Unibroue Édition 2005

Formerly brewed at Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chambly, Canada

Buster’s in Memphis said a distributor had been holding onto this until it reached 5 years, and it is something special. Never been a big Unibroue fan, but the stone fruit flavor and spiciness without cloying sweetness make this an outstanding candidate for aging. I’m heading back to get more of this while it lasts.

Bottle. Sampled at International Beer Garten (Lutz, FL). Pours a rich amber color with a tan head. The high alcohol is noticeable in the aroma with an interesting brandy-like characteristic. The flavor again has high alcohol notes to it, but also has a strong butterscotch flavor. An interesting variation on a strong ale.

Bottle. Just turned 5 years old this week. Muddy brown pour with a thin white head that leaves a good ring. Aroma is pretty rich, strong smell of sour cherries, some shy grapes and plums the mix gives a sort of cognac aroma that is very inviting. Taste is more cherries very tart gueuze taste with some surprising leftover alcohol presence. Mouthfeel is very full, due to the alcohol and the acidity, it has kept good carbonation despite its age. Pretty prime beer.

Pours a very dark chestnut brown almost black color with very faint burgundy edges when held to a light source and a massive frothy, pillowy beige head that lasts forever leaving large chunks of soapy lacing all over the glass. Chocolate malty aroma with hints of dark fruit, candi sugar, haelnut, hops and alcohol. Lots of dark fruit notes, plum, raisin, date, fig, dark cherry and grapes. Extremely smooth and well balanced with the perfect amount of choclate maltiness balancing out the dark fruit notes. The ABV is very well masked by the dark fuit notes. Dark cherry, raisin, plum, date, fig, candi sugar and subtle hops all make an appearance with a very slight dry hop finish. Excellent!

The beer pours out a dark woody brown color (reminded me of a rich cherrywood) with a small 1" light brown head. Aroma is brown sugar, pitted fruits, vanilla, candi sugar with a touch of wet dirt. Sweet and boozy on the palate, the vinous notes really are easy to pick-out. Dark fruits, sweet malts (toffeeish), a bit of dust and alcohol really round it all out. Ages really well.

Found this bottle at Bottleworks, and picked it up at Trevor’s recommendation. Pours a deep ruddy bronze - almost like a cherry-cola color - with a moderate beige head tht dissipates fairly quickly. The aroma has grapes, plums, raisins, brown sugar, and vanilla. Flavor is really nice - deliciously sweet, with some booziness to counter, but I think four years probably did this one well - the alcohol remains understated. A bit of a hop bitterness and a roasty note come through in the finish to clean things up a bit, but the initial flavor is wonderfully powerful. Definitely the best I’ve had from Unibroue - good brew.

(Bottle @ gnoffs tasting summer 2009, thanks!) Pours dark mahogany brown. Light oxidized aroma with tones of wine, prunes, plums and raisins. Bit spicy with hints of white pepper and coriander. The nose is also quite sweetish with some notes of brown sugar. The flavour is medium sweet, light bitter and light acidic. Tones of spices, brown sugar and dark/dried fruits. Rather vinous fruity in the flavour as well. The mouthfeel is light tart and light carbonated. Vinegar, cider and brown sugar in the finish. Medium bodied.

750ml bottle. Pours dark brown, tiny head, short retention. Aroma has lots of spices and very weet dark fruits. Some alcohol also. Port wine aroma. Also some prunes and raisins. Palate is quite flat with a warm feeling. Taste is dark fruits and alcohol. Quite sweet. A bit too alcoholic. Disapointing.