Tasting Notes: De Struise: Pannepot Reserva

De Struise: Pannepot Reserva (Belgium: Belgium String Ale: 10% ABV)

(2007 Edition: Drunk 2010)

Visual: A very dark brown black, fizzy coffee brown head on pouring which bubbles viciously then vanishes without a trace.

Nose: Figs, rum and dark chocolate. Red wine and brown bread. Raisins and fermenting fruit. Plum pudding, blackberries, hosts of dark fruit. Toffee, smooth liquorish and Danish pastries. With custard and a cinnamon dusting.

Body: Smooth, blackcherry and liquorish, Milky chocolate and bitterness. Slightly fizzy and bready. Fruitcake. Sweetness hinted at, caramel and chocolate cake.

Finish: Blueberry pie, liquorish, sour berries, dry malt and raisins combined with slick rum, spiced fruit, festive herbs and just a lick of bitterness.

Conclusion: With a few years under its belt this is one smooth rich beer. Rum and wine are massively evident up front giving a marvellous nose, which almost fools you into thinking its going to end up dominating the entire beer.

It’s been a while since I had a normal Pannepot so I hope I can be forgiven in forgetting that the body on that beast is robust as hell and can shine through clearly. Imagine if Innis and Gunn rum cask had to contend with Westvleteren 8 on the body. Delectable results and so very shippable.

Defined by a solid fruitcake body, it’s a strong willed yet smooth beast yet without the harsh edges. An abstract art piece rather than a rigid diagram of flavour, very open to interpretation and experience. The bottles label is very appropriate as you often feel adrift upon a rolling sea of changing flavour.

Very well done.