Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chambly, Canada

Hazy and dark brown appearance with a large foamy tan head. Complex and rich aroma of raisin, dried plums, vanilla and spices. Rich, smooth flavour of dark dried fruit, grapes, wood, yeast and smoke. Can also find small notes of vinegar and butter. Big and round finish of port, spices, yeast, dark plums, cherries and vanilla. Gee, this stuff rocks!

Let me start off by saying that I really don’t like this paticular style of Belgian Ale too much, but this one is decent for the style. Aroma is dominated by figs and persimmons, followed by tangy smells with clove and cinnamon too. Hops smell like equal bit flowers and grapefruit but are far in the distance. Appearance is quite nice. Large creamy light brown head with some okay lacing and retenetion covers a very dark orange (nearly dark brown) murky body. Taste is bitter with a yeasty-near Celery finish, this is not my cup of tea, although I have only had one other BSA that tasted like that (cannot remember which one, but I rated it around the 10th of January). Texture and Palate are nothing special; watery mouthfeel and lively carbonation are the best discriptions. Very little port wine similarity for me.

Bottle. Dark beer with a thin white head. Aroma of figs & plums along with cotton candy. Medium body. There’s a rich malt flavor with some sweetness and plum fruits. Dry finish.

Deep, murky brown color, medium but fugaceous head. Nice aroma, malt, caramel and fruits with alcohol vapors, complex and inviting. Nice caramel, malt and alcohol flavors. Thin palate. Very good, a nice beer to have in the cellar, especially the 750 ml bottles !

Aroma of chocolate malts (sweet and roasted), fruity and raisins. Superb! Cloudy brown coloured with an offwhite, lasting head. The taste of this beer is superb again; chocolate malts, sweet roasted, fruity and honey. Very well balanced. Lingering and very smooth palate, perhaps a little bit alcoholic (the only small minus of this brew). Overall a great beer.
Rerate june 2004. Now I had this one for the second time, I'm less enthousiastic as the first time (4.8). Still great but lacking complexness. Balance remains.

Thanks to NDmullet for this one, although it took me so long to get around to drinking it that it became available in Ohio in the meantime. D'oh! Anyway, this beer pours a deep ruby color with a medium beige head. Aroma of cherry, vanilla, figs, and raisin. Fruity flavor of plum and raspberry, with a lightly chocolate malt finish. Very easy on the tongue, unlike a lot of Belgian Ales. Absolutely smooth and easy to drink. Very good.

Smells like fruit and nuts. Deep red nearly brown in colour. Taste like a mild rum cake, wonderfully balanced, an excellent strong ale.

100ml from bottle at EBF 08. Off-white head over an unclear, dark brown-reddish body. Aroma of dried fruits. Taste of dark fruits, black currant supported by a more tart edge to the ending. Bitter dry in the mouth. Full bodied. Nice (14.09.2008)