Beer – #239 – Unibroue – La Terrible

So, again, a strange name for a beer. Hope it isn’t. Unibroue La Terrible – Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo) in the style of a Belgian Strong Ale and a first time visit to Chambly, Canada

La Terrible is a dark brown beer on lees and is part of a collection of exotic and refined Unibroue beers brewed using 100% natural raw materials. It may be drunk as an aperitif or as an after dinner digestive. It is equally a perfect accompaniment to the above-mentioned dishes or a pleasant alternative to coffee

750ml bottle of a 10.5% ABV beer, with an IBU of 15 – which is really low, sort of American Pale or Standard Lager low. In NZ this would be 6.21 standard drinks, the US 4.4. Canada 4.6. I know it’s all over the place.

Great cork and cage presentation too. Drama though to get it out, hurt my soft office hands it did. But the aroma was something special, cherries and sweet liqueur like you get in those chocolate things at christmas in the shape of bottles that are all sugar and a bit of something inside. Yes you do. Dark Chestnut dark oak pour, very effervescent pour, but that leads to a very thin transient head, the concentrated cherry aroma fades to the more familiar Belgium yeast.

Spec-tac-u-lar!!! Fruity, soft, the slightest hint of bitter, lots of bubbles, full mouthfeel, bit flavours, long carry. I’ve swallowed a fair bit already in enthusiasm and love! Opps I did it again.

This is a beer that I would both love to share with a friend, and at the same time begrudge them a glass of it. I’d go so far as to say that I’d buy another bottle right now if I could.

Repeating myself then It’s sweet, but not cloying, bitter but mildly so, fruits are to the fore but softly and let you play guessing, is it cherry, raisin, something else. Sits nicely in the mouth, doesn’t hang around but you know you’ve just had a drink of something a bit good.

The worst thing is that this is so drinkable that I’ve had a half of it already. It’s NZ$30 a bottle, I’d hate to think I’d have had a half bottle of wine in so few attempts at the glass. For some this might not be bitter enough, might not have the astringent alcohol burn that you should or might get with Belgium ales, and be too soft or sweet. But for me there are plenty of high notes, and a lot of all-round carry.

The pdubyah-o-meter easily easily says 10. If it could say more it would. This is so one of the best beers I have ever had since I’ve been keeping a list. It really for me is that good. Hits my taste profile, nice and easy on the bitter, tangs of taste, lots of things going on, all in harmony.

I’m eating this with a tail end of a rib eye steak fresh from the bbq, just salt and pepper and a coleslaw with a light honey vinaigrette. I think I’ve achieved a new level in the game of life.

Sigh #Happyface.