Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva

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

several 330 ml bottles of this were opened at the recent KW group tasting but i know at least one came from jessem. thats to all who shared. dark brown with a lively tan head, surprising for an ’05. wonderful barrel aged complexity jumps up and fills your nostril as you inhale the beauty. dark fruits with woody notes, some vanilla, very big and bold. the flavour is complex with spice, yeast, candied sugar, dark malts. i could drink a few of these just about anytime. great brew!

Bottle, 33cl. When opening the bottle, and pouring the content into the glass, a wonderful aroma of dried fruits, dark caramel and vinous wood enters my nose. In the glass it has a semi-clear dark, dark brown color with a ruby tint, and on top a fingerthick, beige, creamy head rests and resists all forces trying to diminish it. A fine carbonation is going on too. A further inspection of the aroma reveals that the vinous woody aroma are dominant, but there’s also aromas promising a sweet flavor, some prunes and figs, a touch of alcohol of the kind only found in fine spirits and a tiny roasted touch. It may be my mind playing tricks on me, but I think there’s a touch of apple-based spirits too. It’s very smooth and full-bodied, a pleasant warmth enters after a second or two, and the tiny bubbles spreads in the mouth. There’s a fine vinous and woody flavor and a good dash of sugars. Still, it sort of feels dry in the finish. There’s also some vanilla, dark plums, dried fruits, some fine alcohol and a touch of Port. Warm, sweet and dry finish with dried fruits and plums. Some notes of oxidation too. This is why beergeeks love Belgian beers and Struise. It’s complex, tasteful, moreish as hell, and a damn fine beer to enjoy slowly. (090113)

Got in a bottle at Volo in Toronto. Pours black with a moderate tan head. Aroma is wondrous- lots of candied sugar, sweet malt, definite spices like nutmeg and clove, and notes of plum and raisin. Flavor is exquisite- heavy vinous qualities, but mixes with the belgian sweetness and some roasty parts almost like a porter. Awesome palate, exceptional brew.

330 ml bottle, thanks to HogTownHarry. Poured ruby red/brown with a small pancake mix colour head. Aroma: Dark fruit, port, some spices, some nuts and a hint of alcohol. Flavour: Certainly sour, some oak and cherry, a nice spicy quality too. Some alcohol detected but it’s quite mute. A nice lingering port finish. Very enjoyable. Thanks Harry.

Bottle shared with reakt. Thanks, Angelo! Pours a deep red-wine brown with an aroma of red wine plumb and prune with berry syrup. Flavor is sweet then sour dough-encrusted cherry wine. Full mouthfeel. Nice and refreshing, not to mention complex.

<b>In short: </b>A fruity and vinous Belgian Strong dark ale
<b>How: </b>Bottle 330ml, vintage 2005. Compared side-by-side with regular Pannepot
<b>The look: </b>Cloudy burgundy topped by a small persistent tan head
<b>In long: </b>Nose is a lot less spicy than the regular Pannepot with a much stronger dark fruits presence. Not much barrels/oak on the nose, this beer smells like some classic ABTs. Taste has cake malts and a lot of dark grapes, fresh dark fruits and even gets rather vinous and somewhat sticky. The floral finish of the regular Pannepot is translates tobacco with the Grand Reserva. A light herbal spiciness but far from the level of the regular Pannepot. Very smooth and round. The vinous & fruit concentrate character of the beer makes it a bit heavy and detracts from the drinkability. The regular Pannepot is indubitably more drinkable. Like with the regular Pannepot there was no alcohol presence whatsoever. I slightly prefer the regular Pannepot but only slightly and the Reserva is the best of the three. However the Grand Reserva really has a personality of its own and is the best of the three to accompany a meal. With a basic beer as good as the Pannepot all aging experiments will yield good results. A Special Reserva aged in MartinT’s dirty socks with Rastacouere’s post-jogging sweat could even potentially be drinkable.

Bouteille 330ml (2005). De couleur brune et voilée. Nez de levures fruitées (raisins vineux, notes de cerises, traces de prunes rouges), moyennement épicé (anis, notes de cannelle) léger de malt aux notes rôties, léger de vanille et de fût de chêne ainai que des notes dalcool doux et de caramel toffee sucré. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture moyennement crémeuse. Goût fruité sucré et aux faibles notes sûres (raisins vineux, léger de prunes rouges, petites notes de cerises et de pommes rouges) accompagné dun moyen goût épicé (anis, traces de cannelle), dun léger goût boisé (fût de chêne) ainsi que de notes de vanille lors de lentrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un moyen goût malté caramel aux notes rôties ainsi qu un léger goût de toffee sucré ainsi que des traces de chocolat noir et de sucre brun. Parallèlement, lon retrouve un léger goût dalcool boisé (légèrement réchauffant et notes de fût de chêne) jusquen finale avec des notes de houblon herbeux. Post-goût long-moyen aux notes asséchantes, moyen-léger amer de rôti, dalcool doux et avec un goût de levures fruitées aux notes aigres (moût de raisins et de cerises, petites notes de pelures de prunes) et boisées.

Deep brown of color with a beige head. an aroma of dark fruits, port, raisins and alcohol. A flavor of dark fruits, port, alcohol, raisins and a smooth mouthfeel.