Struise New Years Blonde
De Struise Brouwers

 

Bottle from Mike (over at ratebeer, thanks so much!). 2005 vintage, bottle 125, poured into a chalice.

A: Huge foamy snow white head, light straw golden body, highly active carbonation. Average retention. Hazy.

A: Wheat, light grainyness, spicy hops, some grass, mild, light lemon zest.

T: Nothing that was in the nose! Huge discrepancy. Tons of sweet, sugary candy sugar, and then, BOOM, a hugely dry finish. Earthy dust in the finish. Bready, cookie maltiness up front, light fruity esters - sweet cherries, white grapes, perhaps - some peppery spices and earthy yeast must. A really phenomenal, complex beer.

M: Huge sublimation, big bodied, medium bubbles, even feeling. Really great. Leaves a great yeasty, fruity aftertaste - grapes, apples, tons of other tannins.

D: High alcohol, but so wonderfully complex - both sweet and dry, fruity and bready. Recommended. Mike got it out of the trunk of one of the Struisse brewer's cars though, so, good luck!!!!

Sampled at the Kerstbierfestival in Essen, Belgium this past December. Beer was served from a 1.5L magnum, sealed in red wax and it took awhile to get the wax off, cap off and I think also a cork.

The beer poured a slightly cloudy yellow body and the color was complimented by a steady rush of bubbles to the top of my glass. There was a fluffy white head that had some solid retention. The nose of the beer is very citrusy and had a slight herbal touch as well. The taste of the beer is wheaty, herbal, citrus but overall pretty mellow yet well balanced. There was also a touch of sourness at the end that was pleasing to the palate. Another fine beer from Struise.