Struise Pannepot

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

From enjoyit via trade. Thanks again, Svend. The pour was super dark brown with hints of crimson. The head was a compact, off-white stream of tight, tight bubbles that quickly faded into a galaxy swirl atop my glass. Light lacing. The aroma was chocolate, raisins, yeast, malt, spices and even some port or wine characteristics. At one point I got a hint of orange zest as well. The flavor was chocolate, thin red wine, malt and spice. Tight carbonation provides a silky mouthfeel and the finish is nice. A dynamic aroma.

In a 33cl bottle, served in a tulip glass. Pours with little or no head and the hint of a lace ring around the glass. If you can find a bright enough light it is a deep ruby although perhaps not entirely clear. The nose is very inviting, no hint of alcohol, just a warm caramel and raisin invitation to take the plunge. The initial sip was as the nose indicated, plus a smooth and thick as silk body, very pleasant feel and taste, a sweet caramel coupled with the hint of raisins. The finish goes right along with everything else, very pleasant, but no lingering aftertaste, just a desire to pick up the glass and taste again. A wonderful beer.

Bottle. Huge thanks to my buddy Andy who brought this back from Amsterdam. Pours a chestnut brown with medium tan head. Aroma is of sweet malts and figs with spices. Very smooth, complex flavor. Figs, raisins, vanilla, and sherry. Great stuff. I would love to get more.

Bottle from Ebenezer’s, Lovell, Maine. An intensely unique beer - I’ve had nothing like it. Dark brown with red highlights, overwhelming, fine-bubbled tan head, great lacing - absolutely beautiful. Strong fruit and spice aroma: sweetness from plums and raisins predominant, a slight tinge of light toffee. Some great clove and licorice complexity. Taste is much the same, with lingering spice and fruit overlaying an intensely sweet (but not cloying) malt backbone. Brown sugar and caramel balance clove and nutmeg. Slightly tannic or winey presence that really takes hold in the Danish version (which I prefer). Really no alcohol presence whatsoever. Nicely thick mouthfeel despite a good deal of very fine but very fierce carbonation. Great, great beer both objectively and just as a testament to some very unique, wonderful brewing from Struise.

330 ml. euro bottle, notched lot reference along the right side of the label, sampled in a tulip glass. L: Lusciously deep dark woody brown with a robust tan head of tight creamy foam that leaves behind a good deal of curtain-like lace, an appealing start. S: Clove licorice, figs, prunes, raisins, over ripened dark cherries, dark candied sugars, coconut shavings, herbs and spices, a rich and complex nose that is full of delectable scents. F&T: Alcoholic, but malt chewy, firm carbonation gives the moderate body a nice creaminess. Delicious tasting, caramel and brown sugar, licorice, burnt dark malts, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, woody nuttiness, spices and herbs, the flavors just go on and on. Finishes dry with lingering tastes of spice, medicinal herbal alcohol and candied sugars. A delightfully pleasant, easy sipping quadrupel, the perfect warming libation for a subzero wind chill winter night.

Deep, rich, august mahogany with stately lush head. Beautiful nose full of sweet yeast, perhaps some spice, banana, and tinge of cinnamon. Simply a panoply of amazing aromas. Luscious body amazes upon the moment it touches the lips and palate--setting off an explosion of pleasurable sensory receptors. Light marsala with some yeastiness. Lots of residual winey sugars as well as notes of spice with a slight dank finish. Exceptional stuff!

[bottle consumed at Ebenezer’s Pub] Opened with a powerful eruption.. then poured a nice dark brown color, almost clear, topped with a dense tan head. Aroma is fruity and dark-- plums, sugar, mild yeast character. Dense, deeply complex flavors. Rich malts, date sugar, plum, raisin and chocolate. Slightly warming in the finish, but overall extremely smooth. Outstanding!

Muddy brown in color, tan head. Fantastic combination of fruit, cake, fruitcake, gingerbread, and chocolate. This is a full round of desserts in a single glass. Ridiculously easy to drink, no signs of the alcohol, creamy body slides down the gullet.