Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (2008-2010)
De Struise Brouwers

Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (2008-2010)Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (2008-2010)
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From:
De Struise Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 9.62%
Reviews:
100
Ratings:
190
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 02, 2018
Added:
Dec 27, 2008
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  34
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by seaoflament:
Photo of seaoflament
Reviewed by seaoflament from California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks to hoppymeal for this great extra that should have been on my wants. Best before date of: 12-12-2012. The beer label says this is a "x-mas brew...Aged 6 months on oak" but it's still winter right? You wouldn't know it living in San Diego though.

Wow, as soon as I cracked the cap a stream of bubbles started to slowly rush to the top, stirring the yeast and thus making it impossible to leave most of the yeast behind. Therefore, the color is a cloudy ripe apricot and a nice inch of creamy foam stood atop the beer for a few moments and slowly sunk back to leave a ring and a very thin coat. Very good retention with some lacing too.

Bready, fruity esters, orange, peach, nectarine, red apples, and yeast spiciness. Delicate vanilla from the oak with a bit of wet wood aroma. A bit of earthiness with a good dose of pale malt sweetness. Very aromatic and floral, some honey in the background. Light white pepper. Alcohol is remarkably well hidden. When I stir the glass I pick up a bit of lemon upfront and then it changes to sweet orange peel.

Initial pils malt sweetness upfront with some lemon and orange flavors, a bit of bread, and finishes with white pepper, maybe some clove, hints of apples, and a slight herbal flavor. Finishes clean and the aftertaste is long but without being too strong, just very delicate. A bit of apples, lemon, and orange in the beginning of the second sip. Fruity finish with hints of spices and malt sweetness. Very excellent. A bit of caramelized sugar in the finish. Soft banana flavors in the aftertaste. Finishes with a medium dryness but a bit of residual sweetness; the alcohol being noticeable at the very end, but does not burn or feels out of place

Medium-high carbonation but it's very smooth and almost creamy. Incredibly easy to drink and it's hard to believe that this is 10%

It's really hard to find any faults in this beer. Also, I believe this one is a Tripel, the malt is certainly more hefty than a Belgian strong pale ale, but the similarities are very close.
Mar 09, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.43 by WormGod from New York

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 2.91 by BeccaH from Florida

Feb 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4.21 by AlaskaAg from Florida

Jan 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.16 by enelson from Illinois

Dec 09, 2015
Photo of rolltide8425
Reviewed by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottled in August 2010. Tons of floaties in my glass. Taking center stage on both the nose and the palate is fruit. Raisin, date, fig, all the Belgian goodies are there. Backed up by a surprising amount of carbonation for a beer of its age.
Oct 11, 2015
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.42/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Incredible amount of floaties; unsurprising for the style (and likely age), but still unappealing visually. Beautiful large (but controlled) foamy head, with excellent retention. Rather dark for a pale ale: almost a lighter, coppery brown.

Aroma is inimitably Belgian from the get-go. Yeast dominates with sweet, full, slightly spicy notes (complicated by the fact that this is a brew made with "spices"). Below the yeast is a fruity, bready, almost wine-like malt profile. Tannins, mostly dark fruit, grapes, bread...a lovely, inviting aroma.

Flavor follows, immediately hitting with a slightly rustic yeast profile. Both the aroma and flavor are highly reminiscent of Brett, but quite subdued, giving way to fruitier, spicier yeast notes. I wonder if this is a particular character of De Struise's house yeast, or if there is a touch of Brett in this ale.

As expected, the brew is malty but fairly easy; it leans toward sweeter flavors and lighter grains than big bread notes. Grapes, prunes fading in and out, light brown sugar. A sweet - but not too sweet - easy drinking brew. There is a very slight vinous note up front, again like oak and wine. This sour tinge fades very quickly.

Huge flavors, but in a very drinkable package. Drinks much, much lighter than its 10% ABV - except for the amount of malt packed into it, which kind of gives away that this is not a light brew.

I expect nothing but the absolute best from De Struise, and this beer does not disappoint. It is fabulously complex, coming across almost nothing like what one might expect for a Christmas Ale crossed with a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. A whole lot going on in this beer, and every bit of it is awesome.
Sep 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by Texasfan549 from Texas

May 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.49 by kjkinsey from Texas

May 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by Jamison85 from Indiana

Apr 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Feb 17, 2015
Photo of KYGunner
Reviewed by KYGunner from Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
2010

For a beer thats over four years old it held a tremendous amount of carbonation that built a thick everlasting foam head.

The nose is filled with prunes, dates, apricots and raisins with a stiff malt backbone of toffee and barley.

The flavors starts with prunes and apricots before moving to a malt, grain and barley middle palate. It ends with some toffee, molasses, booze and raisin.
Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by captainbearcat from Illinois

Jan 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by waddellc2 from Pennsylvania

Jan 15, 2015
Photo of Wanne
Reviewed by Wanne from Belgium

3.95/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The beer has the colour of copper and is cloudy. The smell of candy sugar is overwhelming in the aroma. The sweetness of the sugar is nicely balanced by the bitterness of the hops, which gives the beer a full body.
Jan 04, 2015
Photo of AlexFields
Rated by AlexFields from Tennessee

3.13/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Tastes way different than nose. Smoky? I dunno...it's ok but not half what I hoped for.
Dec 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.46 by JonnyRebel from Michigan

Dec 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.35 by Walbert_Neto from Brazil

Dec 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by AndyCowles75 from Netherlands

Nov 15, 2014
Struise Tsjeeses Reserva (2008-2010) from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 190 ratings