NV 't IJ Columbus

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  10/27/2015 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  Beautiful, clear, bronze color with a lasting, cream-colored head. Deep, complex nose with initial aromas of sweet red berry jam, apricot marmalade and fruity-spicy Belgian yeast; aromas of baking spice, nuts, syrupy and caramel malt some alcohol sweetness and a hint of mushroom in the background. Full-bodied, succulent palate with flavors of ripe red berries, prunes and caramel malt in the fore, nuances of dry, peppery spice and raisins in the background. Hop bitterness is moderate at most, carbonation is low. Surprisingly dry, bitter and slightly warm finish with pronounced flavors of spice, dried prunes, blackberry marmalade, apricot jam, some white pepper and hints of wheat/tripel sourness.
  
  I'm not sure what style of beer this is supposed to be, but at least it is bloody delicious! This is like a weird, Dutch mutation of an offspring by a Scotch wee heavy and Belgian tripel - or something to that effect. Best enjoyed young - either on its own or with heavy and slightly sweet dishes. Incredible purchase at 2,69€ for a 0,33 l bottle.

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  9/3/2014 - forceberry wrote: 89 Points

  Cloudy pale caramel brown color with a big and thick yet rather short-lived tan head. The nose feels quite Belgian in style with rather pronounced Belgian yeast aromatics of stone fruits and exotic spices along with aromas of caramel malt, some banana, a little bit of smoke, a hint of earthiness and a touch of red fruits. The beer feels quite full-bodied, big and malt-forward with somewhat rustic flavors of earthy spices, dried herbs, caramel malts, some red fruits, a little bit of pithy grapefruit, a hint of mushy banana and a sweet touch of dried fruits. Overall the beer feels quite complex and weighty with medium-to-moderate hop bitterness and very low carbonation. The finish is more bitter with hoppy flavors of grass and pithy grapefruit along with lengthy notes of exotic spices, some peppery spice, a little bit of Belgian yeast yellow fruits and a touch of sweet banana.
  
  A big, complex and spicy ale with some serious weight. Feels like an odd take on a Belgian dark ale, yet still not quite. Pretty good, but not that memorable effort. Doesn't reach the level of the best 't IJ beers. Priced according to its quality at 7,90€ for a 33 cl bottle in a bar.

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