Beer – #384 – Unibroue – Maudite

Canada! Unibroue Maudite – it’s all on.

Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo) in the style of the Belgian Strong Ale and they are in Chambly, Canada

355 ml bottle (12 fl oz) of a beer of 8%ABV, so not a session beer, 2.24 standard drinks in this, and 240 calories. IBU is 22 which is the low end for the style. (I added a handy page guide).

Maudite has a deep amber-red color with a rocky foam head and an appealing aroma of wild spices and floral hop notes. It is spicy, vinous, and deliciously complex with a crisp hop finish.

The robust maltiness and spiciness of our amber-red ale is counterbalanced by an assertive hop finish, offering a distinctive flavor that is cognac-like in complexity.

Selfie by any other name

In November 1992 Maudite (the damned one), was the first strong beer to be distributed in Quebecgrocery stores. Maudite is a mahogany-colored, rich-tasting premium beer that has a distinctive, complex taste. Because of the warmth it releases, this strong character beer must be served cool but not cold. Perfect with pasta, red meats, stews and spicy dishes, it also makes a good aperitif and after-dinner drink.

Maudite has a typically Quebecois name that is reminiscent of the legend of the Chasse-Galerie (the legend of the Flying Canoe). Legend has it that a group of lumberjacks struck a deal with the devil to fly home in their canoes, guided by Satan himself, to make it home in time for Christmas.

Looking forward to this a bit

Nice looking bottle all gold foil and looking posh, – Amber -Red Ale On Lees is says on the label

… or containing yeast sediment (or lees). This practice provides additional fermentationafter bottling. The result is a beer which ages well if kept in the dark and unrefrigerated

Or drunk tonight 🙂 and a note that there is a sediment Philip so no big pour….

Popped like a cork, and a lovely yeasty sweet/sour aroma.

Pours a lot darker than I thought it would, I really am no expert in these things. Small head that seems persistent. Aroma hints a nice caramel malty beer.

Which is and the initial mouthfeel of the familiar Belgium style beer gives way to a really strong and lovely hit of warmth. Lots of carbonation in this adds to the fun.

Contemplating this you can pick the alcohol and this really does have a long finish.

It’s a bit good. Easy drinking in the way that this style of beer should be, warm and inviting without any harshness and edges to it, except for the astringent finish perhaps.

Risking derision again I say this is really easy drinking and is growing in the grass to be a much fuller and richer beer. I should get one for the “cellar” which is PhilSpeak for cupboard under the stairs as I don’t have a cellar.

But for all that this isn’t a spectacular beer, and to be honest as you drink it it seems in some magical way to lose body and become thinner and less.

“You must be a “brewsetter”. That’s at least a beer from 20 different countries.” Said the app, I need to get out more 🙂

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. Seven? you were ready to marry it, and then I drank a lot of it and realised that beauty was skin deep and age did weary it and wasn’t kind, even if it was only about 15 minutes, which in dog years is like 7 years or something. So I went the whole range of emotions on this to having a frown and it turning upside down and then back again. Close but a swing and a miss.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I started off being really enthusiastic
Would I have another? I would actually yes, and I’d put one in the cupboard for a noter day later next year
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Possibly yes, it’s pretty inoffensive even if it is higher in ABV than a chatting beer.

Tonight thanks to recommend from my little brother, music is from Tindersticks – the album “Across Six Leap Years” This track “Dtying Slowly” Indie/Chamber Pop is how they’re described. I’m listening and I will be judging.

BELGIAN STRONG ALE

Belgian Strong Ales can vary from pale to dark brown in color, darker ales may be colored with dark candy sugar. Hop flavor can range from low to high, while hop aroma is low. The beers are medium to full-bodied and have a high alcoholic character. Types of beers included here include tripels, dubbels and ultra-strong abbey ales.