Unibroue Quelque Chose

The fungible character of beer is one of its most attractive traits. Styles and tastes are wildly diverse, and furthermore, they are subject to tangible changes with temperature. Usually I try a beer along a long thermal range, starting with a "fresh from the fridge chill" to a whit above room temperature. Frequently a bad beer while cold becomes a good beer with warmth, or vice-versa. This is why I was somewhat startled when I read the accompanying label on Unibroue’s Quelque Chose. On it the brewers encourage the drinker to take the brew with one of three different approaches - slightly warmed, room temperature, or cooled as per traditional beer law. Incidentally we had multiple bottles floating around in our posession (Kepano and I), so with ample resources we took ample risks, and started our Quelque Chose study with a room temperature drink. Though its operating at a touchable temperature, the deep red of the drink looks like magma, with distinct amber tinges for damatic flair. Despite the mercurial color, even an agitated pour produces no head. Cranberry, citrus rind and wassail sturdily flow to the nose, coating the nasal lining with its thick aromatic unguent. Once settled, milder hints of cinnamon, Bing cherries, all-spice, nutmeg, raw pine cones and roasted chestnuts caress the nose, producing an intoxicating holiday blend, with a strength only a warmed beer could induce. If wassail was but a single part of the aroma, it is a much larger player in the taste. The deep berry flavors and well melded citrus tastes course with verve and vivacity on a loose and watery palate. Honey and a light cherry sourness give it a slight sweet augmentation, especially at the start, with oak to give the beer a "beer base". At last there’s the intriguing flavor of balsamic vinegar. It’s eminent tanginess stands out in the crowd of pomegranate and cranberry flavors, giving the drinker a terrific specimen of study. In essence, while he or she is inundated in a spate of wassail cheer, they recieve a microscopic poke of balsamic to tantalize their tastebuds. Truly, a well brewed and well planned experience, and one clearly appropriate for a rich Christmas meal, with rich scents and, hopefully, rich gifts.

On the rocks. Light aroma of woody cherries. Flavor is the same as the aroma, with a very slight tartness. 5, 3, 6, 3, 11 = 2.8. Watery as expected, and a bit of a waste...Slightly chilled. Aroma is still fairly light, but the flavor is significantly stronger, with slightly more but still mellow tartness. 6, 3, 7, 3, 13 = 3.2...Hot. Smells like cherry tea, with some sort of woody herb, or hell, just plain tree bark. Slight cherry flavor, lots of woody notes, and a bit more tartness. Feels thicker, but it probably reduced a bit, so it is actually thicker. Unfortunately, can’t say I’m real fan of the hot serving suggestion. 5, 4, 6, 3, 10 = 3...Cellar temp. Same woody cherry aroma, with some funky tart notes. Semi-sweet cherry flavors, same woody notes as before, slight tartness, and a bit of a honey overtone. Interesting to try with all the different serving suggestions, but really only worth it at cellar temp in my opinion.

Pours a ruby-brown with very little head. Aromas of vanilla and honey. Tastes sweet malt with mellow cherry. Not as tart as other cherry brews. Little carbonation. Finishes long.

Wow, pretty fantastic. Apple and spiced pear with some cherry About the consistency of cider, I haven’t had this warm but I would imagine that it’d be nice. Awesome.

Wining & Dining Tasting. Pours a clear brown with no head. Sweet quite fruity, lots of cheeries. Slightly winy. Austrian glüh-wine. Medium to full bodied. Dry fruity finish. I think I’ll prefer this one cold.

From a bottle poured a dark amber color with very little head. Nice cherry flavor, with a little bit of spicy flavor too.

Pours still, red/brown, very slightly cloudy, almost no head. Nose is cherry and pumpkinspice. Flavor of sour cherries, pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg. Sweet/sour. No hops. No alcohol flavor at all. Very very yummy.

Bottle into stem glass, purchased at Frugal MacDougal’s, Nashville. We didn’t drink this hot (have to try that), pretty much room temp. I was very impressed by the cherries in this one, they jump out at you right away on the smell. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used Rodenbach yeast on this one, the cherries had that nice warm smell. Also on the nose: some dark grain malts. Dark transparent ruby brown in the glass. Flavors are sweet and warm cherry, maybe a little apricot lurking below, and some nutmeg (I can see why it should be warm). Other than that, not much. It’s straightforwardly delicious, but it would be nice with more complexity. If chilled, would be great with cheesecake.