UBU Ale - Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company

plaid75

New York

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a deep net hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured burnt caramel with a faint herbal hop.

The taste was upfront malts, with the same burnt caramel, buttered bread smoke and a lingering herbal hoppiness that checked the sweetness. Light nuttiness after the finish.

The mouthfeel was full with a dry finish.

Overall a very good malty ale. Highly flavorful.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2013 00:21:05 | More by plaid75

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A: Dark brownish color with a reddish tint, a nice tan head at the top and not to much lacing on this one.

S: Hints malts and hops, not so present though, a slight hint of hazelnut and caramel.

T: Same as the nose, nothing to crazy about the taste of this local brewery, nice caramel notes.

M: Medium Bodied, mid carbonation, a nice stickyness to it.

O: Nothing to really brag about with this brew, it was a nice tasting beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 20:27:48 | More by thedoubler55

Minkybut

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I poured this pretty average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer poured a dark reddish looking color. The beer really did not pour much of a head though. The taste was a combination of caramel and roasted malty taste that was not too bad. I'm thinking I will try this beer again and hope I could find it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 17:14:08 | More by Minkybut

Trodg

Pennsylvania

3.01/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance was dark in color, with a nice tan colored head.
The smell was not overpowering , but pleasant.
The taste was a little strange to me, maybe a little malty .
However not real lingering taste.
Overall I liked this beer but would not try it to often.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:30:44 | More by Trodg

dtivp

West Virginia

3.24/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured copper brown with a small dark tan head that faded quickly, very little lacing.

Aroma of Bready malts, dark fruit and hints of toffee.

Taste followed the nose with light Bready malts, dark cherries and toffee with a slight citrus finish.

Mouth Feel was light to medium body, light carbonation, smooth with a slight crispness.

Overall an enjoyable, average strong ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 21:14:01 | More by dtivp

Kendo

New York

3.81/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is brown, then reddish brown with any light behind it. Nice tight-bubbled 1-finger khaki-colored head on top leaves behind good thick lacing.

S: A lot of malty stuff - brown bread, caramel malt and toffee - with a touch of citrus.

T: The taste is very malty up front, with sweet flavors of dark fruit, brown sugar and caramel malt. But there's a good amount of hops towards the back end - citrusy (think oranges and some lemon) and minerally/metallic. Drying alcohol noted at the back end as well, and warmth from the ABV is noted both on the palate and in the belly.

M: Call it medium in heft, though it feels a tad bit thin. Carbonation is good and creamy.

O: An interesting beer that sort of resides in the middle of a bunch of styles - American Strong Ale, English Strong Ale, a hopped up American Brown, and even an American Black Ale (along the lines of a Victory Yakima Glory). I've had this beer dozens and dozens of times - including at the brewpub in Lake Placid - and was surprised to discover recently that I'd never reviewed it. Solid stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 00:28:01 | More by Kendo

BryanCarey

Texas

3.79/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Ubu Ale is a dark red ale that pours out smoothly and produces a beautiful head of foam that lasts a good amount of time and leaves lacing as you drink. The nose on this ale is one of chocolate, toasted malt, some dark fruit, and roasted malt.

This beer is a tasty one with a malty base, some chocolate, a little bit of plum, some roasted notes, caramel, earthy hops, and a touch of vanilla. The taste is very much in line with what the nose promises and there is a little bit of alcohol in the finish.

Ubu Ale is a medium to full bodied ale with a good deal of character. At first, it seemed more or less ordinary for its style and I was ready to describe it as a typical red/strong ale, but once I got to my second bottle, I liked it more and no longer considered it standard, but rather a little more unique.

A very nice English- style ale overall, Ubu is worth a try if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 02:26:14 | More by BryanCarey

ChuckleberryFinn

3.91/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really enjoyed this beer. I was surprised whenever I found out it was 7%, that's not really a value judgement.

A: deep brownish/red hue. You know it's a strong ale.

S: I couldn't detect much of anything, but there were certain citrusy notes to enjoy.

T: Great tasting beer. It's a wonderful balance of heavy lingering chocolatecherry with a solid hop. I really really was impressed with how easy this beer goes down.

I like this beer a lot. Gonna go to the brewery tomorrow and try it on tap (I'm in the area).

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:44:48 | More by ChuckleberryFinn

ZachKelly

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle. Great dark brown coloring. Very thing foam-head that dissipates as you drink. Soft carbonation that doesn't give off too much of the flavoring and smells of the beer.
Very tasty and strong, with a slight aftertaste that you expect from a stronger ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 02:27:57 | More by ZachKelly

Justin23060

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark Brown w/ chestnut highlights. One finger, light beige head that dissipated, clung and laced. Smells of sweet malty caramel and chocolate. Taste is same caramel and chocolate. It is semi-sweet throughout and hops only bitter. Mouthfeel is creamy and linger is just about right. This is an absolutely fantastic brew that must be tried. Only wish they sold it locally.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 04:14:34 | More by Justin23060

socon67

New York

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Brown coloring that creates a light brown foam. Slight lacing and foam disappears fast.

S - Toasted malt and caramel hit the nose from this. Slightly acidic and some caramel smell.

T - Flavors seem a bit mild. Some earthy flavors and bready notes are present. Roasted\toasted malt flavoring is the main component. Finish has a small acidic bite.

M - Meh. A find this a little thin and watery for the style. It is easy to drink however, and smooth.

O - Interesting in that it is a lighter type of Strong Ale. I could see this going well on a cold northern NY night.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2012 01:34:54 | More by socon67

BeerDocT

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to my friend Larry Lushia for bringing me back a few of these from Upstate New York! Cheers!

Served in a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 4.0: Poured out a chocolaty brown; not completely black. Nice 1/2" head that faded away into pleasant white swirls.

-Smell 3.5: Nice bouquet of chocolate, toasted grains. Aroma is somewhat flat, but does not detract from the enjoyment of the beer at all.

-Taste 4.5: Sweet up front, with slight hints of chocolate. Middle features a lot of subdued barley and slight hints of hops. Finish is more of that sweetness and toasted grains, along with still more chocolaty goodness. Aftertaste is creamy and smoky; very, very enjoyable.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Carbonation was right on the nose for this style and certainly adds to the enjoyment of the beer.

-Overall 4.0: Very good to excellent strong ale. This is somewhere between a porter and a stout and just very enjoyable. If you are a fan of unique beers THAT ARE ACTUALLY ENJOYABLE this is the brew for you. If you find it, buy it.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 04:32:05 | More by BeerDocT

jsanford

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark amber-red with a creamy off-white head that settles to a thin haze and ring. Malty aromas of toasted grain, caramel, toffee, and fruity yeast. More caramel and toffee flavors, but not a ton of unique character in this one. Just tastes like a generic malt-forward...beer. Mouthfeel is crisp and drinkable, with a medium body and good carbonation. Decent enough beer overall. Doesn't re-invent the wheel.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 22:16:40 | More by jsanford

BucannonXC5

California

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., on July 5, 2012. Bottle into pint glass. Two fingers of head. Reddish, brown, garnet color. Foamy gray lacing with decent foamy retention.

Smelled malty, nutty, roasty, caramel, toffee and light chocolate ice cream. Reminded me slightly of a Mud Slide.

Tasted nutty malts, Mud Slide, big alcohol finish, Russian Imperial Stout like, chocolate shake.

Full body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long bitter finish.

Not as good as I remember it, but still an OK beer. Heavy and rich, but worth the risk of trying it.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 06:04:34 | More by BucannonXC5

horshack7

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: A very dark brown to being very near black with a head that is light beige and around one finger thick.

Aroma: Dark fruits, wisps of grape, bready malts with a touch of caramel. Hops are on the citrus end but not very much.

Taste: A liitle bit on the sweet side but not too bready. Light citrus notes, caramel malts that are roasted dark. There is a twinge of grape in the back end. As for the mouthfeel it's smooth but it has a bready bite.

Notes: Not as strong as I thought is might be but still decently drinkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 01:26:58 | More by horshack7

CloudStrife

New York

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a deep ruby-copper with a 1 finger off white head. Real small amount of visible carbonation. Sediment floating in the body.

S: First I get some roasted chocolate malts with a backing of sweet carmel and molasses.

T: Fairly malt forward. Chocolatey taste with roasted malt. Slightly bitter at the end.

M: Pretty smooth and creamy, mild to light carbonation. Has a fairly full body that remains drinkable.

Overall a beer I enjoy again and again. Would recommend to anyone, especially those who enjoy a good porter.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 03:09:14 | More by CloudStrife

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer pours a clear reddish brown with a thin head and lastin fine lace. It's aroma is of dark fruit with a hint of molasses. The flavor leads with coffee with dark cherry and plum notes. The coffee fades and chocolate covered cherry comes through as it warms. The mouthfeel is medium and there is a pleasant warmth in the finish. Lake Placid Ubu Ale is a good beer, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 23:25:55 | More by B967ierhunter177

larryi86

Delaware

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler was a gift from a coworker for watching her classes when she was at Lake Placid, thanks!
Growler is probably 2-4 days old, still has good carbonation

A- A brown with a ruby red tint and a one finger light tan head.

S- Cherries, toffee, dark fruit, hint of brown sugar, some roasted malts, hint of vanilla.

T- Less cherry and dark fruits than the nose, toffee and caramel malts come out more, nice roasted malts with a hint of vanilla in the finish.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- Overall a solid beer that I am happy I have more of. Definitely would like to try more Lake Placid beers.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2012 22:27:21 | More by larryi86

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: deep ruby/brown body, finger tan head,
ok lacing

S: cherries, raisins, sweet malt

T: sweet ripe fruit, big malt, smooth bready finish

M: med body, smooth mouth

O: Like the brewery, not thrilled
about this beer. Usually LOVE this style,
but did nothing for me.

OK, NOT MUST TRY!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 21:51:08 | More by BeerLover99

Phelps

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into a schooner pint.

Thick, opaque mahogany like syrup, though clearer at the edges. Half a finger of dense, sandy tan foam sticks to the walls in thick, fuzzy layers and settles into a broad top layer that goes nowhere.

Lots of toffee in the nose, nicely deep and sweet. Bread pudding, plum, a little vanilla. Some earthy English yeast, a little honey-like oxidation, and a bit of rum-like cane sugar.

In the flavor, the earthy hops are much bigger. Bitterness rises to match the malt, and actually overpowers it a little bit. There’s the same toffee/plum/rum sweetness, but it’s a little muted. The honey oxidation is here in bigger force, however.

Sugary medium body with very high, prickly carbonation. The bubbles get a little painful at times. A bit of silky fizz breaks out as it moves. Alcohol is a suggestion of heat in the nose.

Not bad. Judging by the bit of oxidation I taste, this may be an old bottle. But the beer below is still quality. Tasty English strong ale stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 04:34:32 | More by Phelps

lnashsig

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to mjtiernan for the chance to taste this one- a new beer I have not heard of yet. Poured from bottle into DFH Snifter. Pours a pretty dark brown/black color, thick off white head sits on top and stays for awhile. Nice looking brew. Smell- raisins, prunes, brown sugar, dark cherries. Taste- raisins, prunes, brown sugar. Matches the nose well. Mouthfeel is super creamy, makes for great drinkability. Nothing too complex here, but this is a nice brew that I would have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 00:24:17 | More by lnashsig

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, unknown date. Served at around 45F.

Pours dark reddish brown with a large creamy light brown head that leaves clumpy lacing and holds a thick cap.

Aroma is cherries, caramel, toffee, dark fruits, some grassy and floral hops. Good to very good strength.

Flavor is cherries, toasted malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, some other dark fruit, some sweetness, mild hop bitterness on the finish with only a hint of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium/full bodied, somewhat creamy, a little sticky, good carbonation.

Very tasty American Strong Ale...kind of has some Belgian Strong Ale qualities going on as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 02:06:40 | More by elgiacomo

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, purchased at the brewery 9/2011, bottle 6/2011, well stored under temperature controlled conditions.

Poured into a Dogfish Head Signature glass (snifter)

Pours a nice thick one finger head, which reduces to a thin head, better than some, nice lace.
Deep blackish amber color, opaque, light tan head.

The aroma is one of rich, sweet, candied malt, like American caramel, hard to describe.

Delicious entry on the palate of semi-sweet malt, caramel, ale yeast, silky full mouth feel, and great carbonation that is just lively enough to give balance to this ale.

Good finish of caramel flavors, malt and ale yeast.

OK so it’s not one of the heavy hitters. Still there is a lot to like about this ale. Good flavors balanced by a nice crispness and good carbonation. Very drinkable.
Though it is not on the label this is very Scotch Ale in style.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 01:39:33 | More by JTSbeerislife

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

awesome awesome beer. the flagship from lake placid now widely reknowned as da bomb! pours dark brown with a great thick tan head, smells like english malts and alcohol. taste is very english in nature as well, definitely an ale. more happening than a standard brown ale, but with a similar base. notes of tobacco and brown sugar are present as well. the thing that makes it interesting is its complexity and uncanny drinkability for its abv. it is very strong beer, and while full bodied, it isnt mean and nasty in the gut. a six pack will get you shitfaced long before it fills you up, and its a very heavy buzz from this one. i like to drink it year round, but the fall is most appropriate. also delicious in a bottle and ultimate on tap at their brewery with some of the parmesean chicken wings!!!

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 22:18:13 | More by StonedTrippin

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I personally am a big fan of this beer.
This is my go too beer when I want something with good quality taste as well as a good price.

This particular batch was bought at the local grociery store in a six pack. I have also had this on tap, personally I didn't notice a big difference.

It pours a nice dark "garnet" as they describe it. The head is decent, the carbonation lasted through the time.
The smell is very malt heavy, but not overpowering.

Nothing is really overpowering about this beer which makes it easy to drink. And I often find myself drinking it faster than I'd like to.
Lake Placid does a really nice job with this beer, like I said, great for its price range, and just the right amount of malt and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 22:19:57 | More by davewlfpckfan29