Some breweries name their beers after saints, others after the region. Struuk Bier from Ewijk in Gelderland does it differently: every beer is called 'Ons iets' (Something for Us). Ons Japie, Ons Alcomol, Ons Abraham, Ons Gabbertje, Ons Moxxi, Ons Rockadillo, Ons Kazumi, Ons Coolio. It sounds like a family photo, and that is exactly the feeling the cans exude, with labels you spot immediately on the shelf.

A young brewery with a mature range

Struuk Bier has only existed since January 2024. According to biernet.nl, the brand brews as a contract brewery, using a colleague's equipment, and Ons Nunneke Blond was the first beer to hit the market. For a brand less than three years old, the variety is striking: from an accessible blond to a twelve percent barleywine, with two tripels, a NEIPA, a quadrupel, and a dubbelbock along the way. A substantial portion of these are available in our store.

Where you would start

If you would like to get acquainted at your leisure, then is Ons Japie The logical beginning. A golden blonde at 7 percent with a fresh hint of orange peel up front and a soft, round body underneath. Easy to drink without becoming flat, and exactly the kind of beer you hold in your hands both on the terrace and during a long conversation.

If you want something lighter with a twist, try Ons Alcomol, a 7 percent blond with a subtle touch of elderflower.

One step further lies Ons Abraham, an 8 percent Tripel. Deep malt notes carry a subtle sweetness, with 20 IBU as a mild counterweight and a surprisingly light color for the weight it contains. Pour it into a goblet, and more is released than you expect. We have which glass goes with which beer. listed here.

For those who love hops

Ons Gabbertje is the hoppy exception in the lineup. Cloudy, juicy, and at 6.5 percent, quite manageable, with tropical fruit taking the lead. What stands out is the bitterness: 13 IBU is mild for an IPA, even by NEIPA standards. That makes it accessible to those who normally take a step back at the word IPA. We explain exactly what such a number means in our article about IBU, EBC and alcohol percentage.

If you really sit down and focus on it

The top end of the range is where Struuk becomes most interesting. Ons Moxxi is a golden-blonde tripel at 9 percent that pays little heed to the standard recipe: it contains cardamom, subtly dosed, just enough to counteract the sweetness. A spicy wink in a style that usually changes little.

Ons Rockadillo heads in the darker direction: a 10 percent quadruple with rich caramel notes and a soft sweetness reminiscent of toffee. Ons Kazumi is an 8 percent doublebock, brewed with tonka beans. And then there is Ons Coolio, a twelve percent barleywine and dark amber, full of caramel and dried fruit. That is not a beer for the road, but for an evening, layer by layer.

What Struuk shows is that a young brand doesn't have to think small. You can find all the Struuk beers we sell at the brand page of Struuk Bier in our store.

The photo of the stand comes from struukbier.nl and has been posted with the brewery's permission. The images of the cans are our own product photos.