Unibroue 15

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

I knew i had to find a special brew for my 400th rating, when i stumbled across this treat, it became clear that she would be the one. 750ml bottle from my local liquor store.. they actually have about a dozen left, which is surprising because its retired (message me if your interested). Pour is a cloudy orange gold with a frothy white head atop. Nose is a rich spice, orange, and yeast. Mouth is medium and suggests minimal alocohol presence of a 3 year old 10% big beer. Notes of pepper and spice are the focal point of the first few sips. Once adjusted, yeast, herb grass, and some sweet fruits appear peach, orange, apricot. One of the most balanced Unibroues ive had.

750ml from Countryside Liquors (Florida). Rated on March 30, 2008 (bottle purchased on February 26, 2008). Pours a cloudy caramel golden with a thin head that generally dissipates quickly. Aroma: sweetness, honey, hints of apple and fresh fruit, perhaps just a touch of caramel and apple cider. Flavor: similar to aroma with a very smooth, creamy mouth-feel. Hints of honey with a slightly bitter finish.

Very cloudy mirabelle gold, the annual brew is crowned of an opalescent froth, not unlike beaten egg whites. Light, springy and spicy, the buttery nose suggests a tripel-like combination of scents. Sweet yeasty grains are associated with apricot, peach and clementine. Hints of coriander, white pepper, vanilla, cookie and marshmallow add pleasant layers of complexity. On the palate it is definitely a textural affair. Frothy and buttery, dry but sweet, the carbonation is quite vivacious and alcohol is present. Citrus and coriander reappear along with notes of pineapple. The oral experience is less exciting, but overall this is another nice beer from Unibroue.

750ml-A hazy golen-peachish body with a small ring then dissipates into nothing. Aroma of belgian yeast, citrus, and a bit floral. Initially comes across with the yeast and sweetness on this medium to full bodied brew and then those linger throughout and it finishes with a dry finish. Not the best from Unibroue but still tasty.

750 from (I think), the now defunct Good Beer Store, Chapel Hill. Not your usual dark Belgian strong from Unibroue, this is more like a St. Bernie tripel knockoff, and a good one at that. Ripe fruits (not really so much citrus as something richer, almost mango I’d say) with some fading spice and lots of sugar. The heat is still there at 10% but it’s mellowed and subdued. Overall I’d say it’s slightly too sticky-icky, but it’s a mighty fine beer on balance.

750 ml bottle, from BevMo LaJolla. Pours slightly hazy peach color with a large fluffy white head and nice lace. Bready yeasts, citrus flowers & spice, sweet summer fruits in the aroma with a little bit of clove, alcohol is faintly detectable but well hidden. Sweet citrus fruits and spice, alcohol more prominent in flavor, lemon, hints of herby grass and apricot. Smooth, creamy mouth feel, gently carbonated.

Nov. 2006 - Cloudy pale gold color with nice initial head and lacing. Aroma and flavor was sweet citrus, spices and pepper. Flavor was really rich and mouthfeel was nice and full. Perhaps a tad too sweet, strong...but enjoyable.

Bottle - Memphis. Strong bready nose with some citrus fruit. Very light for the flavor and abv content. Glad to have stumbled on this one.