Pannepot Reserva - De Struise Brouwers

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

"I wish I was a fisherman
Tumblin' on the seas
Far away from dry land
And its bitter memories
Casting out my sweet line
With abandonment and love
No ceiling bearing down on me
'Cept the starry sky above
With light in my head
You in my arms"

--from 'Fisherman's Blues' by The Waterboys

That song, which is now playing over and over in my head, is the single best track from a wonderful Irish band that never got the respect they so richly deserved. It would also be fitting background music to this Danish version of what looks to be a well-respected quad. Here's hoping it's also a delicious quad. 2006 vintage.

Raspberry-chocolate with gorgeous accents of radiant raspberry red. Bright backlighting will be rewarded. The pale caramel crown looks pretty good for such a high ABV ale. No more than a few shards of lace are sticking to the sides of the snifter. With a better looking lid and more lace, the appearance would have easily earned a bump.

After solving the puzzle of the added herbs and spices, the aroma is a minor letdown. Great was expected... good was delivered. The beer smells like a well-crafted BSDA. Each sniff delivers dark caramel, a hint of cocoa, medium-dark fruit (especially berries) and a light sprinking of spice.

Pannepot is not a beer that overwhelms the taste buds with big beer bluster. It's much more refined than that. It's also growing on me more and more with each passing ounce. For starters, the mouthfeel and the well-masked alcohol make it feel like a much smaller beer than the ABV would suggest. Not that that's a bad thing.

The flavor profile is reminiscent of a well-aged English barleywine. There are boatloads of blackberry and cherry fruitiness. I also get oranges, plums and raisins soaked in chocolate liqueur, light molasses and vanilla. I'm guessing that it was oak-aged, at least briefly. The complexity is positively mind-boggling as the bottom half of the bottle approaches.

Coriander is easily appreciated. Cinnamon and thyme are hard to appreciate. This is a deliciously sweet sipper that has just the right amount of dark candi sugar. Flaked corn isn't used often, but it's hard to argue with the final product. In the end, specific ingredients don't really matter. If the beer works, it works.

The final pour murks the beer up from nearly opaque to opaque. It also adds more raisin and prune flavors to the mix. Although the mouthfeel is lighter than it could be, it also works in the grand scheme of things. Thick and sticky wouldn't have worked at all.

Pannepot Old Fisherman's Ale (Danish Version) is a wonderful quadrupel that should come in 750 ml bottles. My measly 11.2 ounces is now gone (already?!) and I was just getting into a groove. It'll be interesting to see how the version brewed for the American market stacks up to this one. Pretty well, I'll bet.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 15:31:29 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

A 330ml bottle of 2006 vintage, served at cellar temperature and poured into a tulip glass

A - Poured a very dark brown, almost a cola like color with a very hazy and cloudy appearance pretty much obscuring everything inside and making it look a very thick consistency. A very nice three finger high head of tan colored lace came flying up to the top. Very active on the pour would be an understatement, this thing was all over the place. Almost came out of the top of the glass. After a few more minutes, it finally settled down and began to fold in on itself and become more of just a thin half-inch layer across the top. Tons of spider web like lace coating the inside of the glass, leaving tons of dripping lace. Hard to tell how much carbonation there was as it was just way to hazy. Some small amount of sediment visible on the bottom of the glass, which did not really move much, sort of just hanging around on the bottom of the glass for the duration of the session.

S - The aroma was very varied, deep and complex with different hints and small nuances of smell coming through at various different times during the course of the session. The first thing I was able to pick up with a very nice dark fruity aroma. Lots of raisins, figs, plums, and even a touch of grape showing up in here. Very well mixed and balanced between them but leading more toward the sugary notes as it started to warm up. Lots of spice was evident as well right from the start. A sort of odd nutmeg like spice along with a touch of cinnamon, and sugar. Some aromas of oak or other wood like characteristics starting to come through now as well. The profile is really starting to thicken up now and get a bit complex on me. Some light grassy like smells along with touches of earthy grains all floating around in there as well. Overall really quite full and at the same time very well balanced. Major factor here was the raisin like fruits that were the only constant in the aroma the entire time.

T - The first sip of this just started to bring on wave after wave of thick evolving flavor that really was showing off quite well and became increasingly more complex with each and every sip. The first notes that came across were very rich, sugary notes of raisins, which were just a wonderful way to start off the whole thing. Deep dark fruity flavors were the norm on this was with prunes and figs lining up behind it, quickly delving it deeper and deeper. A very strong presence of sugar was next up, really pushing through and drying to lighten it up. A touch of something sour playing around in the back, and just briefly showing up in the flavor before diving back down and out of site again. Rolling on some nice earthy, oak like notes starting to come now with spices becoming more and more dominant. Cinnamon and nutmeg, even some all spice and a hint of banana keeping developing it further. The finish brought everything back together again and just kept evolving it and drying you out, making you come back and get another sip so that you could bring it back to where it was before. Really, no hint of any kind of alcohol in this one, which to be honest was remarkable for something that should have been so big. Overall, I was quite pleased with the overall flavor and thought that it really developed quite well.

M - This was a very thick ale, not quite full bodied, but damn close and it had such a luscious and creamy smooth body that it was really a pleasure to take each passing sip, as each one was better then the one before that. Really a tremendously good beer here. The carbonation held up excellently and really pushed the entire thing into overdrive, allowing the flavors to really pop and explore the full range of possibilities. Great smooth finish, though not intensely dry, it was more sugary and long flavors of spice persisted for a good long time afterward.

D - Now see this category can become tricky at times only because you get the situation where something is so incredibly drinkable, but at the same time, it has a high ABV so it leaves you in the situation of what to do, In this case the answer was simple, you just keep drinking. It was really just that easy to do. There was just no hint of any kind of alcohol in this whatsoever and the flavors were so rich and bold, with such and in-depth and wonderful profile that it was truly hard to say no to this one. I could have easily had another without any incident, it was just that good. So smooth and delicious.

Overall, I thought this was a really great Belgian ale. The flavors were rich and pure, mingling so well and cross such a wide range of style that it was almost impossible to nail down where it was coming from .A deep dark ale; this one would surely please anyone who gives it a try. Does it live up to the hype? I will let you decide that, my feelings are kind of mixed on the subject personally, but one thing for sure, it is damn good.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 13:49:13 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

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

A: The pour is a dark amber color, perhaps we could call it mahogany with a fluffy tan head on top.

S: There are lots of different dark fruit aromas here, perhaps some figs, plums, raisins, along with a non-dark fruit--pears. A lot of caramel malt, brown sugar, and a hint of bread.

T: A mild spiciness followed by an intense dark, sweet fruitiness. Raisins, plums, figs, cherries, and brown sugar with a hint of alcohol and perhaps even a bit of oak.

M: The body is medium to full with a very creamy and full level of carbonation.

D: I like the regular Pannepot a fair amount and this is even better. A really fantastic beer and one that I would easily drink again.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 01:06:10 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Thanks to bmanning for sharing the 2007 vintage at a recent tasting with Azurelimits, Amyliz4, hhanson, and myself.

A: Pours a light mahogany with chestnut and ruby hues both coming through. Small off-white head.

S: Belgian yeast with quite a bit of spiciness atop a bit of miscellaneous fruitiness.

T: Nice spice notes of allspice, nutmeg, and clove in addition to a nice caramel malt sweetness coming through. Hints of vanilla and dark fruits.

M: Medium bodied with a very nice creaminess to it. Intriguing complexity.

D: Very drinkable, and one I definitely wish I had a bit more of to try. Another excellent beer in the Pannepot series.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 05-03-2010

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 20:44:40 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

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

2007 vintage.

Pours a murky dark brown with a 2 inch tan head that fades to a small cap. Super thin rings of lacing line the glass on the drink down. Smells of caramel, malts, with muted whiffs of dark fruits (especially raisins) at first. However, as the beer warms there is a very nice smell of raisin puree. Taste is of raisins and prunes, brown sugar, caramel, and malt. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a good level of carbonation. Very smooth and easy to drink. Overall, this is a very good quad from Struise. If this was brewed in 2007 that potentially makes it 4 years old at this point. Time has treated this beer very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 01:10:05 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of Bu11zeye: Poured a deep dirty cloudy brown color ale with a large foamy head with great retention and some good lacing. Aroma consists of bubblegum ester with some candi sugar and some light spices. Taste is comprised of a sweet malt base which is well balance with some bubblegum ester and some light spicy yeast at the end. Very well balance with no apparent alcohol and a full body with great carbonation. I thought it was slightly less complex then the regular version but I would have to do a side-by-side comparison.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2008 17:47:16 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

As a tremendous delicacy of a beer, the Pannepot takes the succulent Chimay Grand Reserve-like flavor, then makes is more savory and less carbonated- then the real magic happens. The oak aging delivers similar caramel, vanilla, and wood character that's given to bourbon with the same treatment.

The dark and purple-hued beer carries a more predominant brown color with yeasty haze that impedes light. Modestly carbonated at first, the rise of a thick blanket of foam reduces without the higher effervescent character of Trois Pistoles or Chimay Blue. Instead a swirl of the glass recaptures the espresso-like off white creme time after time.

Succulent aromas first explore the dialogue of fruity esters and spicy phenols with plumb, red grape, date, and vinous wines that balance against cracked peppercorn, light clove, and bourbony alcohols. Caramel, maple syrup, coffee, and toast round out the highly complex aromatic bill.

Malty flavors start the show with caramel sweetness, part from the barrel and part from malts, also show the taste of full bodied red wines, savory chocolate, coffee, vanilla, coconut, maple syrup, and mild toast. The interplay of plumbs, prunes, figs, dates, raisins, cherries against the oak tannin, peppercorn, cinnamon, and whiskey alcohols simply deliver wave after wave of complex flavors that just keep coming.

Full bodied, yet somewhat delicate to the palate- the beer's residual sweetness keeps it weighted, as does the milder carbonated value. But the patient development towards a semi-sweet, near-fusal alcohols, and powdery tannin texture closes the beer and allowing for a long savory-sweet finish to reward the palate long after the beer has disappeared.

With so much complexity built into the beer, it's an absolute delight to the taste buds as it will make a fine complement to any dinner in place of that port wine or cognac. For comparison's sake, there's just a few nuances that keeps it from competing with Rochefort 10.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 04:33:25 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a bulb glass a deep amber tinged chesnut brown with a thick two finger tannish colored ead that held well.Aromas of deep dark fruit aka...raisins,prunes,and candied orange peel,almost a spiced cake element to it.Flavors again have a spiced cake note to it with some candied fruit,I dont really detect the calvadose barrel aging much though.A very good beer but maybe a bit overrated?

2008 vintage.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 23:25:59 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a snifter at The Firkin.

2008 vintage. Nice to see more random goodness flowing at the Firk. This one pours a nice obsidian topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises figs, brown sugar, light molasses, light black cherry, red apples, and some very light roasted malts. The taste holds notes roasted malts, light-ish molasses, brown sugar, figs, red apple, red grapes, chocolate, and some very light coffee. The body is a slightly hefty medium, with a light carbonation and a very smooth feel. Overall, a very nice quad that ends up being dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 22:29:58 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Beer is dark brown and hazy with a strong tan head of tiny bubbles that leaves a TON of lacing on the glass, it's completely coated. Beer served in a Russian River tulip. Carbonation steady.

Aroma is sweet and caramelly with some dark fruit and candy in there.

Beer is sweet and medium to thick in the mouth. The roast comes up late and is separated from the total beer. This is a nice, caramel candied beer. Oddly dry late on the palate though. Beer is very drinkable. It's very awesome. If you like Quads, this is a must try. Low bitterness, easy finish, a great great beer.

The oak is not pronounced in oakiness or vanilla in this beer though, if it were more oaky in it's nature I think I would appreciate the oak aging more. Personally.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 23:29:08 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage thanks to ygtbsm94. Served in a Great Northern Brewers Club tulip.

A - Pours with voluminous tan foam that settles to a thin cap, and splotchy lace. Body is a hazed glowing brown ruby-red.

S - Oak, vanilla, roasted grains, spices, caramel, nutty, nuts and berries, cake and bread.

T - Taste is more smooth out at this stage, but doesn't display obvious oxidation. Finish is slightly musty. Alcohol is well-hidden. Otherwise mostly bread, fruity esters, honey cake.

M - Medium carbonation, medium-full body, very chewy with lots of residual stickiness mixed with barrel tannins. No obvious heat.

D - Split the bottle three ways and it was easy to finish this bad boy. I like this better than the recent vintages, but I'm not sure it's a big improvement over the other Pannepot variants. Still, well worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 20:21:57 | More by MasterSki

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage. Pours a three-finger light head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Black color, no highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Dark fruit and alcohol nose and flavor is also alcohol and dark fruit, mellow sweetness. Expensive at $10.49 for a 330ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 23:07:36 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
2008 vintage
A- This beer pours a dense opaque brown body with a light sticky tan cream head that leaves register marks after each sip. There is some jetsam of trub swirling around in the body.

S- The aroma of dark candi sugar is soft with a tartness of fruit and red wine tannins to follow. There is a oaky vanilla note that comes through in the finish as the beer warms.

T- The sweet candi sugar is dark and raw with a jam sweetness to it and a cream flavor to follow. The finish is pretty clean from the fizz.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a tight fizz that is full in the finish. There is a creamy texture and a very soft alcohol warmth that hangs on the tongue after each sip.

O- This beer has some nice flavor with a subtle complexity and a soft woody note. There is a nice full sweetness but a little more alcohol to cut it would be nice. There are very faint notes of brett and yeast character that would be nice to taste more of but they just didn't come through.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 21:17:31 | More by rhoadsrage

mdfb79

New York

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 09/25/10 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC. 2008 Vintage - aged 14 months in French oak barrels.

a - Pours a murky mahogany color with one inch of white head and light carbonation.

s - Smells of oak, spices, dark fruit, sour cherry, and caramel malts. Smells great.

t - Tastes of dark fruit, sour fruit, caramel malts, spices. A step down from the nose but still good.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation; quite easy to drink.

d - I thought this was a great quad; the nose on it was great. Would love to try this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 00:53:22 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Had @ Lion's Pride.

A: Has a big frothy 2 finger + head that's bowing and sticking over the top of the glass. Very hazy and sediment filled maroon brown color.

N: Some aged sour fruity malts, some crisp aromas come through with some light spices and almost a funky wild yeast like aroma.

T: Starts slightly sour with an almost funk and fruit taste, some candi sugar that's lightly sweetening it. The great crazy Belgian yeast really sticks its head out to let you know. Some light creamy chocolate and more dark plum like fruits. More spices and spicey yeast, a light oak and vanilla. Lots of complex flavors blended together well.

M: Semi thick with lots of carbonation and light spice

F: Almost bready qualities coming through now, pretty dry but still somewhat syrupy in the center. The long Belgian quad like taste seems to teeter out over time, but the Belgian sweetness, sour fruits, and funky yeast really just stick to your taste memory for a while.

It's delicious!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 13:58:57 | More by jlindros

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

This version of Pannepøt special beer brewed and named as a wink to the Danish market presented at the Danish beer festival 'Københavnske Øldage 2006' exclusively at Ølbutikkens stand. It is produced to express the brewers gratitude to all the Danish beer amateurs that drink their products daily.

Much thanks to egajdzis for breaking this out so we could do a side by side comparison with the original version, which faired differently...

Appears a hazy, dark amber with a light beige head that slowly fades into a mild cap. Lots of streaky lacing is left all around the glass.
Smell is of dark brown sugar, mineral water, caramel, ripeened dark fruit, nuts, & mild anise notes.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a mineral water flavor that reminds me very much of the Westy brews.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, mineraly, with caramel and brown sugar.

This version was much better than the original version IMO with not even close to the amount of spices as the other version had. This one was also lighter in color.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2007 16:55:57 | More by weeare138

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

De Struise seems to make so many pannepot beers these days, it's hard to keep track of them all. The 2008 draft version of this beer was available at Max's during their recent Belgian event.

The beer pours a fairly dark brown color with red highlights. Head retention is quite good in this beer, and there is considerable sticky lacking all around. The nose is surprisingly faint and mute, though I did get some light vanilla and chocolate, as well as a hint of cherry. On the palate, this beer is just delicious, with chocolate, vanilla, cherry and light coffee all combining to make for a very fine tasting beer. This moderately sweet beer is smooth, rich and long on the palate, with no more than a hint of alcoholic heat in the finish. The beer finishes well, and frankly this beer is all too easy to drink. My glass was gone before I realized it.

Another excellent pannepot beer from De Struise. What a surprise.

From 5/12/12. The 2009 is on tap at Max's today. It's every bit as good... consitent high quality from this excellent brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 17:23:46 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2005 version.

Pours a hazy, rustic brown color with a big off-white head. The head recedes fairly quickly into a thin pancake of bubbles on top that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of booze and Belgian candy sugar soaked fruits - plums, raisins and pears - with hints of spices. I'm not getting a lot of woody aromas, but the spiciness seems toned down a bit from the normal version.

Tastes very good. Belgian candy sugar and fruits join a sweet malt background. Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg come out every now and then.

Mouthfeel is great. This is the biggest improvement over the normal version of this beer in my opinion. It's almost velvety.

Drinkability is good. The sweetness from the Belgian candy sugar isn't overbearing, nor are the spices. This goes down easily, especially considering the 10% ABV.

Overall this is a tasty beer, but for the price I would recommend sticking with the non-Reserva, though if you're curious it's certainly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 21:38:32 | More by glid02

DoubleJ

California

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've been waiting to try Pannepot, and what I picked up was the reserve version without notice. On to the beer:

The head of this one goes away semi-quick to a lace around the glass. Chocolate brown is the color of the beer, with a brownish orange hue. The sugary part of the aroma reminds me of the inside of a truffle at times. Dark fruit flavors are tossed around amind the dominance of sweetr red grape. I finally get a little toasted oak in there.

When the beer enters the mouth, I understand the reason for Pannepot's claim to fame. This is a quad that smacks you with an unbelievably smooth flavor while the alcohol hides. A light kiss of vanilla and oak give way for figs and plenty of red grape. A light red vinigrette flavor ponders if part of a Flemish Red were mixed in this beer. Oddly, as time goes on, the flavor becomes more monotone (but still very good). It's medium-full in the mouth with, you guessed it, a very smooth feel. It's also stupidly easy to drink.

I need to drink quads more often, and Pannepot Reserva justifies that statement.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 05:53:31 | More by DoubleJ

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

2008. Deep toffee colour with a tan cap of fine bubbles. Nice lacing, decent head retention. Great aroma. Bready and toasty malts, earthy, prunes, raisins, almost a spicy wood character, light alcohol. Nice flavour too. A little sugary but far from cloying, caramel and molasses, with more of a fresh plum fruitiness and less of a prune and fig dried fruit character. Honey, spices, and alcohol were all mild and balanced, as was a hint of oak flavour and astringency. Medium plus body with lowish, well integrated carbonation that made it feel a bit lighter. Overall this was a really well balanced beer, very tasty and quite drinkable for a quad.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 17:53:30 | More by DrJay

HopHead84

California

4.05/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks again to a generous BMan1113VR for this. Maybe on our next chance meeting I'll have a bottle in tow.

The beer appears tawny with a creamy head that lingers...lingers...lingers. What retention!

The nose is full of dark fruits (quite vinous) in the form of grapes and plums. Spices are evident, and the malt profile is bready and sweet with noticeable alcohol.

The flavor is also very fruity, with raisins, plums, and grapes. The sweetness has a candied sugar quality and the bready malt backbone is substantial. The finish is sugary sweet with lingering dark fruits.

The beer is medium-full bodied with a nice medium level of carbonation, though the mouthfeel is a tad thin and watery.

This is a big fruity and vinous quad. The 4-6 ounces that I tried was satiating.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 08:22:20 | More by HopHead84

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes taken on 11/12/10.

2008 bottle poured into a snifter, this brew appears a clear very ruby reddish amber color. A cap of yellowish tanned head resides on the surface slowly receding. Each swirl revives the cap back to a finger's strength. Spotty lace clings to the glass.

The smell of this brew is candy-like with some citrus hops and a bit of tangy fruit quality mixed in the background with more herbal and earthy hops. A light amount of oakiness with some faint vanilla sweetness mixes with the candied fruit character.

The taste is again candied sweetness with some minor herbal bitterness and an evident amount of alcohol that is present in both taste and warming factor. It is very enjoyable with some belgian yeast spices like clove and a very faint amount of banana. The spiced finish sets the stage for the well balanced mix of flavors in the aftertaste: candy, alcohol and hoppy bitterness.

Medium feel with a modest level of carbonation. This brew is super drinkable for 10% with an alcohol presence that increases with the warmth of the beer's temperature. Along with the increase in temperature comes a bit of a more grainy sweetness instead of candy but it still has a caramel quality about it which is very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 20:26:27 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reserva - 2008 vintage

Poured into duck rabbit snifter.

Pours 1/2 finger of khaki tan head. Color is a dark brown with a copper hue.Decent retention with some lace rings.

Aroma: Sweet and malty. Lots of raisins and licorice. Some plum notes. Toffee malts. A bit of spice shows with the slightest oak.

Taste: It really just tastes like a regular quad. Not a lot of oak at all. It has toffee malts, raisins, dried fruits, and licorice. Not a ton going on here, but it is good.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Not boozy which I like. Ends fairly clean.

Overall, a decent quad but nothing what I was expecting. Didn't taste too much oak in this one. It was good, but a little overrated imo.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 10-09-2010 20:08:24

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 01:37:45 | More by mothman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.98/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had this one a few times over the years.. mainly from Inflatablechair... But... now, suddenly we are getting them in Boise!! Yaayy!!

2008 375 shared with Sam tonight... poured into my small tulip. Thin tannish head atop a hazed deep amber brew.

Nose is boozy and pretty oak forward with some toasty malts and hints of raisin... good malt presence with an interesting plummy quality.

Flavor is not as rich as the nose... but still pretty nice.. mildly malty and a bit sweeter than I appreciate... some lite cherry ester notes... overall the malt profile is lighter than expected... oak is present but really shows on the more heavy side toward the finish and it combines with a lingering sweetness...

Pretty nice.. the oak never goes too far and just adds a nice layer of complexity from front to back..

3.5/4/4/4/4

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 06:48:14 | More by JohnGalt1

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2007 Vintage! Served from bottle into a Trappistes Rochefort chalice. Poured a deep reddish brown with a half finger light tan head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark chocolate, bread, raisins, and sweet alcohol on the followthrough. It had a heavy feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. This one wasn't quite as smooth as the Old Fisherman's Ale with similar age on it, but was still quite nice. The alcohol on this one definitely made itself present on the followthrough without doubt. Hard to believe that with this one having 4 years on it already. Definitely worth trying if you get the chance!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 16:04:36 | More by thagr81us