De Struise Brouwers from Oostvleteren, Belgium has made quite a splash with their very agreeable beers. Tsjeeses a colloquial pronunciation of “Jesus” and this is their Christmas beer. Actually, Struise makes several versions of Tsjeeses. There’s the Bourbon Barrel Aged Reserva and this is the Port Barrel Aged Reserva.

I purchased this 2011 vintage in Belgium last Spring and carried back to the North Pole.

Tsjeeses Port Barrel Aged Reserva pours translucent copper, a little lighter colored than the Bourbon Barrel Aged, with a fine foam head. It’s unfiltered and unpasteurized. The nose has candi sugar, caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and raisins. It tastes, well, yummy! It’s has sweet malts, vanilla, white pepper, yeast, and a touch of orange peel from the bitter hops. Tsjeeses is sweet but it’s not syrupy or jammy. It’s a satisfying mouthful of candied fruit, finishing with warmth that spreads down your throat from the 10% ABV.

Struise is related the Flemish word for “ostrich” (one of the brewers also runs an ostrich farm), which are thought by locals to be sturdy, thus De Struise Brouwers means “The Sturdy Brewers.”

Despite it’s age, Tsjeeses Port Barrel Aged Reserva 2011 is still available on store shelves. The brewery does much of the aging before it released this beer.

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I’m so excited! The elves were out scouting around for some aged Christmas beer gems and look what they turned up! A 750ml bottle of Stille Nacht Reserva 2010 by De Dolle Brouwers of Esen, Belgium.

Do I need to remind you that Stille Nacht is my favorite Christmas beer? The 2010 Reserva was aged in Bordeaux wine barrels for 25 months before it’s release.

There have only been a few Stille Nacht Reserva releases 2000, 2005, 2008, and 2010. The Stille Nacht Reserva 2015 is in barrels aging as I write.

This bottle is going in the cellar, but I promise to open it this Christmas season and share a review with you.

Question: What’s your favorite Christmas beer? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

De Struise Brouwers produces a Belgian strong ale called Tsjeeses. The 2010 Reserva is aged in bourbon barrels. The name is the colloquial rendering of “Jesus” with a label featuring a headshot of him in a Santa hat that is more reminiscent of the brewer, Urbain Coutteau, than our Saviour.

I’m reviewing the De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Bourbon Barrel Aged from 2010. It has been carefully cellared.

Tsjeeses Reserva pours copper with a firm amber head of foam that lasts. I detect aromas of malts, bourbon, candy sugar, and yeast. It is surprising dry (not sweet) for such a big malty beer. It tastes of malts, caramel, boozy (it is 10% ABV), vanilla, coriander, white pepper, and bready yeast. It has a smooth mouthfeel and finishes slightly sweet. The star of this beer is the bourbon barrel malt flavors that are rich and generous.

De Struise Brouwers is located in Belgium near the border with France and is one of the highest rated breweries in the world. It is located in village of Oostvleteren. Sound familiar? It is only a couple miles from Trappist Westvleteren.

Struise is related the Flemish word for “ostrich” (one of the brewers also runs an ostrich farm), which are thought by locals to be sturdy, thus De Struise Brouwers means “The Sturdy Brewers.”

Several versions of Tsjeeses Reserva have been created – in oak, bourbon barrels, and port barrels. This is one of those beers that if you see it, buy it immediately, for you may never see a bottle again.

Question: Are you go to Belgium to find a bottle? You can leave a comment by clicking here.