Unibroue Maudite

Brewery: Unibroue
Location: Chambly, Quebec
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A

It was a slow week on the site last week, so I'm making it up to you this week by starting off with reviews of a pair of top-notch beers. First up is Maudite from Unibroue. Unibroue is renowned for their extraordinarily complex, Belgian-style ales aged "on lees" in the bottle. And Maudite is arguably the cream of the crop from Unibroue.

The Maudite is deep, ruddy amber in color. It pours with a light tan, bubbly head that fades rather fast. The nose is complex with toasted notes, raisins, orange peel and rye bread. It also has aromas reminiscent of a Belgian White ale as well as dry white wine.

On the palate, the Maudite has notes of raisins and toasted rye bread. There are flavors of orange, port wine and a very faint buttery note. Flavors of berry preserves and mineral water are perceptible in the background. The Maudite has a warming wininess. There is a touch of residual sugar remaining as well as a faint, lambic-like acidity. The finish has flavors of off-dry wine with herbal and lambic-fruit undertones. The Unibroue Maudite has a clingy, drying mouthfeel and a fairly heavy body.

Unibroue really nails it on this one. The Maudite has great complexity with nothing out of balance. If you like Belgian-style ales (that includes fans of Belgian Whites) and you haven't tried Maudite yet, then you owe it to yourself to try this ASAP.