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.
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.
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