Pannepot - De Struise Brouwers

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +6.2%
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 +2.3%
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 +7.3%
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 +6.8%
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 +7.3%
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

chanokokoro

Illinois

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

33 cl bottle poured into an unbranded chalice

Pours a very deep, dark amber with glimmering lighter amber highlights. Beige head that recedes fairly quickly, little to no lacing. Dried dark fruit, candi sugar and hints of spice on the nose. Opens with raisin, dried black cherry and plum, hints of date, joined by rich dark fig and yeasty esters. Finishes semi dry with lingering dark fruit, spice including light clove, caramel notes and warming alcohol. Full-bodied, light carbonation, smooth, light syrupy somewhat chewy mouthfeel. An exceptional quadrupel that is a must try for any fan of Belgian quads.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 05:26:12 | More by chanokokoro

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from tap at 1702 in Tucson into 10oz glass. Pours a ruby red molasses brown with no head. Nice dried fruit and chocolate Belgian aromas. Taste is really nice belgian yeasty chocolate with a great sweet dried fruit flavor followed by a bit of peppery spice. Lots of heat with this one...abv is high and its noticeable.
Overall a fantastic quad...well woth the price.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 06:35:55 | More by DrinkSlurm

Immortale25

Florida

4.51/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter. 2011 Vintage.

A- Pours a murky, mostly opaque dark brown color that's almost black with a 3/4 inch tan head that retains a bit before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a large patch of surface foam. Lacing is a bit weak and slides down the glass quickly.

S- Boozy with some Belgian candy sugar aroma and a bit of yeast. There's some roasted malt but it's mostly lost within all the sweetness and alcohol.

T- Some booze in the front but it quickly smooths out to the Belgian candy sugar sweetness and dark roasted malt. Some spice and non-lingering hop bitterness. The finish brings notes of caramel and a bit of chocolate.

M- Semi-creamy and very unimposing allowing the liquid to slide down the throat effortlessly. Medium-low carbonation assists in this characteristic and the body has the perfect amount of fullness.

O- I had never heard of this until I saw it hiding in the bottom of the cooler in my local nothing-too-special package store. I saw how highly rated it is and decided to give it a go even though it had obviously been sitting there for over a year. So glad I took the chance because this is one of the best Quads I've ever had. Beautiful balance and pairs well with some havarti cheese. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 04:34:21 | More by Immortale25

rarbring

Sweden

4.23/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A dark chestnut brown brew, a tan high head, little lacing but good curtains.

A smell of ripe oranges, raisins, figs, dates, almonds and Sherry.

Tasting of brown sugar, dark dried fruits and ripe oranges.

Medium high carbonation, soft and sticky, a good body, a light dry finish.

It is really a very good beer,

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 17:05:30 | More by rarbring

pelicon

Slovenia

4.73/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bought all vintage 0,33 bottles in beer shop in Brussels. This is 2009.

A: Pours dark chocolate brown almost opaque color with good slightly off-white head into properly washed glass. Good lacing.

S: Dried dark fruits, malt, maybe some molasses, hint of caramel and chocolate.

T: Tongue follows the nose. Dried dark fruits mashed with malt, some molasses and caramel character. A hint of spiciness which rounds the beer. Overall very balanced with a touch of alcohol.

O: Definitely will buy again as many as I'll find. I always enjoy quads. Maybe I'll even put some age on newer ones.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 17:31:19 | More by pelicon

Phelps

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark chocolate brown. The head is a light tan with staying power, connecting in sloping hills of foam.

Vibrant aroma on this one. Good amount of red grapes and figs, maple syrup, burnt oats, a little cinnamon. Like an alcoholic oatmeal raisin cookie.

Now this is how i like it. More malty, less fruity. Big notes of maple syrup, grape, toast and alcohol. Fumes containing a mix of booze and roasted malts fill the mouth after the finish.

Body is pretty similar to the Pannepot Reserva: silky-smooth medium, gentle fizz. Soft bitterness plays off a little alcohol heat.

This is my kind of quadruple. The blend of spices, roasted malts and fruit flavors is nearly perfect. A world-class brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 19:35:02 | More by Phelps

tarheels86

California

4.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 2007 ed. Pours almost an opaque cloudy brown with little yeast floaties and a huge three finger, fizzy, tan head that has great retention staying for the entirety of the drink. Aromas of mangoes, passionfruit, candied dark fruits, dark chocolate, black cherries. Taste is bubby up front with some spicy alcohol, brown sugar, and cinnamon moving to sweet black cherries, dark chocolate, and finally ending with some spice and tart cherries. Completely superb.

2008 ed. Pours a clear to muddy chestnut brown that looks near black in the glass with a massive, towering, four-finger, dense, tan to brown head that has absolutely insane retention and leaves giants swathes of godly lacing. Aroma brings lots of Belgian dark fruits, red licorice, cocoa, tropical florals. Taste is rich, loaded with dark fruits, black cherries, red licorice, nice rum raisin booziness that is light and refined. Finishes with chocolate and cocoa. Enormous rich, full-bodied, complex. This and Westy 12 are truly some of the only beers I’ve had that just blow you away but how endlessly rich and complex they are but at the same time are so easy to drink. One of the best.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 17:49:41 | More by tarheels86

Beerbuddy21

California

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage, cellar temp, Bought at Green Jug in Woodland Hills, $6.99

A- Solid 1 finger head with tan, mocha color. Dissipated quickly with a small amount of carbonation

S- Candied, boozy dark fruits. Molasses

T- Dry candied fruit, prune, molasses, roasted malt backbone, fits the style and impresses on every sip. Not too sweet, nice dry finish. alcohol is smooth and hidden well. Some reviewers are noting a red berry flavor but Im not getting that. Maybe that comes with age.

Really wanted to age this for 3 or more years but also wanted to know what it tastes like only a year old. Was surprised to see this at the store and swooped it up immediately knowing I'd seen BA reviewers talking about it. Especially surprised by the price point. Will definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 03:43:09 | More by Beerbuddy21

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The bottle being reviewed is a 2010 vintage.)

A - Pours a very dark ruby color that looks almost rasin brown in color, tan lacing is thick and creamy and carbonation is gentle and steady along the sides of the glass. Very dense one fingered head when poured.

S - Dark fruit, figs, prunes, raisins, mild chocolate and spices.

T - Belgian choclate and spice, yeast, prunes, figs, plumbs, lightly candied, and slightly boozy. Light candied dark fruit leaves a pleasant and lingering coating in the mouth.

M - Creamy, smooth medium body, and lightly sticky.

O - This beer is quite worthy of the attention it's received, wish I had additional bottles of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 01:05:35 | More by jzeilinger

warrenout330

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle poured into a chimay goblet, bottle stated with the year 2011

A- pours deep dark brown color, thick 2in finger of khaki color head... diminishes to a thin layer just resting over the beer. Pleasant sticky lacing all the way down my beer

S- smells of dark ripe fruit, a ting of chocolate and a kick of spicey booze in back

T- raspberry tart foward is what I get. Like a raspberry jelly, sweet and tart. Followed by a spicey ting all the way to a nice bitter end... but at that bitter end is a never ending raspberry tartness that really sets this Belgium off

M- sweet, nicely carbonated with a nice bitter end

O- I love belgium's, and that means Belgium's anything. This ale has definitely opened a new door way for me and the path I shall judge every Belgium I come across... this beer is really a piece of art

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 06:18:57 | More by warrenout330

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-dark brown hazy color with a light tan head and a minimal lacing

S-malt, dark fruit, caramel, spices, hint of chocolate

T-malt, caramel, rich dark fruit, chocolate, spices, slight nutty flavor

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth almost creamy

O-a delicious beer so flavorful and smooth, a great after dinner beer

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2012 22:40:55 | More by MDDMD

Samichlaus82

4.95/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Deep brown colour, a little auburn shine. Small head. Aroma is sweet and spicey, brown sugar, dark fruits, sweet malts. Taste is wow. Some sweet cherries in the beginning. Sweet liquorice. Finish is the least sweet, perhaps some bitterness. Quite heavy carbonation, no alcohol flavour. Sticky, but smooth mouthfeel. Heavy body. What a beer! So much flavour going on in there, although I think the liquorice is a bit to predominant.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 10:10:51 | More by Samichlaus82

RuudJH

Netherlands

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A 2010 pannepot.
Never encountered this beer before today, but i know it's famous. I'm curious.

Very nice aroma. Candy and raisins. Then some chocolate and coffee. Very nutty character. Roasted almonds and hazelnuts, that come through in the flavour. Powerfull but not outrageous bittersweet taste.
The alcohol is completely masked by flavour and aroma. The taste lingers and keeps it's form.

The aroma I've come across before, and it's a 5. The taste is somewhat more distinct but still known, but especially the aftertaste and feel of this beer is exceptional.
This beer goes down like only very very few others.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 11:12:45 | More by RuudJH

adamette

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed by me on tap at Chef Paul’s Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, Illinois July 26th, 2012 in the presence of my brother in law Mat. I believe the place had been renamed simply “Bavarian Lodge” but I still refer to it as “Chef Paul’s.” By any name this is a world class BeerAdvocate place. Anyone reading this should seek it out.
Review from notes taken while I enjoyed the beer. I was so excited to find this beer on tap but at "Chef Pauls" I cannot say that I was particularly surprised.

A Dark Brown body, minimal head. 4.0

S Sweet malt predominates as it smells much like a deep, dark molasses or even a fine syrup. Love it. 4.5

T Dark sweet malt and dark fruits dominate with a healthy sense of alcohol as well. This is a great tasting Quad. 5.0

M Big, huge beer with thick, sticky malt feel. 4.0

D Drinkability suffers due to the high ABV but overall this is a world class beer of its style. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 03:46:59 | More by adamette

MrVonzipper

California

4.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage
Pours a very dark brown with a short bubbly tan head with pretty low retention and lacing.

The nose is pleasant with notes of dark fruit, dates, prunes, Belgian candy, molasses and mild caramel.

The flavor is quite nice with similar characteristics as the nose but much much brighter and bolder with a little bitter chocolate and spice on the backend adding to the mentioned characteristics.

Mouthfeel is where this shines the most for me. Has A lovely full bodied and almost creaminess that quads don't typically have. Less effevecence and carbonation from most quads.

Overall this is a fantastic quad. Put it off for a long time. Glad I finally tried it.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 05:24:05 | More by MrVonzipper

Gobzilla

California

4.1/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a pale dark brown in color with pale burgundy highlights and a very thin colar of head that barely left any lacing sticking to the glass.

S: very nice quad qualities such as dark fruits, brown sugar aroma, signature belgian yeast aroma, hints of cherries, pear presence and slight booze notes to it as well.

T: the sweet belgian yeasty character was more prominent on the palate alongside dark fruits like: raisins, figs, plums, but with brown sugar, molasses, chocolatey accents, and a touch of underlying cherries with pears.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with a low amount of carbonation which had a sweet, dark fruity, slightly boozy, and silky sticky finish.

O: exactly how U thought it was going to be. Solid example of a quad and definitely would drink some more of this elixir.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 05:48:29 | More by Gobzilla

dansmcd

Australia

3.68/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2010 vintage

A - Pours a dark molasses under a foamy finger of yellow tan head. Decent streaks of lacing adorn the glass.

S - Big notes of prune, raisin, red grape and spice. A hint of chocolate, clove and fig. Very fruity.

T - Prune is dominant. Booze is prominent. Backing features olive leaf extract, clove, cinnamon, dried dark fruit, plum, cola. Missing some breadiness for my liking, a quite boozy.

M - Medium bodied. Sticky. Moderate carbonation. Nice complexity.

O - Just doesn't hit the home run for me. Perhaps the absence of some grain or bread malt results in the lack of balance I am feeling here.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:25:46 | More by dansmcd

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a deep, deep red-brown with 1.5 fingers of orange-tan head.

Smell. Candied oranges, cherries, molasses, sweet malts and fruity yeasts, spices. Just a ton goong on in this one.

Taste. Oranges, plums, brown-sugar, roasted grains, a bit of cherry, chocolate, belgian yeast and spice.

Mouthfeel. Full body, medium carbonation.

Overall. Big beer. Nice and complex with a lot of fruit flavours.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 21:36:56 | More by Rutager

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip. 2007 vintage, and by far the oldest beer I've had the pleasure of tasting.

A - Pours a very deep and dark brown, with just a touch of red. Short-lived tan head dissipates, leaving a thin ring around the glass. Despite not real head retention or lacing, this is a fine looking brew.

S - Dark dried fruits, chocolate, and molasses. Figs, medjool dates, dried plums, and lots of chocolate. Subdued caramel and toffee notes, with some leather in there too. Definitely a but more roasty and dark than BSDAs/quads I'm used to. Spice is subtle, but undeniably present. Overall a complex and inviting aroma, almost reminiscent of De Struise's Black Albert.

T - A delicious and complex mixture of chocolate, fruit, and deep resinous flavors. A subtle backbone of bready malt and Belgian yeast lays out a base for a barrage of dark fruits and sweetness, followed by a assertive but not overbearing bitterness. Dates are right up front, with figs, plums, raisins, all mingling in there as well. Sweet notes of caramel, toffee, and candi sugar all come through. A dark chocolatey presence of cocoa adds some bittersweet notes, as it fades into an almost coffee-esque roast in the finish. Subtle earthy hops, Belgian spices, and a mild tart character wrap up the finish. At 10.00% ABV, the alcohol presence is non-existent. The flavor profile here is crafted beautifully.

M - Very viscous, with a full body that fills the mouth with each sip. Creamy, rich and smooth, with a carbonation that while bubbly and pronounced, is impossibly smooth. No alcohol burn whatsoever, just a tremendously drinkable feel.

D - In a lot of ways I think this is comparable to De Struise's Black Albert with the big fruitiness couples with pronounced roast and earthy bitterness, but for me this brew shines far brighter. Certainly a world-class beer in my books.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 05:42:15 | More by Converge

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an 11.2oz bottle Of 2010 vintage I bought in SEP11 at the Struise shop in Brugge (€3.90). Label says "PNP No. 4".

Poured about 11 of the 11.2oz into a small tulip, all save for some yeasties (for later!). I could see it had a deep auburn color on the pour, but once in the glass it became a dense, opaque liquid. Head was thin and fine, a small ring of beige bubbles clinging to the side of the glass. Lacing was decent but not top shelf. Nose was quite mild, just some light maltiness with a hint of spice. Has a body a tad thicker than medium, and it is relatively smooth and even going down.

Flavor has some solid maltiness, with a pleasant level of sweetness without being cloying. Seems likes there are some dates and raisins in there, plus something akin to rum-soaked fruitcake. A little cinnamon, perhaps, as well as a hint of clove. Finishes dry, with a touch of bitterness. Pretty good, though I was, in all honesty, expecting a lot more. Prosit!

3.9/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1492

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 22:55:38 | More by Bierman9