Unibroue Ce n'est Pas La Fin du Monde Belgian-style IPA

Unibroue Ce n'est Pas La Fin du Monde Belgian-style IPA.

9.5 %ABV, 50 IBU. Brasserie Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Cananda. 

Clear, amber/golden-hued, slim white head. 

In the nose: Funky/fruity/ Belgian yeast esters at work. Kiss of bubblegum, twist of citrus. Earthy Belgian malt flavors pop up. 

In the mouth: Warm on the tongue. Citrus hops flavors flood the palate, just a little bit juicy. Some spice going on, tickling the senses. Wonderfully complex, this Belgian IPA. It's got all the goods. I thought that the style had gone extinct, and I'm glad that Unibroue resurrected it, if only in the sampler pack. 

When I say "funky", does that mean sour? Not necessarily, just ...weird. It's a combination of things that can't be categorized, an amalgamation without discernible features. If you know what I mean. And I'm not entirely sure that I do. It's almost inexpressible, but I'll keep trying. 

Houblonnée à souhait, cette bière dorée alliant la complexité d’une bière triple belge à la puissance des IPA du Nouveau Monde se situe au confluent de deux cultures.

À l’image de nos ancêtres français explorant l’intérieur du continent à la recherche de nouveaux territoires, à votre tour maintenant d’explorer. 

OR: This deliciously hoppy golden ale combines the complexity of a Belgian tripel with the power of New World IPAs. It’s cultural fusion at its best.

Just like the French voyageurs who explored the interior of the continent in search of new horizons, now it’s your turn to embark on an adventure. HOPS: Galaxy, Willamette, Cascade and Simcoe

Unibroue À Tout le Monde Saison

 Unibroue À Tout le Monde Saison.

4.5 % ABV, 22 IBU,   Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec.

I have put off sampling this beer for too long. I like saisons. I love  Unibroue. Was it just because I don’t care for heavy metal and know nothing about Megadeth? Can you enjoy this beer without knowing or caring a bit about the band they collaborated with? I think so. Hey, it’s only $10 a 6-pack, let’s drink  some.

Clouded, amber hued, slim ivory head. In the nose: citrus, spice and Belgian yeast comes spilling out of the glaass. Farmhouse funk. Smooth and rustic at once.

In the mouth:Crisp, brisk, slightly tart, and delightful. Bright fruit, flight bitterness, lush malt. Stone fruit, apricot, peach, play with citrus. Light spice. Light bodied, excellent consumability. A tasty treat. I’m liking this more and more as the glass empties. Goes great with my thanksgiving meal of Thai takeout.  Damn you, Covid-19!

Unibroue Ephemere Poire (Pear)

Unibroue Ephemere Pear. Ale Brewed with pear juice, coriander, orange peel, and with natural flavors added. 5.5% ABV. Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada.

Slightly hazy, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: soft, spicy, fruity, delightful. Pear all up in there.

In the mouth: More of that and smooth as can be. Wheat malt texture dominates, pear stays quiet for a bit, but rises in prominence. Lightly spiced, coriander, orange peel and more. Lovely stuff, and easy drinking. A refreshing fruit wit, indeed.

From the website: L’Éphémère Poire présente un doux parfum de poire Bartlett combiné à des flaveurs subtiles d’agrumes et d’épices et vous procurera une expérience sensorielle mémorable et rafraîchissante. Ce pur délice est offert pour une durée éphémère, tâchez d’en profiter.

Um, I forgot to hit "translate from the French", I guess. Well ...pear presents a perfume of Bartlett pears and combines with subtle flavors and ....spices...and a memorable sensory experience and refreshment. And stuff. See, my two years of high school French paid off.

Unibroue Ephemere Elderberry

Unibroue Ephemere Elderberry. Or, as they say in French, "sureau", Belgian style fruit flavored wheat ale. Ale brewed with elderberry juice and flowers, spices and with natural flavors added. Chambly, Quebec, Canada.

In the eye: hazy, bright crimson/berry-ish coloring, lush pink head.

In the nose: Tart and sweet and very berry. Belgian funk lurks around every corner, as well as requisite witbier notes of wheat and spice.

In the mouth: Sweet, fruity, refreshing. Light and breezy, fresh and zesty. Tart takes turns with sweet, and it's a delight. Tasty. If you need to feed your elderberry jones, look no further. Good elderberry wheat beer, and you can surely drink it.

Unibroue Ephemere Bluet (Blueberry)

Unibroue Ephemere Blueberry. (Or, as the French say, Bluet.) Belgian style fruit flavored wheat ale. 5.5% all. by vol.

Pale crimson coloring, towering, crystalline head. Looking lovely.

In the nose: Sweet, fruity, blueberry-licious. Soft and wheat-y.

In the mouth: Light and breezy, still sweet and fruity, but with a side dose of tart. Easy-drinking, and flush with the blueberry. If a blueberry wheat is your thing, by all means, go for it. I won’t return to this one very often, though.

This one was debuted last year and I got a keg of it for Acadia. It lasted a weekend, where other Ephemere offering took much longer to leave our traplines. The crowds those nights were really into, coming back again and again for "the blueberry beer." I had too large of an inventory in the cooler to buy another one, and still wish I had.

Unibroue Don de Dieu

Another one from the Sommelier collection, one each of 6 12-ounce bottles from Unibroue. About $2 a piece, not a bad deal at all. With this one I'm again reaching back to notes from December of 2003, a beer that today I'd categorize as an Imperial Wit...maybe. Or, something. But not quite...well, it is what it is. Enjoy these notes....

Unibroue Don de Dieu (gift of god), wheat beer with spices and yeast, 9% ABV.


Murky orange in color, with an impressive, big, thick, chunky whitecap of a head.

 Notes of orange, other citrus, spices...that's all, but in this case, it's just right.

Taste is light, sweet, smooth, and luscious. Spicy, but uncomplicated. Well-carbonated, well-balanced, very light in body, soul, spirit. Full and substantial, with rich, yeasty flavor.

 Perfect with food,either a banquet or a picnic. A lot like a witbier, but with more body, flavor, and punch.

Unibroue Grande Reserve 17

Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 Bottle Fermented Ale Aged With French Oak. 10% alc./vol. 750 ml. Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada. Bottled in 2012.

There's a 4-page tiny pamphlet around the neck, held by gold rubber bands. It only tells us of awards it's won. In the past. No real reason for it, seems rather pointless. I don't feel bad saying this, since I generally heap tremendous praise upon everything they do. Really, though, how could a beer bottled in 2012 have won awards in 2009, 2010, 2011…etc? Must be a reason.
 Oh, well…

Let's drink it….off goes the cage, out goes the cork…

Appearance: Impenetrably dark , utterly opaque burgundy hue, small, negligible head.

Aroma: sweet, deep and dark. vast fruit, mingled with oak. Raisins, dates and prunes, mixed with spice. Ah…

Taste: Sweetness and darkness together. Sweet malt and yeast tempered by oak-aging. Tremendously complex and delicious. All those dark fruit flavors return on the tongue and it's nothing but yum from here on out. Alcohol isn't a threat, yet, but it's early, still.

"Dark Ale on Lees (yeast), Ale brewed with soirees, aged with French oak, and with natural flavors added."

Well, oops, I'm wrong. how did I know that the 17th Anniversary beer from 2007 has been re-brewed for so many years? Why not give it an new name? They did, the Grande Reserve, so there. And you know what? It really is quite amazing. Mmm.
It's up there. Way up there.

Here's what I wrote about Unibroue 17 when I first tried it in July, 2008: Unibroue 17

Into a Duvel glass, dark brown, enormous head, huge, pillowy, drifting down soon.

Dark fruit, cola, pepper, cinnamon, clove...

Taste: black pepper and spice above all else, lush malt, some whiskey tones, too. A big, delicious mess. A malty, boozy, complicated bruiser. Raisins and other dark fruit come through, too. Turns mellow, creamy, chocolatey after a time, but still with an alcohol sting lying below. 

I liked this, but didn't love it. Another nice one-off to celebrate another year of great beer.

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly

Now we have the witbier of the Unibroue stable, Blanche de Chambly, the white of Chambly. 5% ABV on this spiced Belgian-style wheat ale. Looking back on notes from December, 2003:


Appearance: cloudy, light yellowish color, adorned with a large, thick, pillowy white head.

Aroma: ahhh!, soft, sweet, slightly spicy, citric-fruity, sublimity and sophistication.

Taste: Delightful tingle on the tongue starts it off, a blizzard of citric hop flavor, delivered a tart bite, that is kept in check with ample, smooth maltiness.
Light to medium body, excellent texture, with a warm, happy, flavorful finish.
A richly rewarding witbier, this should please anyone and could suit any occasion or meal.

Great tasting, vast drinkability, exquisite.

Unibroue Ephemere Apple

Hey, what do you know, there's a Unibroue sampler box, "the Sommelier Collection" (didn't they get the word that we say "cicerone" now?), featuring 1 each of 6 of their beers, 3 that I've already covered here, 3 that I haven't. Here's come the notes....


Looking back at some old Unibroue notes, this one the Ephemere, ale brewed with apple juice, 5.5% ABV, first jotted down on November 20, 2003:

Pungent green apple aroma wafts out from the instant the cork is released...

Color is clear, pale golden, and is topped with a lush, creamy white head.
Aroma has settled some from that initial sharp sensation, is slightly sweet, and distinctly apple-ish.

Taste: big, brisk hoppiness, then all is mellow. Very light in body, with a crisp, dry finish. Apple flavor is never too strong, just subtle enough, and that's just fine with me.

For some reason, I imagined something bigger out of these guys, but all things considered, this is just right for what they're trying to do here. A nice, mild, bright, fruity ale, perfect for desserts, picnics, parties...but nothing I'd likely turn to often.

Unibroue La Fin du Monde

Man, does it take me a while to get to my favorites here on this blog! Why? Because I keep trying to tackle all of them, especially all the new, local ones coming out, and even the ones I don't like! They keep getting in the way of my faves, man! So! Here's a fave, and I'm looking at notes from February, 2003 for La Fin du Monde, the Belgian-style tripel from Unibroue of Montreal (-ish), Quebec, Canada, 9% alc./vol.:


Huge, billowy, lace, white-as-driven snow head, atop a perfectly golden, clear body.

Aroma is a sweet array of fruit and spice, coriander and clove,

standing far above any other particular aspect. Delightful and heavenly. Is it "the End of the World", because it enters us into the next?

Citrusy flavor stands on top, with dazzling hops and a marvelous sparkling sensation on tastebuds. Body is light, and extraordinarily uplighting. This brew handily earns it's rep as the Canadian stand-in for Duvel.

 A terrifically engaging, hoppy mouthfeel, and an exceptionally warming feeling make this ideal beer for any sort of celebration, such as Anniversarys, holidays, Wednesdays, midnights, 2:45 A.M.s, anytime you're exultant that the world hasn't ended, didn't get fired, dog still loves you, etc., etc....

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

You know what one of my favorite breweries is? Quebec's Unibroue, that's one of them. But, I noticed that in the past two years since I kick-started this thing up again, I've only logged-in 4 of their beers. I'm so behind. So, I am finally taking care of one of my favorites, if not my most favorite, looking at notes on Trois Pistoles from way back in February, 2003: Notes, away!

Unibroue Trois Pistoles. Belgian-style strong dark ale. 9 % ABV. 16 IBU.
Brasserie Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada.

Dark violet color, with a short tan head that recedes too soon.

Rich, heady aromas come wafting out the bottleneck, plump with associations: Raisins, plums, spices, brandy, dark rum, smoke, and so much more.

Bracing onslaught of hops on the palate, but excellent buttress of malt backs it up.
Fantastic spark on the tongue, and a wonderful sweetness that follows after the drizzling of hops. Transendant complexity, utterly other-worldly, and overjoyous.

A real treat of a beer, and a rare delight. Only the finest of human beings should put this to their lips, as a benedicton and reflection of the worthiness of their souls. So, all you slobs, go better yourselves before daring to crack the cage and cork. So go do community service, adopt a stray kitten, give a street urchin a quarter, let someone on the freeway before you, be kind to our fine feathered friends, turn a Bud man on to oatmeal stouts, just do something to realign your karma to make you worthy enough to pour this fine beer down your gullet.

----------------Yeah, looks like I like it, huh?

Unibroue La Terrible

Terrible. (Ter-e-blay.) Freshly tapped, my first time for this Belgian-style strong (10.5 % ABV) dark ale, from Chambly, Quebec's Unibroue.
And while I drink this glass, I look back at  notes from my first bottle, back in November, 2003. Here they are...



Appearance: pours out plummish, but when I look at the results, it's an unmitigated, solid black, fully opaque, with a finely fizzy, buzzingly carbonated, toasty-tan head.

Aroma: sadly, I mostly get a cola-ish impression, something I like to avoid in beer, but also with dark fruits, and a bittersweet coffee-ish impression.

Taste: heavy, dark, and quickly weighing in with the alcohol component. A well-inegrated collection of flavors, for none truly stands out over any other, all blending terribly well....spicy, sparkly, dark, fruity, roasty, toasty, ...well-rounded, but extra-abominable in it's overwhelming flavor and alcohol.

This is one rich, delicious, dark, and rewarding ale. I can't quite place it above Maudite or Trois Pistoles, who have their own unique charms, which could never be overshadowed or eclipsed by this ebony delight, but this particular Belgian-style black ale is in a class of it's own. Wow! "Terrible" in only the best way. Yum, yum, yum, yum!
--------------------------

Almost nine years later, I think I like it even better now. It's exquisite.

Unibroue Maudite

Unibroue Brewery of Chambly, Quebec, is one of my favorite breweries, and I've certainly been neglecting them here. I've only done two of the bottles, and this is the first of their beers I've tapped since getting this blog thing in gear. As much as I love their brews, I pass them over in favor I've new beers I've  yet to try. Such is my lot.
Maudite, "the Damned", is one of my favorites from one of my favorites. I can't believe it's taken me this long to tap a keg. There's a reason somewhere, but it's so preposterous, I won't speak of it. I will only sip this savory ale and reflect on my earliest notes from a bottle, back in February, 2003. It's another gusher, but I still mean every word.

The color is the loveliest, most perfect red you can imagine, the color of Satan's pajamas, and the head is bubbly, prickly, fantastically white.

Aroma is largely spicy, utterly delightful, with additional notes of dark fruits, berries, currant, citrus, and a hint of flowers, plus a good helping of lemon.

Good carbonation, and a massive deployment of hops upon the palate. The alcoholic component does not seem obvious at all, nay, it sneaks up upon you, as you innocently enjoy this delicious ale. Very smoth and tasty as anything on earth, heaven, or hell. Medium body, sufficient malt, but the hops are fully in charge here, and deliver the drinker into fully refreshing enjoyment.

One of the best beers in the whole damned world!

Unibroue Ephemere Cassis

This one's another sample from a different sale-rep. Comes in handy, because I don't really reach for the fruit beers that often, especially if I've already had them. First tried this one in May of 2005, here are those notes:

Beautiful pale peach color, massive head, thick and fluffy, slow to diminish...very likeable.

Enticing aromatics! It's a subtle mix of currant, a whiff of peach and apricot, all abetted by wheaty characteristics. A delicate fruit blend, and delicious.

Taste: a brisk bite at the front, tart for a touch, a blast of cool berry and grape, then all is mellow...very light currant flavor, more dainty than I expected...
...thought I had a wallop coming my way, but it's a dainty little dance on the tongue. Medium to light in body, tasty, tangy mouthfeel, softly evaporating finish...very nice. a sophisticated sipper, a sublime substitute for dessert when chocolates and such are not appropriate.
Chill and share with the significant other for a romantic evening...

I really, for some reason, expected a humdinger in this bottle, a slap-yo'mama kind of "Belgian beer"...not what they present, and who gives a darn, it's gorgeous just the way it is...sumptuous, serene...divine.

Unibroue Raftman

Notes from May 2003, bottle tossed back couple days ago:

Wearing a color of golden orange, topped with a bold, bright white and bubbling champagne-like head of foam, Raftman shows promise from the start.

In the nose, a unique and mysterious character begins to show itself: heady, deep, musky, sweet, yet strong, touches of citrus, and the definitive stamp of whiskey. The more I drink it in, the more my imagination stirs...am I in an enchanted forst, a magical glen? Feels peaty, maybe a little smokey, lush with rich malt, and citric hops persisting.

Texture is rought and tumble at first, slowly giving way to a tasteful play on the tongue and palate. Lemon/orange flavor returns again. Mouthfeel is very warming. Full bodied.

I can't for the life of me figure this beer out, and maybe that's okay, in this case. I've had different reactions every time I've had it, liking it more each time. A most unusual ale. Unibroue is most adept at crafting unique beers, and this is definitely one of those.