Pannepot - De Struise Brouwers

BrianJohnson

South Carolina

4.74/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Completely not what I expected going in. I've had plenty of Belgian quads, but this is so much different. It has the typical raisin/plum taste and smell, but this one is so much more. There's a hint of a stout as well - coffee and dark roasted malt. Also, there's a nice oaken flavor to it. I would call this one very complex - so many different things to taste in this beer and the aroma is very complex as well. I very much like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 20:11:15 | More by BrianJohnson

JohnG190

New York

4.69/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2011 Vintage Bottle poured into Spiegelau Tulip

Appearance - Inky black with thick mocha head.

Smell - Aroma of raisins and dark fruits, chocolate and dark roast malt.

Taste - Well crafted and deeply complex. Flavor follows aroma with dark fruit and chocolate.

Mouthfeel - Rich mouthfeel with light carbonation.

Overall - Wow, this is a rich, wonderful beer. It's complexity lends itself to deep contemplation and, when finished, reflection. I will seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 16:23:20 | More by JohnG190

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quite a nice quad, has a really nice brown color with a tinge of red. The French oak is noticeable but not too strong. There are some fruity flavors floating around in there too. The finish is dry but still fruity. Keeps you going back for more and each sip lead to another sniff of the sweet aroma.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 16:44:35 | More by Knapp85

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served from a vintage 2011 bottle into a Chimay goblet. Served below cellar temps.

Appearance- Black/brown with less that one finger off off-white head.Some nice lacing retains around the top of the beer. Looks more like a stout or porter than a Quad.

Smell- Chocolate, raisons, Leather, dark stone fruits, belgian yeast, heavy booze. Again, this has more similarities to a stout than it does a quad.

Taste- Chocolate and candied plums are very dominant in this one. Raisons, indescribable baking spice and mild yeasty flavors are also there. Booze is there, but very mild. Share similarities to a mix of a quad and a stout.

Mouthfeel- Reasonably full with ample amounts of carbonation. Not sticky, but definantly heavier and mildly viscous.

Overall- Out of all the Belgian Quads I've had, this one is so much different to them. More characteristics of a fruit forward Belgian Stout. Fantastic beer none the less.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 19:56:44 | More by Seanniek91

babaracas

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011. Pours a slightly very dark brown, half inch of creamy tan foam that settles to a thin ring. Smell: fig, raisin, toasted brown bread with a little butter, molasses and coffee notes. Taste: fig, raisin bread soaked in a little booze, quick roasty and earthy coffee hit, toast, dark brown sugar, milk chocolate, mild earthy hopping, plum, pepper. Full bodied, sugary with creamy carbonation hit midsip. Haven't had westy, but this beats down the rest by a large margin.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 04:40:26 | More by babaracas

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: gorgeous, deep dark ruby. Frothy tan head.
Smell: rich, yeasty, bread like with aromatic spice.
Taste: even richer than the nose. The quad flavors are all there but also something like I'd expect from an Ris. A deep dry backbone that supports all the spicy, fruity, bready quad flavors.
Overall: finally got to try this beauty. Lives up to it's fine reputation. I need more.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 22:41:52 | More by cindyjeffsmith

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.51/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage poured into a tulip

A- Pours very dark murky brown. Turns black in the glass. A one finger of a off tan colored head.

S- Massive caramelized dark fruits. Frigs, dates and a nice clove spicyness. A slight graininess, this reminds me of english yeast.

T- A nice bitterness at first and a surprising roasted quality. A nice caramel sweetness followed up by a huge dark fruit quality. A ton of frig and dates and raisins. A nice clove and a subtle spice to the beer. A touch a bannana and a bit of pepper. A hugely complex and smooth quad.

M- A nice rich and thick beer. Alcohol is remarkably well hidden and this beer keeps me comping back. Its complex and constantly changing. Warming on the way down.

O- A magnificent quad, I would rank it up there with the best.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:35:50 | More by TwelveOunces

clayrock81

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had a 2011 vintage bottle that was kept a little too cold so while I thoroughly enjoyed this beer I wish I could've had a bottle that was stored at proper temp (oh well). Dark brown, syrupy like pour with little tan head that dies quick on top of a very yeasty, citrusy and candi-sugar like aroma. Definite sweetness packed with that typical Belgian orange-like yeast strain as well as some pepper and sharp spices and touches of dark fruit (my wife detected sour fruit but can't say I picked it up). Mouthfeel is medium to heavy, a little thick and sticky, not that much though, and the taste is similiar to the nose although I do detect a sticky, syrupy licorice type sweetness. Good amount of fruits like touches of citric fruits and dark fruits (figs being number one, maybe raisins) along with great balance from sturdy malt backbone and the ABV gives off a complentary edge to the finish and helps mellow out, but not kill, the beer as it warms. Great sipper and a definite must try.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 16:29:39 | More by clayrock81

JayQue

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Can't believe I have held on to this and a 2005 Pannepot Reserva for 2 years!! Great beer, worthy of the ratings it receives.

Poured into my Chimay goblet, dark brown color with only the slightest bit of light coming through. Small dark tan head with average (for a Quad) retention and no lacing.

I picked up the aroma as I was opening the bottle. Strong rich smell. Dark fruit....figs raisins and plums, with some spices...black pepper, nutmeg, a little cinnamon.

Taste is outstanding. Dark fruit, candi sugar sweetness, the same spices as detected in the aroma. They are all expertly blended, with the sweetness taking a back seat to the rich fruity, malty presence.

Mouthfeel is very rich and smooth. THe 10% abv is noticible only by a warming presence. There is no alcohol "bite" or burning.

This is a fantastic beer. Can't wait to compare it to the 2005 Reserva.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:31:30 | More by JayQue

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the bottle.

Appearance: Deep dark mahogany. Nice white head.

Nose: Tons and tons of sweet, rich banana covered in caramel and chocolate. There's plenty of maltiness in the background and a hint of burnt bitterness.

Taste: A lot of fruit, and not necessarily the typical dried variety you find in a quad. The banana is there but in more of a dessert form. Coated in rich, sweet chocolates. Its all balanced by fresh green apple and bitter charcoal. The flavors are big and bold and all over the place. Clearly not as restrained and complex as a trappist Quad, but just as potently flavorful.

Mouthfeel: rich and creamy and almost cloyingly sweet.

Overall: A really nice, tasty, boldly flavorful Quad. A bit too much sweetness and not as much complexity as something like a Rochefort 10, but it definitely holds its own with the amount of flavor it brings to the table.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 20:40:31 | More by fdig23

lsummers

California

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2010 version Pours a dark brown almost reminds me of dark purple plums

Smells of dark fruit and raisins, a touch of tobacco. A little boozyness coming through.

Tastes of dates, plums, raisins and figs. All melded with some candied cranberries and some milk chocolate. A touch of alcohol comes through. A strong toffee molasses on the end.

Mouthfeel is fantastic for such an aged beer. Holds a good amount of carbonation. Sticky and creamy.

Overall it's a fantastic quad, one that I feel is a must try for those into the style. I'm definitely going to try different years.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:31:26 | More by lsummers

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

P- Thanks to my new friend Donn in Germany for this brew!

A- dark coffee black color with a brown one finger head that has a splotchy lacing on the pint. Very good appearance.

S- a grape nose to it with fig and vanilla notes. Smell is very enticing.

F- wow, the fig and vanilla complement each other beautifully and then there is a smooth backend of a bready/yeasty malt. Amazing.

M-creamy and smooth and rich in dark malts and the flavors linger in the mouth.

O- One of the best beers i have ever had and i still have my Westv 12 to get to yet. I am impressed.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 17:04:47 | More by Dodo2step

draheim

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle (2011) into a chalice. Pours a clear mahogany w/ a 1-finger creamy khaki head, lots of sediment from the bottom of the bottle floating about.

Aroma is deep powerful grape and other dark fruits, bready yeast, sweet candi sugar, dark malt. Smells intoxicating.

Taste follows nose. Dark sweet fruits, spices, Belgian yeast, candi sugar.

Mouthfeel is elegantly smooth with a bone-dry finish.

Overall another outstanding offering from Struise. I don't think they've disappointed me yet.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:29:29 | More by draheim

Amandipius

4.59/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Upon the elegant glass pouring, aromas of my late aunt grace seized my nasal passage. The head resembled the color of the starboard bow rope on the large rigged schooner known to me as a child as the Victory Chimes. As the head gracefully settled to a thin sheet, I peered into the glass and saw my own reflection. As I looked to my own reflection I finally realized where I went wrong in my life. I'm sorry Suzanna. As I tasted this ale I heard the rose breasted finch's mating call in early autumn. Fig that has been recently been in a snowstorm, cherry with a rough childhood, bark off of an old wise maple tree, chestnuts from the wrong side of town, chocolate that has been melted twice frozen once melted again and then half frozen aged at room temperature ad then slivered .. to finally be melted, and then lastly frozen, are all tastes that come to my mind while I drink this old fishermans ale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 22:33:23 | More by Amandipius

laituegonflable

Australia

3.43/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark brown, almost black in fact. Ochre head, nice density but settles out to a thin film. Sticky lace. Looks nice.

Smells strong. Ethanoic, with sticky fig, sour cherry, vanilla, carob and Benedictine. Bit oversweet, and strong.

Tastes very Belgian. Slight sourness, with spicy phenols. Earthy spice, with a bitter earthy taste. Woody and smokey as well, with a medicine character on the back. Nectarine as well. there's definitely a lot of craftsmanship here, but I'm not getting anything amazing or even particularly complex from it.

Mouthfeel is very heavy and quite boozey, but reasonably silky. Not bad.

A good beer, but I'm really surprised to see the overwhelming love for it here. It's possible the bottle may have been old, but I simply didn't really connect with this. Either way I don't think my disappointment will be anything but a slight statistical blip in the lovefest here, so don't mind me, I'm just passing through.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:06:33 | More by laituegonflable

CurtFromHershey

Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage, poured onto a "rocks" glass.

Pours a deep, earthy brown with a thin head which refuses to subside. Beautiful beer.

Smells very boozy, but also of dark fruit, namely fig. Molasses, caramel, sweet bread pudding.

Taste is not too boozy. Ripe berries and figs are present. No overwhelming Belgian yeast flavors. Rich, warm aftertaste with so unpleasantries to he found.

Mouthfeel is slick with sugars, low carbonation despite sturdy head.

Overall a really great beer. I'd put this a notch below bernardus 12, bit still nothing to brush aside.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 23:35:51 | More by CurtFromHershey

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A little sweeter and heartier than the Trappist versions. Coffee brown with a tight, creamy beige head. Great spice complexity - coriander, clove, and cardamom flavors stand out over the malt. Fig and cherry fruit flavors meld well with the spiciness. Caramel, molasses, a dusting of bakers chocolate, and short bread. Full and slightly sweet finish, but it's not problematic since its so well balanced against the big, complex flavors and a hint of ethanol. Some hoppy woodiness rounds it out. Obviously, a beer that should be enjoyed over time, but I find the glass emptying quickly.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 16:37:51 | More by bump8628

joecast

Australia

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2010 out of a bottle sporting a worse for wear looking moldy label. Thankfully the beer seems to have been well protected inside.

Dark chocolate appearance with a thin head struggling to stay afloat. The last few mls of the pour allows plenty of sediment to join the party. Luckily it settles pretty quickly into the bottom of the glass like rusty metallic particles.

Some serious malty, dark fruit character on the nose. Slight alcohol in the background but pretty well presented for a 10% beer.

Oh wow. So warming and inviting. Somehow though, it manages to avoid being boozy which could be a bit dangerous.needless to say its all about the malt. And the yeast a little bit. Expertly balanced with enough body yet not so much so that it becomes sickly sweet or too filling.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 08:41:19 | More by joecast

BierJager89

California

4.49/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had the 2010 bottle in 2012

A: Very dark purple with a brown head.

S: Dark fruit, a touch of pineapple in the nose.

T: Nice and spicy, some strong fruit notes, grape, cinnamon, very tasty.

M: Full bodied, don't remember the carbonation level.

O: This is a beer I want to a) try again fresh (2013 this year) and b) age and try a couple years old (like 2010 in a year or so). It's one of the best quads I've ever had, but it's not THE best. Definitely worth a try. When I try another bottle, I will edit my review with better notes.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 19:49:57 | More by BierJager89

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.08/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Nose is dark chocolate, some spices (nutmeg, clove), molasses, roasted malts and bready yeast. Taste is a bit light for the color and nose. Bready, yeasty, spice, roasted malts, chocolate and just a hint of booze. Pretty good but I don't feel like its the 90+ point beauty that I have heard so much about.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 11:00:30 | More by DonDirkA

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Enjoyed a 330 mL bottle of Pannepot (2011 vintage, marked on the label) on the Sunday before Christmas Eve. Served in my St. Bernardus chalice, a perfect glass for Quads.

Appearance (4.5/5): Pannepot is dark brown, not quite black, and translucent. A careful pour produced a one-inch tan head that has exceptional retention. Beautiful looking dark ale with characteristic Belgian 'Abbey' beer appearance.

Smell (5/5): Tons of dark fruit, some spice and booziness, dark bread tones from the malt and yeast. Loaded with complexity and exudes strength and richness. This is an extraordinary smelling Quadruple-style ale.

Taste (4.5/5): Pannepot is (perhaps predictably) boozy, but very clean. Spicy with some coriander and lightly peppery. Fruit notes one can pick out are plum and black cherries. Malty, dark bready, refined even in its strength. Never cloying or overwhelming. The flavors open up as the beer warms–and you most assuredly do want to let this beer sit and evolve.

Mouthfeel (4.5/5): Very smooth, light carbonation/medium-heavy body, the spice creates a little prickle in the back of the mouth and tongue. A bit of light alcohol heat in the back. Not the most 'drinkable' beer in the sense that you're not going to be drinking more than one of these, but obviously that's not the point. This beer is meant for savoring.

Overall (4.75) Pannepot is an incredible Belgian Quad, one that may be just as good St. Bernardus Abt 12. Extraordinarily refined, spicy, fruity, yeasty, bready in all the ways a strong dark Belgian ale should be. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 06:24:26 | More by hagbergl

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 fl. oz. bottle into brand new tulip glass. 2010 vintage. cant really make out the lot coding here.

A: very dark brown. this beer looks silky. hazed body. head is very tightly bubbled. retention is good, not great. unfortunately, not much lacing.

S: super fruity. red grapes. dark, very ripe figs. chestnuts. super sweet brown sugar. no booze, but even some bourbon-like aromas.

T: pretty fucking complex. things start vinous. a combination of rich red wine and a rich cordial. something like an Italian amaretto similar to Disaronno. coffee notes. woody. sweet sugars. gets tangy towards the finish. finishes even more oaky/vanilla/meaty than it started.

M: a relatively mild carbonization. definitely full-bodied.

D: big and complex, while maintaining a serious amount of smoothness. pretty much everything you would want in a quad. not sure what this stuff tastes like fresh out of the gate, but a 2+ year old vintage is very tasty. if I had to guess, more age would just bring forward even more vinous notes that I detected when drinking this brew. definitely worth picking up if you are a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 04:53:40 | More by Jimmys

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle served into a snifter.
Vintage 2011

A - Pours dark brown with a tight knit mocha head that forms a razor thin cap and collar.

S - Spicy, brown bread crust, brown sugar, candied figs, sugary dates, caramel, spicy and fruity alcohol vapors, hints of cocoa, lots of bready yeast,

T - Layers of bready, dark and caramel malts, brown sugar, sweet figs, sticky dates, and currants run underneath. The fruit melds so well with the malts, it's effortless. Hints of cocoa powdered bananas on the finish.

M - Thick velvety feel, very smooth and creamy, warming, medium micro carbonation.

Wow!!! The flavors in this beer were blended perfectly. Everything complimented it's counterpart. Very complex aroma and flavors. One of the best beers I've ever tasted. Seek this gem out!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:22:52 | More by StaveHooks

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.68/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2011 bottling served in a Lost Abbey Teku. Very dark brown pour, clear with red highlights. Nice 2 fingers of fine head that dissipates rather slowly. Really nice nose. Sweet malt, puff pastry, plums, and spices.

Holy #$%@, does this beer taste good! Full body and nice firm, velvety feel. The flavor just explodes with sweet malt, spicy holiday cake, cookies, raisins, figs, and pastries. I swear I pick up a hint of chocolate in there too. Just super complex, intense, and powerful. The fruitiness one usually associates with this style is here, but is content to ride shotgun to the wonderful sweet malt and spicy phenols. Nice warming alcohol on the finish only enhances the flavor and gives it port-like qualities. I could sit in a room, listen to Mozart, and sip this for hours.

Overall, an absolutely phenomenal beer. One of the 3 or 4 best-tasting beers I have ever had. This is what perfection tastes like. Not much else to say. I wish I could buy more. A lot more.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:16:35 | More by deadonhisfeet

spoony

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From an 11.2 oz bottle (2011 vintage) into a chalice.

A-The beer was inky and nearly opaque with reddish brown highlights. The head was a thin, spotty mixture of tan and brown foam. No lacing, but the cap of foam never dissipated entirely.

S-The smell was earthy and slightly tart to start. After a minute, it opened up, and I got black cherries, brown sugar, toast, and some caramel. All of this was tied together by a whiff of sweet, warming alcohol.

T-The taste was a lightly boozy and complex mixture of dried fruits, peppery alcohol, toast, and brown sugar. All the flavors played well with one another and the whole package was mildly sweet.

M-The feel was creamy and mostly smooth. The carbonation was fine and mild, and the feel was medium to heavy.

O-This beer (my first from De Struise) is a fabulous example of the style. The flavors are well-balanced against one another, the feel matches the level of sweetness and carbonation, and the alcohol is fragrant and flavorful, but matched to the beer. I will definitely have to try this again with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:45:48 | More by spoony