Unibroue 15

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

This beer has an awesome ABV. I know that people think that a high ABV does not mean a great beer, but let’s face it, it does help. The beer had a sweet smell to it, but I hate to say it the smell was rather weak. The fruity smell did not smack me in the face, I had to stick my nose practically in the beer to smell it. The beer was malty, but the smell was weak, and so was the flavor. I couldn’t pin-point what fruits I was getting. The palate was great along with the appearance which is why I am very disappointed that the 15th anniversary bottle did not pull through. The positive aspects of the palate was the creamy and smooth texture. Middle of the road expensive beer.

Bottle form Bevmo in Vacaville, CA. Poured a murky yellow with a strong aroma of citurs. Very malty with fruit flavors of citrus and apple being the most dominate. It actually got a little better as it warmed a little. Could taste the alcohol a little, but still a good brew.

750 ml (dated aug 09) bottle split in Chimay glass. Hazy orange with lasting flat ring and some lace. Honey vanilla overripe orange spice bread aroma. Spicy honey orange sweet fruitiness. Mild tobacco bitterness. Lingering sweet fruitiness. Complex and spicy. Medium-full body and medium carbo. Nicely complex and flavorful. Was probably better when it was fresher.

courtesy of oteyj. pours a hazy light copper, much lighter than most belgian strongs. aroma of white wine (possibly due to production date of 2 years ago), yeast, yeast, and nectarine. nice flavor, somewhat astringent both with taste and alcohol, but still tasty. Certainly different from belgian strongs, but good still. interesting offering from unibroue.

750ml bottle. Pours clear golden with a small off-white head that fades to spotty foam. The aroma is nice with Belgian yeast, sweet caramel apple, spice, and some sherry-like oxidation. Sweet caramel malt and pale malt base with Belgian yeast, apple, pear, fruitcake, spiciness. Complex and tasty. Really smooth mouthfeel with medium-high carbonation and medium-full body. Excellent if conventional Belgian golden ale.

Bottle thanks to JME. Pours amber, and tastes and smells similar to a biere de garde, though some of that comes from what oxidation has done to this beer. Some cardboard on the malt, but prominent notes are caramel and rotten apples, in a good way. Mild spice as well. I’m sure this was different fresh, but it’s still pretty decent.

750 ml bottle, and I’m pretty sure I got it at Friar Tuck in Savoy. Bottle marked ’6 January 2006’. Pours a cloudy, dusty, orange-golden color with some sediment and a finger-thick but dense off-whtie head. Aroma of caramel malts, honey, apples, wood, Belgian yeast, brown sugar, and dry, musty grains. Flavor of sweet caramel malts, apples, Belgian yeast, wood, brown sugar, and grains. Mostly I’m getting caramel out of this. Medium-bodied, with a chewy mouthfeel and medium carbonation. This has held up pretty well for 5 full years, as no signs of oxidation are present. The alcohol is also completely hidden. More drinkable than a lot of Unibroue beers and pretty nice overall.

Bottle. Close to 3 years old. Pours hazy gold with a white head. Nice fruity and yeasty aroma. Age has probably dulled this beer a bit because the flavor was a bit bland, although it was very well balanced and had no off flavors. Light fruity sweetness, Unibroue yeastyness that all their beers have, and some spices floating in the background. Very nice.