Sure doesn’t sound like a beer, but it is—one of the latest releases from our northern neighbors, Unibroue from Chambly, Quebec. Speaking of Quebec, as you might have guessed from the name, Quatre (like good Americans, we’ll shorten the name for simplicity) was brewed to officially celebrate 400 years of diverse settlement in Quebec City. A bit of a nod to those who put the joie de vivre in the city’s eclectic vibe.
According to the label, "In 1608, Samuel de Champlain arrived on a ship, bearing the name Don de Dieu, to establish a French colonial empire. He named the settlement Kebec, a native word meaning ‘where the river narrows.’ This strategic location made the scene of major battles that raged for over a century."
It goes on, and while this is all great, they offer little information to the consumer on what’s inside the bottle other than "ale on lees," which means that it’s bottle-conditioned with yeast in the bottle, and that it’s 7.5-percent alcohol by volume (ABV). It’d be nice to know more, but ultimately the taste is what really matters, so let’s get to it …
The Taste
Pours a pale yellow color that’s cloudy at first, but clears up as the beer warms. Nicely tight, creamy white lace that stays until the last drop. Fresh hay, unripe pineapple, white pepper and a hint of floral and mineral in the nose. Very fresh, lively and creamy on the palate with a zesty, fizzy carbonation and light citric flavors up front. Sweet beneath with toasty, bready malts, slightly sugary notes, floral nectars and peaches. Fruity esters. Soft banana undertones. Faint suggestions of minty hops way in the back. Peppery. The beer dries up with wheat tannins and yeast in the finish, along with light, green banana pith.
Final Thoughts
While Quatre is certainly not a bad beer, it simply smacks of past Unibroue beers and doesn’t offer us anything strikingly new or different, like the city it’s supposed to be honoring. It’s more of the same and tastes a bit too similar to their Don de Dieu (9-percent ABV). That said, Unibroue fans will no doubt enjoy this offering. Quatre might be a better food beer, so we recommend pairing it with goat cheese on bread, and maybe some stone fruit jam. Could hold up nicely with roast chicken, too.
FOR MORE INFO: UNIBROUE.COM
FOR MORE BEER EDUCATION: BEERADVOCATE.COM
RESPECT BEER.
Beer Events
Publick House Provisions Welcomes Tim Coleman from Brewtique Beverages
November 21
Join Publick House Provisions in having a beer (or two) with Tim Coleman of Brewtique Beverages. Tim will taste a wide variety of beer, foreign and domestic. As always, all beer will be paired with a cheese that will make your tongue crave more.
[Publick House Provisions, 1706 Beacon St., Washington Sq., Brookline. 617.487.4322. 6pm-9pm/free]
Italian Beer Tasting & Thanksgiving Pairing Event
November 25
Brookline’s Wine Gallery is pleased to welcome J.B. Master of Tigris Beverage for a tasting and pairing event. This two-hour class will showcase the novel depth and variety of craft-brewed Italian beers in conjunction with Thanksgiving pairing strategies. New to our shores, the Italians are brewing some of the more interesting and expensive beers around. The event aims to alleviate the mystery and sticker shock for these great beers. Tasting includes Del Borgo Te, Super Baladin and BB10.
[Wine Gallery, 375 Boylston St., Brookline. 617.277.5522. 6pm-8pm/price TBA. wine-gallery.com]
FOR ADDITIONAL INFO AND MORE BEER EVENTS: BEERADVOCATE.COM
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