microbrewery
Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
located in
Oostvleteren
Vleteren () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Oostvleteren, Westvleteren and Woesten. On January 1, 2006, Vleteren had a total population of 3,636. The total area is 38.1 ...
, Belgium.
Origin
Owners of a nearby ostrich-raising farm in
Lo-Reninge
Lo-Reninge (; ) is a municipality and city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Lo, Noordschote, Pollinkhove and Reninge. On January 1, 2006, Lo-Reninge had a total population of 3,306. The ...
with accommodations for vacationers, Urbain Coutteau and Philippe Driessens developed an interest in making distinctive regional beers to serve to their guests. In 2001 they began doing so with help from local wine maker Carlo Grootaert, and this project eventually developed into its own independent commercial concern.
Upon its inception in 2003, Struise produced beers at the Caulier brewery in northern Hainaut. Since 2006, they have been made at the Deca brewing facility in Woesten-Vleteren in
West Flanders
West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...
until 2014, after beers were brewed at their own brewhouse. The firm has reported that their own microbrewery and tasting room in ''Het Oud Schooltje'' (a renovated school building) located in
Oostvleteren
Vleteren () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Oostvleteren, Westvleteren and Woesten. On January 1, 2006, Vleteren had a total population of 3,636. The total area is 38.1 ...
, is open and operational.
The company takes its name from the historic Flemish word for
ostrich
Ostriches are large flightless birds. Two living species are recognised, the common ostrich, native to large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, native to the Horn of Africa.
They are the heaviest and largest living birds, w ...
, which also is a contemporary slang term meaning "tough". They render the name into English as "The Sturdy Brewers", and many of their labels feature ostriches, a trait they share with Dutch brewery Brouwerij 't IJ.
Following industry trends made popular by American craft brewers, the brewery has recently ventured into stronger, more flavorful beers and also barrel-aging.
They have also collaborated with other European artisan beer scene such as Denmark's Mikkeller, Estonia's Põhjala, fellow Belgians Picobrouwerij Alvinne and Brouwerij De Molen of the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, as well as American brewers. While their Black Albert was originally conceived in concert with United States-based Ebenezer's Pub, a joint effort to create a "Pannepot Cafe" in
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a New England town, town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. Brunswick is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census. Part o ...
was abandoned in May 2009.
Awards and recognition
Craft beer
Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
fan rating website
Ratebeer
Beer rating is the process of assessment and evaluation of beer by use of a points-based system. The process is similar to that used in beer judging competitions, such as those organised by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) in America, th ...
selected beers from DSB for 9 of their Top 100 Best Beers of Belgium in 2009. Struise was edged out for the #1 slot only by the venerable Trappist brewers of Westvleteren.
In 2008, RateBeer declared Struise to be the best brewers in the world per their annual members' poll. This was met with mixed opinions in the world of beer enthusiasts. Many of those critical of the award cited the recent founding of the company as well as the fact that DSB did not own a brewing facility at the time.
DSB also received 7 separate awards from Ratebeer in 2007, including accolades for the Aardmonnik and Pannepot.
Beers
De Struise Brouwers Products
*''Struise Witte'' (5.0%
ABV
Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as alc/vol or ABV) is a common measure of the amount of alcohol contained in a given alcoholic beverage. It is defined as the volume the ethanol in the liquid would take if separated from the rest of the solution, ...
): a Belgian-style
Witbier
Wheat beer is a top-fermented beer which is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley. The two main varieties are German and Belgian ; other types include Lambic (made with wild yeast), Berliner Weisse (a ...
brewed with wheat and spices.
*''Struise Rosse'' (6.0% ABV): an unfiltered and unpasteurized amber beer of high fermentation.
*''Struiselensis'' (6.0% ABV): a blonde sour ale finished with wild
Brettanomyces bruxellensis
''Brettanomyces bruxellensis'' (the anamorph of ''Dekkera bruxellensis'') is a yeast associated with the Senne valley near Brussels, Belgium. Despite its Latin species name, ''B. bruxellensis'' is found all over the globe. In the wild, it is oft ...
yeast.
*''Pannepot'' (10.0% ABV): a strong dark ale whose name references a traditional style of fishing boat in the
De Panne
De Panne (; ) is a town and a municipality located on the North Sea coast of the Belgian province of West Flanders. There it borders France, making it the westernmost town in Belgium. It is one of the most popular resort town destinations within ...
area. This beer is considered Struise' highest selling and most popular product.
*''Pannepot Grand Reserva'' (10.0% ABV): a barrel-aged version of the Pannepot released each year and vintage dated.
*''Aardmonnik'' (8.0% ABV): its name meaning literally "Earthmonk", a barrel-aged strong sour ale in the Flemish Oud bruin tradition with red wine-like character and earthy, chocolate-y notes.
*''Tsjeeses'' (10.0% ABV): an oak-aged strong golden-colored ale. Playing on the similarity of the beer's name to "
Jesus
Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
", the label depicts an intoxicated long-haired figure in a
Santa
Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christma ...
hat. This caused it to be rejected by the American TTB.
*''Tsjeeses Reserva'' (10.0% ABV): a barrel-aged version of the Tsjeeses.
*''Outblack'' (10.0% ABV)
*''Sint Amatus Vintage 2010'' (10.5% ABV)
*''Black Albert'' (13.0% ABV): a strong stout inspired by the British
Imperial Stout
Stout is a type of dark beer that is generally warm fermented, such as dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout and imperial stout. Stout is a type of ale.
The first known use of the word "stout" for beer is in a document dated 1677 in the E ...
tradition as revived by American microbrewers. Described as a "Belgian Royal Stout" and made with ingredients of only Belgian origin. Bitterness of 100 IBU, deep black color of 160 EBC. Named for Belgian King Albert II.
*''Cuvée Delphine'' (13.0% ABV): a limited bottling of the Black Albert aged in Four RosesBourbon barrels. Named after the eponymous king's alleged illegitimate daughter, Belgian artist
Delphine Boël
Princess Delphine of Belgium (''Delphine Michèle Anne Marie Ghislaine de Saxe-Cobourg''; born 22 February 1968), known previously as ''Jonkheer, Jonkvrouw'' Delphine Boël, is a Belgian artist and member of the Belgian royal family. She is the ...
. Featuring a label by the artist reading "Truth Can Set You Free".
*''Dirty Horse'' (7.0% ABV): A spontaneously-fermented sour ale aged in wood.
*''Red-haired Jeanne'' (7.0% ABV): an amber ale, brewed for a festival in remembrance of "Red-haired Jeanne", a woman from the coastal town of Nieuwpoort, where the brewmaster from Struise was born, who was reportedly convicted of
witchcraft
Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...
and burned at the stake.
Joint Ventures / Blended Products
*''Struise Mikeller'' (9.0% ABV): a very bitter and potent beer in the American Double IPA style. 130 IBU. Made in collaboration with Mikkeller.
*''
Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; ; 355/354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Ancient Greek mercenaries, Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been ...
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
's Pipeworks Brewing Company.
*''Hopverdomme'' (7.5% ABV): a strong, bitter ale brewed in concert with Pipeworks Brewing Company.
*''Fedeltá '' (8.2% ABV): a strong blonde ale brewed in
Maine
Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...
in collaboration with
Allagash Brewing Company
__NOTOC__
Allagash Brewing Company is a brewery in Portland, Maine. The brewery specializes in Belgian-style beers.
History
Allagash Brewing Company was founded by Rob Tod in Portland, Maine, in 1995. Tod observed that while both German and B ...
. Made with 15% wheat malt, cane sugar and honey. Hopped with Cascade and Amarillo to 35 IBU.
*''Twickenham Struise Porter'' (5.0% ABV): a Brown
Porter
Porter may refer to:
Companies
* Porter Airlines, Canadian airline based in Toronto
* Porter Chemical Company, a defunct U.S. toy manufacturer of chemistry sets
* Porter Motor Company, defunct U.S. car manufacturer
* H.K. Porter, Inc., a locom ...
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.
The "Black Damnation" project
This project was conceived by the brewmaster at Struise. Their dark
Russian imperial stout
Stout is a type of dark beer that is generally Brewing#Warm fermenting, warm fermented, such as #Dry stout, dry stout, #Oatmeal stout, oatmeal stout, #Milk stout, milk stout and #Imperial stout, imperial stout. Stout is a type of ale.
The firs ...
beer ''Black Albert'' serves as the base for a number of experimental brews that are to be released over a period of two years (2010-2012). As of June 2011, the following six brews have been released to the public:
*''Black Damnation'' (13.0% ABV): a bottled blend of the ''Black Albert'' with the ''Hel & Verdoemenis'' (Hell and Damnation) of Brouwerij De Molen.
*''Black Damnation II: Mocha Bomb'' (12.0% ABV): a blend of 50% ''Black Albert'' matured on coffee beans, 25% of the Dutch-brewed ''Hel & Verdoemenis'' matured in JD barrels for 6 months, and 25% ''Cuvée Delphine''.
*''Black Damnation III: Black Mes'' (13.0% ABV): a version of ''Black Albert'' aged for 3 months in
whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from Fermentation in food processing, fermented grain mashing, mash. Various grains (which may be Malting, malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, Maize, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky ...
barrels.
*''Black Damnation IV: Coffee Club'' (13.0% ABV): ''Black Albert'', matured for 6 months on very old
rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
barrels.
*''Black Damnation V: Double Black'' (26.0% ABV): aged ''Black Albert'' (''Cuvée Delphine'') of which the contents have been concentrated through the Eisbock process.
*''Black Damnation XI: Special Kay'' (22.0% ABV): a mix of ''Black Albert'' and ''Kate the Great'' (
Russian imperial stout
Stout is a type of dark beer that is generally Brewing#Warm fermenting, warm fermented, such as #Dry stout, dry stout, #Oatmeal stout, oatmeal stout, #Milk stout, milk stout and #Imperial stout, imperial stout. Stout is a type of ale.
The firs ...
s) aged on Noval Port barrels for 10 months, then put through the Eisbock process.
These brews have been completed, but are yet to be commercially released and have only been available for tasting at the brewery or at various beer festivals or other occasions:As found on the ratebeer.com search engine.
*''Black Damnation VI: Messy'' (39.0% ABV): ''Black Mes'' put through the Eisbock process twice, ending up with 39% ABV. Brewed in honor of the wedding celebration of the man that inspired the original brew.
*''Black Damnation VII: Single Black'' (2.0% ABV): with only 2% ABV, this very light stout beer is called a ''BOB stout'' by Struise, meaning it can also be enjoyed (in moderation) by designated drivers.
*''Black Damnation VIII: S.H.I.T.'' (12.0% ABV): a blend of ''Black Albert'' and ''Shark Pants''. ''S.H.I.T.'' stands for ''Super High Intensive Taste''. This blend of a Russian imperial stout and an IPA results in a black IPA.
*''Black Damnation IX. Beggars' Art'' (18.1% ABV): Black Damnation aged on Ardbeg cask.
*''Black Damnation X: Double Wood'' (15.0% ABV): after adding fresh yeast during aging, it ages on Balvenie sherry casks.
A number of other seasonal and limited-edition beers are also produced.