Full Review

Unibroue
2015 2015 17 Grande Reserve Dark Ale

Category: Belgian Style Specialty Ale

Date Tasted: 8/9/2019

Country: Canada

Alcohol: 10%

97 Points

Platinum Medal

Superlative

Unibroue
2015 2015 17 Grande Reserve Dark Ale

Category: Belgian Style Specialty Ale

Date Tasted: 8/9/2019

Country: Canada

Alcohol: 10%

Hazy light mahogany color. Earthy aromas of chocolate ganache, balsamic reduction, smoked nuts, canele pastry, dried leaves, and caraway with a velvety, lively, spritzy, fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, massive, very long baked figs, dark chocolate, candied lemon peel, burnt caramel, and toasted pecan finish. Outstanding balance and wildly attractive flavors; an earthy and chocolaty Belgian style ale that will win you over swiftly.

Tasting Info

	Style:	Spicy & Complex & Malty
	Aroma:	chocolate genache, balsamic reduction, smoked nuts, canele pastry, dried leaves, and caraway
	Flavor:	baked figs, dark chocolate, candied lemon peel, burnt caramel, and toasted pecan
	Bitterness:	Medium/High
	Enjoy:	Now-3 years on its own and with food
	Pairing:	Roasted Chicken, Peking Duck, Pork Chops
	Bottom Line:	Outstanding balance and wildly attractive flavors; an earthy and chocolatey Belgian style ale that will win you over swiftly.

The Producer

Unibroue, Inc.

80 Rue Des Carrières

Chambly, Québec J3L 2H6

Canada

1 450-658-7658

www.unibroue.com

Their Portfolio

92 •	Unibroue Á Tout Le Monde Megadeth Saison 4.5% (Canada)
87 •	Unibroue Blonde de Chambly 5% (Canada)
91 •	Unibroue Blanche De Chambly Belgian-Style White Ale 5% (Canada)
88 •	Unibroue Éphémère Pomme Flavored Wheat Ale 5.5% (Canada)
86 •	Unibroue Éphémère Fraise & Rhubarbe Flavored Wheat Ale 5.5% (Canada)
94 •	Unibroue La Fin du Monde Belgian-Style Triple Ale 9.0% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Maudite Belgian-Style Double Ale 8.0% (Canada)
94 •	Unibroue Trois Pistoles Belgian-Style Dark Ale 9.0% (Canada)
93 •	Unibroue Don de Dieu Belgian-Style Wheat Ale 9.0% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Noire de Chambly Belgian-Style Black Ale 6.2% (Canada)
92 •	Unibroue Terrible Belgian-Style Quadruple Ale 10.5% (Canada)
94 •	Unibroue 2014 17 Grande Réserve Dark Ale 10% (Canada)
85 •	Unibroue Raftman Belgian Smoked Ale 5.5% (Canada)
93 •	Unibroue Don de Dieu Belgian-Style Wheat Ale 9% (Canada)
90 •	Unibroue Blanche de Chambly Belgian-Style White Ale 5% (Canada)
92 •	Unibroue Éphémère Pomme Flavored Wheat Ale 5.5% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Éphémére Cassis 5% (Canada)
88 •	Unibroue Blonde de Chambly Saison 5% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Á Tout Le Monde Megadeth Saison 4.5% (Canada)
94 •	Unibroue La Fin du Monde Belgian-Style Triple Ale 9% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Maudite Belgian-Style Double Ale 8% (Canada)
90 •	Unibroue Trois Pistoles Belgian-Style Dark Ale 9% (Canada)
90 •	Unibroue Noire de Chambly Belgian-Style Black Ale 6.2% (Canada)
91 •	Unibroue Terrible Belgian-Style Quadruple Ale 10.5% (Canada)
89 •	Unibroue Raftman Belgian Smoked Ale 5.5% (Canada)
97 •	Unibroue 2015 2015 17 Grande Reserve Dark Ale 10% (Canada)
86 •	Unibroue 25e Blonde de L’enfer 10.5% (Canada)
88 •	Unibroue Ale Gâteau Foret Noire 10.5% (Canada)
90 •	Unibroue Autre Chose Peach IPA 6% (Canada)

Belgian Style Specialty Ale

Serve in a Thistle

About

Belgian Style Specialty Ale

This is not a classic style but represents various beers of similar Belgian theme. This category is, practically speaking, a catchall for beers that don’t fit neatly in an existing category. Specialty beers may be flavored with, or affected by, unusual ingredients (ginger, chipotle peppers) or fermentation agents (Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus), or brewed with unusual fermentables (buckwheat, sweet potatoes, maple syrup). Given the variation possible in this category, there are no established standards for appearance, aroma or flavor. Instead, beers in this category are defined by a pleasing combination of the beer’s elements and overall drinkability.