Maudite - Unibroue

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle received as part of a variety 12-pack from friends on a trip to Canada.

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed a 1 1/2" beige head over the slightly cloudy dark amber brew. Frothy head recedes ever so slowly, with thick coating lace. Aroma is spiced malty sweetness. Taste begins with a sweet flavor reminiscent of root beer, then gets the spicy yeast character through the close. Small bubbles are smooth over the tongue, and the drinkability is very nice. Not sure how I've missed reviewing this one for so long.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 02:43:40 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ortino's Northside...
Appears a hazy, dark amber with a 2 finger, thick white head of foam.
Smell is of of the typical Unibroue yeasty Belgian goodness of spicy, sweet, apple, fresh dough, black pepper, plums, raisins, citrus, & caramel.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with the standout spicy dough that makes it a remarkable, slightly sweet and spicy brew that's addictive.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, mildly warming and toasty with dough, brown sugar, and spice.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2007 14:18:49 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First bottle was bad, here is the correct review it deserves.

Pleasant slightly cloudy brown beer, looks tasty. Good amount of carbonation, but not too much.

Smells sweet and of dark ripe fruit. Spicy smells too, and apples, grapes and black pepper. Lively and peppy.

Tastes milder than it smells; a bit drier than you would expect. This is a well-blended brew and a good choice if you want a drier Belgian Ale. Has a distinct mild hop taste. This is a beer that keeps delivering new flavors as you drink it. Alcohol is completely hidden.

Mouthfeel is just about right.

VERY drinkable, packs a punch though.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2004 03:39:36 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy orange/brown, big off white head forms, lots of lacing. Smell is orange, spice, sweet honey, apples, and chocolate. Taste is malty, with some yeast, brown sugar, orange, chocolate and spices. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, medium to high carbonation, very smooth and my favourite Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2005 18:12:06 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a champagne like fizziness. A bubbly head dissipates rather quickly. The beer is a murky brown/orange hue. Spicy and yeasty nose. (Pepper, corriander, ginger, bready and doughy.) Nicely carbonated mouthfeel. Drinkability is high for an 8% a/v. Taste is similar to the aroma. Yeasty doughiness. Spicy zip (pepper and orange curacao). And some bitterness attributed to the hop load, though not high. High quality again from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2002 19:21:39 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served on-tap at Eulogy in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a orangey-brown color with creamy head. Some of the other unibroue beers are too carbonated causing them to taste like champagne, but not the Maudite. A nice maltiness to it with a very smooth finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2008 08:04:55 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.23/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Good dark appearance, beige thick tan head. Aroma is unique, but not necessarily what I'm all about.

Taste, so much going on. Sugar, caramel, fruit (apple/pear/grass) are in order of most prominent flavor. A sipping beer, too much to take in throughout. An 8oz size would be ample, too much mouth and price to have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 17:16:44 | More by Beerandraiderfan

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

6th Feb 2013: in La Trappe, San Fransisco: sat in a dark area, so had trouble seeing the true colour of the beer, front label on bottle bright enough but my glass seemed to hold a dark orange brew within it, on top what looked like an off-white foaming crown.

Semi-sweet aroma with malts leading the way, with yeastiness and fruit esters just behind in strength.

The taste is a pleasant blend of biscuity malts and dark fruit flavours intermingled with yeast traces and some hop spruce hints. Very drinkable.

Body depth was fine and the alcohol sat nicely within the flavours.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:36:11 | More by BlackHaddock

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've been a big fan of this beer for a long time, but I'm wondering if Unibrou has tweaked the recipe. It just doesn't seem to have quite the richness and intensity of flavor it once had, though there's no denying it's a very good beer.

Had this one on tap at Mahaffey's tonight.

Pours a very nice copper, amber orange colar, with excellent head retention and good lacing. On the nose I don't get all that much... maybe some ginger and rootbeer. Still smells pretty enticing. On the palate there are some nice flavors of citrus, cherry, apple and rootbeer, with a bit of tartness in the finish. A nice beer, but the mouthfeel is a bit light and almost watery. The beer finishes very cleanly, but for my money give me the Fin du monde or the don de dieu any time.

A good beer, but not the best from Unibroue IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2007 01:44:41 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: bottle from Pinocchio's beer garden, Media, PA

Poured into a Gulden Draak stem glass, a hazy chestnut brown with orange tints, and a small white head that receded to a mere ring. Aroma of caramel maltiness and bready yeast. I didn't really get the fruity taste that many other people seem to be getting from this. Rather, a clean nuttiness with some subtle spice, cloves and aromatic wood. A little bit flat and woody. But it's still good, and goes extremely good with Oreos, I discovered. Light-medium mouthfeel, and pretty drinkable, though not too distinctive.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 22:57:17 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep brownish amber colour, slightly hazed clarity in the body, with a full and foamy head of off-white. Lacing is sudsy and Belgianesque. Looks very decent.

Sweet and slightly woody nose, with big Belgian yeast characters and a slightly organic sawdust character. Good amount of spice and a faint citric acidity. Lots of very pleasant characters on this.

Taste is lovely. Very decent Belgian characters, giving a slightly rounded note to the slightly smoky front. Robust and full, but sweet enough to temper anything before it gets too harsh or prominent. Finish is surprisingly fresh, leaving a pleasant crushed organic character on the back. Feel is smooth and light, adding to the really charismatic aspect of this beer. I'm very surprised at how light it is for 8%.

It's a lovely drop of beer. Unibroue do some wonderful things and this is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 09:29:01 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The bottled version has a more intense peppery feel to it than the tap version. I didn't realize the beer was lighter in color until I shined a light through it (kind of a purple-orange mixture). I wasn't as impressed with the bottled version because it was a little more hot than what I remembered. The head is also a little lackluster as well, numbing some of the flavor in the beer when it collapses.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 23:13:50 | More by DoubleJ

Gusler

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer disembogues the 12-ounce brown bottle a deep copper, and after decanting the last bit, and pouring it into the glass, the beer becomes hazy with a generous creamy tan crown upon the body, after a slow demise of the head, the residual lace forms a concealing curtain to obfuscate the glass. Nose is Aroma of ripe plums, sweet with hints of yeast and malt, quite pleasant to senses. Start is sweet, with a pleasing grain profile and the top middling in feel. Finish has a biting acidity and the hops masterful in their spicy presence, dry somewhat alcohol bitter aftertaste lingers on.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2005 21:49:03 | More by Gusler

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a murky ice-tea color with a huge, billowy 2 finger light beige head that retained nicely lasting for well into the drink.

S: moderately soft and fruity with notes of ripe apples and fresh pears being the most distinguishable.

T: The initial flavor yielded a fresh fruitiness from the Belgian yeast of apples and pears similar to the nose. A great carbonation factor brings supporting flavors of bananas and tart oranges rounding out the beer. Overall a fruity, spritzy Belgian that drank very nicely.

M: light but lively and fizzy from the heavy carbonation bringing out a light sour fruitiness on the tongue of apples and pears once again which faded quickly with only a slight lingering reminder leaving you looking forward to the next sip.

D: Very nice drinkability, a nice fruitiness from the yeast and lively carbonation makes this a worthy try.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 13:15:20 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy copper-orange colour with a thin lace of white foam that keeps replenishing itself due to carbonation. Aroma consists of ripe fruitiness and maltiness, with some spice and alcohol as well. Sweet, almost wine-like character is present in the flavour. Sharp fruitiness and lightly phenolic spiciness, just a hint of black pepper with a stronger clove-like flavour. High carbonation and noticeable alcohol warming with a smooth texture and medium/full body. The finish is just slightly bitter, with the phenols and sweetness carrying through.

341 mL brown bottle with bottling date on the back label.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2004 01:17:50 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Although the story of 'Maudite' ("the damned") is a Christmas one, you'd have to agree there's something Halloween-y about it, not the least for its pumpkin orange colour and jack-o-lantern glow. Transparency is misted in a dense fog that also dims the beer's natural shimmer if left out of the light. Its head, too, casts over the beer like a big cloud.

The aroma has a bit of sugar, a bit of spice and, indeed, everything is nice. The sugar, which is secondary, comes from a lightly toasty maltiness with faint caramel undertones. The spice, which is considerable, comes from a most effervescent, Belgian-bred yeast that pushes notes of bruised banana and fiery peppercorns right up the nostrils.

The flavour actually resembles something of a mulled apple cider, one accented with wildflower honey and toasted breadcrumbs alongside the customary cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Its sweetness is too distorted by the spice to be considered caramel or toffee-like, but it lends itself to the aftertaste along with a pleasant dried fruitiness.

The bubbles are soft and easy on the tongue, allowing the full savor of the spiciness to be appreciated as it wanes between warming and full out five-star piquant, depending on things like temperature and age. Speaking of which, in my experience, Maudite is not a beer that ages all that gracefully. If you want to experience it at its best, drink it fresh.

Maudite is damn good beer from a brewery that, with very few exceptions, makes only exceptional offerings. Maudite is at least a serviceable Belgian-style ale; t is a beer that most people should find zestful, pleasurable and gratifying, a most charming 750ml acquaintance to make that, arguably, might be worth selling your soul over.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2006 00:34:09 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

3.4/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into a mason jar at Villain's bar in Los Angeles, California. Cost was $12.00 USD. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of great cream, nice thickness, and good retention. Colour is a nontransparent dark copper.

Sm: Candi sugar, well chosen malts, some cream, and yeast. A moderate strength aroma. .

T: A bland malt body with some moderate a candi sguar on the climax. It's simple - without yeast. A bit of cream. Boring but pleasant and enjoyable. No alcohol comes through. It could use layering.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit too thick. Not tailored to the flavours, but fairly complementary of them.

Dr: Drinkable but boring. I like it but I wouldn't get it again at this price. Check it out - in bottle form - if you're a fan of the style.

B-

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 04:27:37 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a brownish color, not quite as dark as Chambly Noire. Strong malty aroma with more of an alcohol finish to it. Taste is similar to Chambly Noire, except that it's much stronger. The sweetness of the malt is more prevalent in this ale. Almost too sweet for my liking. The mouthfeel isn't as dry though. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2007 01:13:14 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a cervoise. The brew pours a hazed burnt copper with some coloration more towards orange/yellow around the edges. The cap appears 2 fingers strong with a yellowish tan coloration that holds quite well for an 8% brew. As the cap slowly fades, it leaves some small fingers of lacing effect on the glass. A swirl revives a finger and streaming carbonation maintains the cap.

The aroma has suggestions of fruited quality like orange zest/pulp, lemon, apple and pear. A yeasty quality comes out giving a hint of clove-like spiciness with a faint mineral inclusion. Overall, a familiar yet enjoyable smelling brew.

The taste has a bit of peppery spice that blends into yeasty flavors of clove and mild banana/bubblegum. The aftertaste has some fruited quality like melons.. something along the lines of cantaloupe, pear and apple. The alcohol is felt with a mild accenting fruited flavor that draws in quite a bit of warmth for the 8% indicated inclusion. The aftertaste has a bit of toasty caramel grain which is refreshing and enjoyable.

This is a medium bodied brew with a moderate amount of carbonation. For 8% it is well integrated and only starts to get warming towards the 2nd half of the glass. My favorite take on the style? No probably not but if you havent had it, you need to give it a try. It has a lot going on in it and is something I would most certainly revisit again to pair with food.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 17:48:38 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Only slightly darker than a Bohemian pilsner, ample head, nice lacing.

S: Faintly spicy.

T: It's like they've taken a Bohemian pilsner, reduced the bitterness, and added some spice, producing they're own unique 'Belgian' brew.

M: Quite light, with lots of carbonation. Very Belgium.

D: Very drinkable. At 8% alcohol, you're DAMNED!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2005 13:00:15 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy chestnut brown with a nice head that fades to a thin cap in relatively short order. No lacing. Typical aromas of Belgian yeast with a bit of spice, some coriander, and pepper as well as a nice breadiness. Quite carbonated, and thge taste is a little thinner and spicier than I'd like. A bit more breadiness and even a bit more sweetness would be welcome. Quite spicy with pepper, more coriander, and orange peel. Quite herbal and very drying on the finish. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2008 01:17:38 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Color is a dark raisin/carmel brown. Head is a thin light off white. Medium level of lacing.

Smell is of bananas and cloves. Dried fruit also. Taste is quite similar. The banana flavor is very strong. The 8% abv becomes present in the taste as well. There is also a grassy hop flavor to it.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. After it lingers around enough, the alcohol becomes over powering.

Overall, a solid beer at 8%. Pretty easy to drink and quite tasty. I'd easily have another.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 08:42:41 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a clear dark orange color with mild effervescence and a very thick bone white head. Quick lacing. The aroma is fruit (banana mostly), spice, yeast and some hops. Medium-bodied and somewhat complex with a satisfying array of flavors like clove and other spices, fruit, malt and a touch of alcohol. The finish is rather dry and zesty. The alcohol definitely sneaks up on you by the end of the bottle too. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2004 16:51:55 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one hell of yummy offering by the awesome Unibroue guys in Quebec. 750ml corked bottle, pop this sucker and immediately smell the mingling of sweet spices and warming alcohol. Oh yeah...it smells absolutly amazing, I just loved the sweet spicyness, lets see, theres some fruity sweets of orange peels, some nutmeg, ginger, clove, belgian-like yeast, and heck through in some roasted peppers. Then the taste is super rich and creamy smooth with lots of spicy action and tingly sweetness with a great roasty caramel malt backing thats very bold and smooth. The spice is peppery and fruity. Its got alot of things happening in the taste and feel, its just great to sip and ponder what the hecks all in this thing. The feel is medium heavy bodied, solid, silky smooth and a little bit creamy, that starts sweet, citrusy and malty then goes into the spice level and fades nicely into a fresh and drying bitter hop. Nothing here is overwhelming or overpowering, its all balanced in so softly its hard to phathom. This is one super awesome beer, highly recommend getting some.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2003 10:42:52 | More by tavernjef

mactrail

California

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy amber color in the tall Stella glass with a fine textured foam. Sudsy in the mouth. Odd odor, like last weeks brewing carboy, but the nose is clove and a suggestion of gardenias.

Rich and spicy are the key words. Yeasty all the way, with the fruity notes mixed with the bitter. Hints of clove are the most identifiable spicy flavor. Some softer orange and pineapple. Complex and interesting beer to sip slowly. Great marshmallow mouthful with all the rich foaminess.

From the 12 oz bottle. "Best before" date is 12-01-14.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 06:26:41 | More by mactrail