Quatre-Centième Brassin Commémoratif - Unibroue

Foxman

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a hazy raw banana yellow with much carbonation. Two fingers of white head drop to a fluffy froth pillow. Runes of lacing trace the inside of the glass.

In the aroma, pale toasted malt is lightly fruity, while candy sugar and berry impress as well. There are esters a-plenty, with clove, coriander, and green apple. Alcohol sneaks about coyly.

Upon sipping, pale toasted malt is quite sweet, with a sugary note and a general fruitiness. There's also a hint of yeasty doughiness. Esters again come on strong with crisp ripe apple and clove drying the way. The alcohol is mild but credible. Residual grain has a distantly sweet biscuit presence. The finish crisps gradually and ends with a thin dry thread. It could use some filling out in spots, but it is pleasant.

Medium bodied, the carbonation livens the slinky feel. It does drop off a bit promptly, however.

As always, the distinctive Unibroue swirl of esters is present, and it's a comfortable, known presence at that. It's not great, but it's solidly good and pleasing enough to drink. And with a moderate ABV that's along for the ride, it does go down easily. So it if's not especially riveting, it certainly is worth having tried.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2008 21:36:56 | More by Foxman

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-26-2013 17:37:18 | More by polloenfuego

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

04-16-2013 09:50:27 | More by Kelp

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

3.26/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A:
Pours a cloudy, bright yellow with a puffy, white head that dissipates leaving a few little patches of bubbles with minimal lacing.

S:
Really fresh citrusy smell on the whole. Yeasty with the smell with some really strong notes of hay and some cloves.

T:
Tastes crisp and refreshing. A little sweet but not suffocating, it helps that it is really bright tasting.

M:
Really fresh tasting up front with a lot of crisp carbonation, mellow and a bit sweet in the middle the tiniest hint of stanky hops with an earthy finish with some fresh-cut grass and warm yeast flavors.

O:
This is a really nice beer. I don't know that it is the best beer I have ever had, but it was good. Definitely ideal for a hot day. Unfortunately, at 7.5% it is a little stiff (not terrible though). Worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 22:57:41 | More by TheDoctor

Kerrie

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

04-15-2013 16:09:32 | More by Kerrie

drperm

Virginia

4.46/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

Purchased this bottle in September, 2008. Sometimes there are bottles in my cellar that are marked "special occasion," and end up achieving almost sacred status to the point that I second-guess any potential occasion to open them. And sometimes, it's simply necessary to say, "what the hell" and open those bottles up.
My 2008 bottle of Quatre-Centième was one such of these, which, after staring at me in the fridge for 7 days (after having stared at me in the cellar for 12 months), finally won the battle of wills tonight. Glad I opened it. It's a delicious beer, not a holy relic.

The nose is subtle but bright hominy with a faint earthy spring grass hint that was probably more pronounced 5 years ago.

The taste is wonderful in an understated sort of way. Balanced, warming, with just a miniscule hint of musty-farmhouse sourness at the end. Delicious.

PLENTY of carbonation remains after 5 years, and it's pleasantly scrubby and spritzy on the palate.

A winner with food (Thai/Vietnamese, as long as not too spicy, OR artisanal cheeses and charcuterie) or all alone by itself. I'm sad I only bought one bottle of this 5 years ago.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 00:05:53 | More by drperm

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a beautiful semi-cloudy golden color to it. It has a nice thick white head that dies down somewhat fast and leaves next to no lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of Belgian Yeast, pears, apples, lemon and a light spiciness.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a some bready yeast, apples and pears, some lemon and a peppery spiciness.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 19:00:48 | More by SebD

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

03-16-2013 15:22:07 | More by ThinkAgain

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

03-04-2013 16:37:30 | More by t0rin0

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

02-28-2013 23:35:36 | More by djrn2

Kalev13

Delaware

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

02-14-2013 19:21:42 | More by Kalev13

Azrael

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

02-12-2013 04:59:30 | More by Azrael

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

01-14-2013 01:46:04 | More by spycow

JonnyBeers

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

01-11-2013 19:49:30 | More by JonnyBeers

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this beer into a chalice style glass. The foam was minimal over a very hazy orange beer.

In the nose I get decently fruity characteristics. I smell apple and some pear. There is a decent amount of sweetness here.

The flavoring also sweet. You continue to get the fruity characteristics. I also pick up some caramel and toffee in the background. The flavor is somewhat complex, while stil having pretty good balance.

This is another very good beer by Unibroue. I continue to be impressed by what they put out.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 00:58:53 | More by ummswimmin

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle picked up at Broue Ha Ha in Gatineau. 2008 edition in honor of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.

Poured into my Duvel chalice. Light golden honey, somewhat clear, decent half inch of foam, some lacing

Nose is quite yeasty, bit of fresh malt (grainy), herbs, lemon zest, a touch of sweet fruit.

Not a bad pale, dry finish, herbal, lemon rind, and a strong yeast component. Certainly seems as though time has mellowed this one.

Carbonation is still harsh, stinging my lips. Lighter bodied, dry.

Not one of Unibroue's best, that's for sure. A decent pale ale, but nothing special. May be the aging, or my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:28:10 | More by JohnnyBarman

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.3%

11-29-2012 01:49:32 | More by KalanM

nrombes

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

11-14-2012 03:24:14 | More by nrombes

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

09-19-2012 23:46:37 | More by Molson2000

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sample: 1 bottle 2008

A: Golden light orange in color, pours a small white head which evolves into nice lacing, moderate internal carbonation, translucent

S: Moderately fragrant, elements of citrus fruits, apple cider, yeast, certainly has a twang too it

T: Much akin to the nose, fruity and yeasty, moderately fragrant, touch of alcohol, aging has definitely made the brew less flavorful, but still good taste

M: Quite smooth, definitely easy to drink, mild fruit/yeast aftertaste, not lingering or overpowering whatsoever

O: A decent belgian overall, certainly has lost some of its vigor due to aging, still worth a try, I'd have to recommend a later vintage, of course

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 01:04:28 | More by MatthewWilde

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A rarity here in Ontario, This bottle comes straight from a Montreal Bottle shop. Nov 2011 bottle.

A: Typical Unibroue presentation. 750ml corked and caged bottle. Pouring instructions, temperature recommendations and other bollocks. Beer pours bright yellow with a fresh looking white head. Doesn't seem to stick around long though and lacing is nowhere. Par for the style here.

S: The expected Unibroue yeast is always present in their beers and this is no exception. If its not broken why fix it though? Lots of citrus and banana/clove. Grass, pear and oak. Don't forget to smell the cork. Quite lovely!

T: Quite typical Belgian Pale here, almost saison in profile. Very pleasant spiciness. A bit of pepper, pine, and apple.

M: Exactly the semi-dry mouthfeel you want from a Belgian pale. Almost triple-like in dryness. Makes it easy to drink quickly should you choose to do so.

Overall: Unibroue can't seem to make a bad beer, sort of "boring" in that regard. Very dependable brewery and this keeps in line with their standards.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 20:40:01 | More by uno99

csmartin6

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

07-03-2012 11:50:29 | More by csmartin6

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -23.3%

06-25-2012 17:21:58 | More by FreshmanPour77

Jesse13713

Ohio

1.63/5  rDev -58.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Review taken from notes a month ago. 750ml bottle into Maudite tulip glass. The pressure in the bottle was immense. All I did was press my thumb lightly against the cork and it nearly shot my dengus head off.

Appearance - A huge explosive head that nearly erupted over the lip of the glass. Cluttery lacing with a head that quickly falls. An opaque, dull brown with yellow hues.

Smell - Heavy fruit notes. Reminds me a bit of the smell of Maudite. Citrus notes and light malt in the background. The faint spice of clove tickles the nose.

Taste - Baaa. Many of the fruit notes transfer over to the taste. Unfortunately, they taste rather rotten instead of having preserved their freshness. The malt and hop characters are far from sweet. Rather, they are bitter and leave me disappointed. There is a faint caramael and clove spice that do little to save the brew.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - I couldn't drink the entire bomber myself. I saved the remainder in the bottle, but it became soon forgotten in the back of my fridge. Mouthfeel is spankingly befouling. A smooth, light burn that glistens with could-have-beens. i would much rather drink any other Unibroue brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 05:13:38 | More by Jesse13713

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a slightly hazy pale straw with a finger width of bubbly white head.

Smell - Traditional Unibroue yeast, clove/spices, lemon/orange citrus.

Taste - Strong yeast flavour with the clove/spices up front, followed up with a light refreshing fruitiness - citrus and banana.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Somewhat fluffy with a crisp finish.

Overall - An enjoyable Belgian strong pale ale by Unibroue. Once you get past the traditional yeast flavour, the brew shines through with unique fruit flavours.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 02:28:02 | More by leaddog