Pannepot - De Struise Brouwers

brystmar

New York

4.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage.

Brownish colored body yields tan head. Lace affixes itself to the side of my glass without plans to recede. Sweet malt aroma combines with spices and Belgian yeast. Pleasant but not exceptional. The 2008 bottle I enjoyed a few months back was considerably better.

Malt-forward flavor supported by plums and other dark fruits. Spice tingles my tongue towards the end, heavy body brings the flavors together before finishing slightly boozy. On par with Abt 12, still considerably behind Westy 12.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 01:53:08 | More by brystmar

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

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

Had this from a bottle in Colorado, thanks to a friend who discovered it.
I've had a few American beers lately that follow its lead, Goose Island's Black Mission comes to mind (which was fine), but this beer shows the way!
Dark pour with minimal head; ruby red on the edges.
Aromas of spice, fig and dark, sweet fruits.
A bit more sour on the taste, which is fine with me!
This beer warms nicely. Plum, fig and raisin emerge more and more. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 05:38:34 | More by UpToMeBeer

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

233rd Review
33cl bottle poured into wine glass
Vintage: 2010
Lot 32255711
BB: 24/09/2016

Enjoyed next to Pannepot Reserva (2009) and Pannepot Grand Reserva (2005)

A: Deep brown. Single (light mocha) fingernail head on medium pour.

S: Smells of fig, raisin, vanilla, molasses, and caramel. Touch of spice - cloves and nutmeg. Inviting!

T: Follows smell with acute accuracy. Dark fruit and toffee sweetness are most pronounced, but very smooth, balanced, and rounded.

M: Medium bodied with soft carbonation. Yum!

O: Of the three, this received the lowest score - not because it is bad, but because I enjoyed the complexity of the other versions more. This is an excellent base beer and all-around very easy to drink! Urbain knows how to rock n' roll.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 11:46:07 | More by spdyfire83

sukwonee

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

A: Dark Brown body with 2 finger head. Lots and lots of lacing.

S: Caramel, malt, chocolate, toffee, dark fruits.

T: Follows the nose mostly,but I can taste more chocolate. I can taste the booze a bit in the middle, then quickly followed by sweet malt. Lingering after taste is dark chocolate.

M: Smooth smooth smooth. Quite dry finish though. Alcohol burn is noticeable.

O: Very very nice! I think this could benefit from aging though.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 05:37:32 | More by sukwonee

litheum94

California

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

2010 Vintage. Reviewed 6/27/12.

Very dark brown, nearing black, body with a ton of sediment. Thick, brown head builds up and slowly fades to a small cover.

Sweet and decadent aromas: Belgian candi, dates, figs and some cinnamon. Musty and earthy yeast. Bready malts and some alcohol esters.

Lots of Belgian candi at first, with dark fruit flavors. Lightly roasted, bready malts with some caramel. Earthy towards the end, with a big, boozy bite. The flavors really start to pop out as the beer warms, and the complexities are just amazing.

This is one of my favorite Belgians, yet I've never had it fresh (the other one I had was aged 7 years). Don't pass up this beer; it's simply wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 23:03:00 | More by litheum94

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a mahogany / chestnut shade while yielding about a finger of tan head; good retention and lacing evident. rich, bold nose offers lots of dark fruit and spice with secondary notes of caramel/toffee and molasses. also a breadiness at play.

flavor opens with a a sweet caramel-like presence which gives way to its dark fruit character and spice notes; there's a nutty component to it along with elements of bready malt and molasses. some warming alcohol in the finish... medium-plus bodied mouthfeel with roughly medium carbonation.

overall a phenomenal beer, tasty and complex with enough uniqueness to set itself apart; for me this is right up there with rochefort 10 and westvleteren 12 in the realm of quad supremacy - slightly behind those two but not by much. i think i prefer it to the reserva.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 01:45:03 | More by BostonHops

brentk56

North Carolina

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

2006 bottling

Appearance: Pours a rich, coffee brown color with ruby highlights; despite the age, the carbonated foam billows in the bottle and leaves a nice pattern of lace on the glass

Smell: A stew of dark chocolate, dried fruit (cherries, figs, dates), burnt brown sugar, spice cake and a touch of molasses

Taste: The dark fruits drive the flavor from start to finish, layering cherry, fig and date into the spice cake, chocolate and licorice elements; the booze sneaks up in the middle bringing with it the burnt brown sugar and molasses; with six years of age, all of the harsher elements have mellowed out and the flavors blend nicely in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Tasted side by side with a 2006 Pannepøt and this is by far the superior beer - the flavors are brighter, more balanced and a touch less sweet than the Danish cousin

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 21:28:55 | More by brentk56

yamar68

Minnesota

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

Poured from 11.2oz bottle to tulip glass, 2011 vintage:

Pours a nice medium coffee brown with a soft mocha head that retains forever.

Complex on the nose for sure... Belgian style dark fruit character with layers of roasted malts and coffee. Some all spice, nutmeg, basic spice profile. Some fig/date/raisin. Some Belgian yeast far beneath.

Overripe dark fruits, some vanilla bits, there is still a very attractive hop profile at work, some sweet funky notes like cherry and more fig. A touch of coffee off in the distance. A wonderful, tasty beer.

Overall, a must try for most any beer lover.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 00:31:47 | More by yamar68

HalfFull

California

3.8/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage poured into a globe glass from a 330 ml. bottle. Pours clear deep brown with ruby highlights. Offers a nice creamy tan cap of foam, good retention and lacing.

Nose of of alcohol and light chocolate/spice with warming. Cooler there is more chocolate, some brown sugar and a touch of sour bread.

Flavor expands with warming with light roasted malts, touch of alcohol and brown sugar. Feel is solid with a decent spice feel. Overall a quick review after I was auto logged off for lack of activity. A decent Quad with no riveting aspects yet nothing to push you away either.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 06:21:25 | More by HalfFull

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure when or where I first had this one. This review is from notes on a recent tasting on tap at Farmers' Cabinet.

Poured a reddish-mahogany color with a half inch or so of creamy tan head that retained well and left some doily lacing on the glass. Aroma of Belgian yeast, dark fruits, hints of cocoa and spice. Sweet caramel malts in the taste, toffee, dark fruits, Belgian yeast, with lesser notes of cocoa and brown sugar; slight earthiness in the finish. Heavy-medium body, slightly chewy, smooth for such an elevated ABV. Nice beer overall.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 04:49:34 | More by Rifugium

LadyOfMuchBeer

Texas

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

11.2 oz bottle, poured to Maudite tulip. 2010 vintage.

Appears dark brown, no light through glass. Decent carbonation. 1/4" plus of caramel head.

Smells of dark fruits, sugars, molasses, caramel, malts. Very light sweet floral notes.

Tastes of fig, molasses, spice. Fruit esters shine just enough. Typical, wonderful quad.

Mouthfeel is sticky and dense. Leaves a deep want for more.

Overall...a beer I could have a serious committed relationship with.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 04:38:18 | More by LadyOfMuchBeer

Bobheed

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage

A: Fairly dark brown, coffee color with a one finger ivory head

S: A lot of typical Quad smells. Dark fruits, lots of sugary sweetness, a slight roasted quality to it as well. Alcohol a little bit detectable

T: Follows the nose pretty well, pretty big dark boozy fruits initially with a nice caramel and molasses finish

M: Fairly thick, very smooth and no alcohol feel to it

Overall this was quite good. Wouldn't be my go-to Quad, but it's worth seeking out

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 03:14:09 | More by Bobheed

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.05/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 33cL into a Glencairn glass. Vintage 2010.

A: Two fingers of excellent, frothy head with amazing retention. Incredibly dark ruby; midnight purple. Only barely translucent. Heavy lacing.

S: Not much. Some fruit. Heavy spices.

T: Thick figs, spicy fruits, solid apples. A pretty excellent quadrupel, if not an exceptional one. High marks for a dark, spicy, heavy, deep beer. That said, it's not Rochefort 10 or even Abt 12.

M: Moderately spiced, definitely interesting, mediocre presence.

O: A pretty great quad (my favourite style) and highly recommended. Would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 19:11:38 | More by AgentMunky

Homebrew35

Connecticut

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

Pours a fingers worth of an egg shell colored creamy head. Deep brown hazy body. Some lacing and a bit of retention.

Smells of molasses, rum raisins, brown sugar, Carmel, lots of toffee, some dark fruits.

Tastes of brown sugar, lots of buttery like toffee, raisins and plums, light woody notes.

Medium bodied, medium carbing. This beer had a sublime feel on the palate. Soft, velvety and neutral felling.

Overall this is an awesome beer. Good smells, great taste and excellent mouthfeel. I have a second bottle I plan to cellar a few years, even though the alcohol is already well hidden.
$7 a small bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 17:21:05 | More by Homebrew35

mavbrew

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage, poured into my Portsmouth Tulip.

A: Pours a deep dark brown with the slightest of amber highlights when held up to light. The head is big, tan in color and two fingers thick and dissipates very slowly.

S: Lots of raisin and molasses scent coming through up front. Slight hints of booze are prominent with spices and dark fruits.

T: Serious burst of flavors coming through immediately, I would classify it as very complex. The raisins and molasses are the first flavors, with some dark cherry and the bitters follow in the middle and carry into the finish. Not much spice in the taste and the finish is somewhat indescribable.

M: Medium/full bodied with average carbonation. The feel is a little creamy and smooth with some bite.

D: The flavors are very complex, there is a lot of powerful bursts in the palate when sipping on this. The spice was unknown but the it's not needed with everything going on.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 00:41:14 | More by mavbrew

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 version from a bottle out of the fridge into a Founders snifter.

A: black to dark brown with a thin tan head and a lacing covering half the top of the beer and around the edge of the glass.

S: rich, deep malt profile with some spice that isn't overwhelming.

T: caramel to clove to unripened banana and rich malt with a slight roasted character with a bit of bitterness.

M: medium to thick body with a medium-heavy carbonation. Very nice smooth and fluffy, with a slight crisp bite.

O: very nice beer, but damn the Foodery is expensive ($12 for this). I'd love to try this again, but it seems like a good winter beer, so I'll wait a while. Side by side with this, Abt 12, Westy 12, and Rochefort might be in order.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 02:20:13 | More by Holland

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

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

A - pours a deep opaque chocolate brown. thick tan foam on top. Flood retention. Leaves streaks of lacing on the glass.

S - complex aroma. Clove, cinnimon and coriander spice notes are first noticed. Lots of dried dark fruit in the form of figs, dates, raisins and cherries. Hints of cocoa as well as black pepper come through as the beer warms.

T - Flavors of dark bread and a touch of cola like sweetness up front. Dried fruit notes enter mid palate along with a hint of alcohol which intertwine nicely with peppery spice flavors. There is a vauge woody note which seems to give the beer a more mellow character. Finish is long and a touch boozey with fruit and spice notes are left lingering.

M - medium bodied. Creamy feel with a slightly slick texture. Medium carb keeps this in balance nicely.

O - a very striking Belgian ale. De struise really hit the nail on the head with this one. While the flavors are deep and complex they play off each other well with no one flavor taking dominance. A truly fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 20:37:00 | More by Teleweizen2

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 11.2 oz brown pop top, nice label, 2010 vintage...poured into my Chimay chalice at near room temp

Appearance: Dark brown beer, somewhat murky, though a bit brighter around the edges. Tried to keep the sediment out entirely, but there's quite a bit at the bottom of the bottle. Dark tan cap fades a bit too quickly.

Smell: Caramel, raisins, light molasses, dark fruit, a rich hint of booze, bit of toasted bread. This is listed as a 'spiced ale', but there's not a ton of spice in the aroma (maybe a ghostly hint of coriander?).

Taste: Complex, but it's hard to pick out specifics. There's a wonderful dark fruitiness, perhaps plums and raisins mixed together? Some toasty bread flavors, and a hint of dusty chocolate. Perhaps just a hint of coriander? A faint woodiness, though this is not aged in oak. A firm, if somewhat restrained bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Heavenly. Rich, yet light, fluffy, yet smooth. Soft and supple. Wow.

Overall: Overall, this is a delicious beer, at two years of age. Complex and delicious, but at $5-6 a bottle, I would likely only pick up a couple of these a year to lay down.

B to B+

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 03:41:00 | More by BedetheVenerable

AdmiralNelson

United Kingdom (England)

4.88/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle at home. Pours a dark brown colour with a thin light tan head. The aroma is superb with fruit and nut chocolate, alcohol and just a little raspberry vinegar. A lovely chewy mouth-feel with flavours of rich plums, dried fruits and toffee, caramel and fruit and nut chocolate again. Mild carbonation and CO2 prickle. A little dry to finish with a peppery linger and a warming alcohol hum. Mild bitterness and subtle sourness are superbly balanced overall. Just great!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 12:18:08 | More by AdmiralNelson

ADZA

Australia

4.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to MrKennedy for this as an extra nice suprise indeed ive been waiting to try this one and its the 2010 vintage which pours a very dark cherry brown, with a creamy rising two finger head and nice lacing,the smell is dark cherries,oak,brandy and boozy alcohol,the mouthfeel is nice and full bodied with tastes of cherries,dark plums,nutmeg,brandy,bready malts,raisins and finished with a floral bittersweetness and overall its really nice and if i saw it in the shops i would definately revisit cheers.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 05:10:13 | More by ADZA

BeerIsPoetry

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2009 vintage imbibed 3/16/2012. The scent was surprisingly floral for the deep color which exactly replicated the beer bottle color and the taste that followed. A taste rich and dark that encouraged me to let it ramble across all the taste buds in my mouth before swallowing. Swallow was smooth and rich. Initial taste was rich caramel apple with a hint of fig. A rich molasses finish with a bit of bitterness that was initially a bit difficult to overcome, As if the caramel had come within a whiff of being singed. Yet, I found myself sighing and shaking my head in appreciation after each swallow. I don't agree with the boozy comment of another reviewer. This beer keeps its ABV under wraps. The glass grew on me as I continued. This beer is a sipper. I am not sure that I will seek another out, but I will be grateful if one presents itself.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:54:01 | More by BeerIsPoetry

Dope

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dated 2011

A: A very dark reddish-brown pour with a huge and dense tan head. Head retention is excellent, but only mild lacing.

S: Wonderful fruity aroma. Cherries, raisins, grapes and some belgian yeast mixed in. Caramel helps sweeten it up a lot. Some molasses too? Some unknown spiciness, almost like cinnamon?

T: Very sweet dark fruits. Lots of cherry and grapes with some plums and raisins. Sweetness finally fades leaving a more tart/overripe fruit flavor. Some molasses present along with the caramel aspect. Cloves and perhaps some pepper? A little boozy. I even get a little cocoa here and there.

M: Thick and syrupy sweet.

O: A very complex brew, a bit boozy (this is quite fresh) but melds together in an interesting manner. It's sweet, then a little tart; fruity and then spicy. Flavors meld nicely once it's warmed up fully. Interesting for sure. Will have to try some aged versions.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 05:29:15 | More by Dope

eclipse54

Idaho

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An 11.2 ounce bottle of the 2010 vintage, generously sent by optimator13; thank you! Enjoyed via goblet back during the site outage, and transfered now from my review spreadsheet.

Pours a dark mahogany color with deep blood red hues; a two centimeter thick layer of tan head develops with glorious retention. Even twenty minutes in, I’m still greeted by a thin layer of khaki bubbles coating the surface of the liquid. Minimal lacing.

The aroma is of date, dark cherry, raisin, plum, faint oak, a touch of chocolate, ample caramel, clove, and perhaps a faint hint of nutmeg. Very complex and inviting.

Prominent flavors include the dark cherry, date, plum, oak, and some warming alcohol. Also noticeable are the caramel, raisin, chocolate, clove, and other muddled spice flavors (can’t seem to identify them, sorry). Again, well balanced and delicious, but I am surprised with the prominence of the alcohol.

Mouthfeel is great; amply carbonated, not overly sticky or resinous, coats the palate whilst drinking yet finishes relatively cleanly. Warming alchol on the finish, but minimal to no burn.

Overall, a great quadrupel and an instant favorite of mine. It is certainly worthy of praise and acclaim.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 00:33:56 | More by eclipse54

RefugeeStryker

California

4.75/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful example of a dark belgian strong ale. The best Struisse has to offer.

Blackish brown with plenty of nutty head fluffing on top of the glass.

Spice notes immediately noticeable. Wonderful chocolate aroma.

Dark chocolate and warm spice envelope the palate. Less malty sweetness than some beers in the style.

Silky mouthfeel, not quite as chewy as I might expect from a beer of this gravity.

Overall on of my favorites in this style. The spice character of this beer really sets it apart.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 05:03:22 | More by RefugeeStryker

danieelol

Australia

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

With thanks to MrKennedy for bringing this back for me from Warners at the Bay.

2010 Vintage. Served at room temperature. It’s not that hot today.

Cap comes off with some smoke. Pours basically black with a thin somewhat tanned head.

Smell is lots of spice, Belgian yeast, and chocolate. A subtle roast character along with malt and dark fruits. A complex cacophony of cherries and marzipan. Also an organic cheese-y character. Pretty vinous on the whole.

Taste is a facsimile of the nose. Alcohol is detectable but largely subdued. Initial balanced sweetness is followed with a sharp red wine tannin-esque astringency and dryness.

Overall I appreciate this as a very complex quad, despite perhaps having a self-confessed minor prejudice against the style. Would love to drink this again a further 5 years down the track, I bet it’s even better.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 08:15:11 | More by danieelol