La Fin Du Monde - Unibroue

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

A metric 750ml bottle that like other UB offerings has a strange, but quite striking, label.

The Cork was pulled & a gunmetal smoke lingered for a while in the neck, rose & swayed back & forth like an Indian King Cobra whilst peering at the outside world. I wondered if a Genie would appear & grant me three wishes. Sadly, it did not, & eventually the smoke dispersed as I poured the beer into a Duvel glass.

Great looks! This is the consummate incredibly fantastic looking Supermodel; a perfect formed curvaceous tanned body, soft blonde hair and deep ocean-blue eyes – but somehow, you are always drawn to the mole on her top lip. The slight imperfection of the milky hazed golden translucent body of this beer just makes this offering more real, understandable and so damn sexy. The slightly hazed golden color in the Duvel glass also seems so appropriate – a long lost cousin perhaps? Tastes like it.

A massive head builds at first, then like the ‘rubber-neckers’ at an accident when they realize no-one has been maimed, or died – they soon disperse. The head rescinds to a thin light uni-molecular covering, with a clinging white halo. Some lace, but not much.

Tastes are so refreshing, fruity pineapples mixed with lashings of fresh wheat beer infused with black pepper, clove impregnated apples, pears and some juicy fleshy mangos.

Massive mouthfeel that is partly attributable to the high inherent carbonation I feel. This beer dances on the mouth like a Lap Dancer that spies your wallet full of Money. Not that I would know – I have never had a wallet full of money.

The finish is like spending $300 on a meal for your loved one, it is enjoyable, makes you feel good, but only you know it ever happened, it was experienced, but it is only in your own minds and memories - you lost the receipt as well, so have no proof. Damn. I know this beer is great, indeed, it is a Classic. It’s just so hard to prove it.

Definitely Belgium in Style,
Duvelian in Looks and Pedigree,
Wheat Beer in Education and Influence,
– But clearly, VERY “Unibroue” in Character.

This is no Dumb Blonde – Quite Stupendous.
An Aston-Martin of the Beer World; Class, Individuality, Uniqueness and Presence.

"...Except you , you were talking about the end of the world….
I took the money, I spiked your drink,
You miss too much these days if you stop to think,
You led me on with those innocent eyes,
You know I love the element of surprise…..”

“The End of the World” ????
– well, only when supplies of this beer Run Out for Ever.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2003 21:51:35 | More by TheLongBeachBum

SamuraiJack

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This has become my new stock, "go to" beer - the beer I always make sure I have in the fridge. Very foamy cream/white head that (eventually) becomes beautiful lace. The beer is a soft (slightly cloudy) gold in colour. First taste is crisp, high carbonation with balanced light fruit flavours and a hint of crisp pepper and citrus. This fades smoothly into a soft maltiness with excellent spice. The (high) alchohol is perfectly integrated into the flavour, leaving no harsh or unexpected notes in the taste.

A perfect introduction to the world of Belgian-style strong pale ales, La Fin Du Monde has all the character of a great Belgian but can be consumed on a daily basis (and even a session basis) unlike many great Belgians.

Excellent. Highly recommended. Mmmm....

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2003 16:13:38 | More by SamuraiJack

Mitchster

Michigan

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Unibroue review preface: I spent 2 weeks up in Montreal and drank Unibroue beers the whole time. No wonder they call it UniBrew. All their beers taste the same. They are all very subtle variations on a theme..that theme happens to be excellence. That said:

As with other Unibroue's, this also has an interesting bottle. Is it just me or do you see a severed hand in the drawing? Focus, young padewan...

This beer is highly carbonated (forming streamers), mildly cloudy straw-golden with a splash of peach in color, forming a rocky white head atop medium sized bubbles. Delicate lacing. Aroma is spicy and phenolic, with lots of cloves and bananas, yeasty bread, and a crisp, light acidity. Intoxicating Unibroue nose. Alcohol is not noticeable in aroma despite it's ABV of 9.0%. Mouthfeel is light and fizzy, exploding upon the tongue like champagne with a medium-dense, but deceptively light body. Taste is initially typical bavarian wheat phenols with lots of spice, fading into subtle notes of green apples that are starting to rot, a smooth backbone of malted wheat sugars, and finishing with a bready yeastiness and a subtle, yet pleasant alcohol warmth in the gullet. The alcohol is well hidden, but because of the lighter body, it becomes more noticeable as it warms...more so than Maudite (8.0% ABV). At room temperature, I begin to notice a slightly rubbery mouthfeel. The complex sugars tug at your taste buds and envelope them in a swirl of abandon. Easily a sipper, easily a chugger....you decide. Complexities abound with further analysis, but this is a beer that warms your heart and soul. An entire experience in a bottle.

An absolute treasure amongst beers, and an excellent triple in it's own right. World-class and highly recommended. This is just an exceptional brew and one of my personal benchmarks for the style. Ambrosia distilled.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2003 18:47:59 | More by Mitchster

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.68/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Huge, billowy, lace, white-as-driven snow head, atop a perfectly golden, clear body.

Aroma is a sweet array of fruit and spice, standing far above any other particular aspect. Delightful and heavenly. Is it "the End of the World", because it enters us into the next?

Citrusy flavor stands on top, with dazzling hops and a marvelous sparkling sensation on tastebuds. Body is light, and extraordinarily uplighting. This brew handily earns it's rep as the Canadian stand-in for Duvel.

A terrifically engaging, hoppy mouthfeel, and an exceptionally warming feeling make this ideal beer for any sort of celebration, such as Anniversarys, holidays, Wednesdays, midnights, 2:45 A.M.s, anytime you're exultant that the world hasn't ended, didn't get fired, dog still loves you, etc., etc....

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2003 16:26:45 | More by feloniousmonk

Dantes

New Jersey

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

Package: 750ml corked bottle, labeled 9% ABV, Best Before 09-12-04.

Cost: $5.99

Presentation: tulip glass at 50º

Appearance: Rich yellow color, a shade darker than Duvel. Scads of fine bubbles streaming through a cloudy body. Head is monumental! Super-fine bubbles that are so dense, the head resembles a meringue, where the egg-whites have been beaten to a fare-the-well.

Smell: Citrus, apple, pear, and hops. Doesn’t quite have the Belgian mustiness that Duvel exudes, but still an impressive nose.

Taste: Yeast and hops meld well with a malt fullness. Did not fill out quite as much as I expected as the beer warmed, although spice notes became more apparent. Alcohol was well-integrated but notable. Finish wasn’t quite as substantial as I had hoped, considering the initial complexity of the flavors.

Mouthfeel: Warm. Creamy carbonation fills the mouth. Carbonation seemed more aggressive than I remembered and a touch coarser than suggested by the head and tiny bead.

Drinkability: A very drinkable beer that should be kept on hand for regular sampling.

It amazes me how well Unibroue has seemingly effortlessly mastered the process of brewing such good, Belgian-style beers. Although I feel that they may have too many variations without too much difference, no one can fault the products. They are subtle, flavorful, well-crafted brews that continue to impress.

Backwash: This is a great beer, although I believe that it should probably sell for a bit less, considering the C$; and I think that Duvel (typically $6.99) is a better beer and costs more to ship. If this were priced like Ommegang (as it originally was), I would buy it by the case. Other than the limited Unibroue 10, this is probably my favorite Unibroue product so far (until I get my hands on the 11 and the La Terrible). Well worth the purchase. Thank you Canada!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2003 14:22:49 | More by Dantes

shirfan

New York

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

Intense carbonation; the warning label about uncorking the bottle isn't just there for fun.

Poured a rich clear golden color with a moderate head which was continuously replaced by streamers moving the length of the glass.
Second pour (after swirling up some yeast from the thick layer at the botttom of the bottle) produced a murkier yellow, still every bit as carbonated.

Smell is rich and sweet, warns of the complex flavor ahead.

Taste is yeasty and just as complex, like a hefeweizen but meaner. Notes of apple, banana, and clove. Very sweet, but just enough bitterness in the finish to not feel like soda pop... and the carbonation could easily lead one to be mistaken otherwise.

There is no hint of alcohol in this at all... until about 15 minutes later. "Oh, THERE you are!" Definitely a sneaky ABV, but I'll forgive this brew, I doubt anyone can stay angry at it for long.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2003 18:27:50 | More by shirfan

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

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is exceptional...no surprise coming from Unibroue though. It poured a cloudy off-yellow color with a thick foamy white head. I was hoping it would smell more like Don de Dieu, but it was not quite up to par with it...mild fruit, yeast, and spices.

The taste and sheer drinkability of this brew make it spectacular. Unless you read the 9% written on the bottle, it is very hard to detect. Alcohol flavor is only mild toward the end of each sip. Has flavors of clove, ripe fruits, banana, apple, and mild spices. A smooth, delicious mouthfeel make this a delight to drink a few of. Definitely one to enjoy in all its complexities.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2003 11:01:29 | More by IrishRedRock

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Keep your glass close by on this one, it is a bottle gusher. Popped the top on this one and it came rushing out. Once in my glass it was a hazy, golden-straw color, with a off-white head that left good lacing. The aroma was sweet, of candi sugar. Also in the aroma was spices, and graininess. The flavors I detected were of cloves, spice, and sweet candi sugar. It is fairly light to medium in body, and easy drinking. The alcohol warmth is in the finish, and the strength sneaks up on you. Tasty!

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2003 08:38:18 | More by BeerBuilder

kelticblood

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

La fin du monde poured a huge foaming white head.Very impressive appearance.The color was a cloudy yellow with sediment floating around.A very unusual but inviting aroma.The
aroma hinted at hops,citrus and fruit,malt,with an acidic like smell.An exquisite taste thats really unreal.Alcohol is noted on the finish.Very creamy with a very crisp mouthfeel.Hop bitterness is followed on the finish.When the end of the world comes I want a bottle of this in my hand!

Notes: intense carbonation..Wheat,bread,grain,and malt noted..very complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2003 22:55:41 | More by kelticblood

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Hazy golden with white foam. Some lace

Smell: Tart, fruity (sour apples). Not an overly strong aroma.

Taste: Tart, fruity (bananas, apples, pears), and yeasty. Very pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and clean. Good balance. Nice mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Very good. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 18:43:08 | More by UncleJimbo

avylover

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice appearance. Very hazy yellow-golden color. Nice thick white head, which sets uneven on the beer.Citrousy aroma, almost like sour apples. Alcohol almost ignites the nose hairs! Now the taste...Awesome!! Nice ciitrous taste on top of a doughy/alcohol base...lots going on here. Nearly goes down by itself...did I even swallow? Nice dry aftertaste with no syrupy mouthfeel..just taste and carbonation...warm belly to boot. Goes down nice & easy for a beer this high ABV...easy does it!!!!. One of the best belgian style beers I've tried....and it's not even belgian. Good stuff, in more ways than one!!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2003 18:50:53 | More by avylover

goz

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lightly hazed golden. Small champagne like bubbles race to the top, battling the sediment for the quickest path to join their fellows in the thick white head. Aroma is medium fruity (banana and apple), and lightly yeaty. Flavor is apple and banana, ending clean and dry with some yeast undertones.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2003 07:12:24 | More by goz

stoutlove77

Arizona

4.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one put the nail on the coffin for me. I had this one after a good night of beer tasting. The look was a golden blonde with the look that reminded me of champange with the head looking rather light. The smell is what resembled a sweet tangy candy with tints of spice, at some point it reminded me of apple pie. The taste was no doubt as close to the smell, has a tangy fruit based sometimes close to strawberries with an after taste of maple syrup. The drinkablity was the key point here, all that flavor with a 9% ABV in stealth mode, was the note the put me to sleep after. When having a beer for dinner consider this a candidate.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2003 13:34:49 | More by stoutlove77

Jason

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 oz brown bottle with a foiled top, a best before date on the back label.

Appearance: Foamy off white head that takes a long while to subside to a sticky lace. Cloudy yet radiant yellowish golden colour shows that this is a pale brew.

Smell: Ripe sugary nectarines, a powdery yeast and a light phenolic clove and medicinal mix in the aroma. Alcoholic esters with a touch of solvent linger in the back of the nose.

Taste: Peppery clove spiciness with a warming alcohol right behind it. Estery with a hint of solvent-like character in the high level of alcohol. Malt lays down some sweetness with a thick drying pale graininess, fruity flavours of mango and pear flash on the taste buds. Bitterness from the hops melds with the thick powdery yeast and bring the mouth to a slightly dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy with a medium to high carbonation.

Drinkability & Notes: One of my favourite Belgian style pale strong ales, a bit over the top for some people and one that I respect by sipping through the night.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2003 18:12:15 | More by Jason

kunzbrew

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy light straw color with a monster of head. with bubbles flowing to the top. The smell of citrus packes the nose with a punch. This is a lightly hoppped brew that kicks ass. This is one of the best belgian style ales I have ever tasted.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2003 09:29:30 | More by kunzbrew

HopheadEd

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy yellow you can not see through, big, big, head. Aroma of citris, lemon, grapefruit. Great clean, crisp mouthfeel with big carbonation, ala champagne. First sip reveals a little alcohol, but is soon hidden with complex fruit flavors and a small hop bite. Lace to the bottom of the glass, again, a slight alcohol finish, but still very drinkable. One of my favorites from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2003 05:26:45 | More by HopheadEd

purplehops

Maine

4.22/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

End of the World pours a cloudy amber yellow with a white compact head. Little lacing on the glass. The aroma is apples, mace, and pear with hints of alcohol and malt. The taste starts with a carbonated rush of malt with background notes of orange peel and coriander. The finish is dry with notes of spicy hops and apples with hints of pepper. The after taste is malt sweetness balanced with yeast fruitiness (apples, pears, apricot, & bananas?) and alcohol. The mouthfeel is warm and effervescent. It causes the muscles in your face to form a smile while drinking.
Another very nice product from Unibroue. A refreshing Belgian style strong ale true to style.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 15:47:16 | More by purplehops

cretemixer

Indiana

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

750 ml bottle. Pours a pale golden hue with a slight cloudiness(me like!) Dense creamy-white head which settles at about 1/4 inch. The carbonation won't let it get any less than that. Clean malty smell that reminds me of a fine Belgian. Spruce undertones. Alcohol warmth hits right away with a slight bitter bite. Smooth & creamy mouthfeel. Overall pretty impressive, but not my favorite Unibroue product.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2003 07:39:30 | More by cretemixer

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

Wildman

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer poured a golden straw color and formed a bubbly white head that left circular lace. A small amount of carbonation was present. It had an aroma of citrus, spice(?clove) and some yeast elements. The flavor was of spice and citrus with a warming feeling of the alcohol present. The finish was a touch astrigent

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2002 17:07:48 | More by Wildman

mickstepp

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First of all I feel bad about pouring this beer into a pint glass (it's all I have). But I'm really excited about trying it. I'm not well versed in the Belgian art (but not quite a virgin either). It pours a very effervescent yellow (lots of bubbly action in the glass) with a thin head. There's an appealing sour-lemon aroma with a little yeastiness. At first sip I'm thinking boy am I drinking this beer at the wrong time of year. Very refreshing, very summery. Comparable to some of the best Hefe's I've had but without the banana/clove flavors. Moderate body, very nice texture. The tart and sweet flavors compete but keep each other in balance. Tart in the beginning, more sweet in the finish. Clearly an accomplished brew even f you're not an expert in the style. I'll have more. Maybe in Quebec.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2002 17:33:44 | More by mickstepp

MaineBeerMan

Maine

4.72/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer is a cloudy golden yellow, with a huge merangue like head of snow white foam that lasts a very long time and sticks like glue, leaving loads of lace.
Smells of fruit (pears or peaches?), light clove, earthy yeast and a bit of alcohol only begin to describe the complex aroma of this brew.
Awesome flavor, rather sweet and fruity, lots of complex spice flavors, clove and and a fruity flavor that I can't quite pin down that resembles the aroma. Very complex and tasty.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, even with the higher carbonation of this beer, long lingering finish of hops and fruit.
An outstanding beer, one of my favorite Belgian styles and not too pricey to boot.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2002 19:43:18 | More by MaineBeerMan

ElGuapo

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

you pour out a wonderful pale golden colored brew with a massive white foamy head that wants to jump right out of the glass. the aroma is of yeast and a lot of sweetness that tickles the nose.

you get a wonderful yeasty beer with some sweet fruitiness in there. alcohol is barely noticeable in the finish. i am glad that the alcohol was kept under control.

the carbonation tingles your tongue as the smooth brew slides right down smooth as silk, leaving your tongue warm and leaving you warm and fuzzy. this is truly an incredible beer. i love Unibroue

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2002 07:31:01 | More by ElGuapo

StevieW

Florida

4.72/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Shiny golden color. A swirl of the bottle will clould things a bit. Rich and foamy off-white head. Great citrus smell. Some yeast richness also sneaks by. Perfectly balanced belgian pale ale. Nice rich yeasty goodness, and sweet candied taste. Sweet plums, cherries and apples all come to mind. Slightly fizzy carbonation but it settles. Belly warming alcohol is present toward the finish. Mostly it just sneaks by and leaves you wondering how they made such a great beer. Not much I can, say that hasn't already been described.
A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2002 17:34:49 | More by StevieW