Pannepot Reserva - De Struise Brouwers

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.95/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Quite a beer, quite a beer. Poured at a good temperature with a small to medium sized, tan, foamy head and no lace. Color is an opaque brown in the balloon part of the glass and in the narrrower part a hazy/cloudy amber orange red with some particulates and some tiny bubble trails. Aroma is malt, yeast, roast, fruit, red wine. Flavor is like nose, very nicely balanced, with bitter, sweet, and tang all pronounced, yet harmonious. Body is full, lush, mouth filling and carbonation is perfect. Finish is like flavor, tapers slowly, and has only a little alcohol warmth. Wonderful beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 19:57:56 | More by drpimento

kscaldef

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 Vintage

A: Pours reddish-brown with high clarity. Mediocre head quickly dies down to a film of bubble.

S: Brown sugar and caramel. Raisin, strawberry, orange peel.

T: Starts off woody, then waves of caramel, vanilla, bready malts, toffee.

M: Fairly high carbonation, maybe a hair more than I'd like, but combined with the relative dryness, keeps it quite drinkable.

O: Good sipper. Not mind-blowing, but well-done.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 21:00:35 | More by kscaldef

zac16125

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330mL bottle poured into a goblet
2009 Vintage

A: pours an opaque cola dark brown, with 1 fingers width of light tan head, which dissipatea down quickly to a thin rim and outer ring which remains throughout the.drink, leaves small patches of lacing

S: some dark fruits, tons of booze, a red wine aroma, hints of dark cocoa, a touch of oak, the booze is really heavy in the aroma

T: clove, dark fruits, peppery spice, fig and plum, a touch of hop bitterness on the finish

M/D: smooth, decently carbonated, medium bodied, ABV is completely masked and drinkability is dangerously high 4.5

O: well above average but lacking the punch of the great quads.  In comparison to the regular pannepot, of which I drank a 2011, I'd say that one was better.  The booze and heat mellowed in this one (likely more due to the age than the barrel treatment) but unfortunately the quanitity of aroma and flavor has also mellowed, plus little of the oak character came out in this brew. Definitely worth a drink, but not as great as I anticipated/hoped, and no where near the level of westy 12 or rochefort 10.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 02:30:02 | More by zac16125

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle served in st. bernardus oversized wineglass. 2008 vintage.

pours a deep, murky chestnut while yielding a 3/4" light beige head that somewhat quickly dissipates into a ring around the glass; average lacing.

bready, (dark) fruity aroma with notes of brown sugar and spice. nice aroma, but not quite as robust as i was hoping for. flavor follows and exceeds the aroma with dark fruits, brown sugar, and spices pulling through in an amplified form, accompanied by oak and sweet malts. bit of a sour finish. very tasty; a nice recovery after the slightly underwhelming nose. as with most quads, as it warms the flavors of the beer really begin to emerge.

medium-plus bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. well-hidden 10% makes this one dangerously drinkable. in the final analysis i'd put it in my top tier of quads, though toward the back of the group.

original review on: 09-14-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 05:04:46 | More by BostonHops

sukwonee

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle - vintage 2009, purchased for $8.99 per bottle. Poured into Orval Glass

A: Dark Brown, cola like but murkier. Half a finger head.

S: Spices, caramel, some dark fruit and oak notes

T: Chocolate, oak, caramel, dark fruits, fig, sweetness from brown sugar, a bit of boozy finish.

M: Relatively crispy mouth feel due to the amount of carbonation. Medium body.

O: I really liked this a lot. Maybe a tad bit too sweet for me, but well balanced, savory, and complex. Oak aging really added to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 03:28:38 | More by sukwonee

bfields4

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Dark amber brown hazy body. Brown lacy head.

Oak barrel vanilla, peppery lots of spices. Sweet molasses malty and dark fruit aroma.

Lots of fruit from dark grape, plumb, fig, etc. to a nice lighter cherry. Belgian estery flavors and spices provide for a nice complexity.

Very smooth and lighter than expected. Still chewy, but not quite as heavy as some other quads. Lots of complexity, easy to drink and very hidden alcohol. Such a beautiful beer. I may perfer this to westy.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:10:38 | More by bfields4

vandemonian

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

De Struise Pannepot Reserva is a decent quad but I didn't love it. I had the 2009 version.

A: Dark red/brown colour and a 5 mm head that lasts pretty well. 4.5

S: Malty with a hint of alcohol. 3.5

T: Malty with strong dried fruit flavour and some acidity. A little alcohol noticable at the end.3.5

M: A little thin. 3.5

O: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 02:47:22 | More by vandemonian

dgilks

Australia

4.08/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Opaque dark brown colour with a smooth, tan head. Large head and good head retention.

Deep, dark caramel aroma with dried fig and raisin notes. Bold and complex.

Mildly sweet with the sugars being well attenuated creating a dark, rich caramel note. Plenty of fruit, herbal character and a light enteric thing that adds complexity without quite being offensive.

Medium body with moderately-high carbonation. Good.

I quite like this. There are some weird things going on but they all work together.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 08:08:05 | More by dgilks

Dope

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle, approximately 3 years old.

A: A dark brown pour with a big fluffy very light brown head floating on top. Retention is good, takes a long time to fade away. Leaves some pretty heavy lacing on the glass.

S: Wonderful dark fruits like cherries, grapes and raisin. Maybe a little fig? Caramel malt and some molasses. Oaky vanilla. A bit of stinging esters. I get a whiff of cocoa here and there.

T: A lot going on in here. Up front, some oak and dark fruits, similar to the aroma. Sweet caramel and molasses (maybe a little toffee in the middle?). Some cocoa on the back end as the oaky vanilla finishes it off.

M: Fairly thick, not syrupy though. Smooth.

O: Pretty much you would expect, tastes like normal pannepot with some oak aspects added in. This is a little older vintage than my regular pannepot and the flavors seem to have melded a bit, making it a bit smoother. A good quad either way, very complex and intricate.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 05:40:09 | More by Dope

Greywulfken

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a luxury to get to have a 2008 Reserva right after trying the Grand Reserva 2005!

A: pours a medium brown into a dark brown-black, nearly opaque tulip; decent beige head settles into a thin film that lingered

S: notes of sugars and malts, some fruits and some cocoa

T: dark fruits pervade, fainter dryness than the 2005 Grand Reserva, more bold fruit and sweet malt flavors

M: a tad heavier than the GR 2005, but I was less aware of the alcohol (perhaps because I'd just had a GR 2005) - rich and sweet

O: man, what a double-header I just had - the Reserva 2008 is a heartier drink than the GR 2005 (IMO), a little sweeter and bolder, or less refined, if you will, but equally deserving and rewarding. My respect for De Struise's Pannepot line grows with every drink. Cheers!

...and then (over a month later (5-27-12)) got to compare the 2008 to a 2009 Reserva - quick notes: the 2008 was sweeter, smoother, and less sharp/spicy; the dark fruit tastes of the 2008 had a darker, riper flavor - and I know this may go against the consensus, but I think I liked the 2009 a teensy bit more - I like the crisper, spicier taste in this beer (probably why the standard Pannepot (2011 as of my reviews here), is my overall favorite (by a hair's breadth, mind you)).
And in the big picture, Pannepot, as a whole, is a top 10 all-time beer - one that immediately captured my imagination and tastebuds.
Buy any Pannepot you find.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 01:02:03 | More by Greywulfken

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

330ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown with some amber hues. A finger of dense cream foam. Retention is quite good.

S: Strong dark fruits start off with caramel and light bourbon in the background.

T: Much drier than the nose, but the dark fruits are still there in the way of figs. I also get bready malts, toffee and brown sugar with some nutmeg. I really like how De Struise packs lots of flavor and complexity in this beer while not making it overly sweet like many quads.

M: Moderate to thick mouthfeel with creamy carbonation.

O: This beer is incredible. It's very complex yet easy to drink. There is no hint of ABV. It's fairly dry for a quad, but is packed with toffee and dark fruit flavor. Well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 02:30:50 | More by coreyfmcdonald

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009

A: Very deep, dark brown color, one-finger dark khaki head with good retention, bit of lacing

S: Banana bread, dark fruits, caramel, spices

T: A lot going on here, dark fruits, some sweetness, some tartness and spiciness, good from start to finish

M: Good carbonation, smooth, medium-bodied, nice warming alcohol in finish

O: Very good Quad, perfect as a winter warmer, lucky to come across this and will have to pick up some more

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 06:36:35 | More by derkfromwi

jthahn

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip.
'09 bottle, opened March of 2012.

A - nothing too special about the appearance of the beer. dark...one finger head..etc,etc

S - definitely has an oak smell to it. take any bourbon barrel aged beer and just remove the sweetness of the bourbon and keep the wood intact, thats it.

T - this is where this beer delivers. i tend to vassilate on quads but i like this one. its strong, so i hesitate to call it really drinkable but thats what it is. the alcohol holds back, mostly due to the large amounts of oak, molasses and caramel that come through.

M - its right in the middle, probably right where it should be. not overly heavy and certainly not light either. the beer lingers on your tongue for a little while after drinking it.

O - I would definitely put this quad in a lineup of beers that i regularly drink, which is saying something for it being a quad. although the price tag would probably prohibit that, $6.99 for a single 12 oz.

If you want a reason to get this beer, then i would say to utilize it the same way you would a big bold red wine. a steak, a broiled pork chop...it would suit these things perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 22:19:14 | More by jthahn

GbVDave

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle into a Struise tulip.

2009 Vintage

A: Pours a dense and rich deep brown with 1/2 a finger of exceedingly creamy, dark khaki colored foam. Retention was excellent with some semblence of head lasting till the final sips.

S: Brown bread, banana, coconut, bruised dark fruit, rum drenched raisins, fudge brownies, and chocolate chip bread pudding.

T: See above with the addition of toasted caramel, clove, molassas, vanilla, and chocolate covered cherries.

M: Warming and sweet with an awesome alcohol burn that keeps everything in check.

0: Another classic entry in the Pannepot series. Keep 'em coming!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 16:52:02 | More by GbVDave

jtingue

New York

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 Vintage; served in a Rochefort chalice

A- From what I've read this beer has a reputation for being "ugly". I actually think that the appearance is appropriate for the style, and the particular flavor of the beer itself. Thick, dark, brown which is translucent around the edges; a beer which is clearly full of flavor.

S- Strong alcohol mixed with a sweet vanilla and caramel. The goblet does no justice to the aroma of this beer.

T- Despite being almost 4 years old the high alcohol content is prominent, though it does not negatively effect the taste. Flavors quickly transition to a burst of sweet and smokey vanilla or caramel. The finish is long dry and bitter, but with a lingering smokiness. The oak aging has done this beer well.

M- The alcohol, again, causes an intense warming initial mouthfeel with little carbonation. This is followed by a long dry finish.

Overall this beer impressed me. It was a good elaboration on more traditional Quadruples that I have had. I will be returning to the store to by some more to age.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 05:45:07 | More by jtingue

areich6

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed with my good friend pchul4.

A: Pours with very little, light colored head. Dark brown coloring that looks pretty inviting.

S: Smells like dark fruits such as plums and black cherries. However, it also smells a little like bourbon to me, which is weird cuz it isn't bourbon barrel aged. Idk.

T: Really good. Tastes pretty similar to how it smells, with the dark fruits, but I can also make out a slight citrusy flavor, in addition to a very faint caramel like flavor. The dark fruit taste lingers in the mouth for a while. Cannot taste the alcohol barely at all.

M: Very smooth, with no bite from the alcohol, a little creamy and very drinkable.

O: This is a very good quad.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:56:57 | More by areich6

pschul4

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared with my boy areich6 during a Bulls/Spurs game

A- Pours a dark purpley/brown with very minimal head which is to be expected from a beer of this nature

S- Strong dark fruit and tobacco scents fill the nostrils. Very fruity indeed

T- Loads of malt hit the tongue first then the dark fruit play on the background. A very tiny hint of the tabacco from the nose streak accross the palate towards the back of the sip

M- I like my Quads thicker but this is decent, some carbonation with a touch of smoothness

O- A solid quad with nothing left to be desired but nothing insanely great about it

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:46:46 | More by pschul4

rinhaak

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

2008 Reserva poured into a Rochefort goblet.

Pours a very dark maroon with a 1.5 finger head that fades fairly quickly.

A nice nose with cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, prunes, and other miscellaneous baking spices.

Very, very thick and viscous in the mouth; it is almost like drinking a creamy milkshake.

Warm flavors with a bit of bubblegum, clove, molasses, coffee grounds, raisins, vanilla bean, rum, and cherry. A boozy finish warms the belly.

Despite all of the flavors present in the beer (and there are many), the tastes are surprisingly subtle, never knocking you over the head. A wonderful beer, nicely balanced, but I sort of wanted all of these flavors amplified about 10-15%.

That said, this is tremendously drinkable and I highly recommend it to any who can get their hands on one.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 03:54:11 | More by rinhaak

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle of the '08 vintage, poured into a medium-sized Duvel tulip.

A: Clear, deep reddish brown body under a thin tan cap. Ok retention, spotty lace. Fairly pedestrian, but solid.

S: Incredible. Rich plum, raisin, spice, and vanilla. Very toasty, almost chocolatey malt. Wow.

T: A little less terrific, with all the flavors hinted at in the nose coming through in a subdued manner. Fruit and spice follow toasty malt, and significant booze closes things out. Not oas oaky as the nose promised, but still good.

M: Creamy medium body with tons of creamy carbonation. Nice.

O: This was a very good Quad indeed, but I felt that somehow the barrel subdued the powerful flavors of the regular version without adding as much new complexity as can be found in the Grand Reserva. Given the choice, I'd buy the regular over this every time.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 23:55:04 | More by woosterbill

schlimenhaumer

New York

4.2/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 2008 bottle into a Delirium tulip at low altitude. Expectations are quite high given the rating and recommendations from friends.

A: Pours a beautiful opaque ruby color with a creamy two-finger off-white head that fades away to a cap that lasts all the way through. Heavy lacing.

S: Maraschino cherries, caramel, some spice and a bit of oak. Alcohol is present in the background. The smell is good, but not quite excellent.

T: The taste is much more complex than I expected after smelling this. Cherry fruitiness up front gives way to prune and candy sugar sweetness; it's easy to appreciate the oak aging here. There's plenty of spice toward the end, most notably coriander. The finish is slightly boozy and cleanses the palate for the next sip.

M: Medium-bodied and quite dry. Suits the flavors nicely, but it's not particularly impressive.

D: This is a very good beer -- especially in terms of flavor -- but it could definitely use some improvement in terms of mouthfeel. The alcohol comes through to a significant extent and makes this one a bit of a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 01:42:32 | More by schlimenhaumer

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 vintage.

A- Hard pour produces a lopsided kahlua head. About a finger in height, with some tall standing bubbles on top. The brew is an opaque dark mohagony with some violet undertones. Appears to have some lacing on the sides.

S- First whiffs are actually vinous and grapelike. As I dig in there are more dark fruits and subtleties of oak. Some caramel, toffee, bready malt and candied sugar. Just a marvelous nose with lots of aromas that blend well.

T- Big on dark fruit. Lots of plums and figs. Theres a syrup like sweetness and malts. A bit of toffee and mary jane like candy that I get in a lot of dubbels. The oak from the barrel starts on the backend and its real nice. Its a nice smooth oak flavor.

M- Medium to full bodied quad with a medium amount of carbonation. Very smooth. Syrup like in texture. Some heat in the mouth as the booze hasn't completely gone away.

O- The nose was great, it was very easy drinking, but I expected a little more in the taste honestly. This is a great quad and I believe the age has helped. Not the strongest quad at 10% but the booze is definitely in the background and if this were fresh I could see it being harsh. Highly recommended. Will pick up another aged bottle if I see this on shelves.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:41:19 | More by haazer

ahq514

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into St Bernardus chalice. 2008 vintage. Bottled April of 2009 according to the label.

Pours a very dark amber color, but I wouldn't call it brown. Suspended yeast floating around. A thin head that leaves off white bubbles on top. Appears to have fairly low carbonation. Not much lacing.

Aroma is very complex and the aromas are very well integrated so it is hard to pick up a lot of specifics for me. There is a strong dose of oak. Typical quad qualities - sweet, strong malt, low amount of hops, and dark fruits and spiciness from the yeast. Very nicely balanced.

Very smooth. Like I mentioned in the aroma, it is a nicely balanced and well integrated beer. There are some oaky, vanilla like characteristics but they are much more subdued than I would have imagined. The oak plays more a part in the finish. Up front is sweet, strong doses of malt. Yeast characteristics make their way in with a stronger case for the spice, but still with a nice dark fruit presence. Then the oak makes itself known, but plays more of a complementary role than a dominant one.

Nice just less than full body. Lower carbonation. The age on this bad boy has made it very drinkable. No alcohol bite.

This is a great quad. Very complex, not over the top, nice complementary oak, well balanced. Hope to get my hands on another vintage of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 04:33:53 | More by ahq514

mdaschaf

Washington

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 Vintage.

A: Pours a hazy purple/brown color with a small off-white head. Very little retention, quickly reducing to a ring on top, sporadic lacing.

S: Extremely heavy in dark fruit and sugar. Lots of raisins, figs, and plums. There is a bit of dark cherry in there too. At the end there is some grape and spices. A little bit of wood coming through.

T: Not as strong and fruity as the aroma lead on, unfortunately. There is still some fruit flavor, but it just seems a bit muted. On the sweet side with some candied sugar and light spices as well.

M: Very smooth, medium bodied. This where this beer shines, its almost velvety smooth.

O: A pretty good beer, just wish the flavor profile lived up to the aroma. Age could have played a factor with that one.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:42:11 | More by mdaschaf

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

4.47/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage

A - Pours a very dark brown with a red hue when held up to the light. An inch of tight tan head recedes to a firm cap. Nothing to dislike here.

S - Coffee, cocoa, caramel, apple, rum, dark dried fruit, cinnamon, anise. Lovely complexity and depth.

T - Initial flavour is all dark dried fruit. Milk chocolate pushes through before being nudged aside by sweet caramel and a soft spike of rum in the middle of the drink. Finish is light medicinal phenols and soft drying bitterness of hops. Subtle herbal hops linger in the aftertaste along with dark chocolate and woodiness. Great balance and an adept transition of flavours.

M - Full mouthfeel is made lighter initially by refined, yet fizzy carbonation. Once this fades more creaminess evolves. Doesn't quite reach the same heights as the Grand Reserva I had recently, but certainly very good.

D - Another variation of Pannepot and another winner. So easy to sip despite packing a big punch. Alcohol only revealed in the rum note and lightly warming aftertaste, otherwise expertly masked. A cracker.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 13:37:02 | More by haz77

Luchman

Nevada

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 bottle

A: Dark brown with a tan head that clings to the sides.

S: Apple, cherries, raisins, spice, and sweet caramel malt. Smells great!

T: Complex brew here. Much like the nose, but brown sugar comes in a lot more at the end. Slight oak is in the mix as well as even hint of vanilla. 10%? WHERE?

M: Medium to thin body that goes down completely smooth.

O: The best Quad I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 02:53:30 | More by Luchman