Unibroue À Tout le Monde Saison at 4.5% ABV | 22 IBU (C$6.82 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, packaged on 31-Jan-2017, acquired 25-Apr-2017, reviewed 30-Jul-2017)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of fluffy white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: Belgian yeast, citrus zest, coriander and pepper, light barnyard funk, hint of pome. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate bitter, light funk. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively to moderate carbonation, dry lightly funky finish. (4/5)
I spent a lot of years thinking Megadeth was at least slightly inferior to Metallica. Then came the Napster debacle, when Metallica began the transition of becoming what they are now: whiney, sellout pop stars. Dave Mustaine, on the other hand, just kept on keepin’ on, and I’ve reached the point where I can listen to both his back catalogue and his new stuff with a significant degree of appreciation. Now comes this, and one might be forgiven for thinking Dave is yet again playing second fiddle, perhaps this time to Iron Maiden’s Trooper Ale, or AC/DC’s Premium Lager.
Except, he’s not. Trooper was a fairly forgettable ESB (and the 666 Trooper, a similarly forgettable English Strong). AC/DC’s Premium Lager wasn’t anywhere near that good, pretty much proving my theory about beers with “Premium” on the label. This, on the other hand, is a complex Belgian style produced by a brewery who is in my experience more than competent at Belgians. (And, if the PR is to be believed, the result of a genuine friendship between Dave and head brewer Jerry Vietz.) Hugely flavourful despite the very restrained – and stylistically correct, I might add – ABV. Yes, the spice mix verges on the heavy side, perhaps limiting its quaffability, but I had no problem polishing off 750ml on my own, so any limit seems to be on the high side. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
