Unibroue Édition 2005

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

Thewolf tasting. Pours a beautyful brown/red with at An aroma of fruit and yeast. The flavour is sweet with roasted malt, plum and raisins and it has a nice viniousity.

Production Date 11-23-2004. Aroma of berries, dark fruit and malt. A bit vinous. Hazy dark brown color with garnet tints. Tan head that flattened quickly. Medium body with fizzy/creamy carbonation. A bit sour. Plum and raisin with roasted malt and oak notes. Finish is almost astringent, but seems fresh. A very interesting and tasty ale.

Bottle. Aroma a blend of light and dark fruits, some tartness at first, but I found that this aspect of the beer faded as time went by. Flavor continues with a mixture of fruits, some warming alcohol. Interesting blend of flavors I expect to find in lighter and darker Belgian ales. Solid.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with a light white head. Aroma of tart raspberries. Taste is less sour, more dark fruits (raisin, prune) and Belgian yeasts. Occasional tartness and strong alcohol presence. Light palate. Eh, I think I prefer the 2004 Edition.

(on bottle, thanx to thewolf) Dark, rustyred, white head. Unibrouenose, maybe with some malts up front. Well rounded, steady maltiness, turns into chocolate after a while and a good heat from the alcohol. Thin body, rather odd.

Bottle @ thewolf tasting.
[thank you FrenchTickler]
Pours a great red-brown with a frothy off-white head. Good lacing. Aroma has yeast, light oranges and roasted malts among dried deep fruits. Wonderful creamy mouthfeel. Flavour is softly hopped and spices among a background of thick malty raisins, chocolate and caramel.

Reviewed on 7-2-05...This pours a color that is similar to some Ports I have had, not sure which style though. The foam is nearly out of control, as I expect from this brewery. I can smell sugary alcohol, and lots of it. This beer tastes young. The sugars are out of control. I know that is somewhat proper for the style, but in this case, it is simply too much. I detect a certain wine-like character, although I cannot place it. It may be the acidity, or the sugars. The mouthfeel is not the best, I think because the sweetness is cloying. The carbonation is good though. Drinkability is quite low for me, as I usually love the big beers. I think that this will improve with age. I plan to find out.

Dark brown and ruby with a small white head. Carbonation is still still relatively high. Nose is vinous, berries (blackberry), caramel, root beer and a some cork. Initially sweet with a vinous acidity and a little roastiness. No hops presence. As the beer warmed, I detected some cork, as if it wasn’t completely sealed (oxydation). Body is average, not as carbonated as most Unibroue. I enjoyed that sample after 3,5 years, my initial impression was the younger bottle was too carbonated and felt like a soda, rootbeer actually.