Dark Mistresses Part 2: Unibroue 17

I wrote in the past about my "dark mistresses," two beers I started drinking when the weather turned colder: Affligem Dubbel and Trois Pistoles. These are still my two standbyes, they've really stood up as great every day cold weather beers. Since writing that piece, though, I've tried many new beers, most of which I haven't written about here (yet).

And I've really realized that I love Belgian Dark Ales. I seem to have found a groove where I alternate between a nice and delicious American IPA (from Canada), and something Belgian and Strong, such as a Belgian Dark Ale, a dubbel or a Trippel. One is bitter and smooth and citrusy, the other is strong and warming and spicy. Two wonderfully different examples of the wide range of flavours you can get from beer. I'm planning a soon post about IPAs, so I'll write about that then, but for this post, I wanted to write about another Belgian Dark Ale I found that is delicious: Unibroue's 17. This is available in Ontario only for now, which is pretty cool. We got it even before Quebec did. Sometimes, the lcbo can be pretty cool. It comes in wine sized bottles, with beautiful packaging. It's aged in oak barrels. In fact, from what I hear, this is a beer you can keep in your cellar to ago, and it will get better over time. For that reason (and to justify buying a whole bunch), I bought a whole bunch and am trying that out.

This beer is fabulous. It's oaky and dark. 10% ABV with a slight rum taste. cloves and spices, complex and very nice. Some of the best beers I've ever had (Chimay Red and Rochefort 8) are Belgian Dark Ales in this style, and I don't hesitate to say that this beer rivals those. It's so good that monks could have brewed it. Unibroue is the maker of Trois Pistoles - If you like that one, you'll love this one. Same vein, massive step up. Very nice to see world class beer coming out of Canada.

Biere de Garde: A milestone in the quest for Brau

I think if I was a craft brewer (and who knows, some day I might be...), I think I'd want to make biere de garde a mainstay at my brewery. I've been fixated on the style since I first heard about it. A farmhouse ale from france, to rival the saison style from belgium. Unfortunately, I couldn't ever find it-nor saison for that matter :(. But the mere idea of it made my mouth water. As a french canadian, the thought that there's a beer from my peeps, that maybe my old time peeps drank before coming to canada in the 17th century is pretty cool. And, even better, having the chance to pervert that style into some canadian hybrid (like me!) would be wonderful. Unfortunately, I can't brew beer (yet).

Anyway, about a month ago, my main man at the liquor store told me there was one coming - it's called Jenlain. According to the Oxford companion to beer, Jenlain is the standard bearer for the style. I looked it up on beer advocate and the review were only so-so. So I waited. and, finally, this week it had arrived. The winter beer selection had transformed the store into a winter wonderland of delicious. And I bought one. And I liked it. And I went back and bought more. Much more. (editor's note: just goes to show that you should take others' beer reviews with a grain of salt. I use them to give me an idea of flavours sometimes, what to expect, but never to gauge whether to like it or not. I've liked beers they hated, and vice versa, too many times.)

In fact, and this is a huge breakthrough, it's the first beer I've had on my quest that has even hinted at the Brau taste I mentioned in my first ever blog (or: web log) post. It brought back memories of childhood, even though the taste was a very subtle brau. I liked it very, very much. Sucks to everyone who doesn't like it.

Tasting notes:
Jenlain Or, 8%

Sold in a champagne bottle with cork. Golden colour, LOTS of fizz. average white head that dissipates disappointingly quickly. Bitter, grassy and spicy aroma. some alcohol smell.
taste: interesting, vagualy belgian, spicy, smooth, caramelly and warm booziness. I like this a lot. easy drinking. impressed and intrigued by this style. sweet, spicy, easy to drink, smooth. unique subtle flavours. Would probably rather drink this in the summer though...