La Fin Du Monde - Unibroue

the42ndtourist

Ontario (Canada)

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750mL bottle (w/ cork). The first pouring yielded little head, but the smell which hit me almost immediately as I started pouring was a beautiful citrus and peach odour. The colour was a beautiful cloudy pale gold. The taste is magnificent, completely disguising the high alcohol content. The second pouring gave about 2cm of head, and tasted just as good as the first. An extremely good and drinkable beer!! Glad I am that I chose this to drink on my birthday.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2002 09:07:57 | More by the42ndtourist

mzwolinski

California

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a very fine beer, and yet another reason why Unibroue should be regarded as one of North America's premeir breweries.

Light golden in color, hazy with a *lot* of carbonation. The head dissipated fairly quicky, but perhaps this was due to my glass rather than the beer.

Aroma is fruity, hints of banana and tropical fruit. Yeast is very unobtrusive.

The beer is terrifically balanced, with European hops, gentle corriander, and a peppery cloveish spiciness sitting atop a sweet light malty body. Medium bodied, though feels lighter due to high carbonation. Slightly dry finish. You'll feel the alcohol before you taste it.

Exceptionally well-done tripel.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2002 22:29:55 | More by mzwolinski

hyuga

North Carolina

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pale golden in color with a huge white head. Head stays fairly well. Excellent aroma that I'm taking great pleasure in. Black pepper spiciness, tart fruitiness, breadiness, and plain old yeast. Sure, it doesn't sound like much, but it certainly is a pleasure to sniff. And to drink...! Wow, I'm impressed. Sweetness and black pepper, odd combination? No way, it's great! Up front it's a little hoppy, then in the middle it gets to the sweet and peppery bit. Bready and a little yeasty as well, all the way through. Tangy citrus and fruitiness shows up at the back a bit more. Hop bitterness is really brought out in the finish, making it very crisp. Medium body. You'd never guess at the abv. Not a hint of it is detectable! A wonderful representation of the style, one of the best even. A wonderful beer in itself. It makes you think, what if the world was about to end? What would be your last beer? I'd say this wouldn't be a bad choice at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2003 01:31:37 | More by hyuga

beerfox

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beautiful belgian pours hazy yellow, like a misty sunrise at the beach. The head is rocky and thick, dissipating to a thin layer with belgian swirls. Lacing is impressive.

The aroma is clean and floral, spiced with cloves and a fruity bouquet, with hoppy character. I love this style of beer.

Accents of clove, banana and apricot, with a clean and crisp hoppiness, abound. The malts are well-balanced with the hop bitterness. This beer could make me lose my way back to reality. This is exceptional brew! Warms as it flows down the throat, leaving a glow from the combination of hops and alcohol.

I could drink this for eternity! Truly a beer worth seeking out!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2005 23:22:54 | More by beerfox

acrawf6

Louisiana

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Man, gotta love this beer! This has always been a classic (for me) to fall back on and enjoy whenever i wanted a beer i know that could lift my spirits. Its a shame i am just reviewing it now.

Poured out a hazy yellow, lots of carbonation creating the 2 white bubbly finger head. I loved to watch these bubbles go, the beer had a constant head the whole time drinking it.

Smells of clove and such sweet goodness. Spiced orange/apricot come through and this one smells like a witbier with coriander.

Taste: Freakin fantastic! Sweet spicyness comes right through. Love the spice. alcohol is prsent, but not very considering the 9%. Very creamy.

The mouthfeel is very nice. Lots of carbonation that bites at your toungue. However there is still a big sense of creaminess to the feel.

Unbelievably drinkable. This is one belgium strong that i can have as a session beer. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 05:54:19 | More by acrawf6

medic25

Connecticut

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was amazed when I notice the other day that I've never actually written a review of my favorite beer. Not much to say that hasn't been said, but I'll give it a shot. The beer is a beautiful golden hazy yellow, with a big foaming white head that soon dissipates. The nose is classic, fruity and yeasty. The taste is an amazing blend of citrus, malt, and slight sweetness, with the littlest hint of hops. Incredibly drinkable for a 9.0% ABV. This is my go-to beer when I'm just looking for something great to entertain friends or kick back and relax.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2005 03:01:18 | More by medic25

rsyberg01

California

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

serving type - 330 ml bottle. from a tulip

appearance - a light copper pour, good head that fades moderately but sticks. lacing is nice and coats the glass with a certain grasp. a bit hazy which is nice if you ask me. very inviting.

smell - very similar to delerium tremens. tropical scents purge my nostrils along with distinctive spice and a slight hop scent. alcohol is faint but a bit evident. smells just extraordinary, nothing like it.

taste - like a nice ol' kick in the mouth, it simply floods to the nooks and crannies of your mouth and shows them what exactly delicous taste is like. just pleasant all around. strong notes of fruitiness along with a slight bitter twinge from the hop character. finishes crispy and clean yet resides enough to prepare you for the next sip. taste is also very similar to delerium tremens, curious if they use the same or a similar yeast strain.

mouthfeel - not heavy at all but not light. very good balance on the palette and really quite nice. just makes you want another drink.

drinkability - very easy drinking, though it does have some depth so you have to draw the line somewhere, surely only out of fullness and not out of boredom with flavor. just a premium beer, delicious at every point of the beer from top to bottom.

tip - serve in a tulip, perfect for the nose and helps with the head just a bit. great to share with friends and family. just a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2006 09:17:12 | More by rsyberg01

Bobzilla

New York

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Again, for a non-Belgian beer, Unibroue seems to have the style down.
A nice golden yellow color, with white lacy head. The lace lingered on in patches down the glass throughout drinking. "On lees", but if poured slowly, it is crystal clear.
The smell was comprable to Cantillon Iris, with less grapefruit and more subtle hints of the Belgian yeast strains. Has the Unibroue nose that is found in almost all their beers. Compared to the Cantillon, it actually is a bit more pleasant to smell, as it is not overpowering on the first whiff.
Hints of coriander and orange cut through the crispness of the beer. A light tartness, but the malt/sugar content cuts smooths it out, creating a nice blend.
The motuhfeel can be a bit crisp or light, but not so much as to be distracting.
At 9%ABV, its still a very drinkable beer. It is not heavy, and I don't really ever feel like I'm filling up when having it.
A wonderful Tripel that holds up to any other of the style that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2008 14:39:32 | More by Bobzilla

prsguitarsr4me

New York

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This stuff is for kings. Great beer. Pours blonde with a nice white head that could have better retention and lacing (like Duvel does). Smells and tastes fantastic - sweet and refreshing - very smooth and delicate. As the head died away, I wished every sip was like the first couple, though. I might open up my big Duvel after this for a back to back...

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2008 02:37:51 | More by prsguitarsr4me

northaustin

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

this one is one of my personal favorites. im actually drinking it tonight. the taste is unique and you can really taste the apples. its usually too expensive for me to want to buy but every now and then it can be found at a nice price. the 750ml is usually too expensive as well but worth it for a nice occasion. theres not too much carbonation in it either. real nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 03:09:28 | More by northaustin

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a nice golden carbonated yellow into a snifter, with two fingers of bright white head, that laced very well. The smell was off the charts; cloves, allspice, coriander, banana, tart apple, pear, lime, bubble gum...and I know that I'm missing a few. Couldn't wait to start sipping, and when I did, what overwhelmed me was not all of the aforementioned flavors (and then some), but the BALANCE between all of those flavors. Furthermore, the alcohol content was not as evident as expected in the finish. The feel was nicely carbonated and medium, and when I was done with the bomber...which didn't take very long...I wish I had purchased several.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 22:20:17 | More by donniecuffs

Elimination

Oregon

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass

appearence: 2 finger head very white, a champagne like bubble, brownish yellow, more golden really

smell: man, i love tripels as a smell, and this smells wonderful

taste: all i can see is, taste alone defines that a tripel should be

moutfeel, a sudsy bubbleness, flows so nice

drink: i wish i could get more of these easily cause this is all i would drink

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 04:42:54 | More by Elimination

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Poured a cloudy wheat color into my Allagash tulip. About two fingers of thick, white head rose and dissipated to a foamy lacing.

Smell: Reminds me of summer. Deliciously yeasty, reminding me of a hefeweizen. Orange, lemon, apple, and herbs, maybe cloves. Oh, baby!

Taste: That may be the closest I come to heaven...besides when I drink hefe, that is. Follows the enticing aromas. It's yeasty goodness is complimented with flavors of orange, lemon, apple, and cloves (maybe). There's a bit of a hop bite, but the malts dominate, and it just gets better and better as it warms. (I'm really not sure why BA recommends such a cold serving temperature.)

Drinkability: Awesome. Sip the goodness.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2010 07:53:22 | More by TheQuietMan22

Gorgoroth

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

"best by" date: 09-24-12

glassware: La Fin du Monde branded tulip

A - gentle pour yields hazy, deep gold body with huge, dense, white head, which dissipates fairly quickly into a thin, white halo and an opaque film with large islands of lace; really no carbonation to be seen

S - nose is strong with Belgian yeast and malt; intense floral scent shrouds citrus, sweet spices, and banana

T - up front with yeast and malt; citrus flavors such as grapefruit and orange peel understate; the finish is very dry with a notable hop bitterness and lingering, mellow notes of whole-grain toast

M - medium body with a crisp palate; effervescent and tingly, despite lack of noticeable carbonation; finishes dry with a glowing alcohol warmth

D- extremely drinkable; complex and strong, yet very inviting

I've had this beer numerous times now and I always feel like I could drink several bottles in a row, though the 9% abv might make that difficult. There's really almost nothing in this beer that could be improved upon, and at less than three dollars a bottle, it's an absolute steal. A true gem of the beer world.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 02:25:26 | More by Gorgoroth

jmarvin4189

Vermont

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance - An orange golden w/ minimal white head

Smell - it was a citrus smell with some coriender seed mixed into it.

Taste - A strong corriender seed and citrus combination. very very good, it was a very unique taste that i haven't tasted before.

Mouthfeel - very crisp with alot of carbonation, very smooth and delightful to drink on a beautiful summer day.

Drinkability - very drinkable, i have to remember this is a 9% beer since it doesn't have a hint of alcohol in its flavor. I could drink this all day and is by far my favorite triple yet.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 03:33:52 | More by jmarvin4189

yagosantgria

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: If apple juice were carbonated and mixed with a splash of water.

Smell: Warm, relaxing, makes you feel that instead of wafting the bottle or glass underneath your nose a few passes, you would stop it and push your face in and inhale deeply.

Taste: It's fair to say this beer gives quickies to all your tastebuds as it gently slithers down. The aftertaste is present for a great deal of time, allowing to savor each part of the taste (fruity, spices, hops) individually.

Mouthfeel: Sharp, not tangy-like but cold refreshing sharp. This isn't to say it is the same as drinking ice water while chewing mint gum but it is crisp, and makes its presence known immediately after flowing past the lips.

Drinkability: As said above and below, this beer is dangerous. If I didn't tell someone the content of this brew and just let them enjoy the taste, they'd drink themselves into a "I did something regrettable" position FAST. The alcohol simply is not tasted or noted.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 20:19:14 | More by yagosantgria

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Probably the biggest shock to my senses from any beer, having this for the first time about 10 years ago. I don't know what was most unique or strange beer I had had up to that point - maybe Delirium Tremens or Skull Splitter. But this made me make a face. By now I've adjusted, shifted to accept and enjoy flavors and sensations a bit further out towards the fringes from this. "La Fin" still excites and just about overwhelms me to this day.

Textbook explosion of Belgian carbonation - egg-shell white spongy foam, slow to fade, but fade it does. Dawn-light yellow-amber juice, heavenly haze. Scent of delicate flowery-perfume and fresh herb green leafiness (cilantro?). Honey-kissed lemon butter cookie, ambiguous enlivening citrus, and chased with residual bottom-dwelling yeasty gunk. Silky and spicy, potent and bold (like the smell) on the tongue. Honey (up front), clove (in and around), and banana tincture (late). Dessert malty along side. Can't underplay the super jolt of young orange/lemon 1/3-sour tang and shaved-sharp herbal rush holding on. The spiciness seems to mask or actually contribute to a restrained, snail-snow rising warmth. Hmmm...it's so smooth and cold-clean, drops off sudden dry - nothing.

Still my favorite beer - love the label, love the post-liminal. (On-tap - a dream unfulfilled)

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:37:31 | More by Bouleboubier

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Champagne corked 750ml bottle into chilled standard pint. I must say, I am excited to try this beer.

A: hazy golden color with copious bubbles rising to the top to keep the pillowy soft foam head that refuses to fall. 1/3 of an inch of offwhite froth that just sits and looks back at me without end. Beautiful!

S: spicy hops, sweet juicy fruit esters, the slight astringent funk-twang of Belgian yeast. hints of apple peel and clove. Reminds me of Duvel, excellent.

T: big time clove taste, sweet juicy apple with a bit of peel tannin, pale malt body, some of the medicinal taste from the spices and the Belgian yeast. Opens a little sweet but the bulk or the flavor is perfectly balanced. Finishes off with a lingering noble hop flavor that is perfectly light and gives this beer a great finish.

M: right down the middle medium body. Not too thin so it feels insubstantial but not so heavy that it is taxing to drink.

O: worth the 3 months it took to get my hands on a bottle. Phenomenal tripple, I could sip this all freaking day. Words fail. By the way, that never-ending head is still there after like 10 minutes. I know a tripple and a strong are different but I would say that this is on par with Duvel but a little sweeter for when I am in a semi-dry mood rather than a dry mood.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 05:34:02 | More by N3rdM3t4l

XxNitExX

Nebraska

4.94/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into matching Tulip glass from 12oz bottle

A- Pours a hazy yellow with a 1 finger lively head that sticks around but doesn't have much lacing. Lots of tiny bubbles.

S- Grapes, apricot, alcohol, bread all at the same time.

T- Very smooth malt backbone, with lots of spices from the Belgian yeast. Then get a sweetness that goes with the lighter fruit presence. Finishes with a nice alcohol tinge, not to strong though

M- Carbonated and wonderful. Goes down so smooth. No alcohol bite.

Overall this is one of my favorite beers, in my favorite style. They do a great job with this one getting all sorts of flavors but leaving out the alcohol bite that are in some tripels.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:52:56 | More by XxNitExX

UberWasser

Arizona

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12oz brown bottle, no freshness date, served in an oversized wine glass.

Pours a dark yellow/light amber. Very cloudy. Cannot see my hand through it. Even with a gentle pour a three or four finger head develops in the glass. The retention is quite nice, as it doesn’t recede at all with some agitation. Pretty color, lack of clarity for all the right reasons, great head. It leaves lots of nice lacing on the glass. Nice.

The smell...all I can say is wow. It’s like smelling a mellowed flower bed/spice garden in a glass. Totally intriguing with notes of lavender, cloves, roses, orange citrus, and more. Absolutely stunning.

The taste is just as stunning. Starts a little spicy on the tongue, like an alcohol-infused citrus. As it moves to the back of your mouth more of the clove richness comes through. After swallowing it, a floral effervescence floats up into the back of your mouth and back of your nose, highlighting the great rose and lavender notes. It’s amazing. Mouthfeel is smooth as silk, with just a touch of carbonation sizzle.

A nearly perfect beer. So complex, so intriguing, but also so drinkable. It's smooth as silk (even at 9% ABV you'd have to struggle to detect it) and fun to sip. I'll definitely be stocking up on this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2005 04:47:34 | More by UberWasser

maddamish

Tennessee

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ap: Looks a little thin at first and the head wasn't really up to snuff. Medium head with some decent lacing. But that was really all there was to it.

Smell: Cotton Candy, Orange Citrus and Spice. All three of the smells are distinct and mix well with each other.

Taste: Blends the orange, sugar and spice just right. Mouth feel is smooth smooth smooth.

Drinkability: I usually share all my great finds with my friends. I was so impressed with this beer I think I will hoard this to myself. It is that good.

Notes: Please pick this up if you see it in the store. You will be glad you did.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2006 03:57:07 | More by maddamish

MCDuhamel

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Westmalle chalice.

A: Golden orange, somewhat hazy but glows translucently against a light. White head with large bubbles, which quickly dissipates to a thin film with a tighter ring around the chalice.

S: Citrusy (not grapefruit like an American Pale Ale but more lemony), with a note of honey and spices.

T: Begins with a sweet malt, then moves into a tart but balanced flavor with a slight hop bitterness and a noticeable prickliness from the high carbonation. Fades into a dry finish. Throughout, the phenolic character of the yeast strain is evident, but well-integrated.

M: Light, but somewhat viscous, like a well-carbonated honey might be.

D: Unbelievably quaffable. It has no hint of its quite high ABV.

Overall: In my view, the best abbey triple available in Ohio. Beers from Unibroue are usually found here in very good condition, unlike some of the true Belgians which sometimes sit on store shelves for months or longer with wide variations in storage temperature. This is simply an outstanding beer and the epitome of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2006 01:42:52 | More by MCDuhamel

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Kappy's was selling a Unibroue mixed eight-pack. This was the beer that really turned me on to Belgian Strong Pale Ales, and Belgian style beers in general. I let this warm to around 40º F and served it in one of my Duvel tulips.

Appearance: Pours a hazy brilliant golden with a thick fluffy creamy head, that slowly fades to a very persistent thin half-inch layer that leaves patchy lace.

Smell: Yeasty with a sweet fruitiness. Notes of citrus, bananas, light graininess, pepper and alcohol.

Taste: Sweet malts and fruits, including bananas and citrus. The finish is a nice interplay of peppery and spicy alcohol, and bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Tingly carbonation, smooth and creamy, with a slight dryness in the finish.

Drinkability: Delicious and drinkable, despite the 9.0% abv. I sessioned this in undergrad.

Overall: One of my favorite, if not favorite Belgian Strong Pale Ales.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2006 03:05:28 | More by EPICAC

EmilNoldSinclair

California

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a snifter style glass. Very cloudy, completely opaque and golden in color: there is indeed quite a bit of yeast in this brew. Initially the beer was chilled (don't know approx. temperature) and gradually warmed during the drinking session. It barely had a head (which soon disappeared...a bit unfortunate [though I quite enjoyed the opaque cloudiness!]), and it did have a quite pleasant smell. The taste was very well balanced between the hops and the malt, not too sweet and not too bitter. When it was chilled the flavor was more restrained yet reminiscent of apples. As it warmed up, it had more of a heavier banana flavor. Both the flavor and the feel of it (carbonation) immediately reminded me of champagne (though the comparison follows only to a point). This has definite cross-over appeal (considering the flavor, mouthfeel, as well as the presentation [both the caged and corked bottle as well as the appropriate glasswear]). Along with Stone's Double Bastard and Russian Imperial Stout, Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout and Nut Brown Ale and Orval's Trappist Ale, this is truly my favorite beer so far.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2006 04:25:06 | More by EmilNoldSinclair

nortmand

Virginia

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours yellow orange with a white head that is effervescent and not extraordinarily long lasting. No lace, in fact Duvel is much prettier.

Spicy clove, coriander and pepper aromas on top of some subtle sweet malt notes and noble hops.

Refreshingly tart, spicy and strong. The alcohol is there, so is a bit of farm funkiness, alot of spiciness and a pleasant hop bitterness all supported by a solid malt backbone.

Light to medium bodied, and very refreshing and drinkable, but also warming. Works on s cold winter night or a hot summer morning. In a word, awesome.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 01:32:28 | More by nortmand