867. Quatre-Centième
I bought this at Downtown Wine & Spirits in early September. Jadyn and I shared it on the 8th of September.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
Pours a cloudy, golden color. It's topped by a fluffy, white, three-finger head that fades to a persistent half-inch layer. Patchy lace clings to the side of the glass. The aroma is predominantly fruity, with notes of banana. There are also notes of bready malts, pepper, yeast, and alcohol on the swirl.
Sweet and malty upfront, bready and toasty. These malts give way to a grainy maltiness that remains as the backbone. Banana becomes evident in the center with a bit of clove spiciness. The finish is spicy, predominantly peppery and alcohol taht seems to get warmer the more you drink. There's a yeasty and lightly bitter aftertaste. Medium-bodied with a nice carbonation that isn't too strong.
I've been a nit disappointed by some of Unibroue's more recent releases, but this one is a solid Belgian Strong Pale Ale.
I bought this at Downtown Wine & Spirits in early September. Jadyn and I shared it on the 8th of September.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 7.50%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
Pours a cloudy, golden color. It's topped by a fluffy, white, three-finger head that fades to a persistent half-inch layer. Patchy lace clings to the side of the glass. The aroma is predominantly fruity, with notes of banana. There are also notes of bready malts, pepper, yeast, and alcohol on the swirl.
Sweet and malty upfront, bready and toasty. These malts give way to a grainy maltiness that remains as the backbone. Banana becomes evident in the center with a bit of clove spiciness. The finish is spicy, predominantly peppery and alcohol taht seems to get warmer the more you drink. There's a yeasty and lightly bitter aftertaste. Medium-bodied with a nice carbonation that isn't too strong.
I've been a nit disappointed by some of Unibroue's more recent releases, but this one is a solid Belgian Strong Pale Ale.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Unibroue
I believe that this post covers Thursday the 10th of May. After I finished teaching my recitation sections Jadyn and I met up and went to The Burren in Davis Square for 2 or 3 beers. After the Burren we stopped by my place because she wanted to have one of the beers in my stash. I decided on a bottle of 16 because I know she likes the style.
670. Unibroue 16
This was served in my Duvel tulip glasses after warming briefly.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a hazy, amber that's a little dark for the style. It's topped by a thick, persistent, beige head.
Smell (4.0): The aroma is very fruity, particularly bananas. There are also notes of pepper, yeast and alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Initially sweet malts and fruity bananas are evident. This moves into peppery and alcoholic spicy notes, followed by a light bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, but smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Spicy and strong, but surprisingly drinkable.
Overall (3.8)
671. Mojo IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boulder Beer
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
We left my house and walked to Jadyn's. Being a warm night, it was more pleasant outside than in. We split a bottle of Mojo IPA and drank it outside while laying down on the trampoline in their backyard. I was fairly intoxicated at this point so I don't remember much other than this tasted like an IPA.
670. Unibroue 16
This was served in my Duvel tulip glasses after warming briefly.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a hazy, amber that's a little dark for the style. It's topped by a thick, persistent, beige head.
Smell (4.0): The aroma is very fruity, particularly bananas. There are also notes of pepper, yeast and alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Initially sweet malts and fruity bananas are evident. This moves into peppery and alcoholic spicy notes, followed by a light bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, but smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Spicy and strong, but surprisingly drinkable.
Overall (3.8)
671. Mojo IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boulder Beer
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
We left my house and walked to Jadyn's. Being a warm night, it was more pleasant outside than in. We split a bottle of Mojo IPA and drank it outside while laying down on the trampoline in their backyard. I was fairly intoxicated at this point so I don't remember much other than this tasted like an IPA.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Unibroue
97. Don De Dieu
This is the last beer from the Unibroue mixed pack that I bought at Kappy's a month or two ago. I let this warm and served it in one of my Duvel tulip glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a very lightly hazy golden witha creamy white head that thins to a persistent film. The head readily reemerges upon swirling.
Smell (4.5): Wonderfully fruity, mostly bananas. There are also notes of yeast, light alcohol and graininess.
Taste (5.0): A light citric tartness becomes evident upfront. The fruitiness builds in the center with hints of sour apple, banana and apricot. The finish is peppery spice with a crisp grainy finish with hints of alcohol and sour apples.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Creamy with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (5.0): Delicious and full-flavored, yet still light and refreshing.
Overall (4.75): Another excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale from Unibroue. This one is much fruitier than the others.
This is the last beer from the Unibroue mixed pack that I bought at Kappy's a month or two ago. I let this warm and served it in one of my Duvel tulip glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a very lightly hazy golden witha creamy white head that thins to a persistent film. The head readily reemerges upon swirling.
Smell (4.5): Wonderfully fruity, mostly bananas. There are also notes of yeast, light alcohol and graininess.
Taste (5.0): A light citric tartness becomes evident upfront. The fruitiness builds in the center with hints of sour apple, banana and apricot. The finish is peppery spice with a crisp grainy finish with hints of alcohol and sour apples.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Creamy with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (5.0): Delicious and full-flavored, yet still light and refreshing.
Overall (4.75): Another excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale from Unibroue. This one is much fruitier than the others.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Reviews, Unibroue
I purchased a Unibroue mixed 12-pack at Kappy's a month or so ago. Tonight I had both Maudite and Trois Pistoles.
51. Maudite
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy reddish-brown, with a fluffy beige head with good retention and patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Yeasty, with an orange cream aroma. There's a tart cherry fruitiness, with hints of spice and alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Tart citric fruitiness; toasty, bready maltiness. The finish is yeast with light bitterness and a lingering fruitiness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, light-bodied, with a creamy texture.
Drinkability (4.5): Flavorful and very easy to drink, with well concealed alcohol.
Overall (4.3): A nice, easy to drink Belgian Strong Dark. The spiciness is less prominent than other beers of the style.
60. Trois Pistoles
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a deep black that is a cloudy, deep red against the light. A foamy beige head tops the beer, with good retention and patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Yeasty, tart fruitiness, spicy alcohol and light roasted malts.
Taste (4.0): Tart fruit, spicy alcohol, subtle roasted malts with hints of caramel.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, light to medium-bodied, and smooth.
Drinkability (4.5): Flavorful, with evident but not overpowering alcohol.
Overall (4.4): My comments for this beer are similar to those for Maudite.
I've noticed that most of Unibroue's beers have a similar flavor profile, which isn't surprising since most are Belgian Strong Ales. A side by side tasting really highlighted the subtle differences in these two beers. Maudite was more yeasty and had a pronounced yeasty aroma and flavor, whereas Trois Pistoles is less yeasty with no evident citric characteristics.
51. Maudite
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a cloudy reddish-brown, with a fluffy beige head with good retention and patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Yeasty, with an orange cream aroma. There's a tart cherry fruitiness, with hints of spice and alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Tart citric fruitiness; toasty, bready maltiness. The finish is yeast with light bitterness and a lingering fruitiness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, light-bodied, with a creamy texture.
Drinkability (4.5): Flavorful and very easy to drink, with well concealed alcohol.
Overall (4.3): A nice, easy to drink Belgian Strong Dark. The spiciness is less prominent than other beers of the style.
60. Trois Pistoles
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a deep black that is a cloudy, deep red against the light. A foamy beige head tops the beer, with good retention and patchy lace.
Smell (4.5): Yeasty, tart fruitiness, spicy alcohol and light roasted malts.
Taste (4.0): Tart fruit, spicy alcohol, subtle roasted malts with hints of caramel.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, light to medium-bodied, and smooth.
Drinkability (4.5): Flavorful, with evident but not overpowering alcohol.
Overall (4.4): My comments for this beer are similar to those for Maudite.
I've noticed that most of Unibroue's beers have a similar flavor profile, which isn't surprising since most are Belgian Strong Ales. A side by side tasting really highlighted the subtle differences in these two beers. Maudite was more yeasty and had a pronounced yeasty aroma and flavor, whereas Trois Pistoles is less yeasty with no evident citric characteristics.
Labels: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Reviews, Unibroue
37. La Fin Du Monde
Kappy's was selling a Unibroue mixed eight-pack. None of the contents were new for me, but I haven't had some of Unibroue's regular offerings in a long time so I picked one up. I first had La Fin Du Monde my senior year at Texas A&M on a recommendation from Scott. This was the beer that really turned me on to Belgian Strong Pale Ales, and Belgian style beers in general. I let this warm to around 40º F and served it in one of my Duvel tulips.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: 12 oz. bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a hazy brilliant golden with a thick fluffy creamy head, that slowly fades to a very persistent thin half-inch layer that leaves patchy lace.
Smell (5.0): Yeasty with a sweet fruitiness. Notes of citrus, bananas, light graininess, pepper and alcohol.
Taste (5.0): Sweet malts and fruits, including bananas and citrus. The finish is a nice interplay of peppery and spicy alcohol, and bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, smooth and creamy, with a slight dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (5.0): Delicious and drinkable, despite the 9.0% abv. I sessioned this in undergrad.
Overall (4.95): One of my favorite, if not favorite Belgian Strong Pale Ales.
Kappy's was selling a Unibroue mixed eight-pack. None of the contents were new for me, but I haven't had some of Unibroue's regular offerings in a long time so I picked one up. I first had La Fin Du Monde my senior year at Texas A&M on a recommendation from Scott. This was the beer that really turned me on to Belgian Strong Pale Ales, and Belgian style beers in general. I let this warm to around 40º F and served it in one of my Duvel tulips.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Unibroue
Alcohol: 9.00%
Serving: 12 oz. bottle
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a hazy brilliant golden with a thick fluffy creamy head, that slowly fades to a very persistent thin half-inch layer that leaves patchy lace.
Smell (5.0): Yeasty with a sweet fruitiness. Notes of citrus, bananas, light graininess, pepper and alcohol.
Taste (5.0): Sweet malts and fruits, including bananas and citrus. The finish is a nice interplay of peppery and spicy alcohol, and bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Tingly carbonation, smooth and creamy, with a slight dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (5.0): Delicious and drinkable, despite the 9.0% abv. I sessioned this in undergrad.
Overall (4.95): One of my favorite, if not favorite Belgian Strong Pale Ales.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Reviews, Unibroue
381. Unibroue Chambly Noire
I bought this at Downtown Wine & Spirits. I let this warm a little and served it in one of my Duvel tulips. Chambly Noire is a Belgian Dark Ale.
Appearance (4.5): The cork pops out very loudly. It pours an almost opaque black. Holding it to a bright light reveals a beautiful clear ruby color. It's topped with a creamy beige head with good retention.
Smell (3.5): Strong yeastiness, hints of malt and a light graininess. There's also a subtle tart fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): Sweet caramel malts, tart fruitiness, and a lightly sweet finish with hints of roasted bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied and a little watery. Prickly carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Smooth and easy to drink, but a little lacking in flavor.
Overall (3.7): This is a decent brew, but I was expecting something more flavorful.
I bought this at Downtown Wine & Spirits. I let this warm a little and served it in one of my Duvel tulips. Chambly Noire is a Belgian Dark Ale.
Appearance (4.5): The cork pops out very loudly. It pours an almost opaque black. Holding it to a bright light reveals a beautiful clear ruby color. It's topped with a creamy beige head with good retention.
Smell (3.5): Strong yeastiness, hints of malt and a light graininess. There's also a subtle tart fruitiness.
Taste (3.5): Sweet caramel malts, tart fruitiness, and a lightly sweet finish with hints of roasted bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Light-bodied and a little watery. Prickly carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Smooth and easy to drink, but a little lacking in flavor.
Overall (3.7): This is a decent brew, but I was expecting something more flavorful.
Labels: Belgian Dark Ale, Reviews, Unibroue
355. Unibroue 15
It's been awhile since my last update. I've been busy in lab attaching radioactive phosphate groups to Histone H1, and thus haven't had as much time for beer. I picked up two 750 mL bottles of Unibroue 15 at Downtown Wine and Spirits a couple weeks ago. I decided to have one tonight and save the other for cellaring. I should pick up another bottle or two of Edition 2005, so I can do a vertical tasting that includes 11, Editions 2004 & 2005 and 15. I let this warm up to around 45ºF and served in one of my Duvel Tulips. Unibroue 15 is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (5.0): The pressure inside the bottle shot the cork across my room. Pours a hazy amber-golden, with a thick fluffy head, and large champagne-like bubbles that stream from the etching at the bottom of my tulip. Good head retention, with patchy lace clinging to the side of the glass. The head eventually fades to a thin layer, but reemerges readily upon swirling.
Smell (4.5): Upon opening and pouring I noticed a strong earthy yeasty smell. In the nose there's a light sweetness, an orange-cream aroma, bananas, peppery spice, and a light graininess.
Taste (4.5): When the carbonation dies down sweet malts are evident upfront. These are eclipsed by a citric tartness that becomes evident in the center. I also get fruity notes of sour apple and banana. Finishes with a nice bitterness, with notes of spice and alcoholic warmth.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Vigorous carbonation, medium-bodied, smooth, with a slightly oily feel. The finish is mildly dry.
Drinkability (4.5): Despite being 10% alcohol by volume, this beer is delicious and easy to drink. I'll have to go back to DW&S and buy them out of this one.
Overall (4.6): A great example of the style. It's hard to compare to the other beers in this series since I haven't had them in so long, but overall very enjoyable.
It's been awhile since my last update. I've been busy in lab attaching radioactive phosphate groups to Histone H1, and thus haven't had as much time for beer. I picked up two 750 mL bottles of Unibroue 15 at Downtown Wine and Spirits a couple weeks ago. I decided to have one tonight and save the other for cellaring. I should pick up another bottle or two of Edition 2005, so I can do a vertical tasting that includes 11, Editions 2004 & 2005 and 15. I let this warm up to around 45ºF and served in one of my Duvel Tulips. Unibroue 15 is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (5.0): The pressure inside the bottle shot the cork across my room. Pours a hazy amber-golden, with a thick fluffy head, and large champagne-like bubbles that stream from the etching at the bottom of my tulip. Good head retention, with patchy lace clinging to the side of the glass. The head eventually fades to a thin layer, but reemerges readily upon swirling.
Smell (4.5): Upon opening and pouring I noticed a strong earthy yeasty smell. In the nose there's a light sweetness, an orange-cream aroma, bananas, peppery spice, and a light graininess.
Taste (4.5): When the carbonation dies down sweet malts are evident upfront. These are eclipsed by a citric tartness that becomes evident in the center. I also get fruity notes of sour apple and banana. Finishes with a nice bitterness, with notes of spice and alcoholic warmth.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Vigorous carbonation, medium-bodied, smooth, with a slightly oily feel. The finish is mildly dry.
Drinkability (4.5): Despite being 10% alcohol by volume, this beer is delicious and easy to drink. I'll have to go back to DW&S and buy them out of this one.
Overall (4.6): A great example of the style. It's hard to compare to the other beers in this series since I haven't had them in so long, but overall very enjoyable.
Labels: Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Reviews, Unibroue
