4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
2013.02.16 - Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 (aka 17) - 750ml bottle in goblet. Bottled 2011. No. 2011-164080.
Pours a mostly opaque medium dark brown, above average carbonation and off-white head. Settles to sudsy, foamy cap and laces with lots of carbonated bubbles.
Aroma is a bit peppery and a little bready yeast to my nose.
Mouthfeel is mid creamy and mildly fizzy carbonation.
Taste. Too complex for me to really pin down anything but it basically has a taste pretty similar to Trous Pistoles. That same specific spice (coriander?) that is obvious in TP. Maybe add some fruits like plums or figs... All I know is that it is quite tasty.
Aroma 6/10, Appearance 5/5, Taste 9/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 16/20
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
750 ml purchased @ Village Market. 2011 vintage. The aromas are vanilla, oaky wood and dark fruits. Taste is Belgian Trappist yeast, figs, plums and raisins. Secondary notes of oak and light pepper. Alcohol is not noticeable. Yet, it does have a warming sensation after the sip. Medium leaning on full in body with a nice, creamy texture and average carbonation.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pours hazy deep copper brown with a large soapy frothy off white head that fades to a sudsy film. Aroma is somewhat tart like dried cherries and figs along with subtle woody vanilla and grapes. Taste shows the oak well with hints of grapes and faint vanilla flavors and tart dried fruit of cherries and plum and gentle yeast in the finish as well as some nice spice. Palate is full with a good carbonation that is gentle and finishes chalky dry. Solid beer, very nice with awesome flavors!
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pours a deep mahogany with an off-white head that hangs around the edges, light lacing. Rich and layered aromas that start with dark fruits, currant a bit of dates. Clove is prominent, lending a bready air, along with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Ends with the faintest whiff of caramel and dark chocolate. Smooth and lavish on the tongue with light carbonation. Full-bodied but not overpowering. Very little alcohol taste given the ABV, and overall it reminds me of a barleywine. Very good brew.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Hazy, dark iced tea brown with fluffy, creamy tan head, hanging around for a good couple minutes. It smells of booze, burnt sugars, cocoa, pit fruits. The flavor is sweet, cherries or plum, with nice caramel, cocoa and some booze. A year in the bottle has definitely tamed the beast. Some toasty, bready notes. Overall this beer is pretty pheonom: carb and finish are medium but adequate. Such a great vintage. All things in balance.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Versions goûtées : brassins 2007 (5+ ans d’âge) et 2011 (1+ an). La 2007 est définitivement supérieure à sa consoeur plus jeune, avec son côté adouci, assagi, noisetté en finale. On sent la 2011 plus vigoureuse, plus typique des Unibroue brunes (Maudite, Trois-Pistoles), plus mousseuse et plus sucrée. Belle couleur brune opaque. Nez sucré et légèrement boisé.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Cette bière est ma préférée d’Unibroue. Depuis la première fois qu’elle a été embouteillée (2007). Elle surprend avec ses épices, son malt rôti et ses notes boisées de vanille. C’est du grand art du nez à la bouche. Je l’ai récemment essayée lors d’une verticale – 2007 vs 2011 – et je dois dire que la 17 tient admirablement bien la route. Je suis ravi qu’Unibroue ne se soit pas contenté du succès de ses produits réguliers et qu’ils nous aient offert, une fois de plus, cette bière désormais mythique.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours a deep amber with a fluffy tan head. Aroma is fruity (berries and perhaps plums?) and bready, biscuit notes, vanilla. Taste is similar; again very fruity, refreshing; lots of nice breadiness, clove, some vanilla and a bit more of the earthy, woody quality imparted by the barrel aging. Truly tasty and infinitely smooth. The 10% alcohol is not evident at all. This is expertly balanced and incredibly well-crafted.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Terrific. Bottom line. Slightly acidic with a wine quality to it. Not overly hoppy or bitter but exceptionally balanced. Poured with a 1in head that laced the glass. Translucent mahogany brown. Does not taste 10% but the alcohol is present in the nose. Aroma was slightly sharp/sour for me. If this had a touch more maltiness, it’d be in my top 10.
4.7 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Cloudy brown with a nice off-white head. Spicy musty aroma. Love the feel on the front of the tongue. Starts out creamy then dries out. Citrus and spice. Beautiful effort.
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