Unibroue Édition 2005

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

My last review of 2005, netting me six-hundred-and-sixty-six ratings for the year.

I purchased this back in the early months of ’05 and cellared it, waiting for an appropriate occasion to sample. What better event than to observe and celebrate the passing of the year for which it was named? (If that isn’t reason enough, why shouldn’t I pop the cork on my 1-year RateBeer Anniversary?!)

Everything about this beer struck me as a Dunkelweizen. It poured a deep mahogany/cola-brown with a fast head that fizzed away in an instant, leaving only a thin halo. Aromas were brooding smoke and yeasts with notes of tar, but mainly hefeweizen-clove with touches of fruit. Each mouthful was vibrant with a light and airy palate, punctuated by sharp bursts of alcohol. The background was of yeasts, utilizing all of their diversity. "Brilliant" describes its persona, but its luminosity faded regrettably fast with a dry finish and short aftertaste.

Whereas <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer/unibroue-édition 2004 had me waxing poetic in reflection, Édition 2005 taught me the simple lesson that the good things in life tend to pass all too quickly.

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Oil spill black with a small off white head that diminishes quickly. Aroma is sweet malts, heavy yeast, and spices. Flavor is super sweet and becomes sweeter with each sip. Fruits, purple grapes, bubble gum, yeast, and just WAY TOO sweet.

Merry Christmas to me! A great Christmas brew. Dark brown ale with a small tan head that quickly recedes. Sweet dark fruit aromas. Flavor is dark fuits, fig, plum, raisin. A little sweet but not overly so. Some holiday spices are noticeable. Drys out at the finish. A little alcohol warming comes through even though the 10% alcohol is well hidden in the flavors. Tastes more like the Trois Pistoles this year, whereas last years version was closer to Maudite. I also prefer the lighter Unibroues, but this is an excellent and well crafted dark ale. $6.99 at Broudys, Jacksonville FL.

bottle. pours a deep brown coloured body with a small tan head. I like the aroma initially with all that Unibroue yeast in full effect...alcohol is also prevalent among dark fruit sugars and an interesting tart cherry note. well it is quite sweet with mostly fruit flavours - raisins and plums come to mind. alcohol is almost hot at times and could probably use a little time to mellow out. I found there to be a somewhat lactic acidity in the finish...a pretty solid annual from Unibroue.

A good effort here by Unibroue. Poors a dark brown toped by a large tan head. ARmao is nice with yeast and fruit present. Flavor is of dried fruit, malt and some alcohol.

750mL bottle. Dark brown colored body with a lighter brown head. Smells of the Unibroue yeast with extra alcohol and some light toast and burnt grains. Sweet and slightly hot taste - bubbily and fizzy palate as expected - but slightly more thick and with a more pronouned roasted bread and grain flavor. Very good, although I prefer when Unibroue creates their brews with a lighter triple/wit hybrid recipe.

This dark brown ale poured with a modest tan head that dissipated quickly. The flavor is fruity and malty with a slightly alcohol finish and a smooth creamy mouthfeel. This is a very nice holiday drink that can be laid down for several years, if you can wait that long.

this is completely different from last years ale. It’s dark sweet and fruity. a skow sippimg beer.-- so good it’s barely a beer