Unibroue Édition 2005

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

Classic Unibroue, which could be good or bad, depending on how you take that comment. Very deep brown, nice, small but lasting head. Pretty. Aromas of cherry, dark fruit, and a definite woodsy note. Typical Unibroue yeast flavor, with loads of dark fruits with an almost tropical underpinning of mango like flavors. Figs and strawberries, this is complex, with a hint of oak. A delicately spicy finish with a hint of anise. Very nice, but not breaking any new ground for the brewery. Of course, when you make beers this consistently good, why mess with success?

Poured a burgundy brown color with a nice thin tan head that sustained itself quite well (didn’t change thinner or thicker). Aroma was interesting, a flemish sour with bananas (cherries, vinegar, oak). The flavor was all of the aroma (nothing tart or vinegar like, though) with some molasses, figgy, and yeasty aspects in there. Mouthfeel moderate to full and somewhat flat (low carbonation).

Dark brown in color, surprisingly fizzy. Has grape-like fruity notes and some bready spiciness.

One of the darkest Belgian strongs I’ve ever encountered. An inch of tan head off the pour diminishes to a small-bead sheet over the surface of the brew. Aromas of sherry vinegar, medium caramel, plum and fig. Lots of figs and dark fruit on the flavor, with an acidic, alcohol kick. Nice smooth and long finish -- not too dry for the amount of alcohol inside. Very tasty beer.

Goblet pour is pitch brown with a perfectly tan head. Smells a little weak, little buts of peppery spice, incredibly sweet fruit and big Belgian yeast. Tastes very sweet, very smooth. Starts with a strong burst molassess, red apples, and pears, the flavor weakens in the middle and ends on a combination of yeast and warming alcohol. Nice, but it lacks the big *bang* that I expect from excellent Belgian strong ales. Firm body and its lack of intensity makes it go down like water.

Very dark, nice light tan head, lasting. It’s quite carbonated. Aroma is very good, spicy, belgian, bready, Unibroue house character. Flavor is very yeasty, fruity, I dunno, I’m having trouble explaining this beer for some reason. But I really like it. It’s very good.

When poured into my Delirium Tremens tulip, not much head formed from the huge amounts of carbonation. Just to look at it, it appears quite black. But held to light, a magic prixim of deep reds and purples appera. Aromas of bread pudding with a candy sweet rum sauce. Flavors include, dark sweet hard candy, juicy raisins, licorice, some alcohol. Medium, very drinkable body. Very nice. I may run to the store and get a couple to put away.

Agree in general with the sentiment that this one isn’t as rich and complex as 2004. But it’s still really nice. Pretty huge aroma in the bottle I sampled, with a somewhat thinner flavor. Rich, dark brew with some malt and dark fruit overtones, but not overly sweet. Good Belgian strong.