Unibroue Trois Pistoles

9% ABV

To accompany my post on cask ales, I wanted to review another option for the common tippler to taste “real” ales: out of the bottle. Nestled in the small town of Chambly, Quebec, Unibroue is a brewery that is well known for its line of superb bottle-conditioned ales inspired by the great European brewing traditions. Using only natural ingredients, re-fermenting in the bottle and only partly clarifying their ales, Unibroue states on their website that “it is unnecessary to add preservatives or to pasteurize the beer, a process that makes the beer sterile and without a soul.” To contemplate the soul of your creation is a sign of high artistry in action and evidence abounds that the folks at Unibroue are brewers/philosophers of the highest order in every ale that they produce.

Adding to my excitement, I received my order from pubglasses.com and could finally enjoy my Trois in a more proper glass. The incredibly dark color faded to a ruby red at the very edges of the glass and smelled of chocolate and sweet, musty roses. Upon tasting, fruit flavors including berries, banana and red pear danced across the tongue, accompanying malty caramel backbone with hints of coriander and spices emerging later, reminding me of the very best Belgian strong dark ales. The ripe fruit gives way to an aftertaste of a good port wine with just a little lingering dryness in the mouth. It is hard to find any flaws in Trois Pistoles. A great beer mindfully brewed and cared for always yields such delicious rewards.

Thirsty Zymurgist Score: 47/50