Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

Vintage 2005, huge, HUGE thanks to Papsoe for giving it to me at the RBESG08, along with some other stuff (Ungstrup was around too so the thanks might extend to him too). Shared with ogivlado. Poured a murky, opaque red-brown body with a medium sized thick beige head. Malty nose... caramel, raisins, sherry, alcohol. The taste struck me as quite lighter than I expected, but it was still very enjoyable. Very fine maltiness (wood, light sherry) with nice light vinuous warming notes of alcohol. A distinct herbal, fresh note hits after that before the taste spirals into oblivion, mint I reckoned, but not exactly. Raisins... light light acidity. Very interesting and though not as great as I hope it would be, still a very good beer.

Thanks to henrikb for this beauty. Vintage 2005, dark walnut brown pour with a rocky, dirty white head, this is a good looking brew. The oak and calvados influences shine through in the flavor with a slightly sweet-finish. Other flavors I could taste are raisin, and a bit of alcohol. This is very good

2005 bottle. Dense, creamy tan head that leaves an equally dense ring around the glass, don’t remember any other doing this. The body is a dark brown. Mellow but sour oak "belgian" raisin fruitcake aroma. This is about my 4th and I must admit the 1st couple were not what I expected. I didn’t expect the sourness. But it must grow on you because I now find the sourness blends with the mellowness quite well. It is a very bubbly, smooth sour raisin oak with an edge. Can see it mellow further with even more time.

2005 Vintage Best by date December 2012; Sampled September 2008
A vigorous pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip glass produces a tightly packed, initially three-finger thick, beige-tan colored head. The beer is a dark, concentrated plum color with quite a bit of concentrated brown. When held up to the light the beer shows a hazy, dark cranberry hue. The aroma is a mix of dark fruit, sweet spiciness, toasted nut notes and some malty, maillard like, almost oxidation induced umami notes. The nose has specific notes of bergamot, mix with earthy coriander, rich clove, caramelized brown sugar, rich molasses rum notes, light cardamom that gets a bit cola like, as well as rich fruity notes of toasted figs, prunes and caramelized raisins. The finish has a nice toasted whole grain bread note that takes on a certain nuttiness, this last accentuated by a touch of light sherry character. This is definitely a rich smelling brew, lots of concentrated, dark leaning malt notes mix quite well with the soft spice notes.

Quite fruity tasting with a certain sweetness and an off-setting tartness. The finish has a nutty, sherry like edge to it that is definitely signs of oxidation / age, but adds to the complexity instead of detracting. This beer seems to have just started to age a bit around the edges. I lick my lips from the first sip and I get a distinct flavor that is a mix of tart tamarind and brown sugar. Fruit flavors definitely play a role here, more specifically dark fruit notes of concentrated raisins, prunes and a touch of citrus infused figs. Lots of concentrated malt notes intermingle with the fruit; distinct malt notes of molasses, toasted malt in the finish and perhaps a touch of grain astringency, while the intermingled fruit / distinct malt flavors have me noticing notes of dark rum, brandy and some salty tamarind notes. There is definitely a distinct, yet soft tartness to this beer that makes the creamy body and rich mouthfeel seem a bit lighter than it actually is. The oak character is actually quite soft, almost non-existent, though there is just a touch of spicy oak in the finish as well as a touch of a tannic boost. Spice notes play a slightly lesser role in the flavor, but do still contribute notes of vanilla, clean coriander, clove, perhaps a touch of all spice and a finish that has a spicy cola / cardamom note to it.

This seems to be just getting in to its own right now and this, the 2005, vintage probably still has quite a long way before it starts deteriorating; the best by date of 2012 is definitely not a joke. I am really enjoying this beer. The oak character is very soft, which is nice, with the biggest influence being the rum / brandy notes picked up from the calvados cask. This is a very good beer, one which I easily wish I had more than 330ml of; my bottle is gone way to fast leaving me really wishing that I had more. If I could make this better I would add a touch more tartness, the lactic note that is here is quite soft and there is lots of fruit and malt character that could easily balance out a touch more sourness.

#300. Bottle thanks to MaltOMeal at the Houston Sept. RB tasting.Murky brown color with a nice white head. Nose is mild, sweet and just a bit alcoholic. Taste is sweetish, spicy, very smooth, chocolatey. Thinnish mouth and body. Where’s the alcohol in this-is this really 10%? Very smooth and tasty-a session beer??

Thanks to Brad! Aroma is hugely oaky, some alcohol, a bit of apples and caramel. Taste is fizzy, sweet, lots of sweet caramel malt, some toastiness and sugar. Doughy, bready, yeasty character. Very nice! As it warms this beer sweetens up, but it is still semi-dry on the palate, oaky.

33cl, new exclusive brew Anno 2008, brew Anno 2006, from De Hopduvel Gent, very complex, balanced, hazy, good head, very good brew, top class!

Shared by MaltOMeal at the September Houston Tasting. Thanks Papsoe! Pours a filthy brown with a little tan head. Spicy oak and yeast on the nose. Flavor has a touch of sourness, vanilla and dark fruit. Easy drinker that was enjoyed.