Struise Pannepot

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

33cl bottle. Deep brown pour with beige head. Good god, this is good. Had it a year or so ago and forgot how good. Fig and raisin heavy on the nose, along with brown sugar and lots of spices which are so well-blended that I can’t quite pick out any single one... coriander? cinnamon? Similar on the tongue, with some cocoa and some smoky notes coming out. A little soy and licorice as well. Perfect palate: fizzy and light despite the sweetness and high alcohol.

Interesting to say the least. Nice color, spices definitely play a key role in this one, small, uniform carbonation, overall quite a treat, however, based on the hype I thought this would be more enjoyable. 2006 Vintage.

I didn’t like this beer, poured quite a bit down the drain. Sticky mouth feel. Disgustingly sweet and sugary. Too much alcohol warmth and not enough hops to create balance. Not drinkable or enjoyable - this just isn’t my cup of tea.

Circa 2006 bottle. Pours a fairly clear dark brown with good carbonation and a good head to match. Smell is heavenly and much more akin to a fine wine than a beer, reminding me of a number of different bottles. This beer really holds up to aging beautifully. There are very few bottles of beer this size that I’d be willing to regularly pay $6 for. Taste is as equally complex as the aroma, reflecting a cornucopia of spices and well balanced malts. Another amazing attribute of the beer is that I get an entirely different profile depending on how quickly I drink it among other variable changes. Many beers are relatively similar, but this one just has a depth and complexity that few can match. Most definitely going to be a long time favorite.

330ml Bottle that was kindly passed to me by Craig but can I also say that Casey also passed me a bottle (big one) not opened yet so a big, big thank you to both of you Dark murky brown with a large tan head. On the nose there is some soft bubbling toffee melting with butter and just catching in the pan quite lovely, these are joined by a nutty edge and some spice and maybe just a hint of sourness. The flavour is just so rich creamy and mouth filling, soft tiny bubbles full of flavour melting and releasing burnt toffee, warming alcohol, molasses, dried dark fruits. The aroma not content with entering my nasal passage via the usual means also re-enters my nostril from the rear with each swallow sending glorious fumes back down my nose the opposite way. This is a truly wonderful beer and easily the best of the three Pannepot versions I’ve tried, I tried this alongside the Grand Reserva and whilst the latter was great this was easily the best version.

Bottle, Vintage 2006. Pours a very deep Maroon, medium tan head. Aroma is caramel, toffee and spices. Flavor is sweet, dried dark fruit, spices, vinuous and a touch of chocolate, caramel / toffee. A full body, thick and smooth mouthfull.

Side by side with the other one. 2006 bottle. Dark brown with a thin dense tan head. Dark fruit, subdued with some light roast, tobacco smoke, chocolate. Leather, subtly. Full rich chreally creamy body. Full dark fruit roast. Some acidity. Creamy. A bit of smoke. Alcohol, chocolate prune. Creamy chocolatey finish, prunes. Lingering roasty acidity. Very nice, like HotD Adam and St. Bernie 12 combined!

(330 ml bottle (2006) from 1828 Vintage House, cellared for 1 year after purchase) Pours very dark mahogany brown with one finger of level, tan head that settles to a thin lasting layer. Aroma of rich molasses, raisins, prunes, caramelized brown sugar and spice. Mouthfeel is initially a bit fizzy and foamy but then settles to a smooth, soft texture. Actually a bit on the light side for heft. Weepy rings and light sheets of lacing melt away quickly. Flavor is rich molasses and subtle spice, rich raisins, prunes and caramelized brown sugar. Some dark chocolate towards finish that emerges more as it warms. Undertones of coffee-like bitterness. Some port-like warm booziness. A rich, tasty treat. Not as in-your-face as some of the big American imp. stouts for example, but shows that you can have similar flavors and complexity but do it more subtly.