Unibroue 17

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bomber, shared. Pours a deep reddish brown with a creamy off-white head. Aroma is candi sugar, spices, and dark fruit. Flavor is heavy spice up front, dissolving into dark fruit, caramel, malt, candi sugar, and a detectable alcohol burn at the end. The aftertaste is lingering, and the beer remains sublimely smooth throughout. It’s a great beer, but when you’re talking about Unibroue, is that even news?

Milky copper-brown, creamy off-white head. Sweet, spicy, raisiny nose. Strong spicy flavor: raisins and plums. Major alcohol, caramel and some earthiness. Slightly lingering, then fades.

Mahogany colored ale with a large, authentically Belgian head. Fairly nice nose hints of dark fruit, spice cake, brown sugar and earth. Flavor is very unique and complex, with lots of taste. Notes of chocolate, cocoa and hazelnut along with a touch of dried cherry, red plum and espresso. Impressive in every way. Lots of flavor and aroma character.

Deep mahogany pour, ruby highlights and a huge rocky off-white head. Classic Unibroue dusty and slightly funky yeast aroma with lots of dank bready malt, moderate dark fruits, some orange and coriander. Flavor has lots of zesty citrus, with notes of plums, dates, pepper, alcohol, and a vinous finish. Medium to full body with a potent dose of carbonation. Great complexity. One of Unibroue’s best offerings I’ve had in a while.

Pours dark caramel color with off white head. Aromas of bread dough and spices. Sweet, dark fruits and some spiciness with the Unibroue house yeast flavor. Medium body with lively carbonation and a slightly dry finish. A nice brew.

Each year Unibroue brews a new Anniversary beer to celebrate, well, their anniversary. This year around I am helping Unibroue to celebrate their 17th Anniversary. A Belgian strong ale in terms of style, while the ABV may be high, 17 is delicate, whimsical, and personally one of the best beers I have tasted lately and can enjoy on a regular basis.
Sharing my bottle with my girlfriend, my 17 poured once more with an indomitable head of foam which occupied more space than the actual liquid brew herself. I always pour my beers slowly, but I was still amazed at how quickly her head almost toppled over the rim of my glass. Never one to rush a good thing, I waited for the head to fade before slowly topping her off. Of course, each step down, the head left soft and puffy layers of brussels lace along the sides. A light khaki in color, she covers my 17 below which is a lightly see-through brown. Bubbles cling to the side and slowly rise to the surface. In her nose I detect caramel, nuts, and fresh rye bread. My first few quaffs reveal a crisp effervescence that is marked by a full mouthfeel and thick body. Toffee, licorice, and crisp red apples are finished by a light bitter hop presence of grapefruit. Her finish is only mildly dry, choosing to leave instead a soft, decadent reminder of her sweet, chewy, bready body marked by apple notes and spice. A tinge of spice comes into play as my brew warms and I near the end of my glass. Very clean, tasty, smooth and full with just the right bite to round her off.
My only regret is that because the Unibroue 17 is an anniversary beer, once she is gone then she is gone and I shan’t ever partake of her deliciousness ever again. Of course, in preparation of that inevitability, I plan on setting aside at least one bottle to savor at an unknown later date. I could rave forever about Unibroue’s 17th Anniversary Belgian Strong Ale, but I would rather the uninitiated taste it themselves and discover the wonder contained within a 750ml corked bottle.

Orange brown cloudy color. Yeasty and bready aroma. Biscuity flavor with some citrus and coriander. Some molasses and grape as well.

UPDATED: FEB 7, 2009 This was superb. 750 mL bottle. Pours a cloudy bright brown (almost golden) with a large, off-white head. Nose is very spicy with some cloves, orange peel, and cinnamon. Taste is fairly sweet with lots of brown sugar, cloves, yeast, and earthiness in the flavor. I agree that there could be some banana in there. The dark fruits and spice hide the alcohol well. Nicely balanced- very refined. Toss in the yeast sediment at the bottom and it muddles some of the complex flavors but still great.