Pannepot Grand Reserva - De Struise Brouwers

RockAZ

Arizona

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

With all the excitement over the WestyV12, it was a good time to try this on draft and I found a new favorite. This has the power of an ancient Quad, the wine fruit scent and the deep dark earthy tastes that just gets better as it warms up. My new all time best beer of any style, could drink this exclusively if suddenly the rest of the world forgot all their beer recipes and all you could drink was this. Sorry I cannot include more descriptive terms, like steak, mushrooms and biscuits, but if you get the idea that this beer is awesome I have said enough.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2013 14:42:01 | More by RockAZ

russwbeck

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2005 Vintage on-tap at Max's for their Belgian Beer Fest.

The beer boasts a dark pour with a slight off white head. Dark fruits, some roast, candied sugar, Belgian yeasts are all noted for aromas. It smells very mellow and balanced. The taste is basically aged to perfection. Balanced and mellow, this beer focuses on roast and mellowed booze. Very sweet with candied sugar and caramel all blending together perfectly. It's so smooth, no harsh booze, no misplaced flavors, just delicious and wonderfully drinkable. Best beer of the night by far. My god it was good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2012 01:38:10 | More by russwbeck

Bendurgin

Maine

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a chalice. This one pours dark brown with about a finger of creamy beige head. Retains a solid cap with some sticky lace.

Sweet on the aroma with toffee, figs, raisins and brown sugar. Sweet with a dark malty profile. The taste is a lot of what the aroma would indicate. Dark malts with toffee and a grape skin flavor. Nice sweet edge to this.

The body is full and somewhat creamy with soft carbonation.

Overall a nice one to find on tap. The Pannepot offerings never seem to disappoint.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 15:31:21 | More by Bendurgin

oline73

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's. This is the 2005 vintage poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark mahogany color with a layer of off white head that goes away completely.

Smell: Sweet with some dark fruit, cocoa, caramel, and a taste that reminds me of port or sherry. Very complex.

Taste: Sweet, smooth caramel with some dark fruit notes. Very smooth, the age hasn't hurt this beer at all. Some bitterness in the finish with warming alcohol. Great cool weather beer.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the thick side of medium with tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Very smooth. A bit more bitter than I expected, but that wasn't a problem Very complex, would definitely have another.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2011 04:48:11 | More by oline73

AgentZero

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown beer with a bit of red on the edges and a bit of a tannish colored head on it.

S - Lots of oak with some dark fruits. Bit of dark fruits and some brown sugar and molasses. Nice smelling.

T - Oak, little bit of booze, some cocoa. There's some nice brown sugar as well as molasses and dark fruits. Good stuff.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - Good beer, nothing that's really setting it head and shoulders above the regular versions, but like them, it is very good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 06:02:20 | More by AgentZero

jeonseh

Indiana

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap, full glass at FFF Anniversary Party. 2008 vintage

A - Dark purplish brown and very hazy; so much so that I couldn't see through it. Nice dirty white, frothy head sitting on top

S - Plum and honey with a malt backbone. Also smelled Belgian yeast, cherry, and hints of citrus. Really a dynamic nose where you find something new each time. The nose was definitely subtle

T - Rich dark fruit at first, then noticed plums with a light Brandy flavor. Also, there are hints of sugar and honey. As I continued to drink, hints of oak, port and vanilla came out. Thought this was overwhelmingly complex and deep.

MF - Nice thick stickiness to it. Felt perfectly matched to the beer and its flavor profile

O- overall this is quite simply Amazing. One of the best Belgian beers I've had by far and felt it was way better than than the normal Pannepot

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 20:32:25 | More by jeonseh

ToasterChef

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from my notes. This keg from 2008 was tapped at Ebenezer's for the 6th Annual Belgian Beer Fest. Chris told me I was probably the first person to try this from a keg in the US.

It has a tan foamy head. The liquid is hazy, opaque and brown, but does appear translucent near the bottom of my glass.

The aroma is both sweet and spiced. I can detect raisin, pine and some musty yeast.

It tastes Great. There is vanilla as well as some bitter hops. It has a creamy quality that I rather enjoy. None of the flavors lingers too long--it is all rather subtle.

It has a medium body and low carbonation. It feels creamy. There is very little coat left behind. This beer feels most impressive for a quad.

It is incredibly drinkable. This beer could do a lot of damage; it tastes and feels nothing like I expect a 10% ABV beer to be. I'm a little glad it is so rare, as otherwise I would drink it all the time. I do wish I had a second pour before I left Lovell.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 16:21:30 | More by ToasterChef

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4.89/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2005 vintage

When I saw this at the store I got so excited I had to buy it. $11.99/341ml isnt too bad for a 8 year old beer. Brewed in 2005 and aged for two years in french oak wine barrels and an additional 5 years in bottle.

Mild carbonation which dissipated quickly. Beer is almost flat but is to be expected. Smells of wine, oak, dark chocolate. Great mouthfeel, so smooth despite the lack of carbonation. Taste brings notes of grapes, and heavy on the wine.

Overall this beer was a game changer for me. I can see myself comparing any other aged strong dark beers to this. It doesnt taste much like a quad, the flavours have mellowed out so much. You get the fruity bouquet youd expect from a quad but it isnt as in your face as you normally get from a beer like La Trappe. I wish everyone could try this beer. My store only had a case.. and it looks like I will be going there for opening tomorrow to grab as many as I can!

Top 3 beer ive ever had, hands down.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 05:38:05 | More by schnarr84

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle poured into tulip 16/1/13 2005 vintage

A the darkest brown with a deep cola edge, quite murky with lots of sediment upon closer inspection, thumbs width of dense mocha foam slowly falls to a thin film leaving some random lace

S sweet brewers candy, anise, root beer, burnt toffee, faint chocolate, candied cherries, fresh plum and some rum raisin with some woody earthy notes, the smell is complex to say the least

T a little spice and perhaps just a hint of banana bread, faint sour fruit I didn't notice on the nose, the oak comes out a little more in the mouth, not quite the same complexity as the nose but pretty tasty stuff

M not quite full bodied with mellow carbonation, has a little sweet and sour thing going on and a earthy anise finish

O great beer and its held up quite well, perhaps its peaked already but very solid today, the booze is completely hidden and no complaints anywhere

I swore I'd reviewed this one in the past but apparently not, I'm curious what this tasted like a couple years ago, I don't think I'd age this one beyond this point, drink em if you got em

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 21:08:32 | More by wordemupg

sommersb

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 11-25-2012
Freshness: 2005 Vintage
Packaging: 330ml brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Received in a trade

The label says this beer was brewed in 2005 and laid down in oak barrels for 2 years. So this bottle has aged an additional 5 years after that.

A: Black and opaque in color, with a thin tan head than dissipates quickly. A nice lacing clings to the glass.

S: Big alcohol aromas, plus wood/oak notes. Also smells of rich, dark fruits and a slight bit of sourness.

T: Rich and malty taste, with sweetness and alcohol warming. Fruitiness of dark cherries, raisins and dates. Bitterness is low.

M: Full bodied, and moderately carbonated, the finish is lightly sweet and malty with more of the oak and light sour flavors.

O: Very pleasant, strong dark ale. The aging seems to have done well to this beer.

Thanks to merc7186 for this one!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 05:14:47 | More by sommersb

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

350mL bottle from the De Struise bottleshop. 2005 vintage. Drunk 10-10-12, reviewed from notes.

A: Coffee black. Thin creme lacing. No legs.

N: Plastic, biscuit, rose, alcohol. Raisins, plums, and prunes. Cola. Vanilla and tannins. Very complex and sweet.

T: Lots and lots of oak. Very biscuity with a touch of prune and raisin. Lots of bitter herb/cola. Rather surprised this isn't more sweet.

M: Not as quite as round and full as Pannepeut. Lots of alcohol here.

O: A solid beer, if not as good as it's brother. Worth a shot, but I'm not sure if this is better fresh.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 17:20:17 | More by writerLJBerg

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2005 bottle courtesy of the generous Alpineclimber. Thanks bro!

Appearance. Pours a deep red-brown with a thin, light tan head.

Smell. Cherry, plum, orange-rind, brown sugar, red grapes, fruity Belgian yeast. Lots going on.

Taste. Tart dark fruits and old wood, red grapes, brown sugar. Complex but lighter than expected. Very nice. Alcohol well hidden.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body, medium mouthfeel.

Overall. Very nice. Drinks way too easy for what should be a big sipper!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 21:44:35 | More by Rutager

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is as smooth a quad as you will ever be able to find. I'm letting it warm up a bit to see if some additional character comes out on it, but there are some matured wood tones with the calvados peeking through. Well, sometimes it seems a bit more than just peeking through. Apple tones can be there pretty clearly. This is as easy-drinking for a quad as it's gonna get. A real nice production.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 05:45:43 | More by RblWthACoz

CruisaC

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage courtesy of yeahnatenelson and buffs9

Pours dark cola with mocha head that settles into a ring

Smell is spices, oak, raisins, and grapes. Fairly subtle but well balanced.

Taste is magnificent. Raisins and oak, blended wonderfully. I get less of the grape flavor that I've noticed from the "regular" Reserva; which isn't a good or bad thing, just different.

Mouthfeel is just the right amount of creaminess and chewiness. Incredibly smooth

Overall, so glad to have another to sip later; I'm amassing a vertical and this shaped up to be the early favorite.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 01:44:18 | More by CruisaC

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.48/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

235th Review
33cl bottle poured into wine glass
Vintage: 2005
Lot: A C BB
No BB date that I could see on the bottle.

Enjoyed next to Pannepot (2010) and Pannepot Reserva (2009)

A: Deep tan (almost drown). Single (soft khakis) fingernail head on medium pour.

S: Smells of cinnamon, all-spice, fig, vanilla, oak, and caramel. Oakiness (and the barrel character) is very pronounced and the aromas are wonderful!

T: Loads of oak/barrel up-front followed by ZING of spice and dark fruit. Touch of caramel and vanilla finishes this one off.

M: Full bodied with appropriate carbonation. Goes down easy and disappeared too fast!

O: Of the three, this was - hands down - my favorite. The beauty and depth of this beer is unique, wonderful, and amazing. Age has down wonders to this beer and I think it will get better in due time. Nice work Urbain - bravo!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 12:57:34 | More by spdyfire83

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle purchased from Etre. 2008 Grand Reserva- aged 14 months on French Oak and another 8 months on Calvados. Good till 8/16/2016. Poured into CCB snifter.

A- Pours a mostly opaque but slightly translucent very dark reddish-brown mahogany with a quarter finger of creamy mocha brown head that recedes fairly fast to leave no head, slightly below average carbonation.

S- Dark chocolate, vanilla, definitely a lot of oak, some spices, dried apricot, and a mix of other dried/dark fruits, some light booze in the background that blends in fairly well. About average aroma strength.

T- Oak, malts, apples, vanilla, some dried fruits, a tiny bit of apricot, cherries, light molasses. Lightly sweet but high complexity of a lot of different flavors that blend well together to give it a good yet interesting taste.

M- Slightly creamy, medium bodied, not too much carbonation, goes down very smoothly, just a tiny bit of alcoholic burn on the finish.

O- This was a very good beer with lots of complexity. There was so much going on in this that it was hard to distinguish all of the different aromas and tastes. With all the complexity it still was very well balanced and drank very easily. One of my favorite Belgians I've had to date. Definitely recommend trying it. Now I wish I could compare it to the other Pannepots.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 23:12:34 | More by jaasen64

RuckusDu

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2005 vintage that was a welcomed treat tonight. Not expecting this.

A - poured maybe a half finger of light tan head. Only the slightest hint of red in it. Body is a deep red/amber. Only slight lacing.

S - dark fruits such as prunes and cherries. Lots of bing cherries. Nice balance between tart and sweet. A little Belgian yeast.

T - that old flavor (maybe slightly oxidized, but doesn't taste bad in this). Cherries again and some molasses. Some nice chocolate notes.

M - great carbonation and medium body.

O - a very nice quad. Wonderful cherry flavors that are mixed with some good chocolate. Smooth and beautiful.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 02:19:04 | More by RuckusDu

ehammond1

California

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2005)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, whartontallboy!

(Aged for 4+ years)

Dark brown with auburn and ruby edges and a very thin light brown head that doesn't stay up for too long. This leaves the glass messy with lots of irregular lacing. Appropriate and pretty, though somewhat standard for a beer of this style.

The main elements found in the aroma include dark fruits (raisin, black cherry, fig), along with barrel and some molasses and brown sugar sweetness. I wish everything was a touch more pronounced, but what's here is very nice.

The flavor shines though, significantly more than the aroma. The dark fruit flavors pair magnificently with the oak and molasses sweetness. This is rich, layered, complex, and incredibly drinkable. Zero alcohol presence.

Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Coating.

Simply superb.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:55:27 | More by ehammond1

jtingue

New York

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage date. Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance. Deep mahogany brown in color. Clear, other than a few particles of yeast floating about. poured slowly to produce 2 fingers of latte-like head.

Smell. You can really just bury you nose in this one forever. The first thing to hit the nostrils is a subtle sugar soaked funkiness. This distracts, for a moment from the true richness of the smell. What results, in the end, is an aged port with huge undertones of nuts and coriander.

Taste. Starts out just as the smell would suggest, with a mildly acidic port-like experience. This leads quickly into candied pecans and a slightly oaky character. A drier, more alcoholic wine, yet still sweet, wine character returns. The finish is a microcosm of everything tasted up until this point: slightly acidic, semi-dry and grape infused.

Mouthfeel. Very creamy... moderate, but tight carbonation, thick body.

I have had this one once before. For me a truly amazing quad. I really enjoy the subtle acidic quality that the barrel aging has given this one, especially as it pairs with the dark fruit flavors of the original pannepot.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 02:51:56 | More by jtingue

mulder1010

Australia

4.13/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ML poured into a tulip 2005 vintage
Thanks to Cam at IBS and Dgilks for the bottles. Much appreciated

A-- Poured a light cola color and settled a dark brownish ruby color. One finger light orange brown head that slowly died to a solid collar. Upon receding it left a half streak of lacing on the glass. Nice head retention to this.

S-- Oak, vanilla, brown sugar, raisin and I would swear spiced orange. Not a big nose but a good solid nose.

T-- I would say a spiced rum fruit cake cake really. Brown sugar, vanilla, dark fruits with orange splashed in, slight amounts of rum and toasted oak. Slightly thin but really nice.

M-- Slightly thin in the front but quite coating in the back. Low carbonation and medium body. Back of the palate is quite solid. Lots of brown sugar and raisin. Finishes with a nice oak kick. Solid stuff.

O-- Has held up quite well. Happy to have one other to drink. Slowly getting back into quads and this helps the cause a lot. Well hidden alcohol and just a well balanced beer

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 14:06:04 | More by mulder1010

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 bottle, 33cl purchased from Wilbur's in Ft. Collins, can't remember the price. Into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

A: Pours a deep, deep brown with gorgeous red highlights when held to the light. Sand colored head bubbles up to about a quarter of an inch, and quickly fades away leaving an island of bubbles in the middle of the glass. Nice lacing is left behind from the small amount of head that originally came from the pour.

S: Strong sweet notes of caramel, brown sugar, raisins, and vanilla. Slightly phenolic, but fairly mellow, doesn't get out of control like Chimay blue does. No booze at all. Decent amount of oak in here as well.

T: Rich and malty for a quad, caramel, oak, and earthy hops all find their way into the initial sip. Molasses and brown sugar aid with the richness in this beer. Oak lingers but doesn't overtake the beer. Nice amount of bitterness that helps the oak break up some of the sweetness. Wonderful stuff here.

M: Rich and creamy that slowly melds into a dry beer that almost verges on tannic, but never quite gets there. Nice smooth warmth goes all the way down like a good bourbon or scotch. Excellent.

O: A wonderful quad, I'm glad I bought multiples of this, as it is really a special beer. Glad to get to try it!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 01:48:11 | More by pokesbeerdude

beerdrifter

Germany

4.23/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at my favorite beer store in Belgium, Dranken Geers. 2008 vintage. Deep dark brown, nearly black pour with one finger tan head with minimal retention, but nice lacing. Somewhat subdued nose initially, but it comes alive as it warms. Very complex and dominated by dark fruit with hints of cherry, vanilla, caramel, and oak, with just a touch of chocolate. The taste is complex as well but definitely dominated by the wood. Hints of dark fruit, specifically figs, cherry, tobacco, brown sugar, espresso, vanilla, and just a bit of cinnamon and chocolate. It has a subtle vinous character to it and tons of wood with a perfect amount of sweetness. The mouthfeel is slightly syrupy, but very smooth and surprisingly drinkable for a 10% beer. This is definitely my favorite Pannepot and yet another winner from De Struise! A great beer for those who love them aged in wood!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 16:42:11 | More by beerdrifter

Dope

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2005 Vintage.

A: A very dark amber pour, bordering on brown. Large, dense light brown head adorns it. Fades quite slowly, lacing fairly nice lacing rings around the glass.

S: Surprisingly boozy, especially given the age - smells almost like rum. Caramel and vanilla are somewhat prominent. Hints of dark fruit and a bit of cocoa in there.

T: Given the age, definitely tastes a lot sweeter/maltier than previous Pannepots I've had. I get lots of sweet raisins, grapes, figs and plums. Maybe even cherry. There is molasses, caramel and a good amount of oaky vanilla as well. Surprisingly decent booze kick too. There is a somewhat bitter cocoa flavor everywhere. Especially nice once it warms.

M: Fairly heavy, astringent and a little drying.

O: Tasty quad, much like the other variations. I feel this is the worst of the bunch though, not as good as the reserva, which isn't as good as the normal one. A little too much oak, a little too boozy compared to the others. Not bad by any means of course. Once it warms up fully, I swear it becomes a different beer. I had to adjust my taste score to a 4.5. The cocoa comes out and it just balances perfectly warm. Interesting. Might have to re-test the regular and reserva versions now.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 03:37:14 | More by Dope

Greywulfken

New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

How long have these been sitting in my local distributor? As if by magic, today I noticed the Pannepot Grand Reserva 2005, Pannepot Reserva 2008, Pannepot Old Monk's ale, and the Pannepot 2011. What a trove!

A: pours dark brown, but fills the glass nearly opaque brown-black, but with lighter edges. Thin film of beige head as I drink, left over from the mild head that formed through the pour

S: cocoa notes and fruity sweetness

T: the cocoa notes are still there, but also dark fruits like raisin and fig, moderated by a faint dryness at the back of the taste that reminds me of the oak casks it was aged in

M: silky, smooth, medium body - very mellow; just the barest touch of alcohol

O: I loved the Pannepot 2011 and 2007 I've had, and this was every bit as good as I'd hoped.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 00:41:11 | More by Greywulfken

Agent1

Alberta (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Firstly, I have been anxiously waiting to open this bottle for over a year now. This is the Grand Reserve, and unlike the Old Fisherman's Ale -- which is a vintage beer as well -- this bottle is aged even longer than its younger relative. I have only heard rave reviews about this from friends, so will do my best to rely on my palate, not my conversations or memory.

Appearance - Exceptionally dark. I beautiful creamy head and great retention. Not a lot of head on this beer, but it stays. Light brown/ beige in color. Typical of a Belgian Quad, this dark ale doesn't allow much light through at all.

Smell - Very rich. A plethora of dark, sweet fruits on the nose. Quite a bit of alcohol cuts through, but in a good way. Light cherry and even licorice are present here. Figs and a very, very faint hop aroma.

Taste - Slightly sour. I'm not sure if this is the French oak barrels or the bottle itself. It definitely balances out, though. A nice use of dark candi sugar. Raisin, cherry, caramel apple, blackberry, vanilla, fig, bread and yeast come to mind immediately. A slight hint of toffee can be found in the aftertaste. A little bit of nuts, too. Not much, though, however, they are there. Slightly peppery on the tongue. A nice, rounded woodiness adds an acidic bite to the finish (I assume this is the Calvados?). Brandy or wine can also be noted, although faint. Leaves a subtle, yet shockingly full finish of butter and cream after swallowing.

Mouthfeel - This is where this ale jumps out the most, leaving a thick, buttery layer along the roof of the mouth. The alcohol is hidden quite well. Nicely carbonated. Really >>zaps<< the mouth. When sipping, this beer really stimulates all areas of the palate. Quite smooth and velvety. Very nice.

Overall - Impressively balanced. Not too sure how I feel about the sour oak flavor, or if in part, it has something to do with having a bottle that is already 7 years old and only 10% abv. Again, this could also be a slightly 'off' bottle. Regardless, I certainly enjoy my wine just as much as my beer and would not be surprised if this is finished in recycled wine barrels, similar to the Duchesse de Bourgogne. It definitely has a slight wine-infused quality about it, but at the same time, it really finds its way back to standard Quadrupel territory by incorporating smooth, soft characteristics, along with dark fruits and strong, sugary sweets. Very complex and a must have for any beer lover. Enjoy!

TIP: When opening this reserve ale, I highly recommend thinking more wine than beer. This may help contribute to a better experience overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 05:57:09 | More by Agent1