Unibroue 15 - Unibroue

Tupperwolf

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours into my wide, shallow Rochefort goblet a rich mostly clear gold with a fuzzy yellow-white head. I suspect the head would be thicker and have better retention were a tulip glass used. Lacing is minimal to none, but it gives off a nice, richly glowing aura nonetheless.

The smell is intense - It hit my nose as soon as the beer was uncorked, and grew stronger upon hitting the glass, wafting up to nearly fill the room. Hmmm... WOW.. Duvel has some serious competition here. Matter of fact, it smells better. I'm making the decision now. Intense aromas of lemon, orange, and banana are mixed with light clove and bready yeast - it makes my mouth water very hard. It's got all the best characteristics of Belgian yeast with none of the unpleasantness I sometimes encounter. I honestly think Unibroue does Belgian better than Belgium.

Ummm, I'd better hurry up before I finish the glass, or I won't be able to do a proper review! it's so damn tasty, I'm just quaffing it down! There is tons of peaches and apricots in the flavor, deep, rich - yet very light, very easy to drink, smooth and happily alcoholic. Slight spice balances the zippy, sweet fruitiness. All I can say is - it's delicious.

Alcohol is warm, but not intrusive, and the body is light, bright, and happy. It leaves a slightly dry, slightly sticky aftertaste. Good stuff.

Final thoughts: Well - I think I've got a new favorite strong pale Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2006 09:09:01 | More by Tupperwolf

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

04-16-2013 09:51:26 | More by Kelp

beer64nut

Missouri

4/5  rDev -1.2%

03-15-2013 08:22:14 | More by beer64nut

corby112

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark golden orange color with tangerine edges and a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin, lasting ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Slightly funky, earthy aroma with a decent balance of zesty spice, bready yeast, grassy hops and estery light fruit notes. Some pepper and clove followed by hints of bread, banana and bubblegum. Subtle earthy straw/hay character along with more banana, pear and apple. Seems to have held up well and still smells pretty nice.

On the fuller end of medium bodied with tight carbonation and a slight creamy texture. Heavily spiced up front with some pepper, clove and coriander lingering over the musty funk, bready yeast, light fruit and earthy hop notes into a dry, slightly tart finish. Strong bread/yeast presence with sourdough flavor followed by sweet banana, apple and pear flavors. Some earthy, grassy hops toward the end of the palate balance things out and prevents it from becoming too sweet. There's also some subtle alcohol sweetness in the finish but the high ABV is very well masked.

I didn't know what to expect going in but this beer has held up surprisingly well. Complex, flavorful and well balanced. Very slight oxidization but is still drinking very smoothly and the high alcohol content is toned down, giving off little to no heat. I'm having no problem going through this 750ml rather quickly.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 05:38:11 | More by corby112

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.2%

10-22-2012 17:28:27 | More by imperialking

aasher

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

07-01-2012 20:16:09 | More by aasher

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -19.8%

04-23-2012 21:35:00 | More by ygtbsm94

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml Bottle - Thanks to Pushkinwow for sharing

Appearance - Hazy copper colour with a small size fizzy off white coloured head. There is a below average amount of carbonation and there isn't much lacing. The head was gone in a few minutes.

Smell - Malts, raisins/grapes, yeast, apples

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, grapes/raisins, and apples. There is also a fair amount of yeast and spice and a bit of a honey sweetness. It ends with a fruity and spicy aftertaste.

Overall - I really enjoyed this one and even though it is an older bottle the flavours were still very vibrant and full. The booze was well hidden and the beer is extremely drinkable. I'd like to have a few bottles of this in my cellar for special occasions.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 19:03:24 | More by spinrsx

whatname

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

04-13-2012 14:05:12 | More by whatname

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into signature tulip glass, bottle date of 1/6/2006. Pours a very hazy and cloudy golden orange color with a fairly dense 1-2 finger off white head with decent retention that reduces to a thin cap of lace that lingers. Some slight bits of lace on the glass. Aromas of big banana, orange, honey, grape, caramel, molasses, candi sugar, clove, and yeast spices. Some nice and well balanced aromas with good complexity. Taste of big banana, orange peel, grape, honey, pepper, toffee, butterscotch, clove, molasses, apple, candi sugar, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of caramel, citrus, toffee, butterscotch, clove, molasses, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and slick mouthfeel. Very smooth to drink for 10%, but is still a bit of a sipper. Alcohol is extremely well hidden, with hardly any warming noticed at all after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Belgian strong pale. Tons of great balanced flavors with good complexity; and very smooth to drink for the gravity. Definitely highly enjoyed this one. This has held up very nicely over 6 years.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 03:11:12 | More by superspak

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

04-02-2012 00:21:14 | More by TMoney2591

jfcaa193

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -1.2%

02-19-2012 00:58:32 | More by jfcaa193

zonker17

Illinois

5/5  rDev +23.5%

02-18-2012 17:09:11 | More by zonker17

drummermattie02

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.2%

01-16-2012 23:14:04 | More by drummermattie02

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

01-15-2012 02:31:21 | More by djrn2

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I forgot about this one in a dark corner of the basement, and was a bit nervous about how well it aged. Popping the cork yielded a whiff of alcohol and berry. Pouring yielded light copper body with a very sparse layer of foam. Mouthfeel is prickly with a good bit of carbonation that is unexpected based on the weak head. A bit of alcohol is evident, fruity with a touch of tart and just enough bitter to balance things out. Glad I hung onto this one, it held up very well.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 05:23:21 | More by Sixpack595

jophish17

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

12-24-2011 08:55:29 | More by jophish17

Pamola

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

12-21-2011 19:54:06 | More by Pamola

jbertsch

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +23.5%

12-11-2011 04:29:05 | More by jbertsch

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-09-2011 05:25:26 | More by rab53

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-03-2011 20:49:27 | More by FreshmanPour77

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-03-2011 18:21:49 | More by deapokid

nickfl

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

12-01-2011 20:56:36 | More by nickfl

LadyOfMuchBeer

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-01-2011 13:40:50 | More by LadyOfMuchBeer

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.2%

11-30-2011 19:05:43 | More by brandoman63