Pannepot Grand Reserva - De Struise Brouwers

silentjay

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"vintage 2005"

darker than expected (an almost black brown/mahogany), but with a beautiful khaki head that raises to the tip of the glass (if not higher) sticks around forever and laces well.

lots of dark cherries in the aroma with some belgian yeast and a bit of mediumd-dark malts and some other dark fruits making their way in to compete with the cherries (figs, dates, etc.) some lighter fruits in there as well, maybe some apple, pear, and banana.

smooth, with tons of cherry flavor, a bit of oak flavors bringing some vanilla and some sweet malts bringing some molasses and dark caramel. other fruits are in there, as well.

almost medium bodied with a subtle carbonation that is more fluffy than prickly.

didn't quit knock my socks off, but it definitely impressed me. I was expecting more barrel qualities in the aroma and flavor, but it seems the quadruple aspects of the beer managed to take precedence.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 08:19:28 | More by silentjay

Beerontwowheels

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. 2008 on the label. DFH signature glass.

A: Dark and murky brown. Sediment present and visible. Light crown of tan cream colored head.

S: Sweet smelling. A bit of leather, a bit of oak. Difficult to pinpoint the exact profiles. Very well blended.

T: Brown sugar, caramelized dark fruits with a touch of the oak. the 10% alcohol is very well hidden.

M: medium bodied with light carb. Perhaps a little light, but nothing to complain of.

O: A fine brew and probably at it's peak given the vintage (debatable for sure). Would gladly try another but wouldn't seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 02:47:14 | More by Beerontwowheels

bmwats

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

A: Dark brown. Pours about a 1 finger, brown white head. Settles quickly, leaving a smattering of foam on the surface and a nice beer ring. Not much lacing to speak of.

S: Roasted coffee malt, with a little oak, and parsley.

T: Tastes like it smells. Roasted espresso, with a woody tone. Slightly bittersweet.

M: Hearty and robust. Bittersweet finish lingers throughout.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is pretty solid. Nice, dark appearance with a decent head. Nose is roasted, woody malt. Flavor has a hearty roasted coffee feel, with a bittersweet finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 03:52:24 | More by bmwats

nicoco184

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared a 2005 Grand Reserva with mrand01.

Poured into a Mad Elf tulip.

A: Chestnut colored, hazy, thin rim of cream-colored head that is incredibly sticky.

S: Malty, dark fruit scents.

T: Coffee right off the bat, malts, oak, sweetness at the tail end, with a little bit of alcohol heat.

M: Light carbonation, medium-heavy body, sticky flavor

O: The complexity is excellent and I imagine will become deeper in flavor as the beer temperature rises.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 01:42:14 | More by nicoco184

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Nothing like kicking off a new year with a Pannepot variation. Thanks to Cam for picking this up for me since I didn't see any around here. 2005 vintage.

Pours very dark brown with slight highlights, tiny bit of sediment settled at the bottom. Big frothy beige head retains well as a thick cap leaving a bit of lacing, certainly doesn't look 6-7 years old.

Smell is extremely muted, but definite fig/dark fruit in there, oak and alcohol.

Taste also seems very muted, especially compared to the original Pannepot. Chocolate, yeast, spice, dark fruit, oak, maybe some fruity hops (?) all noticeable but very faint. Maybe the age and/or the long oak barrel aging is to blame.

Like other Pannepi, very smooth full mouthfeel, lowish carbonation, not much alcohol present. Sadly, it's the highlight of the beer.

Wow, quite disappointing. The regular Pannepot is one of my favorite beers and the Reserva is great as well, this really didn't do much for me. Flavor is way too faint.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 21:37:47 | More by Chico1985

buffs9

Colorado

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

A - Dark brownish colored, murky, lots of lacing left throughout.

S - dark stone fruits, and a a bit of alcohol.

T - Again, malt sweetness, with a that belgian yeast character. To me it's like a slightly less sweet St. Bernardus Abt 12, which I love

O - I really liked this beer, but not sure it's worth $10/bottle

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 05:19:39 | More by buffs9

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

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

A: Pours dark brown with a finger of light tan head. Retention is solid.

S: Complex. Tons of dark fruit - brandy soaked figs and raisins. Still quite a bit of carmel left as well. A bit of booze, but not a lot.

T: So smooth. Caramel and raisins overwhelm all other favors. A bit of booze, but great for a 10% ABV beer. A perfect amount of sweetness.

M: Thick with light carbonation.

O: I really like this a lot. The flavors have developed well over the last six years.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:38:08 | More by coreyfmcdonald

claspada

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle says 2005 version.

Pours a clear, dark brown body with a wispy, persistent, khaki colored head. As it recedes I get some decent spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with a melange of dark malts and toasted oak wrapped up in a luscious, sweet-smelling raisin/plum syrup. It would be more enjoyable (and more complex) if it was bolder. Medium-dark fruit and a light cola like rooty, spiciness. Woodiness is definitely present, but I couldn't have guessed that what makes Grand Reserva unique among the Pannepot brews is the fact that it was aged in French oak that had previously held Calvados (apple brandy).

Thankfully the tastes are more redeeming and bolder. It begins with toasted brown bread soaked in caramel, tart apples, tangy plums, golden raisins, citrus zest and an herbal, almost root beer spiciness. As it warms you get a little more of the Belgian esters from the Belgian yeast.

The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with moderate to light carbonation. Finish is dryish and semi-sweet. Barrel aging has added a new dynamic to the original Quad style which tends to be sweeter, but the dry/oakiness is nice here.

Overall this beer was a nice and new experience for me. I usually do not like Belgian ales aged in barrels but the brandy barrels work here and add a new dynamic to the already amazing base Pannepot. Do I like it more than the original, I don't think so, but is it still heads and tail above 95% of Quads on the market, yes. Definitely recommended and well worth seeking out for Quad fans and fans of well-integrated barrel aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 09:55:36 | More by claspada

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

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

Pours a medium/darker brown wit a tan head. Nice splashy lace, Good ring/skim retention.

Some spices up front, a little wood, toasted malt, dark bread.

This burly brew has mellowed the 10% alcohol to a barely noticeable attribute that comes in near the end. Browned bread crust, a touch of tart malt on the back of the palate, bitterness that is long and pure and even. Malt is aggressive and dry. Not a touch of sweetness here for this 2005 vintage. A very different quad with some obvious age on it.

Fuller bodied with some prickliness on the tongue.

Very good. I've never had a quad aged this much. It mellowed it and absorbed all sugar and focused the brew. Bitter, unrelenting brew, and for all of the hard flavors, I find this oddly drinkable. This is not for beginners (either in flavor or price). But very worthy.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 21:33:09 | More by OtherShoe2

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2005 dated bottle

Pours a medium chestnut, ruby red color. A soft off-white/tan head caps the brew and it looks nice...but quite a quad "look". But really, who cares? The good stuff is next

Aroma is a touch sweet but with some tannin in it. Sour cherry, apple, light caramel, red plum. maybe some raisins. Not a powerful, coming at ya aroma...not bad either

Flavors follow the aroma almost to a T, with emphasis on different characteristics. Red apple, sour cherry up front. Quick tannin in the middle. Red plum and raisin on the end. A bit boozy makes it seem light. Undertones of yeasty breadiness and light caramel. Not getting much roast or "dark" flavors.

Very easy drinking for 10%.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 23:36:10 | More by Mebuzzard

dogfishandi

New York

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

2005 vintage

11.2oz bottle, fridge temp, poured into a snifter.

appears almost black but is actually a deep ruby color. about one fingers worth of tan colored head, creamy, nice retention and some nice spotty lace. some sediment visible.

initially lots of ripe dark fruits. some alcohol apparent, spicy, flouride like yeast, sweet malts and a bit wine like.

sweet candied dark fruits, dark breads, spicy yeast phenols. not nearly as much alcohol in the taste. some toasty oak comes through, brown sugar and hints of nutmeg and cinamon. comes off very wine like. finsihes with a very nice richness.

very smooth, rich, sweet, full bodied, very nice mouthfeel. carbonation just about right.

definatly one of the best quads ive had. such a nice melding of flavors, age has done this well. id be a little hesitant to buy more because of the huge price tag for one 11.2 oz bottle, but id be very interested to see what further cellaring could do.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 03:15:37 | More by dogfishandi

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy and very dark brownish amber in color. It poured with a thin off white head that died down and consistently left a ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of sweet dark fruits in the nose along with hints of vanilla from the barrel aging.
T: The taste is very complex and develops as the beer warms up. It has flavors of dark fruits and oak from the barrel aging.
M: It feels full-bodied and very smooth on the palate and has a light to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very smooth and incredibly well balanced. No traces of alcohol are noticeable, which makes it very easy to drink considering the strength.

Note: 2005 Vintage

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 13:23:45 | More by metter98

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

2005 grand reserva, definitely excited to try this.

Appearance:
Jet black with little head or carbonation. In the light the beer actually becomes a very dark brown. Quad-tastic, and it does not look watery.

Smell:
Tons of dark stone fruits, grape and some oak. A strong alcohol also mixes in, but it's subtle and masked.

Taste:
Some chocolatey fruits and a a little wood. This beer isn't nearly as rich as I had anticipated. The aftertaste is tobacco and lots of over-ripe fruit.

Mouthfeel:
This beer is a little hot with alcohol, but provides a lot of tasty fruit as well. The Belgian yeast doesn't come though as much as with other quads, but I'm assuming it's because there is so much going on with the barrel aging. It becomes significantly sweeter when it warms up

Overall:
This beer was quite overpriced, but still tasty. I would have liked to grab a 4 pack of 3 philosophers and allow it to age a couple years instead. Worth tasting, and I grabbed a few for down the road... So we'll see what happens

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 04:07:35 | More by ThePorterSorter

mentaltraveller

Illinois

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

This is a nearly perfect quad—pick this up if you can find it. This is a very complex beer; Belgian yeast, sugar and alcohol are all present. This beer is a sipper, but very easy to drink. I am glad we picked up a few of these in Belgium; I will hopefully get the chance to enjoy one or two more.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 20:43:24 | More by mentaltraveller

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

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

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

Poured from 33cl into Chalice. 2008 Vintage Old Fishermans's Ale Aged on Oak. Aged 14 months on French oak and had a Calvados wood finish for another 8 months. Thanks to Kendall for hooking this up!

A. Poured a 1 finger head. Good retention. A little lacing. Color is such dark brown it is almost black. Darkest Quad I believe I have ever seen.

S. Complexity. Dark fruit, molasses, spice, candi sugar, oak, Layers of aroma. So many aromas come out at different times. I can pick up some licorice, a little coffee

T. Taste is a nice blend of caramel malty sweetness and dark fruit. Get raisins, figs, a touch of grape. Very similar flavor to Pannepot with even more complexity than Reserva. Has a faint vanilla that is very nice. The Calvados wood definitely adds something, but it is hard for me to pin down. I think it is a spice flavor that I just can't put my finger on.

M. Medium/full bodied. Drinks very similar to Pannepot. Finishes dry.

O. Overall very similar to the base beer as is Reserva. The base beer is very good so it is really hard to go wrong. I think the barrel aging adds subtle complexity and nuances to the flavor of Pannepot, which is really what is is supposed to do. I think I would have to say that I prefer Pannepot Reserva at this point. Next up is Pannepeut.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 01:45:18 | More by siradmiralnelson

airohead2001

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A stop on the interview trail to Buffalo, NY brings me back to the world of BA reviewing. Found this one at Premier Gourmet and split it with glazeman.

Looks dark like any Quad with a two finger head that fades to about half a finger. Smell is a great mix of booze, dark fruits, wood, and booze again. Taste reminds me of Westy, but is a little sweeter with less bite in the finish. I get smokey dark fruits with a smooth finish.

Overall, this a good one that I would love to try again.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 20:46:21 | More by airohead2001

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown with a fizzy beige mousse. This beer is virtually opaque until held up to the light. As far as appearance goes, this version of Pannepot does not appear to be quite as dark as some of De Struise Brouwers' others.

S: Aromas of calvados and port are immediately evident, but are followed by aromas of woody spice, dark chocolate, caramel, and dried fruits. This beer is a bit boozy on the nose, but the scents are unique, saving it from being uninviting.

T: Alcohol flavors reminiscent of some of those found in tawny port and calvados immediately blossom on the palate. Around mid-palate, notes of dark chocolate, woody spices, prunes, raisins, figs, woodsmoke, caramel, black currants, tobacco, and leather come into focus. The finish is robust and flavorful with a swirl of port, calvados, raisin, prune, leather, and woodsmoke flavors.

M: Full bodied, firm, and rather dry compared to some of the other versions of this ale. Carbonation is discreet, but is just crisp and prickly enough to carry an ale of this complexity and strength. At times, though, the whole thing feels just slightly too dry, but that may be an effect of the aging.

O: This is yet another excellent take on Pannepot by De Struise Brouwers, and I hope to see more experiments like this from them in the future. Though this is not my favorite version of Pannepot, I would still recommend it highly to fans of barrel-aged beers and/or Belgian strong ales.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 16:53:44 | More by mrfrancis

birchstick

Missouri

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

2005 Vintage poured into a Cigar City Snifter. One of the 3,000 bottles filled per the label.

A - pours a very dark cola colored brown with a nice, creamy white rim around the edge that leaves some nice lacing.

S - the nose is vanilla, dark, sugary fruits (plums, figs, raisins), some creamy nutiness, cola, and candied sugar

T - where to begin on this...
starts off with a lot of sweet flavors up front (raisins, plums) that are mixed in with some caramel malts. These fade to some cola and darker tastes with a touch of cocoa to it. Ends with sweet oak and some cherry vanilla mixed in on the finish and exhale; more cola also shows up. This a is a complex beer to say the lease. Pannepot has quickly risen as one of my top beers and this one takes it to a new level.

M - creamy and full, goes down nicely

D - this is a fantastic beer. Rich, complex, delicious. Being 6 years old, this still has a lot of unique character to it and I see it going even longer without too many problems. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 04:05:44 | More by birchstick

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

2005 vintage poured into my Lost Abbey long stemmed tulip.

A: Pours a deep, dark, murky brown (almost black) with a beige head of medium sized bubbles. The head quickly fades but leaves a nice halo around the top of the beer.

S: I'm picking up notes of sweet roasted malt, candied sugar, plums, and yeast. I would have to say that the candied plum scent shines through with an undertone of yeasty goodness.

T: Starts off with sweet brown sugar and stone fruit notes (mainly plums). But there is a really mellow malt characteristic to this beer too. The yeast and alcohol shine through as well, but aren't as pronounced as the major players of sugar and fruit. The finish dwells back to the stone fruits (cherry, apricot, plum) and envelops the palate to linger for quite awhile.

M: In my opinion, this is a full bodied beer. It starts and finishes the same way... simple and sweet.

O: I think this beer is fantastic. There is a lot of complexity to this brew, and yet it feels subdued and simple. The flavors are spot on and the mouthfeel is just right. Color me extremely impressed. This is the best quad I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 01:23:32 | More by trxxpaxxs

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage. Pours a one-finger light brown head that fades quickly leaving some 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, dark fruit and some oak, mellow sweetness. Very similar to Pannepot Reserva. Expensive at $11.49 for a 330ml (label claims this is a 750ml, I guess they ran out of 330ml labels) bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 22:59:09 | More by jdhilt

scottfrie

California

4.08/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2005 vintage into Portsmouth snifter.

A: Pours a very dark raisin brown with three fingers of dense dark tan head that slowly faded into a thick film leaving a streaks of fine lace after ever sip.
S: Spicy and fruity nose with scents of dark prunes, raisins, plums, citrus rind, vinous red grapes, cola, and woody oak.
T: Follows the nose but I get some metallic notes as well. The flavors are much more subtle and integrated than I was expecting. The flavors are also very creamy, and no one aspect stands out. The finish is spicy with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and oak, and the aftertaste is lightly fruity and sweet and has flavors of tobacco. Notes of apple cider come to mind at times. I get a hint or two of vanilla and milk chocolate as well.
M: Thick full body with a very thick and creamy mouthfeel. The carbonation is bubbly dense and chewy, and the alcohol heat has all but faded.
O: A very smooth, complex and well integrated beer. This wasn’t my favorite quad, and I think the original might be better, but I would sip on this any day of the year.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 00:30:01 | More by scottfrie

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

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2005 vintage poured in a Rochefort glass.

It pours a very dark brown colour with quite a bit of sediment floating around. The head is minimal, and quickly disappears (no doubt due to the alcohol).

The aroma is quite strong with dried fruits and a hint of vanilla being most prominent. There is also a kind of toffee smell alongside very noticeable alcohol, lending to a rum-like aroma.

The flavour is soft and luxurious hints of citrus to start followed by some slight sweetness. There is a very distinctive red wine flavour towards then end that lingers in the finish. It's interesting, and I'm not totally sure what to make of it. Lots of raisin comes through in the end, and the alcohol is almost imperceptible.

Overall, this is a very sophisticated quad, though still not my favourite. Still worth trying, and I might get another bottle in the future if my wallet allows.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:55:06 | More by evlu1441

sweemzander

Illinois

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

11.2oz bottle poured into a tulip. 2005 Vintage.

(A)- Pours a fairly thick, very dark near pitch black burnt sienna color. Produced some nice tan froth with good retention and plenty of lace.

(S)- I can definitely see the oak barrel in this. Some dark fruits and subtle yeasty clay behind a dry, oaky, almost tannic yet nutty earth.

(T)- Again, the oak aging definitely shows its face. Some dry, nutty oak flavors in front of some yeasty bread, dark fruits (prune, raisin, cassis).

(M)- A smooth carbonation level. A nice balance to it as well, though far more oak barrel characters than I was expecting. 10% ABV? I taste none of the heat this would perhaps normally portray either.

(D)- This has much much more life left in it for future aging despite being 6 years old or so. A solid to great quad that I think will only just get better and better with time based upon what is in the glass in front of me, though it is quite good now too.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 18:19:38 | More by sweemzander