Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

(Bottle, Monk’s Café, Stockholm) Dark brown colour with ruby hints, frothy brown head. Malty, slightly vinous nose with chocolate truffels, cocoa, vanilla, cinamon, liquorice and a hint of green apples. Malty, spicy taste with notes of vanilla, chocolate, coffee, liquorice, gingerbread cake and peculiar hints of green apples and calvados in the finish. Full body, rather sweet. Understated bitterness lurking in the shadows of the massive malt and wood presence. The calvados finish gives it a peculiar but interesting twist. Lovely beer in superb balance.

2005 bottle, though I think that is the brew date, not the bottling date. This is my 3rd or 4th time drinking this beer but for some reason I haven’t rated it yet. Pour is murky, very dark brown, with a minor lasting head. This beer retains the sweetness of the un-aged version, while adding some layers of oak as well as some vegetal notes. Lots of white and candi sugar here but no caramel, just a robust, winey, yet very refined sweetness. Lovely body with some light tart notes. Excellent.

2005 bottle, thanks xocoatl. Very dark brown, big frothy brownish head - looks great. Tons of malt in aroma, some spice, earthy, some oak, some wine. Really nice. Taste - oh man, I have not tasted something with this much depth of flavour in a long time. Wonderful foamy medium body that works really well to highlight the soft spices, the wonderful malt with just a hint ofo tartness and the perfectly balanced oak in the finish. Warming alcohol always in the back ground. It was a coupel of years ago when I had the regular pannepot - I cannot say which one is better. But this is really really good.

Bottle (Thanks ygtbsm94!) Pours deep muddy burgundy with a thick dense tan head. Big, yet tame aroma. Smooth dark fruits, raisin, dried fig, cocoa, mild vanilla booze and smooth oak. Fluffy feel to the body. Rich flavor. Has a plummy richness along with warming winy character. A slight fruity tartness- almost like plum wine. Toasted Belgian malts, cocoa, dates, and a toasted oak finish. The finish has residual dark malt character of caramelized brown sugar. Complex, rich and tasty.

[2018-20090226] 330mL bottle. Sugary yeast and figgy fruit malt aroma. Hazy, dark brown body with a medium-lasting foamy light tan head. Heavy yeast sugars flavour with heavy malt background and aftertaste with more sugar. Medium body, not sour but tangy. Don’t like the tang, flavour doesn’t follow through but it smells good.
(Vintage 2005; c/o HogTownHarry, w/ jerc)

Courtesy of northernbrews

Bottle: The aroma consists of consists of dark fruits, apple, spice, chocolate, oak, and alcohol. It pours a dark orangish-brown with a small beige head. The starts with dark fruits and some apple. The finish has a fruity tanginess, light spice, light oak, and a hint of alcohol. Medium bodied with somewhat lively, but not prickly carbonation.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark brown body with a wispy, persistent, off-white head. Smell: Aroma of dark malts and toasted oak wrapped up in a luscious, sweet-smelling raisin/plum syrup. Yes, I read Calvados, but for me it’s very port-like. Taste: Rich sweet maltiness! Flavors of simple syrup, dark caramel, light brown sugar, and a drop or three of molasses. Did I mention it’s sweet? A tiny kick of tartness accompanies the potent, port-like fruitiness and plays nicely alongside the sweetness. Underlying tastes of vanilla and oak. Sweet, fruity finish with a lingering taste of cane sugar. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Mild carbonation. Drinkability: Quite nice! A superb creation. Can I take away PBR’s blue ribbon and give it to this beer?

Bottle. Pours a deep reddish-brown with a small but persistent tan head, looking like a nice porter or brown ale. Both the aroma and flavour are rich and complex, with notes of dark sugar, oak, raisins, vanilla, anise, calvados and sour cherry, with a mild astringency in the finish. Hides that 10% remarkably well. Beautiful stuff.