Struise Pannepot

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: SEP 4, 2011 33 cl bottle from Brussels. Brown, hazy liquid with small tan head. Aroma of belgian yeast, dark fruits, molasses and lots more, complex. Very nice taste with bready, fruity notes and some alcohol (but expected). Pleasant, sweet taste and some bitterness. Medium bodied with ok carbonation.

UPDATED: AUG 1, 2011 2007 "infected" batch. 11.2 oz bottle into a chimay goblet. Reviewed on 7/27/2011. This is my third bottle of this batch and all of them had an extremely slow gush over. Upon pouring it the head began to dissolve violently and it actually looked like it was boiling. I also usually try and pour out every drop, but when it began to come out like cold maple syrup I poured it into the bottle cap. The last few drops were milky brown and smelled kind of weird, like funky molasses. A - Dark brown syruppy body with some red tints. The head is mocha colored with random splotches of dark brown. Awesome lacing and it even has legs! Lots of rapid bubbling happening on the surface. Some mocha looking phloegm forming on the bottom. 3.5/5 S - Candied dark fruits, spice, malt, sweet burnt sugar, and some alcohol twang. 4.0/5 T - Very bubbly and meaty mouthfeel. Taste starts off with sweet candied figs, spices and brown sugar, then an odd bitterness comes in. It is really sweet, but the aftertaste is a bit herbal and savory. The alcohol comes out a bit as it warms up. It does have a fairly sterotypical quad taste, it just has an odd aftertaste that I can imagine some people finding "offensive" or "unenjoyable". Some sips actually taste like old cola syrup...weird. 3.5/5. Mouthfeel - 4.0/5 O - Its infected for sure, but in an odd way I quite enjoy it. This particular batch does have some redeeming qualities. The sticky sweetness and bitterness is actually somewhat enjoyable and unique. Its just something I have to be in the mood to enjoy. 3.5/5 2010 vintage. 11.2 oz bottle into a chimay goblet. Reviewed on 8/1/2011. No gush over! A - Dark brown cola body and a light khaki head. Quick falling lace and weak retention. Due to some experience with Pannepots now, I swirled and poured the last 2 ounces into a snifter. That appeared lighter with an almost milky brown color. Yeast sits on the bottom of the snifter. S - Dark caramelized fruits, chocolate, spices, roasted malts, and some alcohol. A touch of something herbal and medicinal towards the end. T - Figs, bitter roasted malts, sweet candi sugar, some coffee and chocolate notes. Molasses and dark spices as well. Alcohol is presented really well but is noticeable. Velvety medium mouth feel. Quite tasty. O - Much better than the infected batch I had. This is at the top of my quadruple list. Very delicious and rich. I would love to try some other vintages now. Overall score is based off the 2010 vintage.

Keg at the Craft Beer Co., London. For Ian’s birthday. Pours black with a rich, tan head. Aroma holds plenty of dark malts, some dark, ripe fruits and roasted malts, too. Very sweet flavor, sweet chocolate, tangy fruits, some earth. Quite a bit of dry, roasty malts. Full bodied with fine to average carbonation. Warm finish, dried up a bit, plenty more roasted malts, touches of toast, cocoa. Delicious beer. The menagerie of flavors is amazing.

Bottle. Heavy malt aromas of cookie and roasted, moderate cooked orange for the hops, dough for the yeast, with hints of raisin, port, toffee and fruit cake. Head is small, turning wispy, light brown with a few spots of lacing and has good legs, and is mostly diminishing. Color is hazy dark brown. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes moderately bittersweet and lightly acidic. Palate is medium to full, between creamy and syrupy and has a soft carbonation, and a moderately alcoholic, and a dry yet sticky finish. This Belgian Strong Ale is extremely rich and full. It’s a perfect "in from the cold" kind of beer.

Bottle @ Gastropub Tuulensuu, Tampere. Originally rated on 27.8.2010. Nice, well balanced and complex Belgian strong ale.

75 cL bottle of 2007 shared with friends at De Kulminator in Antwerp. Light taste, a little bitter but very smooth. Rich, fruity aroma. Very dark brown with short-lived head. Sweet, doesn’t taste strong, and its very nice. Creamy. Takes ages to drink though!

Bottle 33cl, dark beer with huge creamy brownish head, with good lacing. Nose is alcoholic like and spicy. What a beer, creamy body, beginning is chocolate like with caramel notes, fruit notes such as dry grapes, apricot and over riped fruit, finish is spicy with licorice and cinnamon. Amazing body, the 10° cannot even be felt in the aroma, what a pleasure, nice malty body with biscuit notes, an exceptional brew. Near to the Pannepeut but more complex.

2010 Vintage - Poured into a tulip Appearance is dark brown with about a half inch tan head. The head fades quickly, leaving only a trace amount of lacing. Aroma is of strong dark fruit as well as notes of caramel and fig. The aroma is varied, yet well balanced. The taste is exceptional. Balanced wonderfully with dark fruit and malt present at the beginning, fading to a slight amount of alcohol and a touch of spice. Overall, a delicious quad that I’m excited to try aged. Very smooth and balanced, with the distinct flavors evident with every sip.