Blanche De Chambly - Unibroue

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.13/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750 ml bottle poured into a wine glass.

Usually not my style of beer, so trying to keep that in mind when reviewing.

Poured a half finger, maybe full finger head.

Hazy appearance, getting a sweet aroma. Not able to pick out anything in particular.

Taste, as stated above not my normal style, decided to stray a bit. Particularly because today is fairly warm. Taste is solid, sweet with a dry finish.

Overall it's decent, wouldn't be chomping at the bit to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 00:14:46 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-18-2013 14:53:12 | More by jbarletto

rickyleepotts

Arizona

2.44/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2

This is our last beer from Unibroue. That makes me sad. They are such a successful North American Belgian brewing company. That doesn't make sense… but it does to me! They use Belgian yeast in their beers, and make some of the best beers, best Belgian beers outside of Belgium. Like Terrible. Terrible is NOT terrible, and is one of my favorite beers of all time. This is on the other end of the spectrum, and is one of the lightest beer styles on the market. This is also not my favorite style, but there is a lot of history behind this beer. I need to do more research on this Celis guy. He seems legit.

Until we started researching this beer, I was curious where they got the name. I guess it makes sense considering where they brew it and the beer style. It's all coming together now! I will give this bottle my full attention, and hope that it is better than some previous white beers I have tried. It IS an old recipe and the brewery has a lot of history. Bottoms up!

In the Glass: Hold on… give me about 10 minutes for this head to settle. I poured an inch in the glass and the entire glass filled with bubbles. Not champagne bubbles… bubble bath bubbles. When the head finally did settle, the beer reminds me of Blue Moon. The head is white and fluffy, and I am seeing nothing but tiny bubbles rushing to the top. Fingers crossed this is not a mess of carbonation.

Nose: Now that does NOT smell like a typical white beer. It almost smells "off", but I am getting a lot of the spice from the coriander. Not much citrus here… hopefully that comes off in the flavor. It actually smells good. There is a hint of dryness toward the end of the aroma. Let's taste!

Flavor: Considering what this smells like, I am not that impressed with the flavor. It is not as carbonated as I expected it to be, which is fine. All the flavor really comes at the end. Not much spice and the finish is there and gone again just as fast. Not that I am comparing this to beers like Blue Moon, but I would order a Blue Moon over this any day of the week. Quite frankly, this beer is boring considering all of the other beers I have had from this brewery.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is nice offering a hint of velvet to the experience. But just like the flavor is here and gone, the mouthfeel is just as boring. I swished around the beer that last sip, and the bubbles just overwhelmed my palate. Some additional citrus flavors came out when doing that, but you can't due to the carbonation. Again, the mouthfeel is just boring. How many times can I use the word boring in this post?

Aftertaste: What aftertaste? This beer doesn't have an aftertaste. What is lingering isn't much to write home about. There is some subtle spice flavors coming through, but that's about it. The beer isn't getting better as it heats up, either. The mouthfeel is improving, but the flavor stays the same. Again, this is just not my favorite style. Too bad there is an entire section of white beers on our list!

If you are going to buy a bottle from Unibroue, get a bottle of Terrible. You won't be sorry. I will say, if you are new to craft beer, then you need to start with a beer like this. Not this particular bottle, but a beer that is light and has subtle flavors like the coriander and the orange zest. I will stick with my Belgian darks!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 22:30:02 | More by rickyleepotts

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a New Belgian tulip. The pour is a hazy light orange color with about a finger of fine white head that dissipates down to a thin lacy surface covering. On the nose I get faint aromas of sweet oranges, bread, and lemon tea.

The beer is light-bodied and has a slightly thin feel that seems appropriate to the style. The flavor is fruity and sweet up front with notes of honey and oranges. It develops to a nice mild grainy tartness at mid-palate with wheat cracker and lemon tones and finishes somewhat dry and herbal, leaving tea-like flavors lingering in the mouth. No diacetyl or other objectionable flavors. Very refreshing and easy to drink. The tart lemon-like notes and herbal finish become a bit more pronounced as the beer warms.

Overall, a nice example of the style, but downgraded somewhat due to the price. Witbiers of comparable quality can be found at lower prices than the $10.99 I paid for a 4-pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 18:04:25 | More by deadonhisfeet

VonDooom

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

05-16-2013 18:22:17 | More by VonDooom

ajtorres311

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-16-2013 15:44:29 | More by ajtorres311

amcaleh

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-15-2013 01:17:33 | More by amcaleh

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-15-2013 01:05:29 | More by hotsudge

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-13-2013 15:31:08 | More by leftstagebrew

Christian1

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-11-2013 16:51:24 | More by Christian1

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a Duvel tulip glass.

A: Pours a hazy and very pale yellow color foming a big bubbled and creamy white head. Good retention and only few lacings left in the glass

S: Strong on wheat and spices. Coriander, orange zest, wheat, sweet grains, earthy yeasts and flowery hops

T: Slightly sweet upfront. Sweet grains, wheat, honey, orange zest, earthy yeasts. In overall, a quite dry taste

M: Light body. Creamy texture. Medium carbonation. Wheaty and spicy aftertaste

O: Very refreshing easydrinking. Unibroue quality

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 20:07:36 | More by eduardolinhalis

caverog

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-10-2013 19:50:47 | More by caverog

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 341ml bottle to a pilsener glass.

A: Pours a straw color with a rocky looking head ,about two fingers thick, comprised of fairly large bubbles. Color is fairly opaque once yeast sediment is added from the bottle.

S: Coriander is most present with slight bits of citrus poking through as well.

T:. Coriander is available in diminished amounts and complemented nicely by a citrus lemon zest. Typical witbier flavors are in play. Perhaps cloves and banana are a tad less prevalent then I would generally like but overall all it was balanced quiet nicely and was refreshing tasting.

M: Very crisp and bubbly with a quick dry finish. The beer is almost alive with carbonation and extremely champagne like.

O: A rather refreshing beer and its quiet good but nothing astounding. Its pleasing and decent but nothing that stood out to me. I have 2 left and a 750ml as well so I'm a happy camper. I might buy it again but I would take other beers over it.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 20:27:38 | More by Haydn-Juby

Norseman

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-03-2013 02:19:13 | More by Norseman

DLS168

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-02-2013 02:29:31 | More by DLS168

optimator705

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-01-2013 21:31:17 | More by optimator705

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-01-2013 20:10:49 | More by ShemRahBoo

scotv

New York

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-01-2013 19:55:45 | More by scotv

rdooley

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-27-2013 16:49:39 | More by rdooley

aorloski

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

04-25-2013 13:34:05 | More by aorloski

mschind

California

3.89/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750 ML bottle withe a 2014 freshness date. Started off with a problem I have had with other Unibroue products; getting the cork out. It wouldn't budge without using channel locks.

A- Not as cloudy as a lot of witbiers. I would describe more as hazy. The pour produced a fluffy head that dissipated quickly.

S- Belgian yeast, malt, coriander and citrus.

T- I prefer more of a grain and spice presence which was so subtle as to be lacking here. Very clean and crisp as it should be.

M- Light and clean, well carbonated and refreshing.

O- A good example of a domestic Belgian Wit. Not overdone on the spices but could use a little more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 22:03:54 | More by mschind

Veebz

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-22-2013 09:18:20 | More by Veebz

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

04-21-2013 05:59:02 | More by LambicPentameter

mikeradebaugh

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

04-18-2013 02:05:33 | More by mikeradebaugh

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A:
Pours a nice bright whitish yellow, the color of homemade lemonade; with a light, airy head that dissipates a bit with excellent retention and lacing.

S:
Smells soft and a tiny bit sweet, apples and lemon a spring morning.

T:
Smooth and crisp with a touch of cucumber and flowers. Non-obtrusive and nicely carbonated.

M:
Flat refreshing 'beery' taste up front that mellows from sweet to a tad tart at the finish.

O:
Really good example of its style. The flavor didn't seem terribly pronounced to me, but it was pleasant (if subdued) tasting. Ridiculously drinkable. I remember seeing a travel show at one point where they said that the proper way to drink a white beer was in three gulps. Who knows if it was a crock or not but it always seemed beyond my beer drinking abilities (I'm not a chugger); however, I could totally see drinking this beer that way.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 22:40:55 | More by TheDoctor