Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve - Unibroue

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Rich, a Belgian like a wine. Well and complex malting. Not too sweet, very drinkable. Though not spicy, it has a richness of taste that was a mealin itself. Light chocolate, decent yeastability, better than Unibroue I have had.Dark thick brown, above average mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 03:32:36 | More by northyorksammy

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

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of spices (white pepper, coriander) with some notes of Unibroue yeast and butterscotch. Taste is also a mix between some Unibroue yeast with a great spice mix and some butterscotch malt. I thought it lacked some dry fruits characteristics and while carbonation was excellent it appears that the body is thinner then their usual offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 19:22:07 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The super spicy and toasty fruit character that Unibroue celebrates best are all on display in this 17 Grand Reserve. Few breweries achieve such character and drinkability, even the most highly regarded ones from Belgium.

The strong dark ale pours with a hazy appearance of brown rust with copper highlights. The highly effervescent beer shows a lot of zest as it releases a dense and creamy slight tanish head that stops shy of rocky proportions. Along with tremendous staying power, the foam laces the glass in sheets. ...very impressive!

Perfumy aromas wrap around a strong herbal component of lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. A ton of these spices, whether additions or derived by yeast, are the decorations that bring life to the underpinning of toasted malts, vinous wines, charred fruits, and freshly cracked black peppercorns.

The spicy dominance also plays out in taste as the medium malt richness and sweetness is quickly surplanted with grilled apples, dates, figs, and chestnuts. Sharper flavors of peppercorn, toast char, and alcohol gain intensity as the beer moves across mid palate and into finish. The spices continue to play on the flavor spread in a somewhat smoky and soapy way.

Medium bodied throughout, the beer's creamy malt texture is aided by carbonation that lightens the body but not in the highly effervescent champagne kind of way that I expect. Instead, the malty rich textures develop into a highly peppery, spicy, and alcohol warmth that dries the beer as the malty-dry mid palate digresses.

Even the tannin woods play on the flavor profile with a spicy oak taste and a somewhat dryish astringency that creates a slight powdery texture to accompany wood spice and sweetness. This Grand Reserve is a masterful beer that deserves much praise- certainly in the upper echelon of the Unibroue staple.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 05:16:26 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

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

I have to say it's been awhile since I have had a new Unibroue offering,back in the day I dranf alot of their offerings.Poured into a goblet a russet brown color with a nicely formed one finger off white head.Some phenolic spice and dark fruit in the nose.Yeasty and spiced phenols on the palate,the spice-like phenolic notes are big,some dark fruit and alcohol rounds out the palate.It's a good Belgian dark but I don't get much wood aged except in the finish wich is mild,in saying that it does meld well with the spiced yeasty notes of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 22:31:17 | More by oberon

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

According to the brewery's website, this is the exact same beer as Unibroue 17 and I have put in a request for the two entries to be merged. However, since I had this out of a bottle labeled as Grande Reserve, I am entering the rating under this entry.

The beer pours a brownish color with a white head. The aroma has a ton of dark fruit in it, as well as a little bit of toffee. The flavor is a little more complex, with some oak and cherry notes complimenting the cherry and alcohol. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

This bottle was drank alongside an original Unibroue 17, which had developed more dark fruit and yeast components during its aging period.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 05:39:44 | More by Mora2000

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an effervescent brown/hazel with 3+ fingers of tan head. Superior head retention & above average lacing

S: Pears, Figs & a touch of treaclely booze. Some phenolic notes once warm

T: Follows the nose, some apricot as well, much dryness & a touch of dark candi-sugar up front. Smokey/peaty notes as this warms, figs, a bit of boozey raisin & a touch of brown sugar. Finishes, dry, warming, figgy & with a touch of treacle, nutmeg, cinnamon & raisin

MF: Fairly chewy, light carbonation. Carbonation picks up as this warms, along a general warming feel, but also thins out a bit

A ponderous beer, says it's best before 12-12-2016, I'm sure this will age nicely, not too shabby as it is now, but I was hoping for given its Grande Reserve handle...

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 03:44:42 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled at the PRF BBQ tasting soiree, full pour into a tasting glass. Thanks to Marsupialized for the generous heavy pour early in the evening, and Peppers/EmpireStateTroopers for hosting!

Appears a murky mahogany brown, turbid with yeast, with cappucino stained foam.

Nutty malty aromas, dried fruit - raisin, currant, dates, some vanilla and oak traces. Flavors follow suit with a low level amount of oak in the background, dominant Belgian yeast lending clove and spice, candi sugar stickiness, and some residual dried fruit in the aftertaste. Full bodied, though it comes off a little thin in the finish. It does seem well suited for cellaring a year or two. A tasty BSDA, and it was nice to get a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 14:45:41 | More by emerge077

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, 2011 edition. A crazy-ass offering to find at the local liquor store monopoly concern, but, I guess I shouldn't complain. Ok, I will, but with a slight sidestep - what is it with these pseudo Champagne corks lately? I don't remember having to break out the pliers and corkscrew so often, and not that long ago. So get the hell off my lawn, while I'm at it.

This beer pours a hazy, dark ruby amber hue, with two fingers of silken foamy beige head, which leaves a solid wall of painted lace around the glass as it slowly ebbs away. Nice.

It smells of dark, juicy fruit - bruised banana, wet raisins, fig - Belgian yeast with that Canadian twist, caramel malt, somewhat boozy vanilla, a bit of astringent woody phenols, and earthy, musty hops. The taste is almost certainly Christmas cake-like - caramel and vanilla, a bit of sweet breadiness, soft baker's yeast, figs, raisins, apple and cherry chunks strewn throughout, all doused in some nice red wine essence, with the oaken woodiness and tannic astringency balancing out the underlying sugary notes beautifully. Sigh, more please.

The bubbles are present, functional, and quite knowledgeable about right of way, the body a hefty medium weight, and smooth enough amongst some yeasty, boozy tugging. It finishes rather sweet, the bready, caramel malt and attendant spices and fruit still holding sway, with the understated barrel character contributing just enough to help, and not overwhelm.

Erm, well, WOW! Barrel treatment with a subtle touch, for my favorite (by far) of Unibroue's anniversary offerings. What's not to like? Smooth, subtle, and beguiling. Je vous aime, je serai avec vous toujours.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 04:17:19 | More by biboergosum

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in 2011 #2011-167353, damn a 10% alcohol Unibroue aged on French Oak this looked interesting. Pours a beautiful murky deep amber with a muddled mahogany brown overcast, big khaki tan head floating thick about three fingers worth in my Tripel Karmeliet chalice. Nose brings out rich mild smoked character with hints of toasted oak, a sliced apple, plump raisin, plums make up the fruit malt base with spice pepper like quality in there going on. Flavors are so balanced with rich oak notes, a mild vanilla spiced character basically the spice additions and French oak staves they aged it on have blended beautifully with this ten percent alcohol dark Belgian style ale. Again spicy floral character within the spice collides with vanilla, toasted oak with a fruity malt base keeping things interesting big layers of raisins/apple, and rum soaked plum with caramelized sugars don't become cloying at any point with alcohol burning just enough to balance out the sweet qualities of this rich oak aged ale. Mouthfeel is effervescent, yet big bodied with a bit of booze that is cohesive within the dynamics that this beer offers big dry oak in the finish with a pleasant robust malt profile throughout each sip. I will also credit some of the dry qualities from the spice additions that Unibroue is so well known for. Overall I'm proud to say I've been drinking Uniibroue bieres since 2001, I'm glad I found them so early in my drinking career.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 09:39:19 | More by WVbeergeek

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.94/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a two-finger cream head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Hazy brown color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Dark fruit nose and flavor is semi-sweet dark fruit and oak. Some yeastiness in finish. High ABV is hidden. Good dark ale but Unibroue's Trois Pistoles is better and cheaper. $11.99 for a caged and corked 750ml bottle from The Meat House Pembroke, NH.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 23:41:51 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a Chalice)
bottled on 2011
A- This beer pours a walnut brown body that glows at the base and has a boiling microcarbonation that supports a thick luscious head of beige foam.

S- The well blended aroma has notes of brown sugar and soft french oak some nice yeasty ester almost like dried dark fruit in the finish.

T- The dark sugar notes have a spicy phenolic taste to the finish that is slightly dry. There is a mellow vanilla like oak hint and some clove notes come through as it opens. There are some slightly fruity ester qualities and a nutty note as the beer opens up aswell.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a creamy texture and a well hidden alcohol heat.

O- This beer is simple yet elegant with lots of subtle flavors working together. This makes it hard to describe aswell. Very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 13:10:28 | More by rhoadsrage

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

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

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

kojevergas

California

3.48/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750 ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Expectations are high given its current ratings and the brewery - which I usually like. Bottled in 2011. ABV confirmed as 10.00%. Best before date 12-12-2016. Reviewed live. Acquired at Red Carpet Liquor in Glendale, California. I don't recall the cost.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

I used pliers to remove the cork, yielding a satisfying pop indicative of solid carbonation.

A: Pours a four finger head of beige colour, nice cream, nice thickness, and incredible retention for the high ABV - at least five minutes. Colour is a semitransparent dark amber. Fairly translucent.

Sm: Quite yeasty, with noticeable oak, dry white wine, a vague hint of what might be peach, spice, vanilla, and clean malts. A masterfully subtle, mild strength aroma.

T: A clean malt foundation backed by a nice oak tone, with lees and yeast at the forefront. Spices aid the balance. Some vanilla - especially on the climax, and hints of cacao about the climax and finish. No alcohol comes through in the taste - which is quite an accomplishment. No white wine; I may have been mistaken about that note. Light cream on the open. Reminds me of a witbier somehow. The yeast is delightfully layered, with some earthy, some spicy, and some biscuity. Masterfully subtle and quite complex. Exceptionally well balanced. I like it, but it's a touch too sweet, lessening the drinkability.

Mf: Fizzy, slightly coarse, and wet. Too thick. Adequately carbonated. Something's off about the mouthfeel, preventing it from complementing the flavours well. It just doesn't feel right. Light on the palate.

Dr: Absurdly drinkable for the high ABV, but it'll be difficult to kill this bottle. The sweetness wears away on me, and I find myself getting tired of the beer over time. I doubt I'd get it again. If I had it again, I'd want an aged version. Best consumed in smaller quantities. Not Unibroue's best beer by any means, but enjoyable.

B-

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 04:33:56 | More by kojevergas

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I thought the original 17 Anniversary was a bit spicy, this one was the same, but not quite as phenolic.

Very bubbly, pours with a huge head. Good retention, leaves a bit of lace.

Spicy, boozy aroma prepares you for the taste. Alcohol is very forward. I think this one could definitely benefit from some age.

Well-attenuated, highly carbonated, dry finish.

It'd be interesting with some age on it, or back-to-back with the original for comparison.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 01:56:50 | More by Derek

gford217

Georgia

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle.

Pours dark mahogany with some ruby showing through the edges under a small thick tan head that leaves no lacing.

Aroma is dark and fruity but has more spices than I was expecting with some peppery notes and Belgian yeast. Also some clean fresh oak. The fruits are booze-soaked raisins and figs.

The taste starts wih the dark fruits but has an interesting toasty character to the malt profile. Then the fruity esters take over and some figs, raisins and spicy oak. The finish is a combo of sweet fruit and dry peppery spices.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated with lots of dry oak on the palate as well as brown sugar and molasses sweetness.

This is a really nice Belgian beer from Unibroue though not one of my favorites from them. Big, complex and woody.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 02:41:04 | More by gford217

dirtylou

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle

split and paired with a NY strip, hen of the woods shrooms and seabeans. #northwest

appearance: dark chestnut-garnet body, thick creamy beige head with strong lace

smell: earthy, figs, dried cherries, brown sugar, a touch of smoke

taste: lovely - brown sugar, dates, figs, roasted nuts, maple, dark malt, oak, a fair amount of spice.

mouthfeel: light and lively, well carbonated

overall: great stuff - no surprise from unibroue

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 02:59:06 | More by dirtylou

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

dgilks

Australia

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A dark murky brown with a creamy, light tan head. Good head retention and lacing.

Lightly woody and fruity. Nice, sugary malt notes. The vanillin from the wood complements the fruit character well.

Malty with a good dark fruit note. The oak is really well integrated. Quite good.

Medium body with moderately high carbonation. Solid.

A really nice beer. Good combination of Belgian and oak. Well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 22:19:38 | More by dgilks

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

these guys can do no wrong in my opinion, so this beer is obviously fantastic. it came at what i thought was a reasonable price at under 13 bucks for a big boy. it pours a rich mahogany maroon color with a very excited head rising to as tall as three inches in my tulip glass. it smells very oaky, and has notes of dark fruit, dried cherries, sauvignon grapes, and vanilla. the flavor is rich and fit for a king, with the fruit and yeast combining in a way that only unibroue can pull off. its deep and complex, lots of fruit but not too much sweet. the alcohol is very well hidden behind the curtain of autumnal flavors and oak. the wood in this beer is perfectly complimentary to the other flavors, its awesome. feel is heavier in body but somehow airy, partially due to the effervescent head. i like this a lot, and would have probably paid another four or five dollars for this bottle. id like to get another and cellar it just to see what happens, if i can be patient enough...

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 22:58:08 | More by StonedTrippin

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml corked and caged bottle poured into tulip 1/5/12 thanks liamt07 for the bottle

A dark drown with dark amber highlights when held to the light, two fingers of tan foam has great retention and leaves some random lace

S brown sugar both crystal and burnt, woody yeast, raisin, faint booze but not 10%, there's some over-ripe candied banana and some fortified wine on a deep whiff, smells great with a nice sweet malty complexity with the wood and yeast adding to it even further

T a little more fruity then the nose with slightly more booze but still well concealed for the strength, woody finish and slightly spicy, still everything I smell with less candied banana

M creams up the instant it enters your mouth without being foam, not much heat but there's just a little, impressive all things considered, long finish of wet wood and brown sugar

O I don't have a whole lot to complain about while I'm drinking this one, its drinking great today and I'm sure it would age well too

Unibroue continues to impress me with this brew, great complexity, well concealed liquor, and it smells and tastes great. I preferred this to the aged original 17 I just had last week. It's my understanding that this on will come to Alberta in the future and I'll be buying several to age if it dose, for now I'm thanking liamt07 yet again for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 06:14:13 | More by wordemupg

champ103

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a lovely dark amber/brown color. A massive rocky and dense head forms with excellent retention. Light lace is left behind.
S: Candied fruits, figs, spices. The liquorish aroma I got from the original release, but not as over powering. Still plenty of spices. That distinct Unibroue musky yeast. Chocolate, vanilla, oak. Ultra complex, but nothing is over powering.
T: More of a toasted malt flavor up front, and some wood/oak. Coffee, Chocolate, candied fruits, vanilla, spice and musky yeast. All the complexities of the nose, but I think the toasted malts and wood flavors brings everything together perfectly.
M/D: A medium to full body. Very carbonated, crisp and smooth at the same time. So easy to drink. The alcohol is nowhere to be seen. A great sipper.

The liquorish that was in the original release is still there, but much more mellow. Complexities come out in spades, and a real treat. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:11:07 | More by champ103

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.71/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

750ml corked and caged bottle shared with NewBrewBB (thanks Brett). Served in a taster. Pours a deep, brownish amber with a loose, cream-colored head that dissipates into a swirl across the center and a tight band around the edges. Nose expresses dark fruit, toasted notes, and a hint of buttery oakiness. Taste follows nose; however, the flavors are really masked by the carbonation. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with an extremely gassy/prickly carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a decent beer - typical Unibroue quality; however, the extreme carbonation kills it a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:51:52 | More by Jwale73