Pannepot - De Struise Brouwers

Reaper16

Alabama

4.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz. bottle - 2008 Vintage - served into a Trappistes Rochefort chalice

Pours a rich shade of brown somewhere between chestnut and Pepsi. I never get a lot of head when I pour into my Rochefort or Chimay chalices but the thin finger of light beige foam never fully disappears. Though small in stature the foam head does leave lots of spindly lacing. Pannepot sits heavy in the glass, looking from afar to be more like a pudding than a beverage.

The full compliment of dark fruits pop out immediately. Aromas of plum, fig, black cherry and lots of dried raisin blast out of the glass. The fruits smell as if they were dredged through cinnamon and graham cracker. Toasty bread crusts and caramel too. This doesn't reinvent the wheel in the Quadrupel style (though there is a nicely astringent hop presence). What Pannepot does to is cleanly execute the aromas that the best beers in the style are known to deliver. Pannepot smells better than some Trappist versions of the style.

The taste follows the nose to a T. Toasty, crusty malt flavors meet a cinammon-forward spice element, accenting the juicy plum and black cherry and raisin flavors. Perhaps a smidge of candi sugar. This is the hoppiest quad I think I've ever had; there is plenty of leafy European hop flavors to be found here, maybe even a trace element of orange. Caramel comes out with warmth as well as a tiny amount of roast character. This is very complex.

Pannepot has a wonderful mouthfeel; best I've had in the style. It is thick enough to suggest fullness but it isn't so thick that the sweet flavors become overbearing. There is a certain silky quality as the beer passes your tongue. The carbonation is not harsh but is present enough to matter for palate cleansing purposes; if you need some you can swish the beer in your mouth to agitate it. It goes down so easily and the bottle size is prefect for the intensity and complexity of flavor.

This is world-class. I think I like it more than Rochefort 10. I think it might be the best Quadrupel that I've ever had (and I've had pretty much every significant one outside of the venerable Westvleteren 12). The complexity is incredible but it is also easy to drink. I think that non-beer nerds could immediately take a liking to this beer, especially if you pair it with a rich dessert. De Struise tends to make these really expensive beers - $9-10 for a 11.2oz. bottle - that are also totally worth the steep price. This is a wonderful special occasion beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 02:39:07 | More by Reaper16

powz87

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-20-2013 17:22:21 | More by powz87

StubFaceJoe

Colorado

5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-20-2013 05:37:14 | More by StubFaceJoe

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-20-2013 00:44:01 | More by NJB145

Gtreid

Florida

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-19-2013 23:39:28 | More by Gtreid

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-19-2013 15:47:50 | More by ShawnMH

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-18-2013 21:27:58 | More by Photekut

slainte35

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-18-2013 18:01:35 | More by slainte35

Mscarpen

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-18-2013 11:21:16 | More by Mscarpen

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +8.2%

05-18-2013 01:58:02 | More by hotsudge

match1112

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-16-2013 22:14:30 | More by match1112

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-16-2013 20:19:01 | More by carlosega

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

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-16-2013 18:51:16 | More by Slatetank

DStoked

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-16-2013 17:03:28 | More by DStoked

deekyn

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-16-2013 04:04:53 | More by deekyn

AdamP

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-16-2013 03:27:20 | More by AdamP

StogieAddict

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-14-2013 19:57:48 | More by StogieAddict

CDCNAM

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-14-2013 18:17:41 | More by CDCNAM

danipp

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -8.9%

05-14-2013 02:19:48 | More by danipp

lpayette

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-12-2013 20:02:10 | More by lpayette

kscaldef

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%

05-12-2013 18:39:50 | More by kscaldef

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

BMMillsy

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-12-2013 13:36:18 | More by BMMillsy

Danny1217

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%

05-12-2013 08:21:59 | More by Danny1217