Struise Aardnon - Earthnun

Formerly brewed at De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Red to brown beer with a big and creamy white to beige foam. Nose is elegant malty and earthy with hints of sour fruits and berries. Taste is less full than the Aardmonnik version and the mouth feeling is elegant and refreshing. The taste has hints of old wine, wood, nuts, earth, Porto, dry fruits, horse sweat and old wood. Taste on tap at Zythos 2007. Very similar with the Aardmonnik version but more refined and a bit less powerful. A unique beer !

On draught @ Struise farm. Chesnut coloured beer with great beige creamy head. Aroma is malty and slight sharp with hints of earth, candi, dead leafs and old port wine. The smell is simply magificent. Taste is very Trappist like, it is soft, velvety and complex. Hints of sweet chesnuts, tart red fruits, caramel, bread, malts, some vinous accents and touches of port. Afthertaste is rich, very complex yet refreshing at the same time. Thanks Urbain for this fine treat. I drank a 75cl bottle today that I’ve got from Urbain the other day and this beer is evolving greatly!

Tasted at the Struise Farm next to Aardmonnik. Aardnon was On tap. Lighter in color than Aardmonnik and this one did had the most beautiful foam.Aroma is Soft and less vinegar like than its brother. Nice woodyness, very good balance and highly drinkable. Taste is malty, winelike, Pannepot reserva caracter, bready and smooth peppercake. Great balans and clear afthertaste.

Tasted at the ZBF. This one was the one that caused me to stop moving around and set up camp at the Stuise booth. It will stop you in your tracks as well. A wonderful blend of wood aged vinious beauty. Only problem is that I can’t get any more till next voyage to Belgium. Enjoy fellas! We’ll get our hands on some somehow ; -)

Second taste (first at ZBF) Now on tap @ KBW. Hazy dark brown, light beige head. Aroma sour, fruits, dark malts, little candi. Medium to full body. Taste is complex but good: malts, sourness, little sweet, nuts ?.

Mixed by Urbain himself at the Belgian fest at Ebenezer’s Pub in Lovell Maine. Great drink ability horse blanket sourness that was blended to a unique experience and I was blessed to have had this beer. two really good brews blended into a new experience of earthy goodness.

Draft at ZBF 2007: Just found my notes (almost two months later). A beer I will never forget! Ruddy dark brown with red highlights under a thick, tight tan head. Aroma had a nice balance of acid, malt, and earth with vinous notes (as if I were drinking it in a the barrel ageing cellar of ancient wine-maker). Taste.... superb! This has to be one of the most well balanced beers I have ever tasted. Everything working in harmony... Dark red fruits, creme di balsamico, malt, roast, sugar, toffee, and dare I say... a slight hint of sourdough bread in the finish? Mouthfeel was just perfect for this beer. It seemed to want to punish you by slapping you around, yet it seemed to hit in a more teasing way, leaving you to want more "abuse." One of the best beers I have had in a very long time.

A Mes rate: Draught at ZBF. Totally love Aardmonnik, totally love Pannepot. Of course they go together, no brainer really. Like a tarty Pannepot or a less sour Aardmonnik. Sweet and sour caramel nose. Red grapes (red wine) a la Aarmonnik. Great dark brown colour with a tan head. Simply incredible in the mouth dancing over the palate jumping from sour Aardmonnik character to the candy sugared roastyness of Pannepot. Earthy and sugary, balsamic (very) and creamy. Its a tastebud assault. Loooong finish goes on for a long time. Superb. Clearly one of the best of the festival.