La Fin Du Monde - Unibroue

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The hazy golden brew throws out a long-lasting bubbly white head that forms craters as it slowly dissipates. Some nice yeast tones on the nose. A little fruitiness. And some bread qualities too. This beer is quite smooth for the high alcohol punch that it packs. Very nice taste. Doughy and yeasty. Fruity esters are present. Subtle spicing accents also surface mildly throughout. The body is light and the mouthfeel is quite carbonated, but still very drinkable. Very nice Belgian style beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2002 20:23:18 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy, golden-amber color with a thick frothy white head that dissolves into a lasting lacing. Aroma of apple, pear, grape, citrus and slight hint of alcohol. Very carbonatied up front with a fruity spiciness with hints of light crisp fruit and a sweet citrus finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:51:51 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.38/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Well my apologies to everyone who loves this beer. Pours yellow haze and copper. Smells like alcohol spilled on a copper pipe. Taste wise, very alcoholic, reminiscient of when your old lady fills up the bathroom with perfume and hairspray and you get it in your mouth.

Perfume, apples, clove, maybe even vanilla. And you can't get rid of it for a little while. Sometimes, I've noticed aging the beer a year or three will make it a little less harsh in exchange for additional sweetness. I'd recommend that.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 01:14:17 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy yellow gold color with incredible head retention and outstanding lacing. The beer is very complex on the nose, with a sweet overture of coconut, mango, and citrus. Very impressive. On the palate this beer is simply delicious. It's sweet, but not overly so, and is not the least bit heavy of cloying. I get flavors of honey melon, cherry, mango and vanilla. The beer has a mouthfilling presence, and finishes with a smooth, lingering finish. The abv. is noticeable, but not overly so, and the beer is quite drinkable considering it's 9% alcohol.

An altogether excellent beer from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2007 21:33:44 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: bottle at Washington House, Sellersville, PA

Pours a cloudy yellow-orange with a small white head that disappeared almost instantly. Yeasty aroma with lots of fruits, and a bit of spice. Bready taste, malty, light sugars, a touch of spice, fruit salad: banana, peach, pear, and a lot of sour orange and grapefruit zest, giving an instant drying effect. Medium mouthfeel, a bit syrupy, with a crisp, dry finish. Pleasantly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 14:23:46 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Possibly one of the last bottles to reach Australian shores, at least for a while, sadly. Chilled to cellar temperature and served in my Unibroue tulip, avoiding the lees.

Body is an absolutely beautiful cloudy but burnished ripe pear colour, deep yellow with hints of orange in its depths. Head is billowy and frothy, boisterously foaming up when poured. Pleasantly light body and thick sheeting lace as the head collapses. It's a wonderful looking beer.

Nose is crisp but round, full of spicy, earthy Belgian yeast notes, with hints of dark fruit, fig compote, pickled orange rind, and whisked vanilla essence. Such wonderfully blended and outrageously sophisticated aromas. Gorgeous.

Taste is smooth and round, but with a central vector of fruity acidity that cuts pleasantly through the sweetness. Spicy Belgian notes come up through the back, along with a subtle but structured spirit bite. Mouthfeel tingles with subtle heat and acidity throughout, just livening up the palate wonderfully.

Yes, this is a very good and very well-crafted beer. Extremely flavoursome, but so well balanced and light enough that it's supremely drinkable. An excellent brew that I'll be sorry to see disappear.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 08:30:58 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ah, memories. I finally meet up again with the beer I enjoyed the most back during my winter trip in Canada. A plate of poutine on a 25 degree (F) afternoon in Montréal and a bottle of this at Frite Alors remains one of my fuzziest memories of the trip. But now, will a change of culture and weather in Southern Califronia change the enjoyement level of this beer? Time to find out:

What a beautful pour it does into my Stella Artois chalice, and what a beautiful sight when the pouring ritual is finished. An unfiltered golden blonde in color with a big billowy head on top. Too bad the retention isn't perfect. An attractive aroma of fruits (with apricots the most dominating) lure me closer to the glass for a sip. The taste is so close to heaven, even for the style. Upfront with a peppery fruit flavor, but the spiciness won't have you bowing to it. The sweetness pushes in and keeps the spiciness from being too much. Warming alcohol is persistent in the throat.

I've forgotten how much I loved this beer. A change of scenery showed no change in the experience, although it wasn't enjoyed around Québeçois surroundings for a truly authentic one. A masterpiece of a brew!

Oh, and hooray to me for being the 1000th reviewer of this gem!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2007 03:46:49 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got this from Green's in Atlanta.

Pours a dark yellowish-orange color with a fluffy three-finger head that dissipates into a thick layer of bubbles on top and a thick ring around the glass. Lacing is pretty sticky.

Smells pretty good. Lots of light fruit - bananas with some citrus notes - and some spiciness.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Very sweet up front with a spiciness at the end and a light fruit aftertaste that lingers. There's definitely some alcohol warming at the end as well.

Mouthfeel is great. The thickness is spot on, and the carbonation makes the beer explode. It coats the mouth and then disappears, leaving me wanting another sip. Really great.

Drinkability is very good. It's hard to taste the alcohol outside of the warming, so it's slightly dangerous, in a good way.

Overall I'm glad I finally bought the beer that's been staring me in the face for so long. As good as any Trappist tripel and better than some.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 01:03:32 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

4.15/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One sip of a Unibroue beer several years ago started a continuous love affair with this brewery, and the whole line of their beers, “La Fin Du Monde” was that first beer, what a stroke of luck that was for this “Grizzled Old Beer Swiller”.

As it pours from the bottle, a slightly hazy lemon yellow, the head creamy in texture, the size masterful, the color a brilliant white, as it evanesces it leaves a silky sheet of fine lace to cover the glass. The aroma of finely malted grains dominates the nose, citrus crisp, lightly sweet and a pleasure to the senses. Start is ambrosial with lots of malt, the top middling in its feel with a spirited acidity, masterfully hopped, and a long drawn-out aftertaste that is dry. The 9% ABV, make this a real “Belly Warmer”, for these cold winter days and nights, a beer I love, and I always have a few bottles on hand as they age gracefully and I wish I could say the same for my own self.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2002 11:19:41 | More by Gusler

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.58/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

341ml brown bottle. No freshness information on the bottle/label.

A: served lightly chilled in a large tulip-shaped wine glass, it pours a cloudy dark orangey hue (like farmhouse scrumpy cider); the head is limited, leaving just a thin layer of foam, against a lively carbonated body with streams of tiny bubbles all over the place.
S: tremendous smell of fruit esters (orange-peel, lightly banana-oil, unidentified exotic fruits/like passion-fruit) with a touch of semi-sharp, freshly-sawn wood-chips and deep spicy flavour, on top of dazzling and richly perfumy fruity and candyish maltiness... The fruity yeasty elements are so vertical and colourful, bringing lots of ever-changing, novel, flowery and savoury aromas unlike all the typical strong pale ales I've encountered. What's best about the aroma is that it's not as overpoweringly/sharply yeasty as many authentic Belgian counterparts (like Duvel), thus making the nose perhaps the most complex I've experienced amongst this style.
T: slightly sharp texture initially, with dryish bitter-sweet curacao-peel, coriander seed with lightly peppery edge along with sourly-sweet, perfumy fruitiness following immediately; towards the mid-flavour a rich flow of semi-sweet candy-sugary maltiness develops, leaving semi-dryish hoppyness and a profound yeasty overtone in the aftertaste (like Japanese yeasty drink--Yakult).
M&D: lively upfront and turning softer as it goes; the alcoholic warmth is pretty restricted and makes this drink more devilishly-drinkable than the famous Duvel!! although in the end the sticky sweet aftertaste proves a bit too much to my liking. That said, this is THE top dog in my book for the style of Belgian Strong Pale Ale!

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2005 03:55:39 | More by wl0307

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a hazy golden-peach with a small sudsy white head that faded rather quickly. Visible carbonation appeared light-medium.

S: The nose had some creamy bananas, cloves and spicy fruit (green apples, oranges). There was a slight yeasty muskiness as well.

T: The initial flavor was spicy and fruity (pineapples, pears) with a light smokiness. Tart oranges, bananas, light bubblegum notes stand out. There were also some fresh apples, and mangos adding to the complexity in the finish rounding things out. Incredibly complex and fruity with a lively carbonation that brings out the full aroma and flavor

M: The mouthful was full of fresh oranges, spicy hoppiness and a lively carbonation bite.

D: Drinkability was incredibly good, with a vast complexity of fruitiness from the yeast. The 9.0% abv was hardly noticeable as this beer drank like a dream. Fulfilling at one drink, but easily drinkable in multiples until the alcohol catches up to you.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2008 00:23:40 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy straw yellow colour topped by a bright white, long-lasting head that formed some fine lace on the sides of the glass. Very nice. The aroma contained elements of ripe citrus/banana with a pleasant dose of spiciness (mostly clove-like). Some floral hoppiness is present, but is well balanced. Ripe fruit and sweetness are at the forefront of the flavour, with plenty of spiciness as well. Bitterness is present, but lies underneath the other flavours until it dries the palate at the finish, accompanied by a light pepperiness at the back of the tongue. Noticeable, but not overpowering, alcohol warmth in both the mouth and belly. Medium bodied, very smooth, with high carbonation. Effervescent right to the end.

750 mL brown bottle topped with cork, bottled on March 11, 2004 (code C114).

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2004 00:16:04 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A goldening shade of apricot with tanned complexion. It sits with striking glow. Its colour is light but its tone is deep and hazed. A feathery patch of white distinguishes itself over top. This can be thickened with swirling and dots the glass with lace.

Its aroma is both pleasantly and potently effervescent. It is also fruity and floral and showcases just a dash of spice. Crisp straw wheat and lightly toasted malts seem doused in white pepper and coriander and then tossed with green apple and golden pear. I know of very few things that can appeal to the sense of smell like a good Belgian yeast.

Fortunately it seems to have had the same impact on taste as well. Again we are treated to sweetened, honey-laced malts tossed with coriander and orchard fruit. It is by no means an intense beer - the flavours are vivid but gentle and moderate. It pleases all parts of the palate with components fruity, malty, floral, tart, and zesty.

The alcohol is deceivingly absent in taste, but the beer possesses a soothing, almost sedative, presence that is indicative of a well crafted 9% tripel. Its higher gravity has done nothing to thin out mouthfeel and quite to the contrary, the mild carbonation and peppery spice give the beer a very lively texture on the palate.

This beer pairs wonderfully with a number of dishes and makes an especially great cheese pairing. While it drinks phenomenally fresh, it also ages exceptionally well. To speak matter of factly: Unibroue makes some of the finest Belgian ales outside of Belgium and 'La Fin Du Monde' is certainly amongst the best examples of a Belgian tripel.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2008 03:18:50 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

3.3/5  rDev -24%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a La Chouffe tulip in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are extremely high given its current ratings and the recommendation of a friend. Acquired at Davidson's Liquors for $6.99.

A: Pours a three finger head of no cream, bad thickness, and pretty good retention. Colour is a nontransparent light honey-gold.

Sm: Pleasant light malt, moderate crystal malt, honey, heavy lemon peel, and clean barley. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Heavy lemon peel throughout, with some light tame spices that I quite fancy. Some ginger and clove. Tastes like a hefeweizen and witbier combined, brewed with Belgian yeast. Has some yeast, but not a significant amount. The alcohol doesn't come through at all. The lemon is a bit overdone, in fairness. It is quite estery. Nicely balanced excepting the lemon. The yeast on the finish is lovely. Well built for the style, but it does resemble other styles (as afore noted).

Mf: Smooth and wet, but actually a touch too thick. Suits the flavours pretty well.

Dr: Very drinkable, especially for the high ABV - which doesn't come through. I'd like to try it aged, but I don't know that it'd be best on-draught. A nice little tripel that deserves revisiting. At $6.99, there's no reason not to age it. I just wish they'd tone that damned lemon down.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 00:56:22 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a mild pale-ish color. I never realized it was a pale ale, let alone a strong pale ale and I have had it in the past. Strong aroma with hints of spice and apple along with malt and some hops. Taste is somewhat mild with a very raisin like consistency mixed in with alcohol. Again, very strong and interesting for a Belgian-style Pale Ale. At 9%, very drinkable and not quite for the faint of heart either. Complex, yet delicious. Definitely something different for a pale ale, let alone a strong pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2007 01:27:48 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a cervoise. The brew appears a hazed golden yellow with 2 fingers worth of creamy off-white head. Rising bubbles of carbonation maintain more than a finger of froth atop the solution. As the cap fades, some patches of lace stick to the glass.

The aroma is spicy with yeast that comes across with some mild fruity notes like pear and apple that blend with some clove and pepper. The alcohol is evident with a fruity ester that accents the previously mentioned apple and pear and draws out more of a brighter citrus quality that is zesty.

The taste is yeasty with a spice of clove that blends into a bit of pepper before the onset of fruity notes of apple, pear and some melons. There is a solid grain inclusion that is light and almost bready that eases the transition between yeasty spice and fruity alcohol. For 9% the brew finishes surprisingly crisp but quite warming.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. For 9% it is easily approachable and enjoyable but carries with it a warmth that is to be respected. It has a good rounded character about it that makes it dangerously light and refreshing. I could see myself getting in trouble with several bottles of this despite the warming impact it has. Certainly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 19:14:25 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this many times, but am finally reviewing it. The best description would probably be a Trippel-witbier (which is a complementary hybrid style).

A: Brownish-orange/straw with some murky yeast throughout. Nice off-white head, some retention, hints of lace.

S: Similar to a Witbier, spicy, earthy, a little fruit. Some nice bready Pilsner malt in the nose as well.

T: Bready malt, corriander, earthy flavour from the yeast. Alcohol taste is apparant, but not too assertive. No perceptable hop flavour, but nicely balanced. Finish is dry.

M: Moderate body, highly carbonated.

D: Dangerous at this level of alcohol.

Thanks for the bottle Len!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2005 22:30:55 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very hazy golden with a beautiful creamy pure white head. The head retains well and the lacing is decent, but a little spotty. Smell isn't bad, there just isn't much of one. Faint hints of clove and other yeasty esters,and not too much more. The taste is better, and rather subtle. The alcohol is well camoflauged and there are nice yeast notes of clove, bubblegum, and spice. The finish is long and creamy. Nice mouthfeel, but perhaps could use a little more bite. Quite drinkable- maybe too much so.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2007 00:00:54 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before date not printed onto bottle. Poured into New Belgium Globe glass.

Pours an amazing fluffy head. The color is hazy light orange. Best descriped as apple cider. Few particles float around beer.

Smell is very fruity, a strong banana aroma with some citrus notes as well. Tastes is pretty much the same. The citrus makes its presence and the alcohol also makes its way out.

Mouthfeel is very full. It is crisp, yet extremely creamy. This beer is highly carbonated and needs be drank slowly. Leaves a some what sticky aftertaste.

Overall, this is a solid beer! I really enjoyed the full body flavor of this triple. I have another in the fridge, but that one will be gone soon!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 01:23:22 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a hazy yellow color with a medium thick white head. Not very much head retention, and thin lacing. Aroma is yeasty and spicy. Rather light-bodied and bubbly, with flavors of spice, hops, citrus and vanilla. The finish is light and crisp with a hint of alcohol. This is a pretty good Tripel.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2003 12:36:58 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Color a pale, cloudy yellow color with yeast floating around, nice white frothy head leaving clingy, patchy lace. Smells of lemon and tropical fruit, banana, with a hint of spice and sweet bitterness. Taste is more of the same, citrusy and tropically smooth and clean with a spicy lemon dry finish thats warming from the alcohol. Feel is medium body sweet and fruity flavors that dry out, nice, crisp and clean finish with warming qualities from alcohol. Pretty drinkable but is a sipper, 9%, it'll sneak up on you for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2003 16:31:44 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 From the Coop for about $7 .. poured into my Kasteel tulip .. enjoyed while cooking for our New Years Eve party.

Short lasting white head that left nice lacing.. brew is the slightest hazy golden yellow.

Aroma is incredible... slightly spicy and complex fruits ... White peaches.. significant white pepper and lite clove.. My nose is too uneducated to pick through and identify alot.. but trust me, it smells great.

Front of the palate lends itself toward the spicy notes.. mid palate is peaches and tropical fruit... alot of Belgian yeastiness with a lingering sweetness.. not cloying, but present.

I've had this brew a bunch over the years and am always quite suprised that it's this good.... special for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 07:57:23 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

4.28/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Aroma is very nice. Fresh banana bread with lots of spice. Sweet, richly flavored, very tangy. This does seem like too much of a good thing, and so many crippled tripels could use a dose of that flavor. Lots of fruit flavors, seems to have pear and champagne to me. Possibly a touch of hops, but the bitterness seems to come from the yeasty mix. Every sip renews the strange complexity of this stuff. Bitter aftertaste that renews the desire for another sweet sip. Hot and sultry stuff.

I've had this 12 oz bottle for a year, and a screw cap, no less. It still says "best before 05-27-13." Years to go, according to these optimistic Canadians.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 06:31:28 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This pours a pretty golden-orange, fairly clear, not a lot of head. Aroma is malty with a strong hint of citrus. Flavor is strong and malty and has some hoppy hints. Finish is smooth and refreshing. This is an insidious beer, though, as you don't taste the alcohol, so it can sneak up on you.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 03:18:58 | More by Cyberkedi

ccrida

Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

355ml bottle poured into a goblet, La Fin Du Monde is a hazy strwa yellow with a large white head the is quickly settling and leaves no lace, the lightest smattering. I really like the color, but these beers are all about the head and 'brussels' lace.

Smell is pretty good, banana esters, cereal grains, a hint of caramel and metallic phenols as it warms.

Taste is fantastic - this is my favorite trippel. Big fruity esters, spicy backbone, very smooth, although it actually gets a tad boozy and grainy if you let it warm too much. Served at cellar temp though, perfect.

Mouthfeel is very carbonated, with a crisp, dry snappy finish. Highly digestible, this has a light body and is easy on the belly.

Drinkability is supreme for me, as good as it gets for the style. Big taste, but smooth and dangerously easy drinking...factor in the fact that Unibroue brews are such a great low price, this one should get a 5.5!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 04:49:30 | More by ccrida