Pannepot Reserva - De Struise Brouwers

Brez07

Maine

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

On tap at Novare Res. 16oz pour served in my chalice. Not sure of the year on this one

A: Dark crimson hue. Just a whisp of white colored head. No lacing

S: Some crisp apple, cherry, caramel, molasses and a touch of oak

T: Slightly oaky. Notes of sherry. Some light fruit (apple/cherry), molasses. Kinda hard to lock down all the flavors in this

M: Full bodied. Very smooth. Some carbonation, don't really notice it though

D: Very complex quad. Zero sign of alcohol. As I said, hard to get all flavors because there were so many. Was very excited to see this on tap

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2010 01:01:38 | More by Brez07

BieresDesMoines

Iowa

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

Pours a deep burgundy color with a big head and lots of lace. The aroma is brown sugar and earthy notes with some raisins, some floral notes, and a good nutty and spicy character. The flavor is raisny again but has a nice spicy and earthy bit with some molasses and a warming booziness. The palate is very full but a little bit slick. Really a damn rich delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 17:30:07 | More by BieresDesMoines

cavedave

New York

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

2008 Vintage. Could not resist pulling this up from cellar despite my best attempt at willpower, and recent vow only to drink hb.

Dark brown with orange/red highlights top a finger of thick tan foam. It is a thick and opaque look. The head relaxes to a nice cap that hangs around.

Mmm what an aroma, caramel and candy, light spicy notes, figs, some really dark bread to it, wonderful herbal and earthy hints, very complex undernotes hard to describe, merest hint of alcohol.

Good gosh, where to start. Amazing taste that starts with spicy, sweet, fig, caramel, and quickly adds some earthy herbal, then it goes berserk on the tongue. It seems to morph into a million different subtle flavors, tickling the palate with deliciousness that finally resolves to a lingering sweet balanced with oak, deep vanilla and dark fruit, herbal and spicy bitter. The finish resists being as juicy and full of alcohol as it somehow should be, staying perfect on palate for the entire bottle.

In the mouth this is a star performer. This is as good as a quad gets, lively carb. that adds no flavor and keeps the profile bright, perfect viscosity, no alcohol presence, and a juicy finish that doesn't cloy nor build spice resin in mouth. As good as W12 or R10, perhaps better.

Overall this is one of the finest 4 quads in the world, perhaps the best of them. A touch less complex than W12, a bit less thick than R10. Almost like STB's more talented and mature brother. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 16:14:35 | More by cavedave

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep amber to brown in color with a light tan head. In the aroma, oaky and dark fruit. In the taste, dark fruits, a mellow oaky taste, and just a pinch of alcohol. A small alcohol bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry oak and small alcohol like aftertaste. A nice oak presence with a dark fruit sweet to dryness, a really nice sipper.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 21:44:11 | More by OWSLEY069

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2007 bottle

Whoops. A slow gusher. Pours a couple fingers of lightly tanned off white head and a dark brown body that is lighter brown and amber at the bottom of the Struise glass.

An aromatic beer for sure. Getting whiffs as I poured. Lots of dark fruit. Brown sugar sweetness. Peppery spice. Oak barrel wood, vanilla, and coconut. The coconut smell is so wonderful in this. Slight alcohol aroma at room temp.

The inviting nose leads into a wonderful taste. A great warming beer. Dark fruit especially raisins, dark bread, brown sugar, caramel and plenty of barrel character(tannin and coconut).

This is so smooth. Even with the gushing the carbonation is subtle and makes for a creamy medium bodied mouthfeel. Dry.

This was delectable. Pannepot is such a great beer and throwing it into a barrel is divine.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 23:24:55 | More by MattSweatshirt

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

Hullabaloo2

Nebraska

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

2007 bottle served in an Orval goblet on 11/16/2009

Aroma - Deep, rich aoma of dark fruit. Some apple. Very wine like. Mild alcohol. The aroma is very upfront in this beer

Appearance - Dark brown with a red hue. Very little light gets through. Tan head poured 1 fingerwidth and stayed at one fingerwidth. Very nice head retention. Ok lacing.

Taste - Much like the aroma a very deep rich flavor of dark fruits and dark sugars (molasses); however, it's not sweet. This is followed by caramel malt and spicesSome bitterness I believe due to the alcohol. Slight lingering spice and bitterness. Complex beyond my words.

Mouth Feel - Heavy body. Several reviews say low carbonation, but it has a lot of carbonation; however, it is very smooth. Alcohol is present, but is not hot and is very well covered. Lingering spice and slight lingering bitterness. Almost cloying.

Overall Impression - This is different from the quads that I ususally drink (St. Bernardus 12, Gouden Carolus Grand Cru, etc.), but it is definitely a great beer. If only I could get this on a regular basis. I can't speak to the accuracy of its world wide rating, but I can understand why people would rate it so highly. This is a must get if you can. I would even recommend mail ordering it if you can't get it locally. As and after thought, I think Gouden Carolus Grand Cru is still my favorite quad.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 23:18:45 | More by Hullabaloo2

sisuspeed

New Hampshire

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

2008 Vintage

Poured into a Rock Art tulip. The body has an unfiltered plum brown color with a thin off-white head on top. Light lacing is left behind. Looks great for a dark Belgian.

The aroma is filled with oaky, dried figs, caramel sweetness and light cloves. Cherries, plums and mocha chocolate. Nice woodiness with a touch of smoked malt.

Tipping back the glass coats my tongue with creamy, smooth, oaked fruits, vinous chocolate and light alcohol. Caramel and oak barrel with a touch of coffee. Belgian spices linger in the background. A delicious mix of notes. Not sure if this is a Belgian quad or Belgian strong dark, but either way it is excellent.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with light carbonation and light warming alcohol. A touch of spice and bitterness. Almost velvety.

This is a very drinkable big beer and the bottle size is about the perfect serving size. I really enjoyed sipping on this beer and many thanks to sleepydave for bringing this over. I still haven't cracked one of my regular Pannepots, but after having this I'll have to try one of those soon. There are really no flaws associated with this beer and I think it has just become one of my favorite Belgians. I will definitely have to seek out another bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 18:17:19 | More by sisuspeed

Brabander

Netherlands

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

The Struise Brouwers were at the Borefts festival in Bodegraven, the Netherlands with a lot of super beers. In De Molen, a fine dutch brewery, were a lot of good breweries but the best brewer was The Struise.

Poured in my the Molen tasting glass this beer looks absolutely perfect. This is one of the best quads when you don't like the oaktaste.

Typical aroma of a banana, licorice and vanilla mix. Sweet spicey complex flavour.

Loved every sip of it. I asked Urbain when he is going to brew this pannepeut again because i need a crate of this beer!! I will have to wait a while.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2010 10:03:54 | More by Brabander

beerdrifter

Germany

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

Thanks to Smalls for hooking me up with this beauty! Nice ruby-brown pour with a quickly fading head and great lacing. Unique nutty nose with prunes, oak, caramel, red wine, and a touch of vanilla. The taste mirrors the nose and is just as complex. The nuttiness and complexity makes this stand out from other quads I've had. It reminds me of a nice red wine. Very woody and smooth and the vanilla and oak get really noticeable as it warms. The alcohol is really well disguised. Definitely the smoothest, most drinkable and enjoyable quad I've ever had. Another world class offering from De Struise!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 16:19:52 | More by beerdrifter

HeyItsChili

South Carolina

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

A - Poured from a 2007 vintage bottle into a Chimay goblet. Pours and has the highlights of dark raisin flesh. A medium, khaki head settles on top before dissipating into a film.

S - Strong sweet aroma of raisins, figs, cherries, malt, toffee and brown sugar.

T - Nice and sweet with a strong malt characteristic. Toffee and dark brown sugar, just a little bit of cherry tart. Potent alcohol taste lingers in the finish.

M - Medium bodied, chewy.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 00:45:11 | More by HeyItsChili

pmccallum86

Minnesota

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

2008 Vintage

Pours a beautiful brown color with a light off white head.

Smell is of Belgian yeast, dried fruits, and nutmeg. Very nice

Great dried fruit flavors up front with a hint of oaky vanilla in the finish. Very complex, slight heat.

Mouthfeel is full with medium carbonation.

Overall a great quad, I am a fan.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 03:07:13 | More by pmccallum86

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

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

2007 bottle tasted blind as part of a top 10 quad blind tasting.

A: Deep brown body with the faintest hints of red. Healthy khaki cap.

S: Plenty of dark fruits, figs and raisins. A little clove and possibly nutmeg.

T: Spice (nutmeg?) and loads of dark fruits up front. Nice malty base with caramel and brown sugar.

M: Medium-full bodied. Smooth and velvety.

O: Very nice. Layered and complex. Top notch quad.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 01:24:09 | More by callmemickey

Beerenauslese

California

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

This is the 2008 vintage, aged in my cellar now a couple of years.

Poured into a big snifter, body is dark reddish brown, almost black. Poured to a half inch head, tan and foamy, that soon dissipated to a ring. Each sip leaves little puffs of lace clouds on the glass.

Smells of dark fruit, especially cherries, vanilla and old wood, and alcohol.

Tastes of cola, dark cherries, coffee, chocolate, oak wood, and liquor, to name just a few of the flavors in this complex beer.
Starts sweet with a bit of char, then has a nice tart midpalate with cherry flavor and chocolate that lasts into the long finish.

The body on this is medium and the carbonation is low. Creamy if you slosh it around in the mouth, otherwise the mouthfeel is lightly fizzy.

This is an interesting, complex beer. It is moderately strong in alcohol and makes a good evening digestif.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 06:41:08 | More by Beerenauslese

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage.

For a 3-year-old beer, the head keeps this beer looking lively and fresh...it disappears to a skim pretty quickly, of course, but its mocha color is nice while it lasts. The liquid is a dense, muddy dark brown.

Aroma is a tantalizing, heady mixture of cinnamon, black pepper, coffee grounds, allspice, anise, yeast and alcohol. Nothing spikes out further than the other, all is in balanced accord. Even a bit of pumpernickel emerges with some warming. Smells like a pretty serious beer.

The nose hints at what's to come on the tongue, and does not falsely advertise. All of that is there, with the same balance exhibited in the nose. There's also a nearly astringent herbal essence that comes in, which seems like it must be hops, but with three years for those to fade, it's probably the unrevealed "spice" that the label touts. Some raising and less identifiable dark fruits emerge. The heady, vinous, almost charred-meat character is likely the wood, but even the French oak barrels this was aged in don't exactly scream "barrel" or "wood." There's nothing literal in Pannepot Reserva 2008; all ingredients and brewing techniques take on more interpretive, symbolic characters.

Soft and smooth on the tongue with just a little bit of carbonation caress. With all the complexity and depth of flavor, it's nice that the texture doesn't budge in too thick or cloying. Spice and wood mingle in the finish, with a nearly citrus-like sourness being hinted at but never totally delivered, all keeping the imagination soaring...

Man alive, this is one complex and satisfying beer. Another incredible Belgian delight.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 22:45:02 | More by Metalmonk

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

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

Ive been staring at this at Sams for a good 3 months now, but thanks djbutters, I dont have to worry about it anymore.

Dark muddy brown in color. Off-white ring floats at the top of the snifter.

Smell is sweet, full of candied sugar, carmalized plums, and brown sugar coated raisins. Nice and complex, booze melds in somewhere, but isnt too much. I like it.

I really feel the brown sugar and caramelized sugars, but not too much. The dry feeling from the sugar is balanced by the latent sweetness from the brown sugar. Its really not as sweet as I would expect from a quad. It almost feels like SA Maple Pecan Porter. Maple and brown sugar really take the forefront. The dark fruits from the smell are noticeably absent.

Usually when a quad is very sweet, it leaves a sugar coating in your mouth, but the age has really mellowed out, and left the remnants of caramelized sugars. I like it alot more than the fruity, overly sweet quads

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 23:12:50 | More by VncentLIFE

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

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

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

Kendo

New York

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

About 10 months ago I set a lofty goal for myself: reach my 1000th beer review on BeerAdvocate.com before the end of the world (la fin du monde). For awhile I didn't think it was possible - I do have two kids and a full-time job after all. Well, here I am on 12/20/12 sitting at 999 beer reviews on BA.com. A process that I began in February of 2006 continues. Inasmuch as the Mayan calendar says we're all doomed tomorrow, what better way to go out than with my 1000th review?

Vintage 2008. Purchased a couple years ago; it was in my cellar until last night, when I moved it to the DBF. Here we go. . . .

A: Poured - carefully, so as to avoid disturbing the sediment - into my trusty Piraat tulipy-snifterish glass that has seen a significant number of those 999 beers. Body is cola-black with a small greyish head that settles quickly to leave a wisp of film on top. When backlit it's more chestnut-brown with ruby hues on the edges, and sediment/floaties are visible.

S: Very, very nice. First impression is the dark fruits. Raisins, plums, and some grapes. Also some spice - I'm thinking cinnamon, but maybe nutmeg as well. Also sugary - maybe light brown sugar and a touch of molasses.

T: First impression is the sugary sweetness of the taste and the heat of the alcohol at the back end. Sugar-dipped raisins and other dark fruit flavors (think prunes). A touch of sourness shows up at the back of the palate, but there's also a nice drying bitterness at the finish that at times seems tannic and makes me think of oak. Cinnamon and nutmeg spiciness is there at times, though in fairly modest amounts - the sugary sweetness dominates over the spices. As it warms and the palate adjusts to the sugary sweetness, I'm aware of a more vinuous, plummy character.

M: I'd call it medium-full in heft. Nicely creamy and yet fizzy (airy-fizzy, if that makes sense, kind of like I've come to expect from the best Belgians). That active but fizzy carbonation seems to help the flavors explode in your mouth. Nice dry finish, with a bit of sugar and the alcohol heat noted down the gulley.

O: Good stuff. A nearly 5-year-old beer that has held its carbonation quite well. It's a tad bit more sugary than I would like in order to give it a 5 in the taste category, but it's certainly deserving of just one notch lower.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 03:25:32 | More by Kendo

JLeege

Illinois

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

2008 vintage

Appearance- Pour is a deep brown with a one finger off white head. Decent retention, some spotty lacing.

Smell- sweet and malty. lots of dark fruits, cherry, plum

Taste- Much like the aroma, dark fruits all over the place, a tad tart. Fairly complex, some earthyness from the oak barrels is coming through as well. Picking up some caramel and vanilla too. Alcohol is virtually undetected.

Mouthfeel- smooth and creamy. Goes down very easy.

Overall- Expensive... Yes. Worth it... Yes! This is excellent, its going to be tough to try to cellar my other bottles.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 02:41:38 | More by JLeege

paulozanello

Brazil

4.47/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pizzeria Paradiso.

Pours a very dark brown color, not quite black, with little to no light going thru the glass. Head is very silky and thin and has a beige color. No lacing on this one, after about 5 minutes it looks like a glass of wine.

Aroma could be a little stronger and I get lots of dark fruit, raisins, yeasty esters and a port-wine/alcohol note in the end.

This beer tastes very good. Lots of dark fruit (plums, figs, raisings) upfront with a honey-like sweetness throughout. Towards the end of the sip I can definitely get some oak character along with a hint of noble hops. The aftertaste is very rich and yeasty with some alcohol warmth and red grape astrigency.

Body is medium to high and carbonation is on the lower side making this beer incredibly smooth. I find it hard to believe that it is 10% abv.

Very pleasant on the palate and highly drinkable, this is what Belgian beer is all about.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2010 23:26:04 | More by paulozanello

Wisconsinality

Wisconsin

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

11.2oz bottle poured into Delirium tulip.

2008 Vintage.

A- Pours a nice molasses brown with a good fingers worth of head that recedes slowly and leaves some nice soapy lacing around the edge of the glass.

S- Rich, dark fruits, dates, figs, some black cherries. There is also a little pie crust filling graham cracker-ness in there as well. This is what a quad should smell like.

T- Hand down the best tasting Quad I have had. The cherries are pronounced and the other dark fruits are more than just a nuance of the beer. The malt is there and so is a touch of hops but there is so much more. The oak is barely noticeable, but lends a soothing touch to the brew.

M- Spot on, full bodied that just glides down the throat. Smooth in every aspect. The carbonation is there but doesn't take away from this beer.

D- If you can get your hands on this, do. This is my favorite style and it doesn't get any better than this. No alcohol present the entire time sipping this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 18:10:21 | More by Wisconsinality

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

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

11.2oz 2008 vintage poured into a Rochefort chalice

A: Dark brown, opaque, 1/2 inch bubbly off-white head that quickly dissipates.

S: Strong, brown sugar, dark fruits (figs, plums) and almost a little sour apple, spicy alcohol.

T: Everything in the nose is there. The first thing to come is the sugar (brown sugar and molasses) and dark fruits(plum, fig, dates, little prune), there's some underlying spices reminiscent of a christmas food (likely nutmeg, clove, etc). Malt is a lightly roasted and has a nice spiced dark fruit cake tastes. Alcohol is present and acts a little spicy (not heat/pepper wise) and earthy. There's a decent amount of oak and a little vanilla in the background. There's quite a lot going on, the oak plays a light undertone, and everything is really well balanced (all the flavors/nuances are pretty much there from start to finish). Finish is nice and warm. I really can't think of any improvement besides maybe a bit more oak presence.

M: Carbonation is a bit high for a quad, but does work well. The body is very thick and viscous, almost syrupy and coats everything. Extremely smooth and velvety although the higher carbonation does break it up just a bit, but I like how fine the carbonation is.

D: I only had one bottle and had to keep myself from guzzling this down. It was extremely tastes and went down way to easily, the alcohol really only added to the taste/experience rather than being "boozy".

This isn't an earth shattering beer, but I found it near perfect for the style. Paired wonderfully with 18-month aged Gouda. My only regret was not buying more than one bottle! Finish this glass had me begging for more.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 04:38:38 | More by Satchboogie

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

Poured from 330ml bottle (2006) into a tulip glass. Pours an opaque dark maple syrup / hazy brown color with medium, lasting, even head of uniformly sized medium foam. Aroma is rich, spicy (savory), and seasonal with notes of nuts, dried fruit, caramel, plump raisin, vanilla, and typical Belgian candi. Flavor is an interesting amalgam of standard Belgie strong ale flavors, nutmeg, sweet hops, and a long savory finish again reminding of caramelized roasted foods. Medium palate is fully appropriate and strong alcohol is mostly unnoticed except for the nice buzz.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 16:13:19 | More by CuriousMonk