Unibroue Édition 2005

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

An amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel and spices and herbs, but I can’t pick out the ingrediens. The flavor is sweet malty and very spicy, combined with notes of oranges, caramel, and hints of alcohol. The mouthfeel is quite carbonated.

750 mL bottle, Chimay chalice. OH THANK ERIS we have escaped the bane of light golden anniversary ales and slipped into darker territory for Unibroue where they really seem to shine. A mountainous and delectably creamy light tan head (that clings forever) rests on a coffee-brown body that reveals to be a deep and hazy garnet under the scrutiny of bright light. Torrid visible carbonation. Sheet lacing that slinks back down to the mocha head. Puts many a nitro head to shame. The nose is a bit light for a beer clocking in at 10% abv, I feel. Definite notes of cranberries, raw tobacco leaves, and leather - though the latter two are much lighter in strength. Some subtle spicing...corriander perhaps. Passion fruit, rum. There’s a very distinct ’tropical/carribean’ vibe coming from this dark brew. Not touristy tropical, but centuries ago cane field manor tropical. Pure sugars, dark breads, and bananas. Interesting in the way magazine advertisements are at the dentist’s office. A very sweet sipper undoubtedly, but a smooth (nearly watery) texture and fizzy carbonation keep that from being a problem. Feels a bit muddled though, like a can mysteriously labelled ’fruit juice’. Yes, but what fruits? Maybe some red grapes and docile cherries, plus the cranberries mentioned earlier. Minor acidity in the finish along with earthy (and certainly stale) hops. It’s here, I’m tasting it, yet it remains indescribable. Hmph. Body is well attenuated for a high gravity beer; significant amounts of candi sugar may be to thank for avoiding a cloying experience. Easily drinkable...too much so, even...just nothing that jumps out and grabs me. Meh.

(Production Date 11-23-2004) The nose contains lots of fruit aromas with a touch of petroleum and candi sugar. The beer is very dark, but drinks very light for its gravity. As for the palate, it is very warm and rummy. Overall, this is a classy Belgian inspired ale that is deceptively complex.

Deep red body, medium light tan head, quickly dissipating with the vigor of soda fizz. Toasty aroma with hints of dark fruit and banana, spices, estery, with an ethanol kick. Rather tart body, sharp on the palate, with alcohol notes, cherry, and banana, in addition to cinnamon and other candied fruits. The esters and alcohol quickly hit the palate, with the fruits and toast hiding beneath. More flavorful than many of Unibroue’s beers, and quite good.

Deep reddish-brown. Nose deeply sweet, loads of malts, plenty of candy sugars wafting up. Loads of raisins in the flavor, some molasses, lots of the varied dark fruit goodness rolling around here. Good sugars, nice spicing. Well-masked alcohol, very drinkable. Quite nice.

Pours with a deep red-brown, thin to medium thick, brown head with little lacing. It’s sweet, malty and yeasty with a note of darkfruit and spice. Medium to full bodied and smooth.

Ale pours dark brown with a nice big tan colored head that dissipates down to a large island in the middle of my Chimay glass. I like what is going on with the aroma. Dark fruit and yeast and brown sugar alcohol. Flavor is complex, wonderful fig flavor, sweet candy sugar. Alcohol is only evident upon hitting the esophagus. Very dry, yeasty finis. Palate is delightful. A very elegant beer and imminentely more drinkable upon release than 2004.

Black/dark brown. Bubbly, off white head. Aroma-roasty, yeasty, dark fruit, banana, candi sugar, marshmallow, subtle hops-wow. Same flavor, complex. Full, creamy body with tingly carbonation. Excellent, could be their best brew yet.