Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve - Unibroue

Hazer115

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I shared a bottle with my brother. This beer poured a great golden amber with a short one finger head that didn't last very long.

I could really pick up on several notes from banana to vanilla to smoked oak.

All of the aromas carried over to the taste as well with a slight since of the alcohol content slipping in there.

A very bright and full mouthfeel with a lot of carbonation.

Overall, a very good beer and one that I would recommend to others.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 19:09:54 | More by Hazer115

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark copper-brown with a finger of frothy tan-khaki head. Fades fairly slow.

S - Dark caramel malts, raisin and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, pepper, cloves, and other spices, oak, vanilla, some booze.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, raisin, fig, and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, pepper, and other spices, oak, vanilla, a touch of sourness and candi sugars, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Great BSDA. Great balance and the oak is a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 06:02:15 | More by ngeunit1

Etan

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Brooklyn tulip. Bottle number 2011-108718.

A: Pours a rich dark purplish brown with an absolutely beautiful, sparkling, rocky off-white head. Very nice retention with sticky lacing. Fantastic.

S: Strong aroma of dark fruits. Fig, prune, grape, bready yeast, sugary cake. Alcohol comes out as it warms.

T: Follows the nose with a seriously smooth blend of dark fruit, most prominently juicy purple grape. Mushy prune, grape, vanilla, whole grain bread, coriander, candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, with a peppery bite of alcohol underneath, smoothed a bit by faint oak. A bit of hop bitterness and a characteristic metallic flavor from the yeast in the finish. Sweetish bready, buttery yeast lingers.

M: Characteristic for a strong Belgian - frothy carbonation.

O: Very enjoyable. Not quite as good as Chimay Blue (alcohol isn't as well integrated/hidden), but almost.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:54:22 | More by Etan

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big fluffy two finger head and a dusky toffee brown body. Some slippery lace. Good retention.

Nose has a trace of funk, some cola, a lot of coriander, almost metallic, and some hints of grape.

Rich body, thick with toffee, malt, spice and tangy, almost steely (French?) oak character. Coriander lends it a slightly bitter finish. A bit of prune, maybe date.

Bright on the tip of the tongue, much smoother in the back of the mouth.

A darn good beer. I wonder what this would do over time (currently a bit coriander-heavy), but I don't know if I'll buy another.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 01:59:54 | More by zaphodchak

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve is perfectly clear, a fact hard to appreciate given the beer's dark, prune-like colour. Hold it into the light, however, and the beer reveals itself to be practically tie-dyed with all shades of purple and ruby. There's no black here. If looking for head, all you'll find is whatever foam made its way safely to the outskirts.

The bouquet is perfumed like a rose and has a coriander-like air, rich molasses sweetness and just a hint of ash from the French oak barrels. I detect a dried orange peel pithiness, though the beer's fruitiness might better be described by raisin, plum, dried cherry, fig or prune - take your pick. There's no wrong answer. Just add brown sugar.

The toasty flavor is almost truffle-like in both its meatiness and earthiness. The beer essentially drinks like a roasted Portobello burger, or at least would if not for the sweet-savory tastes of plum pudding and rum-raisin that share the flavor. There's no overlooking the dark fruits, molasses sweetness, and peppery, clove-like spice.

For all the caramelized sugar and syrup-like qualities, it's a wonder the beer never becomes cloying. This is even more astounding once you factor in the 10% alcohol. The fact that this is so approachable, even once losing its chill, is a testament to a generously malted, super enticing flavor profile that is as balanced as it is complex.

The aftertaste is underscored by a cola-like sweetness that sticks like the underlining of a wet bathing suit. It is thick but lush with floral features like honey. The peppery spice is impossible to overlook, despite all the dark rum sweetness, but is made more palatable by the a dry oak wood finish and remnant flavors of plum and grape.

Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve, like the best examples of Belgian strong dark ales, has a complexity that even Stephen Hawking would have trouble getting his head around. It is somehow simultaneously sweet, spicy, savory and fruity. Strong yet easy to drink. Like so many Unibroue products, this can hold its own with any of the heavyweights in Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:15:45 | More by biegaman

mdfb79

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 10/29/12 notes. This is the version rebrewed in 2011, with a best by date of 12-12-2016 on the bottle. Have had it for several months, 750ml bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

a - Pours a murky reddish brown color with one finger plus of fluffy off white head that's lasts for a minute or two and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dark fruits, oak, spices, raisins, oak, roasted and toasted malts, fruity malts, light vanilla, and Belgian yeast. Really awesome nose; it's like La Fin De Monde with a little bit of oak to it. Really nice.

t - Tastes of dark fruits, alcohol, bready malts, sweet raisins, plums, figs, oak, toasted malts, light vanill and burnt malts. A little more alcohol here than the nose, but still really nice.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall an awesome beer from Unibroue. I like a lot of their stuff and this is up there as one of their best in my opinion. Awesome nose and easy to drink; definitely worth getting if you're a fan of Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 16:56:11 | More by mdfb79

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This bottle is a 2011 Vintage.

A - Pours a deep garnet amber color with a billowy head and really nice lacing retention when the glass is swirled.

S - Oak, some musty dankness, vanilla, figs, prunes, dried dark fruit, light toasted brown sugar and caramel, all the ingredients play very well together and makes for a satisfying experience for the nose. Not strong or overpowering, just eloquent and satisfying.

T - Oak and vanilla surface immediately from the beginning while the vanilla eventually fades the oak stays for the duration, dark fruit, prunes, and figs. Finishes with subtle oak and lingering spicy bitterness.

M - Medium body, gentle and velvety carbonation on the tongue.

O - Superbly done and ranks as one of the top Belgian Dark Ales I've experienced so far. Seek this one out, buy extras, enjoy one now and cellar the others. This 2011 bottle is stamped with a "Best By" of 12-12-16. Would love to have a bottle to try each year as it moves closer to that Best By date.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:02:56 | More by jzeilinger

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml corked and caged bottle. Nice packaging. Bought at Ned's. Don't remember the price.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, red-brown. Off white head with tiny bubbles. Retention and lacing are not great. Doesn't look impressive.

Smell: Big spicy Unibroue yeast aroma. The bottle says "brewed with spices," so I guess its not all yeast derived phenols. Fruity, toasty, and bready. Oak? Maybe. But a damn good smelling beer regardless.

Taste: Yes, very spicy, maybe a bit overdone. Oak taste is very prominent and combined with the dark fruity flavors adds a big vinous component to the beer. From the middle to the end, tannins, bitterness, and alcohol burn are present, but not unpleasant. Nice bready yeastiness in the finish too.

Moouthfeel: Medium full with lots of very soft carbonation. Oaky tannins.

Overall: Really tasty and complex beer. I think less (or no) spice additions would help this out, as would some additional time in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 01:14:55 | More by rapidsequence

Greywulfken

New York

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First glass started ice cold in a frosted tulip and warmed to probably about 45-55 degrees. Second glass started at refrigerator temp and warmed to room temp.

A: 4 finger head of foam; murky dark cider-colored pour landed as a opaque rich brown-red beer

S: malty dark fruit and spice

T: complex balance between dry oaky wine and spiced malts - hints of fig, prune, raisin and spices; yeasty tang; very faint after-hints of mocha

M: crisp as first, smoothing out as it warmed; light bite of alcohol; medium-light body; brisk sustained carbonation

O: love these guys - have never had a bad Unibroue - all Unibroue beers have a certain yeasty/malty (?) flavor aspect that sets them apart from all other brewers. However, honestly, the other beers in their line (La Fin du Monde, Maudite, & Trois Pistoles all come to mind) are all so good that I'm not sure this is necessarily a better beer, but it is certainly equally classy and full of character.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 18:05:36 | More by Greywulfken

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a reddish-brown beer with a tan head.
There was a fair amount of lace.

Aroma of fruit and caramel malt. There was a bit of spice present also.

More taste than I inferred from the aroma. Raisins, figs, cherries. Toffee and caramel. A hint of cinnamon.

This was a smooth, very satisfying beer. Would drink it anytime.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 18:58:53 | More by lordofthewiens

Dope

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A dark reddish-amber pour with a huge dense tan head sitting on top. Fades slowly, leaving nice rings of lacing behind.

S: Loads of strong, spicy belgian yeast along with lots of bread. Smells almost like spicebread. Some banana and raisins. Brown sugar and a little caramel. Maybe some cinnamon? Very malty, sweet and spicy.

T: Sweet bread and caramel. Lots of brown sugar and again there is the cinnamon. Some banana and earthiness mixes in in the middle. Oaky finish with some more spice.

M: Thick but fairly high carbonation helps cut it a bit.

O: A very spicy BSDA. I got some cinnamon and maybe even nutmeg, kinda like a BDSA/Winter Warmer mix in my mind. Complex and balanced. Sweet and malty. I enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 03:00:44 | More by Dope

brentk56

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: A beautiful pour, with a three-fingered ecru head; the auburn liquid is just a shade too dark to see through but the head leaves a curtain of lace

Smell: Caramel malt, dried fruit (dates and figs), brown sugar, apple, oak and spice cake flavors

Taste: Up front, the caramel, dried fruit and spice cake flavors blend nicely with a slightly vinous character adding complexity, in the middle; the finish displays some tart flavors, though the sweet tones that dominated the aroma and presented themselves, up front, linger underneath

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: A nice take on the BSDA style by Unibroue; the tartness in the middle is an intriguing twist

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 21:04:51 | More by brentk56

FosterJM

California

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1442nd Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
750ml C/C
2011-106417

Best by 12-12-2016
Purchased at Bevmo Chino Hills, CA for $13.99
Shared with my buddy Chris

***BE careful, big gusher. Open over the sink or outside***

App- When the foam settled from being a gusher as mentioned it was the beer was the color of rust mixed with brown and beige. The head was a giant 4 fingers from being disturbed and when settled into a 1-1/2-2 finger slow settler to a pond layer. No real lace or cling though.

Smell- A lovely mix in the glass of aromatics. An opening lovely vanilla from the french oak and a little of the wood splinter notes. Next came the spices, lending to allspice, clove and nutmeg notes. No trace of the ABV either. Super smooth.

Taste- I am a big fan of the yeast strain Unibroue uses and this opens with that lovely flavor and then is immediately taken over by vanilla, oak, spice and dark fruits. The flavors are well rounded not overly complex but flavorful and delicate at points.

Mouth- A bit too thin for me. Needs a bit more volume behind it. Seemed a bit to aerated for me. A high carbonation level on this one needed to be toned down a little as well. Residual oak and vanilla.

Drink- Its a tasty beer from Unibroue. All of them are. I think Im just being nitpicky on this one because I expected more from the Anniversary beers. Ill probably grab another one to sit on for a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 15:21:44 | More by FosterJM

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Cloudy, murky brown color. A good 3 finger tan head drops into about 1 finger in time, but stays there with seemingly infinite retention.

S: Dark fruits, a slight spiciness, some Belgian yeast and alcoholic phenols. Not a very strong smelling beer, actually, but rather reserved (you see what I did there?) in this department.

T: lots of sweet malts with notes of caramel and toffee and all those other delicious burnt sugars. Earthy yeast, a slight peppery spice, and enough alcohol to balance out the sweetness, but even so it finishes sweet, but with a bit of a smoky vanilla. After a few sips I can feel the alcohol on the back of the throat.

M: Fairly sticky, but fairly light seeming due to the high amount of small-bubble carbonation.

O: A damn good beer. It hides the 10% ABV scarily well and goes down really easily. It is a nice balance of sweet and spice. Would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:51:03 | More by DaveBlack

draheim

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL into a chalice. Pours a clear mahogany w/ a nice soft beige head.

Aroma is bready Belgian yeast, spice, dark fruit, sweet candi sugar.

Taste follows nose. Sweet residual sugars, Belgian yeast, spice.

Mouthfeel is soft and creamy, good carbonation.

Overall a very good BSDA. About what I'd expect from Unibroue.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 06:53:17 | More by draheim

Zorro

California

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Chill hazed brown ale with a small tan colored head.

Smells sweet and spicy with a scent of coriander and ginger with some brown sugar. Molasses and some cardamom.

Starts out sweet and fruity with an apple butter preserves flavor. Apple, cinnamon, ginger and some clove in the flavor. Slight whiskey flavor and faint vanilla taste.

Mouthfeel is full.

Tasty beer, I was actually expecting a Strong Pale Ale. Solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:18:34 | More by Zorro

Vixie

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very deep and dark ruby red with a large tan head. Surprising how large the head is considering the abv.

Smells really nice, can smell candy, like toffee. Can also detect coffee and chocolate, and a nice woody smell.

Tastes a lot like it smells, there is fruit and chocolate and a bit of a candy sweetness to it. It is also a bit spicy, and I can detect a bit of a Belgian candy sugar in it. Finishes with a bit of a woody flavor, and a bit of warming.

Goes down smooth and thick.

Really nice beer here, one I would gladly have again and again. It has a nice complexity, the only thing keeping me from scoring it higher is a bit of lack of balance. Very much worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 02:22:38 | More by Vixie

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(Reviewed from notes - posted under the wrong entry before)

Handsome embossed bottled from the Yonge and Wellesley LCBO in winter 2012.

Dark brown and cherry, with a big frothy head and loads of lacing. Solid looking brew indeed.

Nose is cherry, figs, chocolate, a bit of yeast and indeterminate candied fruit.

A highly enjoyable dark ale - I really like how the oak played in to this. The chocolate is very delectable, with a slight milky flavor. Fruit is quite nice as well, and the yeast is, as per Unibroue's standards, also enjoyable. A slight woodsy finish. Really digging this. Medium bodied, slightly gritty/yeasty. Typical Unibroue in that respect.

A terrific brew that takes the Belgian Dark Ale to some exciting levels. A thoroughly enjoyable brew over the course of an evening. Worth a pick up!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 23:38:00 | More by JohnnyBarman

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Unibroue branded short-stemmed tulip glass

Pours a deep, dark murky amber capped with a light beige two finger fluffy, sea-foam like head which reduces to a light foam cover. A lot oak, dark fruit notes, Belgian yeast, and a whiff of alcohol on the nose. Constant mild toasted oak accents throughout. Dates, figs, mild spice perhaps some clove, brown sugar maltiness, bold yeasty esters. Finishes bone dry with candi sugar and oak. Lively carbonation, fairly full-bodied smooth, and finishes with some silkiness. An excellent brew. Some may be turned off by the upfront oak presence, but I really think it worked well here. Tasty stuff, without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 05:25:33 | More by chanokokoro

oline73

Maryland

4.19/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a Chimay goblet.

The beer pours a murky mahogany color with a finger of fluffy off white head. The head sticks around nicely. The small and taste are both super oaky. It's like drinking a dark Belgian ale in a workshop. There are some sweet sugar and dark fruit undertones in the smell. The flavor is more balanced, but still dominated by the oak. There is a nice dark fruit component and just a slight sweetness. There is a mild Belgian spice in the finish. The abv is not at all apparent. The mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side and the carbonation is quite smooth. The finish isn't as dry as I would expect given the oak level.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:00:16 | More by oline73

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sample: 1 bottle 2011

A: Extremely dark reddish brown, heavy internal carbonation, pours a perfect medium light brown head that is quite intrepid, a bit hazy

S: Quite fragrant, heavy dried fruits, tart cherries, figs, some earthy elements, a few medicinal/herbal notes as well, rather complex

T: Akin to the nose, very nice and strong dried fruit, some spiciness as well as some herbal qualities, a touch of alcohol on the finish, would love to try with some age

M: As I've come to expect from Unibroue, incredibly smooth, easy to drink, light and fruity aftertaste, not too lingering or overpowering on the palate

O: Pretty amazing, certainly deserving of its accolades, smooth, delicious, and fragrant, can't wait to open my second bottle in a few years

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 23:28:01 | More by MatthewWilde

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a tulip

The body sits a chestnut brown with reddish highlights and a beige cap that rises quickly. A bubbly, fizzy cap reminiscent of soda, just a touch creamier.

The aroma is a mix of sweet and spice. Raisins, figs, cherries, brown sugar, wine, clean oak, clove, orange peel, licorice, and peppercorns.

The flavor profile matches the nose. Broad and complex, but lacking in some density. Brown sugar, raisins, and figs up front before a rush of cherries and spice. The finish is a bit of citrus, peppercorns, and dry oak. Maybe a touch of vanilla/coconut. The oak presence is notable. As it warms, a bit of a smoke element emerges.

Medium bodied, a bit prickly carbonation. The finish is a bit of rum, sugary sweetness, and clean oak. The carbonation detracts a little bit too much from the complexity. Something softer would really complement all of these flavors.

A damn fine BSDA that balances the sweet and spice very well. Excellent aging and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 15:46:56 | More by ColForbinBC

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Steve as part of the QuadShowdown. 750ml into some tulips, 2011 re-release.

Poured a deep mahogany, lightly purplish. A big cream coloured head is formed. Nose has some light grape, dark fruits, sugary with a slight vanilla note. Taste has alcohol soaked dark fruits, dark syrupy and lightly sugary notes, Unibroue house yeast is completely evident here. Almost reminiscent of Trois Pistoles in some senses. Light and active carbonation upfront but smooths out as the sip progresses (something I find with all Unibroue beers). Very nice but not exceptional. Not alot of the oak aging is evident here, and if it is, it must be very subtle.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:44:30 | More by liamt07

Pencible

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured an opaque mahogany with moderate light tan head.
S: It smelled like bready yeast and sourdough and earthy caramel, with some oak and toffee and nutty malt, and a bit of soy and ginger.
T: It tasted like earthy caramel and sourdough and nutty malt, with some oak and toffee and Belgian yeast. It had a clean and mellow sweet and sour aftertaste.
M: It was thick and velvety with fine natural carbonation. Excellent full body.
D: This was an excellent barrel aged quad. Tons of refinement and delicate complexity in the scent and taste. The body was nearly perfect, and the alcohol was very well hidden. Smooth finish too, so it was very easy to drink, but worth sipping. Definitely built to age for a long time, but quite enjoyable fresh. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 18:32:21 | More by Pencible

gtermi

Texas

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer pours a nice brown body with a thin white head that quickly fades to nothing.

S: The yeast from this beer has a very nice fruity aroma. I pick up a bit of oak that has a slight wine smell.

T: There is a strong amount of oak that gives it a nice red wine type flavor. I am also getting a nice fruitiness, which I get in every Unibroue beer.

M: Usually Unibroue brews have a strong crispness and very strong amount of carbonation, but this one is very mild and easy to drink. Freaking amazing.

O: This is such a nice beer and glad that I found a few bottles. I enjoy the wine flavor that it has and like the body. So nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 04:02:57 | More by gtermi