Unibroue... fine beers from Quebec

[Gillman]

The licorice is very subtle, it comes off as a light, spicy note. The beer has a rich, porter flavour with a vinous effect from top-fermentation and (no doubt) barrel aging prior to bottling. A fine beer. By the way terrible in English used to have the meaning it retains in French, the idea of something inspiring awe, or (one might say) a shocked kind of respect but that meaning has disappeared, practically, in English.

Gary

[Dave_in_Canada]

Gary, please don't tell me you're a labatt's blue man! Acchh! Or worse yet, and Keith's fan!. (Just joking) True, the Unibroue's are not an everyday beer. I don't like to think of them as beer at all, they're really in a class of their own. The 750ml is meant to be shared, certainly not consumed by one person at one time!!!

[Dave_in_Canada]

Mark, tread lightly with those! Certainly not intended to quench the thirst like a coors.

Last year was the 10th anniversary of Unibroue and they came out with "10". It was like a fine cogac!!!! The 11 was released this year on their 11th anniversary. That one bottle (if you indeed have a 750ml) should be shared with 4, yes FOUR people!

Let the ferment settle for a few days so it is clear. Chill the beer only slightly. Serve it at cellar temp. at the most (say high 50's).... OPen the cork, let it breathe for 15min. Should be served in and open belgian style glass. And enjoy...

[Paradox]

Thanks for the serving info Dave, I'll be sure to take it into account when it is popped... Literally! The bottle has a cork!

I plan on opening it during the 4th of July weekend so there will be 4 people around. No, I won't be getting off the bottle myself Dave

I was looking at their site just last night and thinking how I probably would never see this particular bottling (the 11) and then today it was right there in front of me. Sounds like it may be very enjoyable.

[Dave_in_Canada]

If you like it, or even think it has hope, buy more. It is one of a kind. It will easily improve over 4-5 years. (the 10 was IMHO a perfect 10).

[Gillman]

Yes but I like a few pints and you can't drink most Unibroue beers that way. I certainly like many micro beers, e.g. Griffon Blonde, Wellington County Ale, Stout and Porter, and many others. I like Keith's India Pale Ale too, on draft drunk cold, I find it very good for commercial beer. Not a fan of Labatt's, generally. I have soft spot for Molson Export Ale - I did say I was from Montreal. The call in the old "tavernes" was, "donne moe une grosse Mol-son".

Gary

[Paradox]

Ok Dave, after another trip to the distributor yesterday here's what I could come up with in they way of Unibroue brews... The 11 and Terrible were $8.99 US and the others were $6.99 US, all 750ml sizes. I'll let ya' know what I think as I open them up! I can't wait to try the Apple one to be honest!

[Gillman]

Nice range, Mark, I think you have every one! I heard there is an unflavored Ephemere sold in Quebec but I have not seen it in Ontario. But I think you got every other one currently sold.

I bought the Ephemere apple ale too recently. That one has 5.5% abv. so I felt I'd go with it due to its lower gravity in comparison to the others. I heard too that Unibroue's brewer used to work at Chimay in Belgium and what better credentials to make fine ale? I'll post some notes on the apple ale tonight and will be interested in yours when you get to it.

I should add, Quebec Province specialises in the McIntosh apple variety and I would think that was the type used for this beer although I haven't looked closely at the label yet.


Gary

[jeff]

I have seen these at the LB, but have not tried a one of them. What would you guys consider to be their best beer?

[Gillman]

I would say the Maudite which, roughly translated, means, "a deucedly good beer".

It is as good or better than any Trappist ale I have had and, no surprise, since Unibroue's brewer used to work at Chimay (I heard). But it is 8%, "prend garde"..

Gary