Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Oostvleteren, Belgium

330mL courtesy of glouglouburp . I was really disappointed in this. Poured a deep translucent amber with yeast floaties. Boozy, cherry liquor nose. Taste is overall very alcoholic but sweet, cloying. Really loses the magic of normal Pannepot. Had this in a side by side tasting with Pannepot, Pannepeut, Pannepøt.

No idea what this beer was about until I took my first smell and started drooling heavily... that never happens. Bought this in October 2008... kinda forgot about it! Poured out a very very dark brown brew with red hues, ok sized medium tan head but it sure looks good once it boils down to a thick skim with a clinging rim and cascading lacing. The aroma is amazing - sourness with cherries, sweet apple, more sourness, oak, raisin, fig, more sour cherry/ raspberry that is making me drool hard, anise and the resemblance to a dry, young fruity red wine is unmistakable. The taste is quite sour with obvious notes of the oak, slight but early leather, very sour cherry or even beyond - maybe even just plain old sourness, sweetness can be found under that, qualities of a red wine that has sat for too long on the shelf, bretts, stiff, harsh apple, burnt sugar, weak coffee, caramel and now, near the end the first hint of alcohol burn, a touch of cheap scotch, some lingering spice that was probably there the entire time but I’m down to the last 2 sips ( so soon??? booo). Full bodied, creeps up to viscous while keeping thin enough not to ruin things, finishes soft with sourness, random malts (ha!) and other things that I’ve gave up on. This beer was very very awesome. I did leave the sediment behind on this specific bottle which is a bit odd considering my dedication to swirl everything in at one point or another.** Just drank the swirled up yeast / sediment shot - fucking excellent!

(Vintage 2006) Pours a dear dark brown with a small red light and a nice thick beige head. Aroma of roasted malts, dark fruits, plums and raisins, brown sugars and spices. Flavors is so wonderful, roasted malts, alcohol masserated fruits, oak, caramels, a hint of chocolate, brown surgars, some schotch and liquorice, and spices. Good carbonation, sweet and bitter dry finish, very dence and full body flavors. Very complex mix of flavors, wonderfully ballanced. The feel of liquor is present and is a very warm brew. One of the best beers I’ve had.

dark brown pour with minimal mocha head. Aroma of dark fruits, smoke, tobacco, and some vinuous red wine notes. The flavour is quitr vinous, and the oak comes through a big in the flavour, but what dominates is the red wine, almost sourness that i’m getting. the finish is a tad tart, and short. The barrel ageing wasnt as prevalent as i had expected. This beer seemed to be dominated by a slight sour, and very redwine like flavour. Very enjoyable, and interesting.

Bottle courtesy of TampaBrew. Poured a dark amber with a small, creamy, beige head. Vinous roasted malt nose with notes of plum, raisin, fig, oak, light vanilla, and caramel. Full body with decent carbonation. Flavor is vinous and fairly complex with an almost nuttiness, moderately sweet and roasted with notes of fig, raisin, mild spice, light anise, and wood. Finish is semi sweet and lightly nutty.

two bottles of 2005 vintage shared as a nightcap by nbutler11 on 12/20/2009 because everyone was eying them! pours woody caramel-y brown with a small beige-ish head. it smells a lot like the sfto we just had previously... tart fruit and wood mixed with buttery cinnamon toast, brown sugar, some spiciness and tobacco. the flavor is really, depressingly.... sour and lifeless?wtf? it’s a weird mix of the aroma and a shadow of the original delicious beer than went into the barrels. (sad now). the body is light. the texture is sharp from the tartness. what am i missing?...6/4/6/3/14/3.3

2005. Thank you Gerret! Pours an opaque dark black-brown that thins out to dark gold at the rim with a very fine, thin, off-white head. Aromas of dark caramel, apple orchard, soft oxidation, and a bit of alcohol. Flavor conveys nervy bright top notes, oddly but not unpleasantly, on the attack and is quickly followed by a tightly coiled malt profile with lots of caramel, spice, great oxidation, and a touch of fruity sweetness in the background. The body is deceptively light and quite vibrant given the overall heft of the beer. Quite a skillful balancing act with lots of chacter and dimension blended together to form an excellent barrel-aged beer. Quite good.

Bottles acquired through a trade with glouglouburp -- thanks!! After having the three other versions of Pannepot, this was high on my list. Unfortunately, it least resembled the originally product and really didn’t show any added benefit from a barrel. Pours a deep brown color with a thin beige head. Smells and tastes of malt, caramel, brown sugar, and bitter apples. Muted overall. The life seems to have been crafted out of this. Bummer, given high expectations.