I’ve mentioned before that Struise are something akin to rockstars in the Belgian beer world, known for their strong, barrel aged beers. And their most well-known beer is undoubtedly Pannepot.
So any time we see a barrel aged version of Pannepot, I’m all over it as I know it is going to be a special beer.
This bottle is from a 2019 batch of Pannepot that was put into bourbon barrels for 14 months. And I reckon of all the barrels that Struise use, my favourite is always the bourbon barrels.
The beer is dark and looks quite heavy as it pours out of the bottle. The aroma is dark malt, chocolate, caramel and dried dark fruits. And of course the sweet notes from the bourbon barrel.
The flavour is big, but smooth and balanced. A big malt body, both sweet and with the bitterness of dark chocolate. Raisins and prunes, molasses, dark sugar and a little spicy tingle make for an interesting beer.
This is one of those beers where you need to sit back and relax, allowing it to warm as it fully opens up all of its parts. Take your time and enjoy this special beer.