Unibroue Éphémère Cassis

I bought this beer by mistake. It was next to another I wanted and as I often do, grabbed before I looked. (That can really get you into trouble) First I’m not a great fan of wheat beer and even less so of flavored wine. When I brought it home a took a closer look imagine my dismay when I saw it was a currant flavored wheat beer. But after paying $8.00 I was determined to drink it. At first taste the fruit flavor was overpowering but I persevered. After sitting for a bit it became a bit more mellow and by the time I finished the bottle it was almost enjoyable. It was certainly a bright and lively beer. It is not a beer I would buy again but it was interesting.

750ml bottle from Chan’s Wine World, Destin, FL. Large off-white head atop a sparkling amber body. Very pleasant aroma with plenty of currant fruitiness along with grain/wheat undertones. Flavor and palate slightly less exciting - Very lively carbonation and a nice wheat flavor. The currant flavor does tend to overwhelm the rest. A bit metallic on the finish, but enjoyable overall.

I had high expections of this one but it fell far short. Poured a hazy pinkish colour with a thin bubbly head. Sweet, fruity aroma with lots of carbonation reminded me more of a cooler than a beer.

Orange pour with thin white head. Sweet /fruity aroma. Taste was a artificial fruit taste with a dry finish. I was not too pleased with this one.

Poured hazy grapefruit color with quickly dissipating off white head. Good berry (currant) aroma. Big carbonation explosion which brings out the sweet and tartness of the currant flavor along with some slight yeast flavors. It’s a bit more tart than it is sweet. If I really concentrate I can just make out the wheat malts. Ends with a light neutral taste. A refreshing hot weather brew.

Pours a brilliant copper red. Smells of wheat and raisins. It is nice and sweet, but it is not overdone at all. The finish is crisp and refreshing. I look forward to trying the other flavors!

Pour bright clear copper with dancing carbonation and a bubbly white head. The aroma is sweet and smooth wheat, dry black currants, spices and the Unibroue yeast (although not as much as most of their beers). Light and crisp with pointed spicy carbonation. The taste is sharp and dry wheat and coriander with some black currants. The finish is very crisp with carbonation. It is fairly spice and had just a flash of medicinal taste in the middle of the finish. The aroma is better than the taste, but it is still a quality refreshing brew.

Pours a pink tinged light amber with a big white head, quickly dwindling to very little with lots of bubbles. Usually I mark beers down for bubbles, but in this case, I was reminded of sparkling wines for some reason. The nose is very much in line with cheap champaigne. Acidic lively fruit with a bit of blackberry and grape. Maybe the subtlest hint of apple and wheat? Anyhow, not beery, but still nice smelling. The palate is a bit bubbly for my taste, but it’s so refreshing that I think it works here. The flavors again seem more similar to a cheap sparkling wine than a beer. Big acidic lively fruit, particularly apple, blackberry, and a hint of grape. The wheatiness comes through here with a strong sweetness and a mild sour character. The flavor is clean with a lingering sour apple sort of note. Overall, this is one of my favorite fruit beers. This is easily the best beer substitute for soda or cheap champaigne I’ve had yet.