Unibroue La Terrible

Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chambly, Canada

Opaque dark brown, medium soapy head. Fruity malt aroma, slightly roasted, notes of cherries, yeast, and a clear touch of alcohol. medium bodied and smooth. Good balance, with sweetness, some acidity, and bitterness well integrated.

An excellent ale that pours a three finger, thick light brown head fades slowly leaving a good lace. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is a malty alcohol. Very deep amber, almost black color. Starts smooth and malty and finishes with an alcohol overtone. Ages well, bought Sep 2006 bottled 2004, best by Aug 8, 2007. $6.22 for a 750ml bottle from Smiley’s Beverages Dover, NH.

Pours black with a large, beautiful brown head that clings to the glass and laces nicely. Nose is complicated - initial molasses mixes with dark fruit and biscuity malts, with a hint of yeasty mustiness and phenolic spice towards the end. Flavor is dates, Belgian candy sugar, smoke, chocolate, and cloves. Creamy mouthfeel. Lingering warm alcoholic finish. Yum yum.

Now we are talking. This still have a very cola like apperance, but it tastes pretty nice. Some roast and chocolate, and an nice cherry spiciness. Still, way thin.

750 mL bottle. Dark brown with a creamy white head. Aroma of berries, dark fruit, malt, and yeast. Taste of black licorice transitioning to a nice fig taste and finishing with a lingering candy sweetness. Pleasant alcoholic warmth in the back of the throat. I haven’t always been a fan of Unibroue’s dark ales, but I figured anyone arrogant enough to name a beer, "terrible," must have made a good brew, and, indeed, I was right; this is quite good.

Another quality beer from the northern neighbor. I look at all the fancy descriptions, and I can only respond by saying that no North American brewers can do a strong ale like this.

This took me off guard, as I was expecting a beer not peroxide in a bottle. Semi-transparent brown color with quickly diminishing, rocky, tan head. Aroma was of apple cider gone bad which translated to the taste. Will try again at some point in time, but I’m not in much of a hurry to.

Poured from a bottle into a tulip. This ale poured a deep brown color with a huge fizzy tan head that slowly faded away. A bit of light lacing is left behind. Some ruby highlights and active carbonation are visible when held up to light. The aroma is made up of dark fruits, brown sugar, plums, and sweet malts. The smell is very vinous. The flavor consists of dark grapes, cherries, plums, light malts, and some bread. The mouthfeel is thin and fizzy. A bit of a dry finish. The high alcohol is hidden perfectly. A decent ale, but other examples of this style really overshadow this beer.