La Fringante - Unibroue

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

341ml bottle poured into seldom used Unibroue glass 12/1/13,

A slight haze in a golden orange liquid, large bone white head sticks around for ages and only leaves a couple random patches of lace

S that Unibroue yeast we all know and love, pineapple, faint banana, spice, a little booze and bubblegum and a hint of cereal, the smells very strong and I'm liking it

T some apple and pear on top of what I smell with some more spice and slightly more booze but still kept in check, pretty solid flavor from a brewery that knows how to brew Triples and this is no exception

M almost foamy but not quite, some faint heat and a nice spicy yeast finish

O this one goes down with ease and I'm not sure if that's good or bad, for a young Triple(6 weeks) its quite smooth and I'd expect more booze considering the 10%

It's not everyday that my highest ranked unrated Canadian top 100 brew just shows up at my liquor store. Pretty stoked to see this in the Unibroue mixed pack, what a great deal too

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 06:15:27 | More by wordemupg

NorthernSoul

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%

04-21-2013 20:48:17 | More by NorthernSoul

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%

04-17-2013 15:05:37 | More by Whatup14

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

341ml bottle, an apparent straggler from a mixed-pack at a local station of my province's private liquor store monopoly. Still, nice to finally see this particular offering in dear ol' Alberta, for reals.

This beer pours a rather cloudy medium golden yellow hue, with two fingers of tightly foamy, somewhat frizzy white head, which leaves a few up-sweeps of coral sea form lace around the glass as it evenly bleeds from sight.

It smells of sweet apple mush, ripe pineapple, that earthy, musty Unibroue house yeast, baked banana, mild coriander and black pepper spice, and a beefy pale maltiness. The taste is apple concentrate, a more tart pineapple essence, generic under-ripe melon, edgy earthy, ethereally musty yeast, and some high-palate affective muddled savoury spiciness. No sign of this purported 20-proof booze, yet.

The bubbles are a little bit frothy, but otherwise apt at their desirable behind the scenes job, the body actually medium-heavy for the style, as the inherent fruitiness manifests still, and lingers further into a middling smoothness. It finishes off-dry, the fruit and spice continuing their oblivious dance in the presence of such an innocuous and at the same time prominent alcohol presence.

Once again, this isn't exactly my favourite style, however, the usual suspects of my dismay are well mediated here, especially the booze, as the fruit, spice, and yeast persist in their nice, pat little French orgy. And that's all right by me, as that warming finally sets in, slowly and surely.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:27:58 | More by biboergosum

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%

02-17-2013 22:09:02 | More by 4ster

Lukass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

02-17-2013 00:39:48 | More by Lukass

shagal

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

02-01-2013 06:08:29 | More by shagal

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Huge thanks to my uncle for picking up a 12 pack so that I could try a bottle of La Fringante.

A - Pours a clear golden colour, finger of soapy head with solid retention and some nice sheeting lacing.

S - Nose is slightly spicy, nice fruity yeast esthers, hints of clove and honey, touch of bananas on the finish.

T - Flavour is much like the nose, sweet cloves and honey, hints of banana, sweet corn, buttered bread and a leafy finish.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and surprisingly dry in the finish.

O - A tasty tripel and well worth seeking out, super glad I was able to try it out. At 10% this stuff is incredibly drinkable and dangerously smooth. Another treat enjoyed in la belle province!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 23:14:06 | More by andrenaline

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled August 29, 2012. Thanks to Papat444 for the bottle!

Beer is a cloudy golden-orange. Large white head, looks very solid and thick. Great retention.

Smell is characteristically Unibroue, and seems quite similar to La Fin Du Monde. Banana, yeast, light spices. Rather perfume-like.

Taste contains a lot of light fruit, as well as yeast and some spices. Banana, peach, a bit of green apple. Clove. Surprisingly dry.

Quite creamy, full bodied. Nice feel, but the carbonation is quite high, and detracts somewhat.

Overall, very good. Glad that this one came back.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 21:26:21 | More by jrenihan

eawolff99

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

01-25-2013 01:42:54 | More by eawolff99

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

01-23-2013 00:55:17 | More by Luk13

ZiggyPop

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

01-18-2013 22:35:34 | More by ZiggyPop

Melomanemusher

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

01-10-2013 23:51:17 | More by Melomanemusher

DannyBaldoni

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

01-04-2013 00:34:18 | More by DannyBaldoni

Morpheus

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

12-29-2012 08:36:35 | More by Morpheus

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 341ml. bottle (Lot H291220303Q, Bottled Oct. 29, 2012).

Appearance: Creamy white head, good lacing and a nice yellow/pale orange body.

Smell: Fruit syrup, mild tropical fruit (pineapple?), banana esters, melon, overripe fruit and mild spices in the periphery.

Taste: Upfront is strong on the fruit, plush and slightly overripe, melons, apples, peaches, spices in the middle tingle the tongue throughout the finish.

Mouthfeel: Tingly carbonation is just right, smooth and expansive with a dry finish that cleans out the palate.

Overall: Pretty good and glad they brought this out of retirement.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 12:27:37 | More by papat444

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into tulip glass.

A: Golden blonde colour with hints of orange. Hazy with apparent high carbonation. Pours a nice thick white head.

S: Spicy cloves with crisp green apples.

T: Green apple pie with its spices, alcohol well present but balanced. Has the Belgian candy flavour to it.

M: Thin and dry, well carbonated. Bitterness is present but a bit low in my opinion (14IBUS) Finishes with malt undertones and residual sweetness.

O: This is a great triple that competes with the best in it's category. Well balanced, and very enjoyable. Only thing for me is that I would bring up the IBU's a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 00:55:22 | More by Kremlock

Foudebiere

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

12-01-2012 20:04:43 | More by Foudebiere

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

341ml Bottle from Broue Haha QC part of a mixed 12 pack for 14.99+taxes

Appearance - Hazy copper/dark gold colour with a massive size fizzy/frothy off-white head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some decent lacing. The head lasted for 5-6 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, grapes, bananas, apples, yeast/clove

Taste & Mouth - There is a high amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, apples, and yeast. There is also some grapes, banana, and clove/coriander. It ends with a bittersweet fruity and spicy aftertaste.

Overall - Seems like a Fin Du Monde with a touch more complexity. There are hints of a belgian IPA to it as well. Really good stuff, seems like this brewer can do no wrong. I'm glad they are available locally for such a good price.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 01:41:12 | More by spinrsx

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks for sharing Derek! Cloudy yellow, with a frothed out white cap. Yeasty in the nose, candied fruit, with marked white grapes. Yeasty and plummy flavours, sugared malts, with lots of spice and cirtus rind. Alcohol noticable, and warming. Another winner from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 18:44:37 | More by mrmanning

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2002 Fringante cellared for many years in my stash...

Pours a slightly hazy orangish yellow, some head that settles down to a thin ring of film, no lacing.

Aroma of spice, sugar and a faint note of cork. Some mellow malt flavors, alot of phonolic and alcoholic notes as well. A tad "dirty" tasting, but not overly harsh.

Still a fine ale after 6 years, but I don't think it will improve anymore, drink 'em if you got 'em.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 23:27:32 | More by bloberglawp

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm a little bit ambivalent about reviewing this. Bottle is some 3 years or so old and "aged" under questionable conditions. It's the only one I got so I'm gonna do it, but take this review with a grain of salt.

A - Pours a lightly hazed gold with a quickly receding head of fizzy foam.

S - Nose is strong green apple with a hint of lemon. Underlying light maltiness rounds out the nose.

T - Big crisp green apples are prominent with a alcoholic undertone. Subdued bitterness and a Belgian spiciness are the other prominent flavours. Very cidery. While the alcohol is quite present, it is well balanced by other flavours. Aftertaste is more malty than hops. The impression of tartness up front.

M - Mouthfeel is crisp and sharp, light body and very effervescent.

D - Very drinkable tripel. Light and refreshing. Alcohol is well hidden. Leans very heavily towards the green apple.

Edit: after pouring the bottom half of the bottle, beer character is changed slightly. Much more cloudy of course, and a touch of funk and soy sauce in the nose. Bitterness is a bit stronger as well.Seems to have a bit more depth in flavour and a creamier mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 02:29:29 | More by allergictomacros

brendan13

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Corked and caged 750ml bottle.
A - Poured a hazy darkish golden colour with couple of centimetres of white head that falls away quite quickly.
S - Clove & peppery spicey yeast phenols and some light fruit esters, a bit of apple & honey.
T - Yeasty like the smell but the sweetish bready and honey malt comes through as well.
M - Light to medium bodied, slightlt sticky with low to medium carbonation.
D - Not my favourite Unibroue but still worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 10:02:59 | More by brendan13

Lukie

Australia

3.38/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

06 vintage poured into a wide brimmed chalice. A very minimal head which dissipitated completely into a very thin lacing against the sides of the glass. Slightly cloudy golden.

Strong honey and cloves fragrance, a touch sweetness in the aroma, with a strong alcohol presence.

Honey, apples, with a lingering spicy quality that is hard to decipher. The alcohol is incredibly well hidden by the tanginess of the beer. It is incredibly dry on the finish. The body is quite moderate for the style, but the high alcohol does give a tingle on the tongue.
It is rather nice to drink, with great warming qualities that could make it go down a lot better on a cold winters night.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2007 14:12:10 | More by Lukie

atigerlife

Hawaii

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light, slightly opaque yellow with a small white head which dissipated rather quickly. Tons of small carbonation seen rising.

Aroma of apples and some melon in the background. Some alcohol also comes through.

Taste is crisp, refreshing with the apple and some decent malts. Very clean. Suprisingly, the alcohol is not noticeable.

Mouthfeel is much lighter than expected and nicely cleansing.

Overall, a very nice, very refreshing brew from Unibroue. Very drinkable which is sort of scary considering the ABV. Amazing stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2007 23:26:49 | More by atigerlife