Unibroue La Terrible

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

The beer immigrates from the 750ml brown cork and caged bottle a deep brown color with ruby high lights, the head dinosauric in size, creamy in texture and a nice tan color, and after decomposition, the residual lace forms a fine curtain to drape the glass. Nose is cotton candy sweet, a touch earthy, hints of over ripe fruit, plums I think, spice, woody, maybe even a touch of fusel alcohol, fresh and inviting, start is lightly sweet with a nice grain presence, the top is middling in its affect on the taste buds. Finish is ferine in its acidity, the hops pleasant and spicy, quite dry aftertaste with a nice bit of tummy warming from the 10.5 percent ABV, a nice drinking beer and from what I’ve heard and read, you either “Love It or Hate It”, I like it.

Black; aroma of black currants, black (but not roasty) malts - less fruit than the similar Trois Pistoles. Smooth body, complex malt notes, ever-present Unibroue yeast, plum, toffee, sweet finish.

Pours very dark, almost opaque with some faint ruby highlights. Do not recall any other Belgian Dark Ale this black in color. Fizzy, big-bubbled head thinned out to a nice durable whispy cover. Somewhat restrained, but pleasant aromas of dark fruits, cherrys and yeast. Even with the typical lively carbonation for this style, the beer presents a full body and chewy mouthfeel. Rich sweet flavors of dark figs, raisins, cherries, dark rum and yeast make a presence. The 10.5% is well balanced and unobtrusive but quite warming and stealth. Finishes sweet and slick, but in no way cloying. I’ve read previous reviews where this release from Unibroue is somewhat hit or miss, but I think I got a nice hit with this one.

raisony malt and chocolate, light roast in the nose. black with light brown commign through. sweet carmel, raison, smokey, chocolate. sweet, light signs of alc and loads of the Unibroue yeast

Complex and unique sweet, spicy, estery aroma, with clove and banana characteristics from the yeast, along with some licorice, flowers, nutmeg, sandalwood, red grape, plum, dark bread and very faint chocolate. Deep, dark red-black color, some light tinges of mahogany when they are searched for, and with a fine, creamy, lasting off-white head. Brown sugary sweetness and a depth of spices greet the palate, subsequently giving way to a profoundly vinous maltiness while the intriguing finish sees a conjunction of fruity yeast, the omnipresent spiciness, peppery alcohol, milk chocolate, toffeeish sweetness, dark, faintly grainy breadiness and tinges of citrus, raisin and carob. Moderately acidic palate, lightly bitter, with a smooth, creamily effervescent and rich mouthfeel. Somewhat warming, an appropriate cold-weather selection. Unmistakably Unibroue but still with a very distinct character. I actually found this one fairly difficult to rate, but it's effortlessly enjoyable.

Very dark. Pours with a good solid head you'd expext from a belgian, starting brownish and finishing more cream colored. Spicy, and slightly more carbonated than I expected. The end of the 750 was better than the beginning...showing the benefits of warmth and breath. Excellent.

Opaque brown with a slow dissipating shiny light tan head. Dry toasty malt aroma, with undertones of blackberries, red currants, signature yeast and slight hint of wintergreen and alcohol. Smooth across the tongue with plenty of bubbles escaping as it slides back. Black malt finish, I start at the finish because it was quite evident after the first quaff, I like it, a change from the norm. Light licorice start with various berries and pepper. Somewhat acidic finish but nothing to overbearing. Serve this to some wine snob and have them compare it to a fine hearty zinfandel. To heck with the aperitif/digestif, consume with a 16 oz. filet au poivre. Considering it was cheaper than the other Unibroue offerings, I am going to pick a few more of these up to cellar.

Ver dark brown pour, aroma of dark fruit, yeast and alcohol. Very smooth mouthfeel, some plum, pumpernickel, toffee and quite yeasty. Sweet finish with alcohol punch. I thought this was an elegant creation, when sipped as intended it serves the purpose very well.