La Terrible - Unibroue

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

3.89/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: big, frothy, light tan head; near black, with ruby tinge under light

Aroma: vanilla, fruity yeast, pear

Taste & Mouthfeel: heady, Belgian style ale with strong fruit and spice flavours; some caramel; hint of dark chocolate; medium body; cassis, raspberry are most pronounced; a great mix of elements that compliment each other throughout, but it's a bit too intense, needs to round the edges a bit

Overall: love the flavour and easy-drinking body, but could probably use a year to mellow out

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 18:25:52 | More by BGDrock

dbell23

Tennessee

4.85/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Opened the wire and cork bottle with a super loud pop. Louder than most unibroues for sure. Poured into a tulip. Super dark brown almost black in color. Opaque. Unibroue calls it chestnut brown. That'll work. Dark beige head that starts huge and never completely leaves. Little lacing but still a nice looking beer.

Smell is dark unibroue. Chalky sweet, candied fruit, yeasty, smells almost like a really good Dubbel.

Taste is superb. Sweet candied fruit but certainly not overly so to start. Smooth Dubbel malt in the middle followed by smooth malt very slight hop finish. The aftertaste is delightful. It tastes like the best abbey ale ever or a super good dark Belgian. I don't know what it is but I know I like it.

Mouthfeel is perfect. Not overly carbonated and smooth. Of course, it smooths out as it warms.

Overall a great beer. If you like dark Belgians a must try. Unibroue calls this an abbey style, it's listed here as a dark Belgian. I don't know which it is but I really like it. Sometimes abbeys have a licorice smell or taste which I don't like even faintly and this one doesn't have that. Maybe that's why I like so well. Another great beer from one of the best breweries in North America. I never thought unibroue could produce a better dark than trois pistoles but this is it.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:28:30 | More by dbell23

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Unibroue's 'La Terrible' @ 10.5% , a Belgian strong dark ale served from a corked 750 ml bottle purchased for $9

A-pour is a very dark brown near black in the glass with some ruby hues alongside the edge when held up to the light , with a big frothy off white head that leaves some thick lace along the goblet

S-classic Belgian yeast Unibroue style , strong on the nose , not unpleasant , just strong with hints of spice and dark fruit

T-a sweet fruit sugary start , malty spicey middle , with a hint of smoke in the bittersweet finish

MF-good carbonation , full bodied , not Unibroue's smoothest on the palate , still a well crafted beer thou

Ov-'La Terrible' only fault is how easy this beer is to drink , even with a couple of warnings I consumed this beer with ease , and felt it later , that said I would drink again before Maudite or Trois Pistoles , just respect the beer , sip & enjoy

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 19:51:34 | More by LampertLand

Huetardis

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Look, I drink beer because it puts me in a very grandiose of altered states. I don't care if it looks right or smells right. What I care about is how much alcohol is in it, and how it feels and taste going down the ole gullet! I have recently become acquainted with Unibroue's labels and I am particularly fond of only two. The End of the World and the Terrible, both having the highest alcohol content.
These two beers taste delicious. I was surprised by the Terrrible. It taste's better than La Fin. I am not a brew meister by any stretch of the imagination, so in my ignorance I ask myself, what in the hell makes Terrible so dark. Is it food coloring? It taste incredible and takes you off the edge of the world with its higher content rating., which is the real reason I drink beer. La Fin de Monde will always be my first love, but I am quickly turning to the dark side. The only thing terrible about Terrible is its price, and of course the ever so ironic name.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 07:16:34 | More by Huetardis

hopandbarley28

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is dark brown with deep red around the edges. Fluffy soapy head formed but fell quickly, a result of bottle conditioning.

Aroma is plum, raisin and candy sugar highlighted by esters and spice from the yeast. Sweet maltiness comes through as well. Very nice

Taste comes across much like the aroma. Sweet juicy dark fruits pair really well with the funky-estery Belgian yeast. Malt sweetness on the finish with a slight bitterness and bit of spiciness and alcohol. It leaves a great dry finish on the palate

Mouthfeel is on par for the style. High in carbonation, but it helps keep the beer from being syrupy. The dry finish helps bring it all together

Overall this is a great beer. Not terrible. I'm not usually into Belgian strongs but this has a great balance between dark fruit/malt/spice/yeast.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 01:37:08 | More by hopandbarley28

depechemode1983

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- pours a cloudy dark brown, with a foamy two finger tan head. Retention is minimal, with no lacing.

S- The nose is very fruity. Upfront you get figs, grapes, raisins and dry prunes. Also you get that trade mark Belgian yeast smell, with candy sugar and light caramel. The alcohol is surprisingly toned down given the ABV.

T- Lot of grapes in the taste, and not as sweet as the nose would suggest. It's also very yeasty. Of course lots of candy sugar but not as sweet as you would think and alcohol is very well hidden.

M-The mouth feel is medium bodied and somewhat silky. Carbonation is semi effervescent. Very nice.

O- Overall I think this a wonderful interpretation of a Belgium strong ale. I really like the fact that it wasn't too sweet. Not to mention the alcohol was very well hidden. Although not complex it was very tasty be careful with this one being as the alcohol is well hidden it can sneak up on you. Another fine offering from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 19:12:50 | More by depechemode1983

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

750ml corked & caged bottle into a tulip.

A - Pours a dark brown but looks pretty much black in the glass. Frothy head of beige foam, that retains for a long time and leaves a sticky web of lacing.

S - Sweet dark fruits, mild spices, and distinct Unibroue house yeast. Medjool dates, figs, and golden raisins. Smells sweet, malty, and very Belgian. There's a slight earthy quality, but overall the nose is sweet with a touch of spice and lots of zesty yeast. There might even be a touch of vanilla, sort of reminiscent of Unibroue's 17 Grande Réserve.

T - Even better than the nose. A beautiful concoction of vanilla, dark fruits, and Unibroue yeast with a mild spice in the background. Very sweet upfront, with dates, figs, raisins, vanilla, cola syrup, and candi sugar. Some mild earthy and woody notes, and Belgian spices to balance the sweetness. Finishes with some slight earthy hops and a long lasting residual sweetness. Incredibly drinkable and balanced. I daresay this is even more tasty than Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve.

M - The mouthfeel is superb. Smooth, thick, creamy, with a fine carbonation that just floats along the palate. Not a touch of heat for a 10.50% ABV beer either. Slightly sticky, and the finish isn't too dry or too wet. Great feel.

D - An all around exceptional BSDA, and possibly one of Unibroue's best; this brewery really can do no wrong. This is probably even sweeter than the average BSDA, but at no point does it become at all cloying. Just an excellent beer in all respects, and one I'll be stocking up on the next time I see it.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:13:00 | More by Converge

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours pitch black with a two finger off white head. Left no lacing.

S - Caramel malts, dark fruit, figs, sour cherries, dates.

T - Very sweet. Caramel malt, dark cherries, slightly figgy, some dates in the background. Incredibly drinkable for 10.5%.

M - Slick medium body with medium carbonation.

O - Overall, for 10.5%, this was pretty damn good. The sweetness could be toned down a bit however.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 02:42:29 | More by SometimesIfart

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 mL caged-and-corked bottle from the LCBO; bottled Aug. 28 2012. With a name like Terrible, it's got to be pretty good, right? I hadn't had this before when I picked it up, but considering who it's from, I considered it a safe candidate for picking up two bottles on a whim. One was opened and shared a few weeks ago; I saved this one for review purposes. Poured into a snifter.

Pours an opaque black colour with some brownish highlights, topped with a few cm of smooth, creamy, light tan-coloured head. It fizzles away a little too readily, sad to say, with very little lacing, but it at least has the courtesy to leave behind a foamy collar around the rim. The aroma is highly appealing, with a wide variety of notes on the nose - including banana, raisins, plum brandy, candi sugar, cloves and that signature spicy yeast. Very reminiscent of Maudite so far - not that this is a bad thing.

A quick sip reaffirms this theory though - it really does come off as Maudite's big brother. Orchard and dark fruit make up much of the flavour profile - ripe banana, raisins, plums, and figs come to mind, accompanied by both brown and Belgian-style sugar notes. Huge, yeasty spices come through nearer the finish, with lots of clove, anise and pepper; the earthy, herbal spiciness helps counter the initial sweetness. Finishes hot and yeasty, with a bit of an oaked spirit/brandy vibe showing up alongside the lingering spice and candi sugar. On the heftier side of medium-bodied, with fizzy carbonation that mercilessly prickles the tongue (though it does eventually calm somewhat as I sip my way through the entire pint-and-a-half). Drinkability might be low, but sippability is through the roof, with a good amount of warmth from the alcohol.

Final Grade: 4.35, an excellent A grade. Unibroue's La Terrible is a behemoth of a beer, to be sure, but 'terrible' is still one of the absolute last adjectives I'd consider using to describe it. It is big and bold in every sense of those words, with all the intense yeasty, spicy, orchard-fruity goodness one might expect from an 'authentic' BSDA out of Belgium. As much as I like this, I think Maudite is still my favourite of the two brews - the combination of spice and abv in this one limits how much I could reasonably slug back before it became tiresome. That being said, it's undeniably amazing stuff, and anyone who has enjoyed one of Unibroue's other Belgian-style dark ales previously should consider seeking this one out - it's a must try.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:01:30 | More by thehyperduck

searsclone

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle into a globe glass.

opaque deep mahogany almost black color with a huge tan head that lasts. very little lace.

smell is dark fruit, spice, roasted malt, vanilla and chocolate

taste is spicy and malty, dark fruit, dark chocolate with a touch of vanilla in the finish.

mouth is low carbonation, medium body, creamy and dry in the mouth with a slightly wet finish

overall, another solid unibrou

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 03:23:03 | More by searsclone

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from a 25oz bottle. Shared with RoninTK3

Appearance- Dark purple/black with very light/thin head. Little lacing.

Smell- Plum, cherry, vanilla, anise? Yeasty/bready notes. Smells like a bakery. No alcohol.

Taste- Honey, stone fruity smell. Definantly spicy, but I can't pin point the specific smell. Again no alcohol.

Mouthfeel- Kind of thin body. Pretty well carbonated. Smooth.

Overall- Another nice beer from Unibrou.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:52:18 | More by Seanniek91

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Grimbergen goblet and split with Seanniek91.

A - Dark and slightly translucent. Some faint lacing. Very nice, but nothing out of the ordinary.

S - Sweet and fruity, berries, raisins, a bit spicy

T - raisins, currants, a bit spicy, a faint booziness. Very surprised how sweet this one is, but very nice. Not too sweet and the spices aren't overdone. The 10.5% does not come through much at all.

M - Very light bodied. The sweetness lingers, but much lighter than I expected.

O - Not what I expected, but very nice. I've loved everything I've had from Unibroue and this is no exception. Another great beer for a fantastic price from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:51:50 | More by RoninTK3

leokbelo

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep ebony into a chalice, with a 2 inch foamy head that fades quickly into a thin lacing. Lacing then fades away into the middle of the drink. Very Belgian...
Sweet spices on the nose, currant and...something else...that very Belgian abbey/strong ale characteristic..super inviting.
Extremely deep flavor, sweet spices, figs and nuts in the background..Smooth and rich.
The malt sweetness hides, at first, the 10.5% ABV...those deviant Belgians! Then it hits you, warming, not overwhelming.
Extremely drinkable.
Terrible!! And by that, I mean AMAZING! God bless the Belgians for creating the style, and god bless the Canadians for making such a fine example!
Unibroue at its finest!
Can't recommend it enough!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 19:36:40 | More by leokbelo

yamar68

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Probably the most difficult beer to open that I can think of... 2011 vintage:

Deep coffee brown body with two fingers of very Belgian looking beige carbonation... great lacing from start to finish.

Sweet black cherry aromas... spicy yeast, vanilla and toffee, fruity esters, incredibly smooth and approachable especially given the alcohol content.

Drying tart red fruit notes, sweet cola and more vanilla, a bit of earthy nutmeg, pretty tame beer... I'd like to try this one fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 20:41:11 | More by yamar68

Top_Jimmy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have really enjoyed what I have sampled of Unibroues catalog and was happy to grab a few bottles of Terrible when I stumbled across it as it is only a limited run for us here in Ontario, Canada. Those big black bottles sat there staring at me ready to be opened. My brother was visiting and I decided to pop one open and cellar the remaining.

The bottle was extremely hard to uncork for some reason, I see some others have had the same issue. It poured dark black and left a small tan head in the glass. Minimal lacing and and even with ABV of 10.5% I do not get that over the top alcohol taste that I do with some lower end high octane beers.

This beer has alot of carbonation, which I enjoy but some others may have an issue with. It has a nice mouthfeel, slightly thick with a creamy finish.

Served cold most of the scents and tastes are hidden. Allowing the beer to warm for 5 to 10 minutes brings these to life. An initial smell of spice and yeast with a slight fruit background. Taste is enjoyable and complex, nothing really stands out besides a nice malty taste with a slight sour finish.

This is a beer that I could serve to friends with Beef or Bison on a cold winters night. Very enjoyable to sip away slowly in front of a fire.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:14:47 | More by Top_Jimmy

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a goblet. ABV 10.5%.

A - Poured a dark brown to black with a 1cm beige bubbly head. Head reduced to surface bubbles and no lacing.

S - Dark fruit, spices, brown sugar, some toast, hint of smoke, a bit of rum.

T - Sweet dark fruit & spices upfront. Then followed by port, some vanilla, & whole wheat toast. Finish only has a bit of booze and a light hop bitterness, Quite complex yet well balanced. As other reviewers have pointed out, this beer has a fruit cake flavour to it. The sweetness & spiciness is also comparable to other strong ales from Unibroue.

M - Medium-heavy body, medium-heavy carbonation, prickly, smooth, crisp finish. Pleasant mouth coating aftertaste that sticks around for a while.

O - Easy to drink and quite enjoyable. Another great Abbey style ale from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:46:18 | More by decimator

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I have been wanting to try this beer for a long time. The beer manager at Total Wine & More in Scottsdale loves this beer. This might actually be his favorite beer of all time. The bottles fly off the shelf, and I am glad they had one the last time I was there. Reading the tasting notes on this one… well, it sounds amazing. I have always been impressed with this brewery, and am a big fan of their La Fin Du Monde. Before we decided to drink this one, I had no idea the brewery had so much history. I also find it funny they are in Canada. The beer just tastes like it comes from Belgium. Excited to drink this, and based on our experience yesterday with Westvleteren 12, this better be great! Bottoms up, people.

In the Glass: First off, that was the hardest cork I have EVER popped. Not sure why, but it took me 5 minutes to get the bottle open. I was worried the thing would explode or something. But I finally got the cork out, and poured a little in the glass. It had a HUGE head. I poured one ounce, and the entire glass was full of head. I waited for that to go down, and when it did, the beer poured like soda pop. The head was thin, light, and even looked like I was pouring a can of pop. When I finally got the beer in the glass, I was impressed with the color. It’s black. Pitch black in the glass.

Nose: That is what a strong dark ale should smell like. I find it funny that a brewery in Canada is making Belgian beers… but if they pull it off, by all means. This smells like a Belgian beer, so they are on the right track. On a second sniff I am getting some dark chocolate aromas and maybe some light coffee notes toward the finish. I have been wanting to drink this for a LONG time… let’s go!

Flavor: Holy. Crap. That beer is amazing!!! There are three things going on here. First you are hit with sweetness. I am talking barleywine sweet. Not thick, but really sweet. Then you get some malty flavors leading to a ton of carbonation. More carbonation than I expected and more than I wanted, to be honest. But then you get the aftertaste. I will get to that, but man… this beer is incredible.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is nice. It starts smooth, and itching to be thick. We are drinking this cold, so I will let the second half of the glass sit here for a few minutes, but the main mouthfeel happens toward the back of the tongue. That is when the carbonation comes out. It explodes across the back of your tongue as you swallow leading to that impressive lasting aftertaste.

Aftertaste: I love beers that have an aftertaste like this. Beers like this could sit for days because I don’t want to lose that flavor by taking another drink! Maybe that is why some of the best beers are only available in bombers. Those can take an hour or more to drink. Good thing, because a lot of them have a HUGE ABV. Like this guy. 10.5% is nothing to mess around with. This aftertaste really sticks around for a few minutes, and is as sweet now as when it started.

I can see why the beer manager at Total Wine likes this one. It’s great. This beer is only going to get better as it heats up, too. This is a rare beer, and only available at a few bottle shops in the United States. Glad I have one right down the road. I will be buying this one again, that’s for sure. I would LOVE to have this one with some nice cheeses or some smoked salmon. Great, now I am hungry! If you like beer, heck… even if you don’t, get a bottle of this. You’re welcome!!!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 22:56:06 | More by rickyleepotts

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Khaki head, moderate retention, oily and soapy lacing. Body is deep mahogany, approaching black. Aroma includes dates, figs, raisins, toffee, brown sugar, candi sugar, slight roasted malt, sweet caramel malt, and a classic Unibroue yeast. Taste is dominated by sweet malt, Belgian yeast, clove, banana (underlying), touch of licorice and some mild spicing (hard to describe). No alcohol whatsoever noted on aroma or taste and amazingly drinkable at this ABV. Spectacular.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 08:25:03 | More by KickbacksSteve

HTownGuy85

3.68/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle to a snifter.

A - pours dark as dark can be. Pretty thick head (2 fingers) leaves minimal lacing.

S - has that Unibroue yeast smell, sweet like some dark fruits.

T - can definitely taste the alcohol! That slowly mellows out with the hops followed by prunes/dates and coffee flavor. Very interesting.

M - tingly on the tongue, kind of astringent. Good carbonation balance.

Overall, an interesting brew. I'd get it again for its complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 05:54:24 | More by HTownGuy85

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One finger of light tan head. Body is black as can be.
Smell is musty grain with dry chocolate milk and dried fruit. It smells like Swiss Miss powder!
Taste is alcohol, a slice of bread and dry dark fruits. It's fruit cake.
Thick body with low carbonation... smooth.
Strong body and taste and enjoyable all-around.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:41:00 | More by Fatehunter

negroobserver

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Dogfish head pint glass.

Appearance...it's very dark. Dark coffee like brown color. Pours with a short bubbly head which dissipates over the span of a minute or two.

Smells... Grassy. Earthy. Yeasty but not in a bad way. Smells crisp and fresh with a hint of sweetness.

Taste... Crisp. Light hoppy bitterness. No dominant flavor profiles but very easy to drink and enjoyable.

Mouthfeel... Bubbly and highly carbonated.

Overall... A very easy to drink and enjoyable beer. The only drawback is the high carbonation which causes a bit of bloating and burping. Worth it...

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 06:52:07 | More by negroobserver

ecoastman

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of my favourite breweries... while all of their beers have a trademark similar flavour, I love them all. This one I wish was available all year round - it would be my go-to beer.

Pours dark with a nice head that recedes (unfortunately no lacing though...). Mild rum soaked fruits, light chocolate, banana, bubble gum... this stuff is like dessert but isn't too sweet. Just a slight sour aftertaste that is found in most of their fine brews. The mouthfeel is so smooth making this a very drinkable strong dark ale considering the high abv.

Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 01:54:54 | More by ecoastman

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Excellent promise in the deep rich cola colour. An abundant head that doesn't stick around, except to lace up the edge of the glass.

S: Smells of the Unibroue yeast upfront with notes up front of sweeten dried dark fruits, alcohol esters similar to a brandy. Smooth notes of vanilla and oak. plenty of smoothy malts, and no detectable hops.

T: Forward with that distinctive Unibroue yeast and sweet peppery flavour, followed by dried cherries & raisins, brandy and oaky smoothness. Complex mix of spicy, sweet fruits and yeasty notes.

M: Higher than expected carbonation present of the front of the palate. However leaves the mouth with plenty of coating to continue enjoying the fruit notes.

O: Fantastic extra strong ale, complex and tasty with hidden alcohol presences. Warming and sturdy enough to stand up to a meaty rich dish. Go get one, and enjoy in front of a warn fire.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 04:03:03 | More by FondueVoodoo

MarioM

California

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 ml poured into tulip

A: Very dark with an intense deep red color when help up against light. Good carbonation that creates a large foamy head, tan in color, that dissipates to a thin medium bubble film with almost no lacing.

S: Fruity, dark sugar, dried cherries, licorice and some floral notes. Also some spice notes but very mild, maybe grains of paradise and or anise.

T: Sweetness makes its way forward first, but quickly followed by a great fruity character mostly made of dried cherries, currants, and dark sugars. The taste is what I expected following the nose. Alcohol takes a back seat ride to the fruitiness and sweetness, its definitely there but hidden very well. Flavors a well balanced, not too sweet or fruity nor alcoholic. Great example of its style, in my opinion even with a slight red wine finish.

M: Aftertaste is complex and on the dryer side. Sweetness lingers with the fruitiness, almost no bitterness but a slight warm feel from its high abv, but no where near what I would expect from a 10.5% abv brew. Very drinkable, almost too drinkable, which in my book is always a good thing.

O: A very interesting BSDA by Unibroue, again. Last time I had this I didn't have time for a review, which is unfortunate since I didn't pay nearly as much attention to its complexity until now. Overall its a very rich yet almost simple ale considering its spiced. The spices take a back seat to the ride, which is how it should be. A great BSDA that is easy to drink, and packs a punch. Well balanced and great for desert. Next thing on my list would be to age a bottle and also to try this side by side with Trois Pistoles.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 20:47:34 | More by MarioM

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark brown in colour, just over a finger of tan head, quite a bit of lace at the end of the glass. Smell is a dark fruit overload, plum and raisin, spicy, yeasty with a bit of brown sugar as well, vinious points. Taste is yeasty with a bunch of dark fruit, dark breadt malt, only a touch of sweetness and alcohol, spicy finish with some darker sugars. Medium-high carbonation, big chewey full body, creamy at times. Just an outstanding beer, complex and dangerously drinkable, grweat stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 14:51:55 | More by peensteen