Pannepøt - Old Monk's Ale - De Struise Brouwers

zac16125

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle poured into a goblet
2011 Vintage

A: Pours an opaque cola brown with 1/2 fingers width of light khaki colored head, which dissipates down almost immediately to only an outer ring. Leaves only the faintest patches of lacing on the side of the glass.  

S: Dark fruits including overripe plum and raisin, red wine, booze, nutty. The aroma is reminiscent of alcohol soaked chocolate covered cherries.  

T: Lots of dark fruits, booze, bakers chocolate, peppy spice which I didnt detect on the nose, tart red grapes, touch of bitterness.  Lacks of strength of flavors that some of the best quads possess.  

M/D: Full bodied, slightly syrupy mouthfeel, carbonation on the low end, drinkability is good.  

O: Overall, this is good, but not great and somewhat disappointing for a sytle that demands excellence.  This is the 3rd Pannepot Ive had the pleasure of trying (others being regular Pannepot [old fishermans ale] '11 and Pannepot Reserva '09).  This is my least favorite of the 3, and the old fishermans was by far my favorite of the three.  As a whole the flavors could be stronger, and this one is quite boozy, perhaps to a fault.  Maybe Im just spoiled on Westy and Rochefort, but with latter being so much better than this offering and almost always readily available, I doubt I will have this one again in the near future.  

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 00:49:00 | More by zac16125

brentk56

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2006 bottling

Appearance: Pours an ice tea brown color with a rather modest head that leaves the occasional dot of lacing

Smell: Caramel, dark fruit (fig, primarily) and spice cake

Taste: Caramel, spice cake and a developing fig flavor that adds brown sugar sweetness, after the swallow; spice cake flavors linger into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation

Overall: Tasted side by side with a 2006 Pannepot and this one came up way short; the carbonation level was notably lower and the depth of dark fruit and chocolate flavors was missing - this one had more spice cake elements and was a tad sweeter

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 21:41:05 | More by brentk56

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a deep mahogany tone while yielding a 3/4" tan head that lapses into a collar around the glass fairly quickly; some lacing evident. the nose features a lot of the usual suspects: brown sugar, dark fruit, belgian yeast, and spice. very nice.

flavor follows and exceeds the nose. lots of brown sugar, spice, belgian yeast, raisins, figs, and a little cherry. on the sweet side but never comes close to cloying. almost a citric rind like note in the background. delicious brew. medium plus bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, a fantastic quad. not quite as good as rochefort 10 or westvleteren 12 - or even old fisherman's by the same brewery - but it's very, very good. a must try for quad fans; unfortunately they just don't make 'em like this stateside. not to be missed.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 04:35:10 | More by BostonHops

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

330ml bottle (Label: Pannepeut 2010). Oversized glass. Enjoyed on jun´12. Dark brown color, dark amber to the light. Beige, close froth leaves a collar on top when dismissed. Toasted malts, caramel malts, chocolate hues, toffee & ripe figs to the nose. Spiced aromas –clove, vanilla, cinnamon- Flavor profile as aromas. Creamy maltiness, low bitterness. Fruity & voluptuous. Full body, soft carbonation. Ripe fruits & dried nuts showed in a lasting finish. ABV?? Who, cares?

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 23:28:55 | More by GONZALOYANNA

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured at a good temperature with a small to medium size, light tan head that soon settled and no lace. Color is a hazy amber cherry with a couple slow bubble trails. Aroma is malt, burnt sugar, toffee, yeast, wine. Flavor's like nose, subdued and dominated by mild sweetness and bitterness with little carbonic tang. Body is ok and carbonation is a little flat. Finish is like flavor, of average length, and kind of forgettable. Think I got a less than decent bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 00:16:40 | More by drpimento

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage into Leffe goblet.

A- Dark and murky brown pour with a finger width off white creamy head. Lacing is excellent.

S- Brown sugar, vanilla, dark stone fruits. Slight cinnamon and vanilla with a touch of what appears to be licorice. Very aromatic and complex.

T- Dark stone fruits, brown sugar, bread pudding, cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of cherries. Very sweet and decadent with a little alcohol in the back end.

M- Creamy and full bodied, smooth carbonation and a little touch of alcohol warmth.

O- This is a truly remarkable experience, the feel of this beer alone is magical. The decadence of this beer is something I've never experienced ever.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 01:52:09 | More by korguy123

hardy008

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with a less than one finger light tan head with good retention and spotty lacing. The aroma is sweet with dark fruit, green apple, caramel, and candi sugar.

The flavor is somewhat sweet and has dark fruit, green apple, caramel, candi sugar, some hop bitterness, and alcohol. There is not a lot of alcohol heat, but I can still taste it.

Medium bodied with average carbonation and a lightly sweet aftertaste. A nice beer which I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 03:08:41 | More by hardy008

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Sept 2015. 2009 vintage. Acquired from a Belgian webshop some time back.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A dark, hazy reddish hue, with plenty of yeast sediment left in the bottle. Produces a decent head of creamy tan foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding. A rich, fruity aroma - notes of figs, fruitcake, plums, vanilla, dried fruit, peel and earthy yeast. A warm, spicy booziness in the background, as if a tot of rum had been added into the mix...

Tastes intensely sweet and fruity, with a boozy finish. Notes of fruitcake, orange, figs, dried fruit, peel, vanilla and dry yeast. A spicy alcoholic flavour in the background, with phenolic hints. Mouthfeel is smooth and full-bodied, with pleasant carbonation. Quite dry, and rather astringent. Aftertaste of fruitcake and booze - tasty!

Pretty good - a complex, fruity quad that lives up to the style. Doesn't quite match some others that I've tried, though I can't pinpoint why. Orange seems to come through in the flavour, and the alcoholic notes definitely remind me of dark rum. All said, a solid effort that is well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 01:20:15 | More by jazzyjeff13

Bobheed

Texas

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

Vintage 2007

A: Dark murky brown with a tight one finger ivory head. Very, very hazy with a bit of sediment

S: Very sweet. I got an aroma reminiscent of cherry rum cake and some vanilla and molasses. A bit of woodiness in there as well

T: Hugely fruity. Got tons of raisins, plums, banana, all dipped in rum. Lots of vanilla and baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg

M: Quite thick, smooth, rich and syrupy, with no alcohol kick

Overall this was excellent. One of the best Quads I've ever tried. No doubt about it

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 03:20:13 | More by Bobheed

Halcyondays

California

3.55/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours mahogany with a mild off-white head. Nice deep colour, fairly solid head retention.

S: Fruitcake, fig, some brown sugar. Classic dark Belgian notes.

T: Mission fig, raisin and dried plum. Very dark fruit flavours, though not as yeasty as I thought it'd be, but still truly Belgian.

M: Medium-bodied, thin at times with a very mild carbonation, has a light spiritous quality.

O: I was hoping for a more full-flavoured brew, but I got a solid effort, just wish it was less expensive.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2012 18:25:20 | More by Halcyondays

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into tulip 29/4/12 cheers liamt07 for the bottle 2009 bottle

A murky dark brown with a fast falling thumbs width of tan head that leaves just a few random patches of lace

S plum and prune with some rum raisin and soft caramel, there's very little booze for 10% and lots of fruit cake

T faint orange rind on top of what I smell, slightly spicy and lots of caramel, tastes good but I'm not blown out of the water like some other brews I've had from this brewery

M thick and syrupy with enough bubbles to fluff it up a bit, very little booze detected, slightly sticky on the lips and a aftertaste of caramel and Christmas fruit cake, feels very nice

O solid stuff that I'd drink again, a few years on it has mellowed out the booze nicely and its fairly easy too drink. I like the spicy sweetness it creates a strange balance

a malty fruity brew that's well worth trying but I preferred the fisherman's ale by these guys. thanks again liamt07 for this little gem

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 07:36:59 | More by wordemupg

Dope

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage, relatively fresh.

A: Pours a very dark amber/brown. Small tan head despite and aggressive pour. Fades slowly (though it doesn't have far to go), leaving decent lacing on the glass.

S: Dark fruits like cherries and raisin. Brown sugar, molasses, caramel and cocoa. Just a touch of alcohol.

T: Lots of dark fruit up front, raisin and fig mainly with a bit of banana. Bready malt with some caramel and toffee in the middle. A hint of cocoa in the finish. Somewhat boozy.

M: A bit heavy, not as much as you would expect. Clean.

O: A good quad but not as good as the other variations. It's a bit thinner, a bit boozier, and not as complex as the others. Dark fruits are probably the best aspect of this one. Fully warmed up it's nice and smooth but just doesn't quite have the magic.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 05:22:28 | More by Dope

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at the Farmers' Cabinet, Philly, PA

Poured a hazy, amber-brown with a small cap of off-white head; short-lived but moderate lacing left behind. Aroma of caramel and cake, dried fruits; a bit boozy. Taste of sugars--caramel, toffee, candi--spicy yeast, dried fruits, banana notes and bready malts. Pretty boozy, but not too offensive, though it does detract from the drinkability a bit. Otherwise, medium body and quite good overall. Nice to see it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2012 08:46:23 | More by Rifugium

Kromes

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2011

A: A hazy dark brown with ruby edges and a thin line of soapy tan bubbles on top.

S: Fig, dark cherry, toasted malt, alcohol, and a little bit of herbal hop.

T: Dark cherry and raisin up front with a toasted sugar flavor. The cherry flavor increases in the finish with a mild alcohol flavor. Finishes sweet.

M: Light with very low carbonation. Could use a light more carbonation, but the light body and mild, for a Quad, alcohol presence make it very drinkable.

O: A very good and delicious Quad. May not have as many flavors as other Quads, but the quality of the dark fruit flavors in this beer are amazing. Very clean and refreshing....which is weird to say for a Quad.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 23:21:56 | More by Kromes

danieelol

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to MrKennedy for sourcing from Platinum.

2010 Vintage. Served at room temperature in Duvel glass.

Pours a majestic brown-gold colour. This looks to be the "old ale" rendition of Pannepot. Decent head/lacing.

Smell is very complex. Lots of orange and alcohol (think Grand Marnier). A big dose of rich malt. Lots of earthy notes (which I get from a lot of Struise beers and they are a really enjoyable part of their profile), chocolate and some faint Belgian alcoholic esters. On the whole just a big rich orange liqueur/Barleywine quality.

Taste is malty and a bit sweet but also has this fascinating fruity sourness cutting through. It's not an infected type of sourness, I think it's from one of the "spices" they use. I do start to wonder if this is brewed with actual oranges, or orange juice.

Beer is about medium-bodied and medium carb-wise.

Overall a great beer. Again, I may have a little bias against this style but De Struise just exude class with every beer they make. Highly recommended whether one enjoys or steers clear of quads normally.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 11:44:40 | More by danieelol

Greywulfken

New York

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: burnt orange with cream head that thins

S: sweet malt and dark fruit

T: spice, sugars, fruits - like fig and raisin

M: rich, smooth, creamy

O: another fine Pannepot (Pannepeut 2011 on the label) brew - had a heartier, more rum-spiced flavor to it than their others - perhaps a bit more bold, perhaps a bit more like an old ale/sotch ale meets a quad. I'd say any beer with Pannepot on the label is golden. Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 20:58:49 | More by Greywulfken

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

33cl bottle from 2010, poured into a De Struise goblet at Moeder Lambic St. Gilles.

A: Clear deep mahogany body under two inches of substantial, creamy light-brown foam. Great, rocky retention and tons of lace. Perfect.

S: Heavy malt, lots of toastiness, a little clove, and some dried figs. Very nice.

T: Dark fruits, bready malt, spicy booze. Simple and effective, but nowhere near as interesting as Pannepot.

M: Creamy, well-carbonated, substantial. Great.

O: A very good Quad, but not quite a great one.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 16:13:11 | More by woosterbill

mynie

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I liked the other Pennepot so I figured sure, what the hell.

Vintage 2011.

Smells malty, chocolately, and lightly acidic. Very smooth for a quad, without so much as a hint of alcohol, but a little bit faint--where's the fruit nodes? the nice burn?

Tastes like it smells, only it gels together a bit better. It's still very bready and chocolatey, but some more rounded fruits preface a lightly tart finish which keeps things interesting throughout. The whole thing is quite sugary, with big nodes of bananas, cinnamon, and dough.

Not quite what I was expecting, and not nearly up to snuff with the other Pannepot products I've tired, but still nicely brewed and well worth drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 03:38:55 | More by mynie

cosmicevan

New York

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

found this one locally 2011 vintage. enjoyed from a trappist westvleteren glass.

a - poured a deep plum brown with a thin head that was gone quick. not the creamy substance i've come to love from the pannepot series. that being said, light years ahead of the appearance of most american stabs at a quad. de struise brews some bad ass quads, this one carries some of the visual vibe, but nothing like pannepot or the reserva.

s - wonderful grape sweetness. i'm picking up some vanilla notes and other tropical dark fruits and berries. smells just as good as the others of the series. perfection for a quad.

t - dark fruit with a grape juice dominance. finishes a bit boozier than i remember the others. a tasty quad, kind of like the original, just thinner.

m - feel is nice, but not super creamy like i look for. definite booziness is present. tingle is there, leaves some briskness in the mouth. a touch watery.

o - overall the reviews call this one out as a weaker link and i'd have to agree...although a weak link from one of the masters of the style is hardly weak. this is an extremely tasty and enjoyable beer, but i won't be reaching for this over regular or reserva pannepot, but would reach for this over probably 80 to 90% of all other options.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 03:08:29 | More by cosmicevan

kojevergas

California

3.68/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Bottle is a 2007 vintage. Acquired at Wally's Wine in Westwood, California. Expectations are through the roof given the brewery and my fondness for Pannepot Grand Reserva/Reserva.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption.

A: Pours a two finger head of good cream, great thickness, and damned amazing retention considering the high ABV. Fluffy and delightful. The head's colour is a slightly tan off-white. Colour of the beer is a nontransparent dark caramel-ruby. Colourwise, it's a bit off compared to other great quads I've had. It's not unique, but I'm intrigued.

Sm: Cream, plums and other dark fruit -including figs, clean malts (both bright and dark methinks), very light toasted malt, and biscuity pleasant yeast. A complex but subtle mild strength aroma. Very alive and inviting. I'm intrigued, and I'm hoping the dark fruit has a big presence.

T: Dark fruit is certainly present but I can only pick out fig and plum amidst the menagerie. Biscuity yeast has a subtle presence over the top of the layered malt foundation - which is unobtrusive but provides a pleasant base. Creamy without going overboard. Quite subtle and complex, with the fermented fruit tones providing most of its character. Maybe a hint of raisin. Hints of light spices. Some caramelized malt. Near perfectly balanced. Not bold or experimental, but very pleasant to drink. A lovely quad. No alcohol comes through, an impressive feat given the 10% ABV.

Unfortunately, it's a bit timid with its flavours, lending itself naturally to the subtlety I admire, but also preventing it from really shining.

I imagine the five years of aging lessened the alcohol presence as well as the dark fruit - which may or may not be a good thing.

Mf: Creamy, smooth, and wet - with enough light coarseness and dryness to coax out the flavours. A touch too wet in the second act. Perfectly carbonated, holding up even after five years. Of perfect thickness. Lightly dry just on the finish, encouraging the next sip of the creamy wet open. I wouldn't call it refreshing, but it's maybe as close as a 10% quad could come to being so.

Dr: Incredibly drinkable for the 10% ABV. A high quality quad. Very fanciful. I'd certainly have it again. It will certainly satisfy fans of the style. I think I prefer Pannepot, but this is certainly worth trying. Hides its ABV very well.

An excellent candidate for aging. Would pair well with most foods; avoid spicy food and sushi. Maybe lemon juice fish or sauteed chicken would be ideal.

Drank just fine out of me Guinness goblet. Goblets are ideal for this beer methinks.

B

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 21:41:21 | More by kojevergas

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opaque oxblood color with deep garnet and ruby highlights. Fluffy cappuccino foam head. Thin veil of retention lasts the whole glass long and leaves little snowlakes. "Bottle conditioned, unpasteurized, and unfiltered." Crap, I would have saved the yeast if had known.

Smells like rum cake? Fruitcake? Some kind of dense, dark, caramel soaked cake. Anis.

Prunes up front with lighter, mid tone fruits in back like bruised apple, bruised pear and misc. beat up fruit in back. Interesting spice mix, I'll guess anis and nutmeg but I'm terrible at that game. Light and creamy body.

Not sure how this differs from Pannepot but it's a fine beer just the same.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 20:28:27 | More by donkeyrunner

bfields4

Colorado

4.63/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dark cloudy brown amber body. Small, but lacy tan head.

Nice dark fruit aroma rasins and figs. Hints of sweet caramel, and a lighter apricotish fruit aroma as well.

Good amount of complexity. Rasins and figs again maybe just a hint tart cherry. Lighter Belgian candi fruity flavors. Caramel and a just a hint of roasted malt.

Very good beer. Nice amount of complexity. Good dark flavors, but not to heavy. I really couldn't even detect the heat from the alcohol. It may be blasphemy, but I think I might prefer this to the westy 12

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 03:21:41 | More by bfields4

mdaschaf

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage

A: Pours a very deep burgundy/brown color with about a finger of tan head on top. Pretty thick, with good retention, thin lacing forms around the glass.

S: A little closed, but there some dark fruit, bread, caramelized malt, and brown sugar. As it warms the dark fruit comes out much more.

T: Rather sweet, some caramel, candied sugar, and lots of dark fruit presence. Some raisin, plum, and prune as well as a slight bready flavor.

M: Full bodied with medium carbonation, pretty smooth. Get a slight warming from the alcohol.

O: Another solid beer from De Struise. Look forward to trying regular Pannepot at some point..if I can find it.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 03:44:55 | More by mdaschaf

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2007 pannapeut Struise. In Struise tulip.  Huge frothy beige head. Dark tudor brown body. Aroma brown sugar, fig raisin, and....age. The aroma of age, love it. Port like.  Taste...no abv. None. Smooth as can be. Dark fruits, fig dates. Thick mouthfeel. Awesome. 

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 23:57:50 | More by KickbacksSteve

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice compact quad.

Presentation: 33 cl brown capped bottle. Gradient label in soft orange-with a framed illustration of a sail boat. Narrative notes ingredients, background, and main characteristics. Shows vintage 2010 and 10% Alc. by Vol. Served in a snifter.

A - Almost a black pour with deep dark brown edges, good frothy head with moderate retention, nice surface memory and good touches of lacing.

S - Another shy nose from De Struise, if one had to point to a flaw this might be the one… Still soft fruity touches, with a sweet malt and a hint of light coffee emerge...

T - The taste changes everything with a rounded range of sweet fruit, caramel and malt, hint of coffee, touches of spice with prunes, blackberries, some figs…

M - Medium/full body with softly balanced carbonation, creamy, even a tad sticky feel to the finish, with a long lingering memory.

O - Quite a pleasing and compact quad...

Notes: Maybe close to what is most commonly expected of a quad but a top tier bracket at what it does. Long and pleasing… Pannepeut touches my nerve much more than their Pannepot… Maybe less spice, more sweetness, and a better rounded complexity here?

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 13:55:30 | More by Daniellobo