Unibroue 17 Grande Réserve - Unibroue

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.89/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle purchased at Tully's in Wells, ME. Pours a murky nearly opaque dark brown with a good inch of khaki-colored head. Ripe banana, raisin, date, pear, and toffee comprise the aroma. Ripe banana, pear, spice, raisin, and toffee all fairly equally make the flavor. Medium bodied with ample carbonation. Excellent. A little on the sweet side, but I really cannot find a true flaw with this one. Superb.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 00:34:57 | More by MrHurmateeowish

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage.

Beer is very a very dark ruby red. Large beige head with lots of activity - bubbling pretty frantically and dissipates at a pretty quick pace, leaving a fair bit of lacing behind.

Smell has lots of dark fruit - cherry, currant and red grape. Quite rich and deep. A bit of a medicinal hint. Fairly sweet but not overly so. Yeast. Vanilla and oak is noticeable but in the background- not as prominent as I would have expected.

Taste has the same dark fruit flavours, lots of dark cherry and plum as well. A bit of brown sugar, giving a candied flavour to the fruit. Alcohol is noticeable but not overly so. Like the nose, vanilla and oak flavours are there but not strongly. Fairly subtle. Some spice is there as well. Very nice.

Beer is sticky, full bodied but a little thinner than expected. Some alcohol heat is noticeable.

Very glad that they brewed this one again. This is a great beer and the oak is done very nicely. It is subtle enough so that even if you are not typically a fan of barrel-aged beers, this one could be for you. Reminds me of the Pannepot lineup, but the wood is not nearly as obvious as on the Reserva or Grand Reserva. Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 13:19:24 | More by jrenihan

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

n2185

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a murky brown with two dingers of beige head that fades into a thin layer with little lacing.

S: spices up front with sweet candy sugar and dark fruits. There are some slight buttery notes along with oak and chardonnay-like aromas.

T: similar to the aroma, there are spices and dark, slightly buttery, fruits up front. Oak and chardonnay follow with a slight alcohol presence.

M: medium body with high carbonation, this beer is very dry and clean with a high attenuation.

O: a very tasty beer overall. I enjoyed the regular 17, and the oak barrels add some nice flavors and aromas to it.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 00:23:28 | More by n2185

daledeee

Iowa

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A 750 ml bottle.

Poured into my big wine glass and got a nice dark somewhat cloudy body with an off white head and an uneven layer between head and body.

Nose is plums and cherries.

Taste is superb. Loads of dark fruit, black licorice, hops, spice. Cherries come to mind. There is a sweetness and tartness built all into one.

Mouth feel is nice and bubbly.

Overall, a really good example. If I would have been sure when I bought this how good it was, I would have bought two. Aging would really be interesting. One of the best beers I have had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 22:20:16 | More by daledeee

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage Bottle no. 101329
750ml served in a snifter.

A - Dark brown body with a creamy 2 finger head that settles into a tightly knit cap.

S - Earthy and slightly funky yeast and wood, coriander, apple brandy, vanilla, pears, old bubblegum.

T - Robust caramel malt, toasted brown sugar, coriander, clove, oak wood is present but stays on the edges. Apples, vanilla, candied pears, and hints of toasted banana and cotton candy sweetness. Finishes spicy with fruit and woody overtones.

M - Medium carbonation, creamy feel, full bodied.

I started out drinking this at cellar temp but it's way better room temperature. The yeast dominates and the oak is light but gives it a rustic edge. Very complex. Can't wait to pop open my other bottle in about 5 years or so.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 01:51:08 | More by StaveHooks

Kromes

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip. A hazy dark brown color with a thick tan colored head that leaves lacing down the glass.

Earthy oak, fig, Belgian yeast, clove, slight toasted malt aroma.

A nice toasted malt and raisin/molasses flavor at first. The clove and plum flavors then kick in and blend with an earthy yeast and roasted malt. The roasted malt, clove, and alcohol linger in the finish.

Full body with higher carbonation and a bit of peppery spice and alcohol burn on the tongue.

Fully expected this to be a quality dark ale and it didn't dissappoint. Very nice especially on a cold night like tonight.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 23:56:33 | More by Kromes

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

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

MY 600TH REVIEW!

***2011 Vintage***

Poured from a 750ml. bottle and shared with my wife (Date code: M12111602QFL, bottled Dec. 12, 2011)

Appearance: Massive foam that isn't overwhelming but still sturdy. Body is a light chestnut brown and the head is the color of lightly caramelized sugar. Very nice.

Smell: Strong Belgian overtones mixed with some oak soaked in white wine. Mild spicing as well.

Taste: The mellowness is the first thing that hits me. Cork and oak mixed with some mild wine-like overtones. Some spices with a lingering herb presence in the finish. Nice but not as complex as i would have anticipated.

Mouthfeel: Strong carbonation with a body that feels quite smooth. Packs a little bit of heat.

Overall: Some nice oak aging nuances but to me, that's what they were, nuances. Left me wanting a little.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 12:30:23 | More by papat444

bump8628

Oklahoma

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

One of the better Belgian-inspired beers I've come across in quite some time. Vanilla, cola, caramel, and sugar are balanced against toasted oak, cinnamon, and clove. Earthy bitterness is mild but is supportive enough to hold up against the maltiness. Rich but not sweet. Strong but balanced. Alcohol is completely hidden. This is a seriously complex and dangerous ale. Completely worth the $12 for 750mL of beautiful beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 21:10:30 | More by bump8628

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a bold tan head (2+ fingers). Dark brown and crimson in color. Great retention. Has a grainy aroma with some dark fruits (cherries, black grapes) phenols and slight vinegar notes. A splash of dark fruit to the tongue is followed by a certain graininess, burnt sugar, sweet bread and light hops. Some cotton candy sweetness is noticed as it warms and I find some oak deep down. Medium bodied and a bit airy, smoothly textured, and with a thin veil of alcohol heat. Residing in the realm of the best. I only with this wasn't a one-off.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 00:04:00 | More by stephens101

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

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

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

750 mL corked and caged bottle, Bottled in 2011 and bottle # stamped on label. Poured into my Unibroue goblet.

opaque medium brown color, nice creamy thick head. great head retention. rich malty aroma. allspice, a little dark fruit. complex. more of the same in the taste. improves as it warms. nice. medium thickness, smooth carbonation. drinks easy.

overall - very good beer, but not sure I pick up any of the oak flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 06:20:36 | More by jmdrpi

ocelot2500

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a garnet color with a small, off-white head that leaves chunks of lacing.

Smells of dark fruits with a little spice.

Tastes of the dark fruits upfront with some oak notes. Fruits lead off with dark cherry and fig leading into some brown sugar and toffee. A bit of sweetness comes in, but it is fairly mild. The oak notes come through with some light woodiness and a good bit of vanilla. This leads to a toasted bread note that ends with a bit of nutmeg and clove.

Mouthfeel is full with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, I quite like this and everything is blended together well.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 03:56:46 | More by ocelot2500

wvsabbath

West Virginia

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

Serving Type - 220z caged and corked bottle

Appearance - Dark tan/brown, creamy foamy 2 inch head and nice lacing.

Smell - Very strong wine like aroma. Sugars, grapes, plum and rasin. Some spices and a little oaked comes out.

Taste - Much like the smell, has a noticeable wine quality to it. Bitter, bitey grape and plum notes along with some oaked flavor. Spices mixed along with some yeast add more bitter dry tastes. Alcohol is pretty masked.

Mouthfeel - Bitter, dry, much like a wine. Tounge gets fruits, yeast and fruits. Palette gets pretty much the same, along with even more spices. Aftertaste is dry, bitter and grape fruity.

Overall - Good, but nothing special compaired to the rest of unibroues' ales. I was expecting a little more oaked flavor, but this is closer to a dry wine. I think if any other brewery made this it would be great, but this is just more of the same high standard from unibroue. Since its limited its for sure worthy of trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 02:10:04 | More by wvsabbath

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

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

2011 re-release dubbed "Grand Reserve"

A- Dark chesnut with ruby highlights. Three finger tight bubbled egg shell head thay slowly recedes to a nice sized cap. Lacing is sticky and won't let go.

S- Bananas and wonderful yeast quality. There are dark fruits with brown sugar and vanilla. The oak aging really binds everything together beautifully.

T- Bananas and yeast, oak and vanilla with brandy soaked figs. Fresh bead and caramel sauce.

M- Medium to full bodied, light carbonation feeling. Sticky on the lips.

O- This really is heavenly. I can see why they brought this back and I'm glad they did.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 21:44:09 | More by korguy123

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottled 2011.

The beer pours a nice dark brown with crimson and near purple tints in it, very interesting. The head is a nice bubbly off white to almost tan head. Pretty.

The smell has a nice dose of sugary and spiced dark fruits,cinnamon and apples. Nutmeg and a touch of malty alcohol as well. Figs and sugar coated raisins. Not overly aromatic or unique.

The taste is nice and follows the smell very nicely, with some definite Belgian style yeast notes to it along with the dark dried fruits and toffee, some really cool underlaying spice. Some bitter notes too, interestingly in a fruity way once again. Taste doesn't explode with flavor as I'd hoped, but it is nice and pretty in line with most unibroue beers.

The feel is ok, more bubbly than I'd like and sort of thinner too. Way too prickly!

Good, but I'd prefer much easier and cheaper beers from unibroue better too. Maybe it's too young yet, it's hard to tell.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 00:39:08 | More by Dreadnaught33

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

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The color is brown with some red on the edges. The head is beige color and disappear quite fast. The aroma is timid initially. Maybe the beer is too cold, I'll let it warm a little bit. After a little bit, I notice some notes of caramel malts, oak and dark fruits (blackberry and cherry). In the mouth, it is quite carbonated... just like all unibroue beers. Slightly spicy. Some other aspect found in the aroma are present in the mouth. This is a pretty decent beer from Unibroue. One of their best.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 01:56:15 | More by ZorPrime

snaotheus

Washington

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

750ml corked/caged bottle poured into a pair of large snifters

Pours dark nearly opaque brown. Medium head, slight accumulation of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Smell is fruity and sweet with a slight yeast and alcohol odor.

Taste is dark fruity and mildly sweet -- some dates and black licorice. Some yeastiness in there, too. Some slight tartness. Maybe some plums.

Mouthfeel is airy and light. Overall, this is nice to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 22:15:37 | More by snaotheus

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: 1" tan coloured head over brownish/amber liquid.

S: Yeast, pears and figs.

T: Oak, yeast, figs, pears and caramel.

M: Medium to full viscosity and a high level of carbonation, with some drying from the alcohol.

O: More on the bitter side than sweet, this Belgian Strong Dark Ale is quite complex. For my money, though, I prefer Terrible.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 01:18:31 | More by DaftCaskBC

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottle 2011-9067 from the MLCC. Poured at ~6C into a fluted glass.

A: Pours a brown with hints of red at the edge and hints of haze with a great white/tan head that towers over the beer, almost as tall as the beer itself. Perfect score if it were not for the haze.
S: Delciiously phenolic. Definite raw oak notes with dark dried fruits like raisins, plums and figs. Pepper. Maybe a hint of booze.
T: I am in love. Quite hard to find faults with this beer. A bit of sweetness that quickly gives way to the dried fruits with black pepper finishing. More plum than raisin, and some of the oak is evident.
M: Quite dry for the ABV with no hint of the ABV. Seems a hint watery though. Great prickly carbonation. A touch more body would have helped the mouthfeel, although it may have detracted from the body
O: I remember the original barely, though I remember quite liking it. I had a bunch of belgians at this point of my life without my revelation that beer can be better, I just always chalked it up to "different culture, different beer". A year or so later I had my epiphany and wished I had stored this beer (store beer? no one does that). Glad to see it back and as delicious as ever.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 21:46:37 | More by kjyost

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

Immortale25

Florida

4.56/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Honored for this to be my 400th review. Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. Label says Best Before 12-12-2016.

A- Pours a murky dark brown color with a 3/4 inch light tan head that bears great retention time before eventually fading to an 1/8 inch head and a thick ring of lacing. Resilient bubbles slide slowly down the glass when swirled.

S- Delightful aroma that's spicy, yeasty and floral with exceptional balance between the three. Slightly soapy, but with a sweetness that's very complimentary. The spices end up being the main component with some faint alcohol trailing behind.

T- Tastes like your usual BSDA but with extra flavor all around. More yeast, enhanced Belgian candy sugar and an assertive but refined alcohol character. There's a light solvent-like rubberiness in the back that ends up tying the whole profile together better than one might expect. The spices are a bit less involved than in the aroma.

M- Very creamy and somewhat sharp from the spice and alcohol combined with high carbonation making for a superb feel. Full-ish body.

O- What a knockout. Definitely the best dark offering I've ever had from Unibroue. If you're a fan of the Belgians, you've gotta try this.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 23:13:16 | More by Immortale25

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

17 Grande Reserve opens to a sweet, spicy nose that boasts, on the one hand, raisin, fig, date, plum, black cherry, and blood orange fruit esters, mixed with light molasses, brown sugar, and wildflower honey, and on the other, touches of clove, white pepper, perhaps ginger, allspice, coriander, cinnamon…the spice bouquet is varied, and much like in well-prepared foods, difficult to pin down. Hints of lemon and sweet pink grapefruit from the hops add texture. The overall effect is closer to mulled cider than beer, the dark fruits and spices coming together very nicely, tempered only by the lightest touch of toast crust and marble rye bread, and instantly reminiscent of Christmas: gingerbread cookies, five-star fruitcake, wassail. This is one of the more unique aromas I’ve ever encountered in a beer, and a welcome change from Unibroue’s spice-heavy noses.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a panoply of dark fruit esters, including raisin, plum, date, fig, prune, blood orange, and berry, with additional molasses, wildflower honey, and agave nectar thrown in for good measure. Spices are definitely peppery, but also seem to include ginger, cinnamon, clove, coriander, and perhaps allspice; again, the spices mingle well and are difficult to separate. There is a slight rubber tire hint around the edges, which is strange, but mostly blends well with the dark fruits. Touches of lemon and pine from the hops add further complexity, as do brown breads and toast crust. There’s also a very noticeable almost merlot-like quality to the beer, as if grape juice had been added pre-fermentation. The aftertaste is mainly spice, with some dark fruit left over, and lingers on the tongue for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high, biting at the tongue and soft palate.

Overall, this beer had immense promise on the nose, and while most of that translated well to the tongue, the interplay between spice and dark fruit created a strange rubbery taste around the edges, much the way that over-spiced fruitcake comes across as over-caramelized (the point of near-burnt) and slightly bitter. The beer is still good, but this bitter layer adds just enough of a strangeness that it becomes slightly off-putting. The beer is still worth trying, but I wish the taste had more closely followed the nose.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 00:23:43 | More by jondeelee