Unibroue Édition 2005

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

I had this when it came out and it has gone down some in quality from then - odd for a Unibroue, especially an anniversary ale. Pours very dark brown with a slight reddish hue. There is a tan fizzy head that leaves quickly. The aroma has lots of sweet dark fruits - plums, fig, raisins. There is also some spice (coriander & cinnamon?) and some Belgium earthiness. It has a medium thick body with lots of slickness and very light carbonation. Taste has the dark fruits mentioned in the arom and a light amount of yeast. The finish brings in more yeast flavor and a good amount of sweetness, but it is not cloying. There is a bit of spice as well. A nice BSA, I’m not sure how good this one will be a little further down the road.

12 oz bottle, Duty free shop on I-89 between VT and Montreal. Pours a clear dark brown colored body under a smallish fizzy white head with decent retention. Odd how white the head is given the color of the body. Aroma is very fruity with a good dose of spicy yeast, syrupy maltiness, and a light tartness. Quite complex really. Flavor is very malty with that classic Unibroue prominant yeastiness. Lots of dark fruits, plums and cherry especially. Some alcohol comes out on the finish, but pretty well hidden for a 10% ABV. Mouthfeel is classic Unibroue as well, lots of fizzy active carbonation, medium to full bodied, with an almost creamy texture were it not for the carbonation. Overall, this was another beer from Unibroue for sure. Not an envelope pushing beer for them, but pretty well done and enjoyable, even if somewhat predictable.

Bottle, 75cl corked, thx to thewolf. Pours an almost clear, brown body with a dense beige head. Sweetish nose with caramel, dried fruits and some alcohol. Dried fruits starts the aroma, with sugary sweetness, maltyness, roasted malt, caramel and a little touch of cellar following. Considering the age of the bottle, the cellar flavor is probably due to that. It has an effervescent, warming full-bodied mouthfeel and a flavor with cellar, sweetness and some canned fruits. Pleasant beer, quite a lot better than its older brother, but I find it better when fresher. Rating: 7-4-7-4-15-3.7. �)

Bottled at RBESG-06, GTN. Reddish-brown, unclear beer with a beige head. Raisins, prunes, spices, roasted malt, baked apples and alcohol in the aroma and flavor. The flavor has a bit more spicyness though. Full-bodied beer with some alcohol in the finish. Lovely. �)

750 ml corked bottle. Dark brown with a thick head. Aroma is spicy, malty and sweet with notes of alcohol and yeast. A little too much carbonation. Taste is similar to the aroma with a medium body and a long finish. Good stuff. 23-06-2009:Elle commence à se madériser, Arôme très malté avec des notes de raisins, de prûnes et de levure. En bouche, elle a exceptionellement bien vieillie, elle est très maltée avec des notes d’épices, de prûnes de dates, de figues, de cassonade, de malt rôti et d’alcool.

Bottle - corked and caged. Production date of 11-23-2004. Nice age on this one! Pours a dark mahogany with nil in the head department. Nose is fruity and rich with subtle Belgian yeast notes, sweet malts, soft flowers, and light woody notes. Taste is delicious! Lots of ripened dark fruits, light wood, Belgian yeast, fresh flowers, and caramel. Body is lively with a medium feel and lots of bubbly carbonation. Ends with more dark fruit flavors, soft wood, light yeast, and caramel. Very nice! Glad I finally got to try this!

RBESG 2006 Grand Tasting. 750 ml bottle. Fruity and vinous aroma, hints of oak. Flavour is fruity with notes of cherries, redcurrants and raspberries, hints of blackcurrants.

750 ml. brown, Belgian bottle, corked & caged. Subdued pop releases the cork. Pours out a deep reddish brown color, with a thin tan colored head. Aging this brute has not tamed it. It only served to make it stronger. I estimate the ABV level is now 12% at least. Aromas are a mish mash of roasted malts, burnt sugars, rum soaked dried dark fruits. Flavors are of roasted malts, burnt brown sugar, toffee, and earthy hops. Medium mouthfeel, rich body. Finishes somewhat alcoholic.

Bottled. Dark amber colour, not much head. Plum, glue and alcohol in nose. Flavour is semiroasted, strongly caramellish and syrupy. Dark fruits and sugar also noteable. Wellbalanced and pleasant to drink.