Maudite - Unibroue

Damian

Massachusetts

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

Drank from a 1pt. 9.4 fl.oz./750ml bottle purchased at Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA
Best before 10-19-14
Served in a tulip

The beer poured a hazy, dark crimson-amber and was topped by a four-finger, fluffy, light tan crop of froth. The head dissipated to a thin film and eventually turned into a lasting ring. Streaks of lacing trickled down the sides of the glass.

The nose was amazingly interesting and unique. I can always spot this beer from a mile away. Super spicy and phenolic. Tons of clove and allspice. Fruity. Strong Belgian yeast notes. After a few minutes, the nose turned incredibly powdery and dry. As the head dissipated, the powdery notes subsided and the spicy and fruity qualities again dominated.

Compared to the nose, the taste was a bit of a letdown. Bready, toasty malts appeared on the front end. Good amount of yeasty, spicy and phenolic notes. Touch of tartness in the center. As the beer moved along the palate, the flavor profile became a bit empty. The beer finished crisp, dry and slightly bitter with a surprising amount of earthy hops.

The mouthfeel was astonishingly light and fluffy on the palate. Once the liquid hit my tongue, it quickly turned into an effervescent fizz.

Maudite has always been one of those beers that I recommend to people who want to delve into the craft beer world. This is a really solid offering available at a remarkably affordable price.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 03:25:16 | More by Damian

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a hazy amber with a fluffed white head. Head laces well. It also retains its height with confidence.

S-Yeast, ester and dark fruit. Not really that intense. Bruised apples. Raisins. Brown sugar. A flick of spice.

T-Malty and yeasty. Dried fruits. I get dark and pale fleshed fruits, which is pretty cool. Cloves. Maybe a tickle of pepper. Complex but not assertive.

M-Smooth carbonation. Medium body. Goes down easily.

O/D-Cant believe I haven't had this up until now. Doesn't really fit into my flavor niche.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 03:12:09 | More by VelvetExtract

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.74/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Into a chalice:

A: dark amber colored body with a light red bottom at the bottom of my chalice and a nice level one finger white foamy head appeared in my chalice. No carbonation seen rising.

S: Belgian yeast, raisisns are there in a typical Belgian dark.

T: same as the smell

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, just standard and nice.

O: good Belgian strong dark ale that I actually would come back to when I need to. Yeah, just adding to the noise that this is a good good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 17:55:43 | More by kangarooAdam59

Samp01

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy brownish amber with a good medium slowly dissipating beige head. Aroma of roasted caramel malt, yeast, dark fruity esters fill the senses. Taste is of roasted caramel malt, yeast, dark fruit of plums with some bitter notes. A full bodied brew on the palate, nicely balanced with good carbonation and a slightly smooth mouth feel. Finish is roasted caramel malt, yeast, bready, with some dried fruit flavor with some bitter notes ending is slightly lingering sweet alcohol. Overall a very good nicely balanced and enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 18:51:48 | More by Samp01

sevenarts

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark amber with a modest tan head and no lacing.

S: Fruit, brown sugar, a bit of a yeasty tang. Not super-strong.

T/M: Lots of rich, sugary fruit up front: apples, raisins, very cidery and sweet. This is balanced by bready Belgian yeast and spices.

O: A great Belgian, very flavorful and complex.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 23:07:38 | More by sevenarts

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3.23/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I know I have had this beer before… I am just not sure where or when. But I love the label. I was actually surprised to learn that the beer was first brewed in 2007. I figured, looking at the label, this was an old beer that has been bottled for years. I was also glad they explained the meaning behind the name. I had no idea what Maudite means… but the meaning and the story behind the name of the beer is fun! I hope I am OK drinking this. Excited to see what the Maudite tastes like. By the way… I love the foil wrap around the bottle cap. Makes it just feel more expensive! (This bottle was only $2.99.) Bottoms up, people!

In the Glass: I was expecting this beer to be darker in the glass. Of course, looking at the style, it should be a thick, dark brown. Almost like a barleywine. And it has a barleywine appearance in the glass. It seems thick, and has a weak lace. The ABV is pretty high, but if I had to guess, I would have expected it to be higher.

Nose: I am not smelling anything. The tasting notes said "expect a full nose"… unless by full they mean completely empty! I am shocked that this beer has such a weak aroma. On a second sniff I picked up a slight sweetness toward the end… but that's it. It's cold, but that shouldn't affect the aroma that much.

Flavor: There we go. That's what I'm talking about. Now THAT is a good Belgian strong dark ale. Like I said, we are drinking this cold. But I have enough from my first drink to speak to this beer from here on out. I want this to warm up a little. It's too cold! But the flavor is incredible, and very complex starting with a hint of hops ending with a silky smoothness leading to a sweet aftertaste. There are tons of flavors going on here. I always wonder how they can pack so many flavors into a single bottle of beer.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is boring. But that's OK. I don't want there to be a lot going on here. I want it to coat my throat and leave with a lasting aftertaste. That is exactly what this beer does. It isn't carbonated at all, and almost tastes flat. But then the flavors really kick in just when you think the beer is worthless. The back half of the palate gets the most of the flavor.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is nice. It is somewhat dry, with a subtle sweetness to it. Exactly what I expected from a Belgian dark strong ale. The beer manager at Total Wine & More likes Belgian beers. Drinking something like this, I can see why!

Unibroue makes a ton of beers, and this is one of their most popular. For being the second beer they released, I am impressed. It's $3 a bottle, so I might not buy this often. But I am pretty impressed with it. The older I get, the more I can appreciate a good Belgian beer. This is a good Belgian beer. Bottoms up, people!

Maudite - The bottle says: "La MAUDITE (Damned), refermented on yeast bas in the bottle, goes down uncommonly smooth. One taste of this excellent malt beverage will instill you in the highest respect."

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 07:07:38 | More by rickyleepotts

Dope

Massachusetts

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

Bottle is "best before" 08-02-13

A: A clear, deep ruby pour. Big frothy tan head. Fades slowly, excellent head retention. Almost no lacing, just a speck here and there on the glass. Head has a pinkish tone to it once it has fully receded. Like diluted strawberry milk.

S: Caramel apples. Almost perfectly caramel apples. A touch of melon and maybe some belgian yeast earthiness? But mostly caramel apples. Funny.

T: Apples, pears, raisin and a bit of melon. Very fruity in general but quite dry. Moderate caramel backing it with a bit of sweetness. A little bit of earth and black pepper from the belgian yeast in the finish. Ends fairly drying with some lingering dried fruits and black pepper.

M: Medium bodied, drying. Higher carbonation keeps it lighter.

O: An excellent dry BSDA. I prefer mine on the sweeter and richer side but I will still give this one credit where credit is due. Lots of fruits in this one, as unibroue is known for.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 04:23:20 | More by Dope

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best Before 12-22-14
Bottle stamped : M 221120560FL

A= Pours a deep brown color with a nice thick two fingers of head on it that holds great retention and lacing.

S= Has a spicey belgian yeast smell to it with some nice yeasty aroma of pepper and apples. A little bubblegum in it as well as a tiny amount of dark fruit.

T= The taste is almost totally different. A candy sweetness hits you initially. This beer tastes like some sort of candy I can't put my finger on. It's almost like a sweet toffee or something. I remember reading something about an assertive hop bitternss but that is definitally not the case with this beer. There is a nice buiscuity finish to it following the super sweet candy like start.

M= Well carbonated.

O= This beer was suprisingly good. Nice candy sweet beer. I was not expecting something so tasty from this to tell you the truth. It doesn't have the "assertive hop bitterness" I read about but it's tasty none the less.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:42:40 | More by jjanega08

mpedara429

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Popped open the bottle and it overflowed with head. Great… Anyways, when it got poured into the glass, it had two fingers of white head (not including the mass amount of overflow which would've been another 2 or 3 fingers). It is brown and a little hazy in color. No lacing.

S: Spicy yeast and some fruity esters.

T: Similar to the nose. Spices are peppery and clove-like. Dark fruits are present like raisins.

M: Medium body with medium-heavy carbonation. A good amount of carbonation but the bubbles are soft and tingly.

O: Besides the overflow of head, this beer was incredible. Unibroue has brought life back to me with Belgian style beers. I've never been a huge fan of Belgian spiciness, but they make their beers so balanced. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 22:04:42 | More by mpedara429

acevenom

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a goblet. Pours dark toffee brown with a two finger length off-white head. There are lots of visible bubbles in this beer, which is expected for a bottle conditioned beer. The beer has the classic Belgian dark ale aroma with those fruity esters that give off smells of apple and pear. I get some sweetness from the malt and those cloves. I don't pick up much booziness in the smell. The taste closely follows the nose. The dark malts, spices, and Belgian yeast deliver the desired flavors here. I get those fruits and the bready and malty sweetness. It is not too cloying in the mouth. The body is medium with lively carbonation. The finish is clean and this is easy to drink for such a big beer. This is a very good beer. It is a solid representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 23:50:25 | More by acevenom

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a Maudite tulip

The body slides into the glass a burnt orange amber with good clarity. The light tan cap fizzes up to fill the glass and never fully disappears, settling to a thin layer of bubbles atop the surface of the liquid.

The nose is ripe with fruity esters. Grapes and apple skins with burnt caramel and clove. The Belgian yeast strain is front and center. Spicy and phenolic.

On the palate, burnt caramel/toffee lend some sweet overtones. Spicy phenols are bold and steal the show. The phenols give off a band-aid/medicinal notes. Some soft cocoa notes with brown sugar and plums round out the profile.

Medium body, prickly carbonation. The finish is semi-dry with a good amount of spice and a sugary sweetness.

A damn fine BSDA. Easy drinking with layers of flavor and complexity. Flavors keep coming in waves and retreat slowly, leaving a long lingering bready, sugary, spicy flavor. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 19:05:48 | More by ColForbinBC

notchucknorris

California

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

A: Pours a hazy deep reddish color with a huge tan head.

S: Deep malty aroma with dark fruit, spiced apples, cloves and Unibroue yeast. A really nice aroma.

T: Lots of Belgian yeast and clove with some unripe cherries, hearty malt and some dark bread.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 18:56:50 | More by notchucknorris

spoony

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a 750 ml bottle into a wine glass.

A-Deep amber color with hints of copper and rusty orange. Almost pumpkin colored in the light. A thick persistent head varies between off-white and tan. Lots of visible carbonation.

S-Yeast dominates, with hints of apple, and very ripe fruits. There is a slight malt note and the alcohol is very apparent...almost too apparent.

T-Ripe fruits and banana bread. Hints of pear and a mild spiciness. The alcohol is there, but it is not nearly as strong in taste as the smell would have you believe. Not particularly hoppy, but not overly malted, either.

M-Lots of carbonation, but still smooth drinking. I would say this ranks on the heavy side of medium bodied.

O-A nice, complex beer. The flavor is strong and the alcohol is higher, so you could drink it alone but I still think this would pair well with lots of food types and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 01:24:26 | More by spoony

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter

A: Opaque, light amber with a tan, 1 finger head that hung around for about 30 seconds then skedaddled. Significant lacing.

S: Malts, dark fruit, cloves, coriander. Belgian yeast.

T: Follows nose. Very smooth. Sweet, robust. A great sipper.

M: medium with creamy carbonation.

O: Another excellent offering from Unibroue, down to the artwork on the label. Recommended for followers of Belgian strong darks. Drinks like a trippel.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 14:20:34 | More by brewskifan55

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

341 mL bottle from TBS; bottled on Feb 15 2012.

Pours an opaque brownish-amber colour, topped with nearly two fingers of frothy, beige-coloured head that fizzles away to a thin cap and collar disappointingly quickly, while leaving little lace behind. The aroma is enticing, with lots of dark malt sweetness and notes of orchard fruit, ripe banana, cloves and lots of (that familiar Unibroue) yeast.

Tastes almost as good as it smells, which is pretty damn good. The profile is complex, with a wide array of yeasty, fruity characteristics - with banana, raisins, dates and plums being the most prominent. These blend nicely with the caramel and gingerbread malt flavours, with candi sugar sweetness being a constant fixture as well. The spiciness is peppery at first, but softens into cloves and allspice toward the finish. Yeasty aftertaste, with more banana and spice. Medium-bodied, with a spritzy feel on the tongue from the fairly robust carbonation. Like many Unibroue beers, this is dangerously easy to drink - and the abv is especially well hidden in this one.

I don't get around to drinking Unibroue brews very often - largely due to the machinations of this province's byzantine alcohol distribution system, which (for some reason) makes the offerings of this particular domestic brewery very difficult to find. And that's a god damn shame, because they make some of the finest beers in Canada. This one may just be one of their best.

Final Grade: 4.4, a resoundingly successful A. Maudite is a wonderfully balanced, absurdly quaffable Belgian-style dark ale that I probably should have picked up a long time ago. Delicious stuff, and it practically qualifies as a bargain at its TBS price. It's hard to find examples of this style around here, so this is a brew that I am glad to have available locally. It's absolutely worth a try for any fan of Belgian beers, and something I will undoubtedly try again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 07:38:11 | More by thehyperduck

rlee1390

Indiana

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

A-Cloudy ruby, one finger head that doesn't last long.

S-Cherries, caramel, wheat and chocolate.

T-Cherries, caramel, chocolate, some bitterness. Plums and apples as well.

M-Medium bodied with nice carbonation.

O-A well balanced beer, none of the flavors dominate but instead come together nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 22:46:20 | More by rlee1390

mjtiernan

New York

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

750ml bottle poured into a Chimay goblet. Bottled J30091405Q (September 30, 2009) and best before 9/30/12.

A: Large pillowy white head sits atop a hazy mahogany body. Lots of carbonation activity.

S: Some caramel, citrus, chocolate, raisin and fig. A touch of mustiness. Smells like it’s on the sweeter side.

T: Very nice. Mellow..the flavors from the aroma mesh together beautifully. I imagine that a little age has been kind to this one. More plum than raisin...roasted caramel...a little grape.

M: Drinkability is pretty high for a beer with this much going on with it. Drier than I anticipated from the aroma which I like. Alcohol is detectable, but well hidden. Body medium, carb on the high side.

O: Another great beer from Unibroue. I thought that Trois Pistoles had more complexity, however, I don’t think there is a great difference. Maybe I'll do a side by side someday.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 02:13:50 | More by mjtiernan

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a super fluffy off white head. The color is a rich deep amber. Carb's are excellent as is the lacing which coats the glass.
Aroma is spicy with wit beer aromatics and is also quite malty with toffee hints.
A good beer with depth. It has sweet spices similar to a wit in my opinion but is also richly malted with hints of toffee and fruits.
Feels smooth and soft and is a really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 01:17:56 | More by micromaniac129

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

25.4 ounce bottle, corked and caged, poured into the Maudite tulip that came with said bottle.

A: Pours a cloudy medium-brown hue that changes crazy shades as it's thrust in and out of the light. A thick bone white head, 2+ fingers worth, rested on top. Minutes later, a still-present pinky's worth remains.

S: Malty-sweet, candied sugars, with yeasty breadiness and a touch of lemon zest on the nose.

T: Taste follows the nose. Lemon zest and grassy earth tones are more present on the palate than in the nose. A touch of raisin and fig rises up from underneath, and becomes more pronounced as the beer warms. Bready yeastiness rolls through on the finish, with a touch of an almost-pepper-like spice on the back end completes the picture.

M: Exceptional here. Great carbonation, good creaminess, dry, sour/tart finish.

D/O: An alright offering, but not as "dark" as I like my "belgian darks" to be. I prefer a little bit more of a deeper malt presence, dark fruits, candied sugars, and a little bit less yeasty/bready/lemony notes. A fine beer, I wouldn't mind having it again sometime, but I don't love it.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 01:21:49 | More by psuKinger

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

huge, foamy tan head - sizzles then pops (bottle-conditioning degradation?) - reddish amber, somewhat burgundy color of liquid - relatively un-cloudy - an appealing sight

spicy and fruity estery aroma - actually fairly bready as well, similar to sweet honeyed rolls - almost a dark-grape vinous quality - vague, soft notes of powdered cocoa nibs

finding similarities to their Quelque Chose - is there wheat in this recipe? (or am i mistaking that flavor with yeast byproducts?) - black-cherry-like flavor through the middle - mildly spicy/smoky and floral finish that lingers long and warm on the tongue

perhaps a tad more dry or thin than it should be - pretty spritzy and dry - often a different, rounder feel on draft - still one of the more immensely drinkable products in their lineup

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 20:02:14 | More by Bouleboubier

Brubaker

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark amber, somewhat cloudy, with a three finger head.

S- Fruity with yeast. Aromatic a little perfumey.

T- Fruity with caramel. Lingering dark/candy sugars

M- Quick off the tongue, thin and smooth. Nice carbonation.

O- Like drinking a fruity Scottish Ale. A well made beer but I would choose a Chimay (to stay in style) over it or a Dark Island Scottish Ale (to stay in flavor).

Might Drink
Might Buy
Won't Make (I already made a Dark Island Clone)

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 02:26:18 | More by Brubaker

womencantsail

California

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

Mahogany in color with a tall khaki head. Lovely spice aroma with lots of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. Moderate banana and some nice dark fruits, mostly raisin and black cherry. Great malt sweetness, too. The flavor is nicely sweet without being cloying. Great toffee and caramel along with the dark fruit and spice character. The nutmeg and clove notes really come through and are quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 22:49:44 | More by womencantsail

darkstar12

Maryland

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

poured into a pilsner glass

A: nice solid copper color with a little bit of cloudiness. Three-finger head that dissipated down but still retained a thin creamy head throughout. No real lacing

S: rich, bit malty, very pleasant

T: lot of flavor - sugars, malts, a little bitterness in the aftertaste. just a mild hint of alcohol despite the 8%.

M: good mouthfeel, carbonation is sharp but dissipates quickly

O: great, great, very drinkable beer

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 22:57:18 | More by darkstar12

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

P:  Pours a orange/brown color with delicate streams if bubbles and a small dollop of thin airy head. 

S:  Strongly laced with sweet candied malts, dark fruits, banana alcohol, spices,  belgian yeast, slight aroma of rose petals, bubble gum, taffy, coconut and a timid musk. 

T/M:  Silky and creamy body with a touch of prickly carbonation. Taste follows the nose and follows up with cherry alcohol, unripe bananas, green and red apples and roasted grains.  Clove, pepper, prunes, raisins and timid citrus hops.  Finish is creamy with a timid numbing sting on the tongue that delivers a resemblance of licking an envelope. 

O:  Creamy and smooth a remarkable BSDA that is easy to drink and can sneak up on you quick. A bouquet of fruit, yeast and spice that delivers a delicious offering that makes you want more. I really enjoyed this and have been really impressed with Unibroue. 

 

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 22:09:58 | More by Hopswagger

davecavemaster

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a Belgian style ale that is spicy and fruity. The beer pours an orange/brown color that is cloudy, a product of the brewery's partial filtration. It has a slight head that is bubbly, and dissipates in a relatively short time with very little that clings to the glass.
The aroma is at first very yeasty, then gives traces of the fruit and malt.
Upon drinking you repeat what you smell, first tasting the yeast and then the spicy fruit and malt flavors. Great taste, although if you are not a fan of yeast, this may not be for you. The brew has a heavy feel in your mouth, and the carbonation is near perfect.

Fantastic beer!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:48:55 | More by davecavemaster