Game Day Beer Review: Unibroue Éphémère Fruit Ale

(5.50% ABV)  Poured from the bottle into a goblet at the home office to celebrate a birthday.  The beer poured a brilliant golden color with no head whatsoever -- perhaps as a result of our extra-gentle pour so as not to disturb the yeast on the bottom of the bottle.

Éphémère smelled of yeast and apples -- there was lots of ripe fruit waiting to be unleashed from that bottle. By there was also an underlying funkiness to the nose -- we've seen it referred to as a stinky cheese, and we'd have to agree.  The funkiness was typically Belgian -- even though this beer was produced by one of our favorite craft brewers in Canada.

The taste followed the fruit -- apples dominated, but they were dry rather than sweet, and there was a little bit of lactic sourness to keep things interesting.  The beer was yeasty, with just a bit of spiciness to it, as well.

It had a thinnish mouthfeel with decent carbonation. We love this brewery, and they didn;t disappoint. B

Game Day Beer Review: Unibroue Blonde de Chambly Saison

(5.0% ABV) I drank this beer at a place that ostensibly cares about the beer it serves, but my Blonde de Chambly was poured disturbingly into a Long Trail branded pint glass -- not really appealing when you're drinking a Unibroue, and particularly a Unibroue saison.    The beer had virtually no head at all when it showed up.

It was a murky gold color, and smelled primarily of yeast and citrus.   What smell there was, was very subtle, however.

Blonde de Chambly started off with the taste of white pepper, with some coriander spice thrown in for effect.  I got a tiny bit of lemon taste at the end.  The beer is elegantly dry, and the overall effect is more spicy than citrusy.

It's different than most other saisons I've had over the years.  It's good, but I'm not sure it's great: B+

Game Day Beer Review: Unibroue Maudite Strong Dark Belgian Ale

Poured from a growler, purchased on draft at the Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, Maryland. Drank after a very enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner.

Maudite was poured into a pilsner glass. I know this wasn't the best glass for it, but hey, it wasn't my house, so you take what you get....  The beer was a clear, dark amber that showed almost no head at all -- likely on account of the aforementioned glass....

It smelled of caramel and malt, with maybe some apples just about finding their way into the scent. It definitely smells like delicious....

The beer is nicely carbonated, and has a bit of chocolate in the early going. It's fairly complex: I'm getting malt, chocolate, a sweetish apple taste, just the faintest bit of mild, hoppy bitterness, and a clove note in closing to bring it all together.  The taste stays with you for quite awhile.

It's a bit thinner than some other Belgian Strong Dark Ales I've been drinking, but damn, it grows on you. More, please! A