Unibroue Grand Reserve 17: Day 18 of my Advent Calendar exchange with my father, featuring a 3 year old bottle of this limited release beer. I have always enjoyed this beer and for the longest time it was one of the few Canadian beers you could actually find and cellar for a period of time until recent times.
Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark muddy brown colour with no visible carbonation and just a hint of foam. The aroma was sweet malty toffee, caramel, raisins, figs and dried apricot.
Flavour: Very similar to the aroma it has dried apricots, figs, prunes and raisins up front with a leathery, earthy walnut middle and a bit of sherry on the finish.
Overall Impression: Pretty nice, I’d say either drink now or let it oxidize for a few more years if you want the sherry to better develop as it was a bit between drinking windows I’d say.
Rating: Excellent a 8.5/10.
Food Pairing: Half melted Camembert with fig jam would be amazing paired with this.
In 2010, this beer won World’s Best Dark Ale and Top 5 Beers in the World at the World Beer Awards in London, UK. Here’s a short chat with Jerry Vietz, Unibroue’s Brewmaster in front of the tank that fermented the vintage beer that won the award.
West Coast Beer Geek 