Raftman - Unibroue

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

3.89/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A:
Pours a murky butterscotch color, if there isn't light behind it almost looks greenish. It has a light one-inch head that thins out to a thin layers of tiny bubbles.

S:
Smells really dank and earthy to me. It does have a sweet yeasty musk to it as well (as seems to be the case in most of their beers), but is mainly a smell of fresh cut grass with some citrus aromas.

T:
Comes onto the tongue pretty crisp and pilsenerey. There is definitely a smoky, whiskey presence to the taste, but nothing shocking by any means.

M:
Some nice grassy, smoky notes and a really nice level of carbonation. Short aftertaste. Well-balanced on the whole.

O:
This is one fine brew! I really enjoyed every aspect of drinking it. It was really well-balanced, neither too sweet nor too bitter. It also wasn't super yeasty (like some other beers they put out--not that yeast is bad or anything). Really refreshing, too. In this respect it also benefits from not having a super high alcohol content like some of their other beers. I would have it again. And again. I'd even tell my friends.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:32:35 | More by TheDoctor

Ivanhoes_Backpack

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.54/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

341ml bottle poured into tulip.

A - pours a dark orange/light brown colour. One finger head.
S - typical Unibroue Belgian smell, sweet, fruity, bit of spice, whiskey.
T - sweet, belgian spice, some orange, bittersweet smooth finish, some whisky hints, smoke lingers.
M - heavy carbonation, tingle stays on the palate long after.
O - I'm not a huge Belgian guy nor whisky guy, but this is interesting nonetheless. The whisky and smoke flavours are pretty subtle. Smell was't all that distinct from other Unibroue. Surprisingly, this is only 5.5%, making it near sessionable territory. I would drink this again, probably wouldn't pick it over some other Unibroue's though.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 02:23:16 | More by Ivanhoes_Backpack

zachary80

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my Corsendonk glass (looks like image on back of bottle). From this seasons gift set / variety pack, not sure the date. Area after "Best Before" is blank.

Pours with a large white head, fades, some retention. Hazy light brown body with golden highlights. Low lacing.

Sweet, somewhat tart aroma. Soft.

Mild but interesting BPA. Fruity finish. Yeastiness lingers.

Good mouthfeel and carbonation.

Overall this is one of my favorite BPA. Nothing outstanding about it, I just really enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 04:17:14 | More by zachary80

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Ffej for sharing this 750ml. The brew appears a hazed golden with a white thin film atop. Spotty lace sticks to the glass and a light swirl revives the thin cap.

The smell includes plenty of clove spice and Belgian phenols with some bubblegum sweetness. A touch of caramel and butter give way to hints of very mild almost smoked grain.

Tastes mildly fruity with hints of pear/apple skins. Some bubblegum and clove / yeasty spice are present mud-palate into the aftertaste. Fairly clean and crisp, this is an easy drinking offering.

Medium to light feel with a modest level of carbonation. Light and easy drinking. This reminds me of a light dubble but with more depth. The alcohol was well integrated, this is something I wouldnt mind having again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 15:00:45 | More by stakem

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy golden copper in colour with 3 fingers of head that dissipated to a thin hint of lacing around the edge

S: Unibroue yeast is forefront followed musky wet wood and ripe bananas and apricots. Something about the smell reminds me of fresh cream, or fresh milk biscuits. At the end you might get a little pepper too.

T: Carbonation pops on the top, then opens to apricot, caramel and vanilla. The Unibroue yeast reminds me of under developed bread dough, but you'll also taste a whisp of whiskey too.

M: Lighter and more carbonated than most Unibroues. It's dry and crisp and refreshening.

O: Overall it's smooth but refreshing, bubbly but can be taken seriously. The flavours run from crisp fruits to smooth butter to a dry finish. At first I didn't like this Unibroue as much as the others, but on second tasting I'm finding it more complex and interesting. Definitely worth a second try.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 00:57:04 | More by FondueVoodoo

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a murky golden brown with a finger width of foamy, dense white head.

Smell - Bananas, clove, spices, hint of citrus.

Taste - Very pleasant spice palate that is well balanced. There is a nice toastiness that comes through in the whiskey malts, both in the finish and the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. A bit of fluffiness to the body.

Overall - A nice Belgian pale ale by Unibroue. The warm spice palate is very well balanced with the other flavours and does not overpower the beer. Smooth and refreshing. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 04:41:55 | More by leaddog

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled at 1702, Tucson; August 2011
The beer arrives from the tap with a one-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is a light amber color that shows a lightly hazed, amber-gold hue when held up to the light. Up front the aroma has an earthy, yeast driven spiciness that reminds me of grassy coriander and a touch of something herbal like thyme perhaps. This is backed by a soft, pear like fruitiness that has touches of green apple to it. After a bit of time some musty yeast aromatics join with the general spicy notes. I am having a hard time smelling any smoke influence in the nose, but if I dig a whole lot there seems to be a richness in the malt character that could be contributed by the peat smoked malt.

Fairly dry tasting up front, but there is a substantial fruitiness that reminds me of pears and ripe sweet-plums that adds a perceived sweetness to the finish. The finish has a touch of phenolic character to it as well, some of this is clove character from the yeast, but there also seems to be a touch of something earthier and richer that might be peat smoke. The malt character in the finish is also quite rich and almost umami laden; it is sort of toasted, but really just rich and malty (but no grain sweetness) and this has to be boosted by the smoked malt. The body of this is light enough to be downright quaffable, but still has enough texture to not seem thin. When paired with my slice of pizza some plastic like notes are brought out in the finish as is a soft tartness.

The smoked malt in this is extremely subtle; I have a feeling this is for the best given their characterful house yeast and the fact that it is peat smoked malt, but I still feel like I am missing out on a more pungent smoke character. Interestingly enough the house yeast dominates the profile of this beer, so if you like that, then this beer is pretty enjoyable; I just wish something else came through a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 03:15:30 | More by Gueuzedude

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle with a best-by date just a couple of weeks away, poured into a Maudite tulip. I can get down with the murky brown body, but the fizzy, short-lived head and lack of lacing leave something to be desired.

Big yeasty and fruity aromas- apricots, candied apples- with light woody and peppery background notes. The peppery presence comes to life afloat abundant carbonation, cutting through a robust malty mix of honey, toasty, toffee and caramel. Yeast and tangy fruit abound. It's quite complex; a sipper, really, even at this modest ABV. Quite satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 00:32:28 | More by PDXHops

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL corked and caged bottle purchased at the MLCC. Poured ~4C into a tulip.

Hazy copper body with a big fluffy white head that laces well. Tons of Belgian esters on the nose along with pepper and apple juice. The body is spicy with an odd numbing aftertaste on the tongue. The lack of smokiness is distressing to me, as I was hoping for a stronger presence. Even knowing that it's there, I find it hard to discern. A real nice belgian beer, but sadly not what I thought it would be.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 22:37:46 | More by kjyost

Dawkfan

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Towering white effervescent head atop a nearly clear(second pour was much cloudier) copper orange body. Retention was very good, lacing mediocore.

S- I had to look at the style listing again because upon first whiff I instantly thought this was a Hefe. Further sniffing around reveals some light fruit and the Unibroue yeast strain becomes more prevalent as it warms.

T- Flavors are light but long lasting , which is definitely a changeup considering the brewers other offerings, but somehow seems fitting here. Apples, pears, slightly spicy yet earthy. It's sweet, tart and drying all at the same time.

M- Love the mouthfeel, light with just the right amount of carbonation.

O- The beer itself was good but I'm not really sure what style it fits in. I guess BPA is the most suitable. There's no trace of the smoked malt whiskey. This might be Unibroue's most drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 18:22:40 | More by Dawkfan

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes... Another score from joemcgrath27... A brew from Unibroue that I've been itching to get my hands on.

A - Pours a slightly hazy copper brown colour, finger of big bubbled head that turns into fine soapy head, solid retention adn sporadic lacing.

S - Musty yeast esters, leafy and earthy, lemon citrus, toffee and a hint of leather.

T - Sweet bready yeast flavours complemented by cloves and nutmeg, a unique bitterness that brings citrus notes, wooden flavours also come through with oak and a hint of peat.

M - Heavy carbonation gives this a lighter body than I would've liked, but nothing overly offensive. Goes down smooth and finishes wet.

O - A tasty, easy drinking Belgian Pale Ale that would make for a great session beer from Unibroue. Would be nice to be able to get 6-ers of this. Definitely worth a grab and will certainly quench your thirst.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 12:27:58 | More by andrenaline

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

served in tulip...

BA here describes this as a BPA, though I've seen it elsewhere as a rauchbier and the unibroue website describes it as a peat-smoked beer (a seemingly sui generis category). So, it's probably

look -- pours a rich medium amber. The head is a bit of a letdown: white, while it came up to about two fingers, and falling quickly without lacing to a swirling film. Hazy (not truly opaque, nor clear).

smell -- the smell is full of the unibroue ale yeast (maybe a bit more peppery than usual) with some interesting malts in the background. I get the scotch-like peat smoked malt aroma, but it's really quite weak and in the background behind the yeast that comes along with an aroma of rich dark bread. No real hop aroma

taste -- essentially, the same as the aroma, but a the taste is a little better balanced between the yeast and the malt than the nose. The malt character is still similar to rich dark bread with a hint of sweetness in there (which struck me as almost similar to a liquor chocolate). There really isn't all that much in the way of smokiness (at least compared to a rauchbier, which I have seen this brew listed as). Any smokiness there is is carried off with the pepperiness of the yeast and the breadiness of the malt. No real hop flavor, but a bit of bitterness on the finish.

feel -- lighter body than I would have expected, good carbonation. No alcohol warmth. Some spiciness played well with the effervescent finish.

Overall, a decent brew. Pretty tasty, though maybe not the most drinkable (to be frank, I think it could have taken a higher ABV). I like having it with greasy and gravy soaked food.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 20:26:16 | More by Rijtjeshuis

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy brown appearance with bubbly white head that slowly settles down leaving little retention. Smell consists of citrus, roasted malt, various spices and yeast.

Taste consists of various fruit (banana's, apples and peach), spicy, bread, smoke, yeast and roasted malt. Very flavorful and smooth, but only picked up a faint hint of whiskey, similar texture. Medium bodied with high carbonation. Has a dry and boozy finish.

Unibroue never fails to impress, refreshing to drink and good blend of fruits and flavors. Would definitely recommend picking up a bottle or case.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 04:26:19 | More by CrazyMike

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: 1" cream coloured head over hazy brownish amber liquid.

S: Yeast, smoke, citrus and malt.

T: Citrus up front with a yeasty and somewhat smoky finish.

M: Medium viscosity and a high level of fine carbonation.

O: Very refreshing and drinkable Belgian Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 01:14:59 | More by DaftCaskBC

ozmodium

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours murky copper orange, with a bountiful eggshell head which quickly disipates down to about 1/2" but stays there. Lots of little bubbles rising from the etched marking at the bottom of my oversized Stella tulip. Not much in the way of lacing.
S: cloves, peach, sweet smoked roasted malts, pepper, medicinal esters at the end. Very interesting!
T: smoky dryness and peachy fruits. Yeasty, bready and peppery. Deliciously refreshing and interesting.
M: abundantly but not overly carbonated, and a lower than expected ABV make this a highly drinkable brew.
O: I'm a big fan of unibroue beers and this does not disappoint. It adds an interesting twist on their theme that has worked for years. Will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 02:48:16 | More by ozmodium

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - a swampy burnt orange brown, very tall head dissipated slowly leaving random lacing
S - big fruity and spicy yeast aroma, mild citrus and some toasty malt
T - yeasty esters of banana and pear with clove and pepper, mild leafy hops and orange zest, grainy malt with faint whiskey caramel sweetness
M - big carbonation kick, prickly full feel with mild dry
O - its a big beer for sure, lots of Belgian character with pale ale accents, the whiskey malt is very subtle but a nice touch, merits a repeat purchase

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 01:57:32 | More by joemcgrath27

Crossmd

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured 55 degrees Fahrenheit into a tulip glass. No born date.

Pours a hazy/milky orange-brown with a fluffy, quickly dissipating three finger offwhite head.

Smells of Belgian yeast and the slightest hint of charcoal. Not really well projected.

Taste consists of a smooth, clearly Belgian layering of yeast spice and just the slightest hint of smoke. I really expected something more robust in terms of whiskey flavor. Expecting it to really be unique or interesting, it's nice, but not something that I really have a lot of love for. Finish is relatively long and very dry, turning just slightly bitter at the end.

Mouthfeel is plush, like all Unibroues, pillowy, soft, and delicious.

Overall, a good offering,maybe great with food, but not quite as inspired as I would like. Would probably pick up again if I could find it cheaply.

85.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 22:33:53 | More by Crossmd

DCon

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a Variety 4Pack of Unibroues from Lukas Liquor in Ellsiville, MO for $8.99. Poured from the Silver Saran wrapped Bottle into a Speight's Hefeweizen Glass and has BEST BEFORE 02-26-11 on the back.

Aroma- High malt aroma and apple cider aroma. Very fruity and has a bit of spice.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that is creamy but has weak retention. Has a dark copper body and is semi-hazy/dark when looking through.

Flavor- Tastes like apple cider, a belgian, and light hops mixed together. Fruity and has a great taste all the way through. Light bitterness but hardly identifiable. Awesome!

Mouthfeel- Light- Medium bodied, HIGH carbonation, and leaves a bit of cider on the palate.

Overall Impression- Now I've had in bottle AND on-tap... This is a great brew from Unibroue and think their beers can't get any better. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 05:34:29 | More by DCon

FosterJM

California

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

685th Review on BA
Bottle to Flute

Thanks to a genrrous BA @ Clusterfork #6

App- A nicer dirty yellow with a puffy head and a lot of cling down the sides.

Smell- More along the lines of a wheat beer or a hefe to me. Had a lot going on vs just a yeasty belgian ale.

Taste- Was a nice little beer. Small, light, crisp. A little yeasty and a little funky to me. Had some light notes of lemon and a little malt.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated. Light on the finish with some yeast.

Drink- I havent seen this around to much down here so when a 750 got busted out, was happy to try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 03:17:34 | More by FosterJM

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy faint orange with a high plume of head, that dissipates quickly to a think ivory white blanket.

S: Spices including cloves, grain notes, light citrus fruits like orange peel, and honey sweetness.

T: Clove spices, underlying caramel malt tones, along with a dry grassy/grain taste that is satisfying. Hints of apricot and some citrus including lemon and orange, meandering on sour and tart. Slight taste of honey and smoke in the finish. Refreshing.

M: Thinner mouthfeel with probably above-avg carbonation.

D: Not up there amongst my favourite Unibroue offerings, but a solid belgian pale ale nonetheless. I find this as more of a refreshing BPA with the citrus focus and higher carbonation. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 00:52:28 | More by Digimaika2

shambeano

Australia

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

saved this one for a while after hearing unibroue was not being exported to Australia.

A- pours a hazy brownish gold with about an inch of head. some lacing. looks pretty good, darker than expected.

S- sweet malts upfront, caramel and toffee, some apple and fruit unibroue yeast. touch of vanilla in there.

T- slightly sweet again upfront, caramel, toffee and vanilla. yeasty apple, much like the smell, but the fruit is more prominent. very tasty again.

M- on the lighter to mid-bodied side, spritzy a carbonation, lots of flavour yet easy to drink with a very dry finish, leaves the mouth needing more liquid.

O- not the best unibroue have to offer, but interesting and very nice. On the sweeter and maltier side, but works well with the fruity unibroue yeast. great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 13:35:40 | More by shambeano

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Source/Serving: 12oz bottle

S: Granny apple toffee that’s bright, fresh and fruity with a caramel edge. Moderate levels of complex, yeast phenolics. Hints at fresh peach, lemon, and pear as well as ripened red berry with barely a trace of vanilla/smokiness. Very nice.

T: Semi-sweet, toasty fruitiness that’s very lively and lots of Belgian phenolics. Dries out in the center with slight apple skin bitterness, more pepper/clove phenolics along with a moderate grilled apple/pear/peach character that is quite nice. Toffee and caramel maltiness lies just below the surface with light toastiness. Hops are mild throughout. Finish is smooth with light lingering smokiness/toast that is mellow and almost sweet. Only medium bodied with perky carbonation that livens everything up nicely and keeps this very light and crisp on the palette.

Notes: Highly drinkable for how malty, yeasty, and flavorful it is. Very deft. Nice mellow smoke character is appreciated, yet it remains a definite thirst quencher. Would have liked a bit more hop character, but otherwise a standout.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 03:41:58 | More by 4000qtrap

trevorjn06

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear copper/amber color with 4 fingers of head that slowly recedes. Minimal lacing.

Aroma is quite interesting, yeast, toasted malt, fruitiness, hints of smoke and some caramels/dark fruits are evident immediately.

Taste is bready, fruity malts and yeast. There is apricot, light smoked malt, earthiness, lots of yeast character and hints of wood. The finish is mildly tart and leaves a lingering fruity/yeasty flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium/high carbonation.

Overall this beer has the distinct Unibroue yeast character and some interesting malt flavors and a very restrained smoked flavor. It was enjoyable to drink but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 06:12:51 | More by trevorjn06

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle. Pours a cloudy orange/brown color with minimal head and no lacing. Smell is of yeast, spices and fruits. Taste has the typical Unibroue yeast taste, spice, and malt. Medium bodied with nice carbonation. This is a good easy drinking beer, though I wish Unibroue would try using different yeast once in a while!

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 04:34:19 | More by chickenm

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

341mL bottle brought back from a recent trip to Montreal. Always nice to run into a Unibroue offering I haven't tried yet. (For those Canucks in the audience, this label greatly reminded me of the CNFB "Log Driver's Waltz" film from the 70s. How Canadian can you get?)

Poured into a Chimay goblet. Pale amber-copper, slightly opaque with that yeasty sediment. About an inch of fluffy head quickly recedes into a thin, but sturdy ring. Lacing when the glass is tilted.

The nose is that distinctive Unibroue yeast, peach, apple, vanilla, and I guess you could call it smoke, but really it's probably my nose playing off the beer description because it isn't very strong. Still, a nice smell to it.

Tastes like the typically good Unibroue fare, although I was a bit underwhelmed. Nothing really stood out for me in this brew - the smoky, whisky flavors I was anticipating just weren't there, and if they were, they were so well hidden I can't really say I'm being honest about them. Still, a not-so-fantastic Unibroue is still fantastic. Easy to sip on a cold, dreary afternoon.

Slight sediment to the mouth, crisp carbonation, thicker bodied.

This log driver's waltz won't please the beer folks completely, but it still was a decent beer. A low ABV would make for a great session brew. It's of the kind I like to drink so it's hard to knock it, but when I see Unibroue's website describe Raftman as a "a peat smoked whisky malt ale", I was expecting a great deal more than what was there.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 01:18:02 | More by JohnnyBarman