Lemony hard cider souring fronts murky amber-hazed Belgian-styled strong pale ale celebrating brewers’ 16th anniversary. Cotton-candied honey biscuit spine reinforces tertiary white-peppered beet-sugared Granny Smith apple, orange marmalade, fried plantain, gin-soaked raisin, apricot, and tangerine illusions, but livelier fruited malt thrust needed.
All posts by John Fortunato
(UNIBROUE) SEIGNEURIALE
Promising Belgian-styled pale ale reminiscent of winter seasonal with its high spicing (coriander-sage-thyme) and rosebud flowering retains apple-orange crisping to corn-breaded cereal bottom. Sweet butterscotch saunter at tart citric finish recedes slightly.
UNIBROUE RAFTMAN SMOKED BEER
White foamy-headed yeast-encrusted pale amber given full-bodied froth by peat-smoked whiskey malts, spicy sour mash, and quaint quince-orange quip. Weighty wheat insistence puts this closer to German Weiss than typical water-based Canadian beer.
(UNIBROUE) QUELQUE CHOSE 2002 LIMITED EDITION ALE
Blush amber hue matches detailed sun-drenched oak-aged cherry tartness and mellow pink rose’ midst to soda-like flow. Uncommonly smooth with little evident harshness affecting heavy alcohol influence and juicy cherry rasp. Deep citric opulence endures extremely condensed soured cherry blitzkrieg assaulting port wine and lemon meringue illusions to heartwarming cognac finish. When heated, this soothing winter warming aperitif offers a truly exceptional experience. Illustrious.
UNIBROUE QUELQUE CHOSE SOMETHING CHERRY ALE
Reminiscent of fruity Belgium ales with its purposeful fermentation. Unique cherry ale wrapped in black aluminum foil tastes best served at 160 degrees Fahrenheit (pour contents into saucepan). Cognac aroma, subtle carbonation, and strong, effective 8% alcohol volume offer fine introduction. Served warm, tangy yeast-thickened cider finish perfectly purveys wintry ski lodge feel. Served cold, Sangria-like essence overtakes syrupy malts and pulpy tartness, making it perfect soda substitute (due to fizzy sweetness and pop-like appearance). The contrast between warm and cold is incredibly uncanny. Absolutely fab (but not recommended to unseasoned amateurs).
UNIBROUE PILS
Fair clear-bottled, thin-bodied, white-headed Canadian pilsner brings faint smoked wood chip reminder to unassuming peppery hop frock, buttery Scotch-toasted malt schmaltz, and insufficient yellow-fruited quince-gourd spell. Incomplete.
(UNIBROUE) MAUDITE ALE
Enchanting honeyed orange-hazed Unibroue offshoot spreads white cobweb across glass. Flawless fruity herbal spicing complements creamy candied yeast sweetness, rum cake seduction, and clove tinge. Banana nut bread suggestion and wispy apricot-tangerine-grapefruit tartness beckon in musty stewed prune-imbued midst. Engrossing finish, redolent of a lighter Grand Marnier, broadens palette.
(UNIBROUE) L’EAU BENITE
Smooth, easy, yet ultimately strong golden ale blends simple ingredients exquisitely. Bright spiced fruits, sweet floral yeast, and wily honeyed wheat build to carbolic champagne-like effervescence. Differs only slightly from most stylishly similar Belgian ales due to its lack of dry white wine tingle. Try it with fish.
UNIBROUE LAGALLARDE ALE
Aromatic yeast sweetness affects tiny-bubbled foamy head and well-rounded flowery hop palate of wheat-fronted cork-bottled pale ale. Refreshing finish counters wheat wine insistence with rich barley tones.
UNIBROUE LA FIN DU MONDE ALE
Flamboyant triple fermentation creates cloudy yeast-thickened cluster for venerable Belgian-styled white ale. Orange-peeled clove-coriander spicing invigorates beguiling barleywine subtlety snuggling hazy floral-hopped fungi-molded perfumed yeast. Soft and billowy for light-hearted drinkers, but manly, yes.
(UNIBROUE) LA BOLDUC LAGER
Metallic straw-hued white-foamed pale lager stuck in cardboard-y quagmire eradicates dirge-y whiskey spell and meager clover-honeyed corn syrup finish as boredom ensues.
UNIBROUE 15
Deservedly celebrating fifteenth anniversary, pearly meringue-headed golden-hazed Belgian-styled strong pale ale works in stages. Initial banana-ripened butterscotch-toffee conflux brakes for dry lemony hop simmer, bringing green apple and curacao orange tartness along for the ride. Mint-tinged white pepper spicing then reinforces clove-coriander sweetness ’til creamy candi-sugared vanilla finish encapsulates airy citric indulgence.