Trois Pistoles - Unibroue

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown, more of a cooler brown than warm. Light barely slips through at the edges. Nice white head leaves sparse lace and fades to a swirly marble rye-like layer. Aroma is amazing; this beer smells like pure happiness. Aroma of fresh homemade apple sauce heating on the stove, grass, hay and sweet candy. Juicy and creamy. Taste is another one of the best things ever. It begins with sweet mellow toasted malts and charred earth. Tart fruit breaks through all over the place making a perfect balance. Its almost like cooked layers of apples joined by sugar. Mouth is lush and velvety with perfect carbonation. 9% ABV?
Drinkability beyond drinkability.

This has to be one of the best Belgians ever, Canada or not.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2006 04:09:26 | More by tastybeer

ski271

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This has long been my favorite of the Unibroue beers, and one of the reasons I enjoy Belgian beers as much as I do today. I hadn’t had this beer in a while, but I’m glad to say I still love this beer. Had it on tap at Zeno’s in State College. Attractive dark, hazy brown with a small, creamy, off-white head that quickly diminishes to a thin film. Wonderful wine-like aromas and flavors, dark fruit, berries, oak, spice, and warming alcohol that kicks up a little on the finish. It feels light in the mouth yet is huge in flavor and feels big on the finish. This is the reason why at beer expos, I still have to stop off at the Unibroue table for a beer even if I have had all the beers they have at the time. Fabulous!

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2006 20:17:32 | More by ski271

ohitsbrad

Australia

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

13 January 2007, Best Before Feb 07

Poured into a Trois Pistole glass. Murky dark brown with a small head. Sweet candi sugar and dark fruit aroma. Tastes of fruit (plums, raisins), licorice, sweet malt, Belgian yeast, chocolate and berries. An evolving flavour. Medium to full bodied mouthfeel. An outstanding strong warming dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2007 13:56:01 | More by ohitsbrad

Gehrig

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Magnificent is the best way I can describe Trois Pistoles, a very smooth, very delicious BSDA. The presentation is first-rate, three fingers of slightly tan foam resting atop a dark mahogany body with faint reddish highlights, beautiful. Terrific nose, with lots of sweet fruit rising fast, with moderate spiciness following close behind.

The taste is an explosion of flavors--roasted malt, brown sugar, plum, pear, orange, a little caramel--just wonderful, a different flavor in every taste. The spicy finish is a great reminder of what the nose portends, with a good dash of pepper helping to finish a first-rate beer. Great mouthfeel, medium carbonation, smooth texture, and eminently drinkable, easily hiding the high ABV (9%).

Tremendous work from Unibroue, the first I've had from this Quebec brewery and certainly not the last of either Unibroue or Trois Pistoles. I'll be sure to grab a few more of these in the near future for another cold, snowy day. Don't pass this by.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 03:34:15 | More by Gehrig

TCadillac

Tajikistan

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

What can I say?
Poured this baby in an oversized wine glass with a 3 layer ripple bottom.

The pour leads to an immaculate browish/amber hue color with a slight minimal 1/8 inch head.
I gave my Trois a furocious spin around the glass to reveale an aroma of raisin bread, cloves, nutmeg, unidenitiful herbs and spices, and a slight hint of banana bread. Taste....my god...Dark chocolate, rasberry, caramel, candied apples, chocolate covered cherries. Mouthful is somewhat cabornated, full bodied, smooth, gracious, velvety. Hell of a damn beer. Treat yourself to what is Trois Pistoles!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 08:10:42 | More by TCadillac

BigFrank71

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

i really enjoyed this beer, have to say it is in my top 5. Purchased this beer in a 4pac at a local liquor store. pored a nice dark ambercollar i finger head of a mocha color. the taste was very refreshing to me with a wonderful mouth feel. the drinkablity was also very nice. drink all four and you will get a nice warm buzz.
would love to try this one on tap i have yet to have a beer from Unibroue i didnt like. i suggest everyone try this one it is very close to the belgian style it says it is

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 05:52:49 | More by BigFrank71

cnally

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

the appearance is dark brown but not dark enough to eliminate all the light going through. a very sudsy looking head leaves quick.

the scent is full of a malt nose, with a sweet nutty scent underneath. like almond, or walnut. plum fruits and apple waver in the background.

the flavor is delightful. perfectly balanced between the malt and sweet notes, with residual flavors of black cherry and, almost like a wine, a tannin-type flavor. the taste just explodes and does not relent through the tasting. a slam dunk.

fizzy feel and very light. the carbonation is massive and almost too much, but it ends up being second to the amazing flavor.

well, this is an unbelieveable specimen. do all belgian dark ales carry this amount of sweetness and flavor? I don't know but I am going to check. great, spectacular drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 00:38:09 | More by cnally

UCLABrewN84

California

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A - Pours a rich dark cola color with a 1 inch beige head that fades to nothing. Lacing is little to none.

S - Brown sugar mixed with sour/unripe fruits. There is also a bread/yeast essence. Smells extremely tasty.

T - Like a warm biscuit with sweet fruits on top. There is a spice element to this beer that the alcohol helps bring out.

M - Very full but smooth. There is good carbonation in this beer.

D - Very drinkable for the 9% ABV it carries. One of my favorites from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 05:18:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

KuehneBe

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

Appearance
Quite black with an appealing red hue when held up into the light. It almost like a very, very dark wine.

+ Bonus points for the fantastic label and packaging in general.

Smell
Lots of dark fruit, dates, and raisins. Cherries and plums, possibly? Sweet molasses that is just right, and makes you excited to take the first sip.

Taste
Incredible! Licorice. Again, lots of dark fruit and molasses. The alcohol is well hidden and serves to add some well-desired "bite."

Mouthfeel
Just the right amount of carbonation, almost a bit more than expected. Extremely pleasant mouthfeel. The flavors stick around for a nice amount of time without being sirupy or sticky.

Overall
If all Belgian Strong Dark Ales are comparable to this one, I really have to look further into this style. This is a beer that is quite close to being perfect. Definitely one of my new favorites.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 23:37:08 | More by KuehneBe

Andreji

Colombia

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Now This is a Fantastic brew. Took One sip of it and did *that* expression on my face of absolute delight. Happily surprised.

Pours a very dark brown/black thick fluid with an average head between brown and tan that fades quickly as is not very dense.

The smell, a mixture of fruits, strong wheat, malt and hops, is present all the time and is strong enough to fill the room. Delightful.

The taste is very strong and absolutely exceptional. With a delicious weissbier wheat-like base taste that mixes with fruityness, above all some lemony feel and a bit of sweet which fades with the carbonation and in perfect synchronization allows the appearance of a slight bitterness, just at the end, that finishes it off beautifully.

The mouthfeel, for this rather thick but thirst quenching brew is exceptional and the alcohol level (a whopping 9.0) is very well hidden, but makes the drinkability lower than perfect. You don't want it to fool you.

Perhaps the best beer in my stop in the US, and, oh lord, canadian. Wow.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2003 04:42:34 | More by Andreji

mschofield

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep red-brown witha crackling tan head.
Spicy taste and aroma (thats the only hint you'll get of the 9% abv)
Huge cherry in the aroma and taste as well. Very fruity, swirling really brings out the fruit flavor (adds plum). Spice grows as it warms. I don't notice hops or bitterness, but there is a nice dark malt base to the brew.
Medium feel, and very drinkable at least to the point you're still able to lift your glass.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2003 16:56:14 | More by mschofield

mntlover

Tennessee

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

What the gods would drink. Dark brown brew with slight hint of red nice tan head that subside to a ever clinging ring of foam. Smells of dark wonderful fruity paradise, plums, raisens, bananas list goes on. Tastes the same fruity flavored malt slight yeast taste with a small touch of hops, and a nice dry finish.Sweet wonderful brew this must be what Homer is thinking of when he says" ummm beer", definatley better then any Duff I have ever had. Extremely drinkable must always have some on hand, if you have not tried it please do yourself a favor and buy some.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2003 07:00:15 | More by mntlover

CortexBomb

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Remarkable beer here, the appearance is cloudy dark brown with plenty of head, and the smell is fruity but the flavour is where it shines.

The beer starts out with big dark fruits with plums being noticeably present along with some pears and the typical Unibroue yeast flavour with nary a hint of the 9% alcohol content. The finale also has a surprising cherry hint. These flavours work remarkably well together, and this is a very tasty beer, probably my favourite Belgian Dark.

Mouthfeel is very carbonated and while still maintaining body while the drinkability is very good, this beer is smooth, and despite the distinct and strong fruity tinge. Dangerously drinkable.

Trois the crown jewel of Unibroue's all around marvelous line of craft beers. Balanced, beautiful, and tasty. A must try experience for all beer fans.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2004 22:11:34 | More by CortexBomb

jsolack

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance:
Dark brown, light head. Looks thick and cloudy.

Smell:
Chocolate and licorice come first and mild coffee comes later.

Taste:
Absolutely great taste! Very sweet in the mouth. Very little bitterness. Has sweet brown sugar aftertaste.

Mouthfeel:
Smooth and thick in mouth. Little carbonation.

Drinkability:
I could drink the whole 750ml bottle... probably the best tasting beer I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2004 00:24:10 | More by jsolack

imblane

California

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a deep brown in my chalice, with a perfect, 2 finger, tan, head. The head dissipated quickly with light lacing left. Smell was cherries, malt, a hint of chocolate and finished with a soft alcohol bite. Tasted was exceptional! Fruity, with a malty backbone and high carbonation. I must confess, I am usually not a big fan of high carbonation, but it worked here!! Finishes crisp and clean, and as usual for Unibroue, the alcohol is well hidden. I could drink several of these at a sitting, but I would stop short of calling this a session beer. Another outstanding offering from Unibroue, I think this is my favorite from them.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2004 02:27:43 | More by imblane

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had the Unibroue Trois Pistoles out of a 12 oz brown bottle and served in a tulip glass. Best before date on the back of the label for 1/04/07.

Pours a ruby dark brown color with a tan colored head. Very fluffy head that rises to the top of my tulip glass at first. After a few minutes, the head becomes about a 1/2 inch lacing around the glass.

Beautiful aroma of rasberries, cherries, milk chocolate, and a sugary spice blend.

Light spices with a fruity berry chocolate taste. Very soft and smooth on the palate. Minimal hop presence, but just enough to balance the sweet cherry malts. Fruity strawberry esters blend very well a ripe blueberry tartness that finishes with slight alcohol warmth. Excellent complexity and drinkability levels.

This is an absolute beauty. What else can I say? Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2005 23:32:23 | More by Hibernator

jasonguit

Texas

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow, nice! So good in fact I decided to make it my first review. All those that say this brew is deceptively smooth are exactly right. I am actually in a race with my spinning head as I type. I have foolishly polished off a 750mL alone (yes...foolishly).


It has the same nutty robust flavor you would expect from a dark beer, though the alcohol content does shine through (in a wonderfully pleasant way.) It also has a fruity quality to it that I rather enjoy. It reminds me a lot of a dark german beer if one was to add an aspect of fruitiness to it. It will most certainly knock you down as well at 9%. I am definitely a quality over quantity drinker, and this one will sneak right up on you.

Lovely beer all in all. If you like dark beers I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2006 06:41:03 | More by jasonguit

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Can't get it in MB. My girlfriend was so kind as to pick up some for me in Montreal last month. 750ml corked bottle. Classy.

Opens with a great pop and an explosion of dark and fruity smells. Nearly opaque, but you can see some bubbles clinging to the glass. Big Belgian head that's a slightly brownish-purple colour. Frothy and inviting with a slight lacing. Smell is spicy, sweet with dark fruity aromas, plums, slightly yeasty and almost wheaty. Comforting and zesty at the same time, as Unibroue beers always seem to be.

Taste is extremely potent, an explosion of complexities. Tons of spice, the comfort of all that Autumn fruit combined with the zestiness of coriander, cloves, and maybe even a bit of cardamom. Some caramel perhaps, and that wonderful wheatiness and yeatiness that truly makes this an incredible dessert beer. Well hidden alcohol. I could seriously savour this for hours. Zippy on the tongue, but soft in the throat. Slides down like nothing, but I can't help but savour each mouthful for an extended period of time. This is a great sipping beer. An excepional offering from Unibroue, cheers to the greatest brewery in Canada.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2006 03:14:56 | More by trevorwideman

mithrascruor

California

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml. bottle poured into an oversized wine glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark ruby-brown (slightly hazy) with a thick creamy off-white/tan head which becomes a constant foam.

Smell: The beer has a beautiful aroma of rich fruits (cherry, plum, etc.) and a hint of chocolate.

Taste: Very intense! Caramel with ripe, dark fruits, spices, and hops. Complex and well-balanced. Mildly bitter aftertaste from the hops. Also has a bit of alcohol in the taste, but it's not very noticable.

Mouthfeel: Has a fairly constant but not intense carbonation. Medium- to heavy-bodied and very smooth.

Drinkability: The high alcohol is noticable, but not too difficult to manage. The strong flavor can be a bit overwhelming after a while, so be sure to drink it slow.

Something about the smell & taste is very mysterious & dark -- in a very good way! An imaginitive, tasy, and exciting beer. Unibroue does it again! Great for a special occasion on it's own, or with a somewhat heavier meal. Lovers of both Belgian beers and great, unique-tasting beers will enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2006 03:16:42 | More by mithrascruor

BravoTwo

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Great beer, although I have no idea what a pistoles is, but don't really care. This poured out a beautiful dark brown opaqueness with minimal tan head. Smell was very dark, and offered a hint of the taste.

Taste was exceptional. For a 9% beer, the alchohol was hidden very much in taste, which was reminiscent of dark melted brown sugar. Spice and malt was also highly present. Maybe some burnt butterscotch. Lots going on and all good.

Shared this bottle with a friend, and we both agreed that it was a shame that we only had one bottle. Will definitely drink more of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2007 19:42:00 | More by BravoTwo

BiereBlanche

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle poured half into a snifter. I love the presentation, as I do all of the Unibroue bottles.

Pours a dark, cola-colored brown with a bit of yeasty sediment. The cap is two fingers high of a delicate light-brown that descends slowly and leaves large, lingering lacing. The aroma is quite mellow and pleasant. Lots of yeasty breadiness with delicate notes of citrus, light fruits and a perfectly faint hint of alcohol. The taste is perfectly balanced, delicate, mellow. A harmonious blend of bready sweet and light citrus flavors, very little alcohol presence. The same characteristics linger on seemingly forever (and wonderfully) in the aftertaste. Medium and with enough carbonation to add a lightness. Trois Pistoles is a dangerously drinkable offering. It holds up to the bottle's claim of being "remarkably mellow" and is delicate and perfectly balanced. I am most impressed at how perfectly the alcohol is presented, hidden enough to be incredibly drinkable, yet present in both aroma and mouth just enough to let drinker know Trois Pistoles is a serious, sophisticated drink to be sipped and enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2007 04:04:02 | More by BiereBlanche

ryrust5301

Louisiana

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Unibroue tulip glass from a 12oz brown bottle. 2007 vintage with a black winged horse set against an ominous sky on the label.

Appearance - Pours a dark dark brown with a 1 1/2 finger white bubbly head.

Smell - Smooth and sweet. Dark candied fruit smell, a little bit of cherry. Each swirl brings a treat to the nose.

Taste & Mouthfeel - Dry with a delicious spiciness at first taste. Dark fruits, and a sweet malt backbone explode after the first sip. Alcohol is well hidden, especially for 9.00% abv. Crisp mouthfell at first, but flows wonderfully into that smooth caramel malty finish. Touch of sweet chocolate in the back.

Drinkability - Great to taste this beer year after year. Keep it in my fridge at all times. It's a juggernaut of a brew! One of my favorite all time Belgians, and the best Unibroue has to offer. This beer was one of the treats that opened the window to the Belgian world for me. It truly belongs among the all time greats!

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2008 08:15:25 | More by ryrust5301

gerardoluna

Mexico

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

[Eyes] Excelent Dark deep red brown color and thin but creamy head.
[Nose]Cereal, malty caramel and hop.
[Mouth] Nice sweet malt characters, excelent body and good and gentile carbonation. This beer has one of the best after flavour that I´ve tryed. wuauuu!

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2008 23:33:20 | More by gerardoluna

cvfish

Louisiana

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a dark brown color with foamy white, head that quickly disappears and leaves no lacing, but clings to the glass as it makes its way down

S - Sweet raisins and plums

T - Very good tasting beer, sweetness with the bite of alcohol but a complex taste that continues to please

M - Medium carbonation, light bodied, very easy on the tongue

D - One hell of a beer that continues to impress and is consumed, only wanting more of it

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 06:17:44 | More by cvfish

FLBeerGuy

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark hazy plum color with a nice 2 finger light brown head that provides some lacing.

Smell is heavenly, sweet dark fruit with some spices

Taste is heavenly also, sweet dark fruit, some spices, malty, a little alcohol and some hop bitterness on the way down. Nicely balanced.

Pretty high carbonation when first poured, but it burns off quickly.

Very drinkable, even with the 9% ABV

This is one tasty beer, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 03:19:20 | More by FLBeerGuy