which is very much like the smell. Maybe a little bit of bitterness?

Mouthfeel is great, full bodied. When i smelled this beer I could tell it would have a nice body to it. probably the best part.

Cool beer experience. Won't try again.
Jan 18, 2018
Tsjeeses Belgian X-Mas Ale from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 483 ratings