Unibroue Édition 2005

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

Much better than ’04, fruity, banana and berry aromas; strong dark fruit, banana, and berry influences over a rich, vibrant caramel and cola base; pretty dry finish and not overly sweet; nice one.

The beer came in a handsome brown 750 ml. bomber with painted on information, a wire cage, and a cork. Pulling out the cork released a nice thud, giving indication of a strong carbonation.

The beer poured out reddish brown, and cloudy, with a three finger tall foamy head, and definitely had the Trappist style look down pat. The smell was also very authentic Belgian. The spicy, flowery, yeasty, and sweet aroma was enough to get my mouth watering immediately.

The taste was deceptively simple with sweet Red Delicious apple like start, and spicy cinnamon and sweet doughy middle. In other words this began as liquefied apple pie. But unlike the apple pie coming out of your mom’s over, this one also packed a rum raisin laden punch, and an herbal hop finish. Very complementary flavor profile had nothing clashing against each other. The alcohol was masterfully hidden, improving drinkability, and effectiveness.

I was not anticipating something this smooth out of Unibroue, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This bottle just showed up here in stores. Pours a very dark red with a slight brown hue and a tall offwhite head. Very carbonated, as most unibrou beers are, really bringing out the spiciness and keeping a lighter dry body to it. Nice fig/raisin taste in the fruity finish with a nice spiciness that compliments the complex sweetness. Other things i think i tasted in this were sweet cherry and a hint of vanilla. Very nice beer that i think would age very nicely.

Like them or hate them, the Unibroue beers are big, ballsy, and complex. I drank this one while lighting off fireworks on Saturday, July 2nd, and the color was hazy burny sienna with big tan head. Aroma of Brett, caramel malt, figs, merlot, candi sugar. Tastes Bretty, with some sour fruit at the finish, coupled with multi-layered cognac, port, and bourbon hints. Dense palate. This one will fuck up any lightweight that dare try it. But the true connoisseur will appreciate it as another great, massive Unibroue offering, as such. I still need the 2004, if anyone should read this and want to trade with the king.

Had this at the Washington House Unibroue beer tasting. Was the "special free sample". Served in a very small wine glass. Roasted malts and chocolate in the aroma. Dark brown in color. Cherry, chocolate, prunes and alcohol in the taste. The alcohol is a bit up front in this one, yet overall it is well balanced. Very nice limited belgian strong ale from Unibroue.

Yeah…. I dig it!
Poured a mysteriously dark crimson body and a fluffy tan ceiling of head. The aroma rounds out nicely: Toasted chocolate malts, bready yeast, with a touch of fig and raisin. I found the flavor to be the profound entrance to this liquid treat. Comes on lightly smoky with notes of coco and molasses. Then I hit upon suggestion of ripened summer cherries with a touch of herbal spiciness, black licorice, infused with the always distinct and always present Unibroue yeast strain. I believe that Unibroue blended beers or recipes here. I would bet that 2005 is a blending of La Terrible and their winter desert Quelque Chose. They happen to be two of my favorite beers from Unibroue and I’m betting that this is them but well unified into an amazing one off offering!
I will be stashing some of this away in my cellar / beer closet! A Splendid offering indeed!

Dark brown, creamy off-white head. Cherry, blackberry malt and cheese in aroma. Taste has malty belgian yeast, dark berries, and some sweet strawberry-like berries. Pretty good, may be fun to keep around.

Very dark brown with just a hint of red. Light barely gets through, and only at the bottom of the snifter. Nice head of fine bubbles, tan in color. Complex, rich fragrance of pear, apple, even some sweet fragrant cola, saparilla, clove and alcohol. Taste is all pit fruit, caramel, coca cola, alcohol. Some canned corn in aftertaste along with figs, raisins. Palate seems unimaginative though, remniscent of every other Belgian Strong.