Country of Origin: Canada
Price comparison: About 1½ times what I pay for everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8%.
Cute bottle/label? A 750ml brown glass bottle corked and caged as usual. (Also available in four-packs, but more expensively). The label is an artistic representation of La Chasse-Galerie, a Quebecois legend not unlike The Flying Dutchman, wherein a group of lumberjacks strike a deal with the devil to fly home in their canoes for Christmas, ultimately winding up cursed (maudite). Kind of morbid, but a beautifully rendered piece of artwork.
Appearance: Deep amber with lavish head. Lots of floating yeast, especially toward the bottom of the bottle.
Scent: I could definitely smell the alcohol first, but was also reminded of cinnamon raisin bread.
Flavor: Yeasty and tangy with a hint of bite. In common with the other Unibroues, the alcohol is present but not overpowering. I had two in quick succession and am bound to be sorry tomorrow morning.
Impressions: I drank this beer less than ice-cold, which usually works out for me with the dark brown ales, but in this case I think I'd want my next glass served colder. Like the 11, the Maudite could have stood to age a bit more, but the sugar content is such that, sealed tightly and cellared properly, it could potentially be quite a kicker in a few years. It's already a more-than-acceptable accompaniment for roast beef or something equally hearty.
Will I buy this beer again? Yes, very likely. It's damned good. No pun intended.
Rating:
4 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: October 8, 2003
