Tag Archives: struise

De Struise Black Albert Costa Rica Espresso

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 13%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Belgian Espresso stout. Vintage 2015

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Experience de Tarrazu coffee in our Black Albert. Grown in the rich volcanic soils of Costa Rica’s famed Tarrazu region, these first choice Arabica coffee cherries are ripened evenly at 1,400 to 1,600 meters, hand-picked, sun dried and then dark roasted on Struise premises for a unique taste. It will surprise you with a flavor that hints of cacao and grapefruit and an aroma of aged wood and dark chocolate. Its intensity fills the palate, then fades cheerfully. Discover why we now roast our own coffee beans.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 17th November 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with no head and no lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, coffee, chocolate, caramel, plum, dark fruit, licorice, boozy, and light smoky notes.
Taste: Roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, coffee, moderately sweet, dark fruit, plum, raisins, licorice, candi sugar, and a strong boozy finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: The booziness comes through quite strong in the aroma and taste, and maybe a bit too much. I was also hoping for more or stronger coffee notes. It’s interesting, but I easily prefer the original version of Black Albert more.

De Struise Aardnon / Earthnun

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Flanders Oud Bruin
Other Notes: 17 IBUs. Flemish Sour Ale, FSA blend in barrel, Vlaams Oud Bruin

Brewer Description: (from bottle) First blend was mastered from existing bottles in 2007 at Ebenezers Pub USA by Christopher Lively and our team. This blend occurred in barrel and has aged for seven years on Margaux barrels from Château Haut Breton Larigaudière. Enjoy!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.47
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 18th February 2016, with a best before date of 17th February 2021. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: Deep dark brown in colour with a ruby hue and a one fingered tanned head that had decent retention and faded to a ring but left only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, cherry, chocolate, coffee, lightly tart, grape gummy candy, fig and plum.
Taste: Sweet and tart, plum, cherry, fig, grape, blackcurrant, jammy berries, with hints of vinegar, wood, light roast and chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Excellent, great aroma and flavours. Good complexity and extremely balanced.