New Beers for 3.17.06

Just when I begin to think the cooler is full we re-arrange and find ways to squeeze in a few more bottles.

From Brouwerij t'IJ in Amsterdam:

-Struis: Billed as a Belgian-style barleywine. It's a beautiful nut-brown with a very hazy, rich head and flowery aroma. Full-bodied with balanced sweetness and fairly aggressive carbonation that tempers the malts quite well. Lots of flowery hop aromas and a nice bitter finish.

-Columbus: This cloudy, golden ale is all over the map when it comes to people's reviews. One person on ratebeer.com said it should come with a "hop-alert" as it was one of the most bitter beers he'd ever had. Meanwhile, others mentioned the sweet, bready maltiness and wonderful fruity esters this beer exhibits. The one thing almost everyone agrees on is that it's a pretty tasty beer.

-Zatte: This is the Brouwerij t'IJ take on the classic tripel. Spicy and sweet with fruity, flowery aromas. They claim it's more drinkable than Westmalle which is a mighty bold statement if you ask me. I'll try a side-by-side sampling tonight and see if they're full of it.

-Natte: Brewed in the style of a classic abbey dubbel with a t'IJ twist. Flavors of vanilla and raisins intertwine with "indian cuisine" spice flavors reminiscent of cumin and white pepper. Tight beige head and soft gentle carbonation combine to form a full, pleasant mouthfeel.


This isn't really new, but the folks at Flying Dog made another batch [vintage '06a] of their Gonzo Imperial Porter to honor Hunter S. Thompson. The first batch was exceedingly popular, I expect this one to be too. Best of all, proceeds from the sale of this beer will go towards the construction of the Gonzo Memorial Fist [a 150 foot stone column with a giant red fist] that will tower above Hunter's Owl Farm Estate for all eternity...

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." -Hunter S. Thompson