Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

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

75cl bottle, 2005 vintage. Dark black/red body, beige head, vinous nose. Tannines, ruby port, dried fruits, figs, but also smoked ham. Liquorice. Some caskwood, bit peaty. Good sweet / sour balance, very interesting acidity, lactic acid from the casks? Well bodied but very slick velvet mouthfeel. Overall a real treat, great complexity.

Got in a bottle at Volo in Toronto. Pours black with a moderate tan head. Aroma is wondrous- lots of candied sugar, sweet malt, definite spices like nutmeg and clove, and notes of plum and raisin. Flavor is exquisite- heavy vinous qualities, but mixes with the belgian sweetness and some roasty parts almost like a porter. Awesome palate, exceptional brew.

Bottle from Alvinne. 2006. BB M 14. Pours dark reddish brown/black with a hugh dark tan head. Smells like wine, oak and dark chocolate. Full bodied with mild, frothy carbonation. There’s detectable heat. Flavor is coffee, wine, chocolate and finally dark malt. Then it gets oak notes. Something like drinking smooth red wine while eating chocolate. Finishes dry and towards chocolate. I’d eat this with steak and drink it every night.

All hail the generosity of OSLO and Guerde! Dark brown color with a thin tan head. Aroma of cardamom, cinnamon and a sweet, dark malt. The taste... is very tasty. The oak stands out, with vanilla fading to the end. A strong brandy/wine character. Lots of Belgian yeast and breadiness, though not the strong spicy character. Sweet finish. I wish I had a gallon of this to contemplate.

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.

Tasted at Delirium. Vintage 2006. Dark colour with a long head. Coffe and malt aromas. Some barrel notes like vanilla but malt overcomes it. Complex aromas and even complex tastes too. Not easy to drink. It will be great companion with cigar. And even with heavy cheese. A beer like a great wine.

Very nice beer. Smooth and tasteful, well composed and well balanced. Average size frothy light brown head that’s diminishing fast. Spare lacing. Dark brown lightly cloudy body.Aroma of port, cask wood, brandy and raisin.Heavy in alcohol but still well balanced. Full body and an oily/sticky texture, soft carbonation. The flavor has a long duration, is heavy sweet and only slightly bitter.

Bottle, 33cl. When opening the bottle, and pouring the content into the glass, a wonderful aroma of dried fruits, dark caramel and vinous wood enters my nose. In the glass it has a semi-clear dark, dark brown color with a ruby tint, and on top a fingerthick, beige, creamy head rests and resists all forces trying to diminish it. A fine carbonation is going on too. A further inspection of the aroma reveals that the vinous woody aroma are dominant, but there’s also aromas promising a sweet flavor, some prunes and figs, a touch of alcohol of the kind only found in fine spirits and a tiny roasted touch. It may be my mind playing tricks on me, but I think there’s a touch of apple-based spirits too. It’s very smooth and full-bodied, a pleasant warmth enters after a second or two, and the tiny bubbles spreads in the mouth. There’s a fine vinous and woody flavor and a good dash of sugars. Still, it sort of feels dry in the finish. There’s also some vanilla, dark plums, dried fruits, some fine alcohol and a touch of Port. Warm, sweet and dry finish with dried fruits and plums. Some notes of oxidation too. This is why beergeeks love Belgian beers and Struise. It’s complex, tasteful, moreish as hell, and a damn fine beer to enjoy slowly. (090113)