Grande Réserve 17
Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦
Belgian Style - Quadrupel / Dark Strong Regular|
Score
7.55
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Inspired by the great Belgian brewing tradition of Trappist monks established over the centuries, Unibroue 17 was first brewed in 2007 to celebrate our brewery’s 17th anniversary. However, the overwhelming success of this specialty brew made it obvious that we could not let such a great ale slip into the anonymity of retirement.
As testimony to its remarkable flair profile which increases in complexity as it ages, the original batch bottled in 2007 was awarded an international platinum medal three years in a row, and the prestigious title of "World’s Best Dark Ale" when it was well past three years in the bottle!
As testimony to its remarkable flair profile which increases in complexity as it ages, the original batch bottled in 2007 was awarded an international platinum medal three years in a row, and the prestigious title of "World’s Best Dark Ale" when it was well past three years in the bottle!
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7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
bottle at home ... light hazy copper ... thin bubbly white head ... soft floral pine yeastyness ... big pine zezt ... soft yeast ...big sweetness ... light saison tones ... juicy ... very juicy ... Bottle at bow tasting... Copper... Thin white lacing... Soft sweet fruits... Juicy fruits... Soft toffee... Big sweet sherbert banana... Light pineapple linger 3.5
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jul 2012
at 12:26
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in December 2010. Pours very hazy reddish brown color with a very nice 3 finger dense light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some very nice thick soapy lacing clings to the glass, with a good amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big raisin, prune, grape, caramel, toffee, molasses, earth, tobacco, toast, and light herbal. Fantastic and highly complex aromas with great balance. Taste of big raisin, prune, apple, caramel, toffee, toast, molasses, earth, tobacco, herbal, light chocolate, and yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, caramel, molasses, toffee, toast, earth, light chocolate, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance of flavors with huge complexity. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a nice creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with pretty much zero warming present after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian strong dark ale! Huge complexity and great balance of flavors; and very smooth to sip on. Looking forward to trying the Grande Reserve.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Jul 2012
at 20:44
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
75cl bottle @ ZZT IV. Hazy red-brown color, small off-white lacing. Smell almost nothing....weird... Taste lightly malts, sweetness, some alcohol and some yeast. Too much carbo, medium body. --- Beer merged from original tick of Grande Réserve 17 on 24 Aug 2025 at 17:01 - Score: Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7. Original review text: Bottle at "Johnny's got a new place" beer celebration. But red brownish color, small off-white head. Smell and taste are malts, distant caramel, solid bitterness. Quite simple it'd say, in the sense of straightforward but still alright.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Jun 2012
at 13:13
5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Bottle @ ZZT4. Ruby to brown colour, small white head. Smells sweet, malty, heavy cloying sweetness, heavy. Tastes heavy sweet, very herbal, not nice. Too much carbo, medium body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Jun 2012
at 13:12
7.8/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 8
Pours a medium dark brown color with a slight haze and a faint red orange highlight when held to light. Good sized tightly bubbled off white head persists forever. Smells of raisins, dark sugar, caramel, clove, banana, and a bit of ethanol. Lightly spicy with a bit of red wine and vanilla. Nice nose. Taste is mostly sweet with a bit of sugary and caramel interspersed with lots of dark dried fruits. Spicy yeasty phenolics mix with a bit of warming alcohol to form a long lingering sweet finish. Over the top level of carbonation, medium body with a bubbly sweet mouthfeel. Nice tasty beer but has that signature Unibroue sameness. Caramel and dark dried fruit with too much carbonation that tries to ruin the mouthfeel. Glad I tried it, I don’t think I’d seek it out again.
Tried
on 15 Jun 2012
at 19:05
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
Candied plums, raisins, figs, allspice on the nose. Murky brown, thick yellow head, minimal lacing. Medium body. Flavor is less distinctly fruity. Malty with vague fig notes. Somewhat milquetoast.
Tried
from Can
on 18 May 2012
at 17:20
8.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Aargh, if I hadn’t slacked off on entering my ratings I could be rating #500 for this beer. Oh well. 2011 vintage from Whole Foods Market Charlottesville. Pours a hazy copper color with a medium sized creamy tan head. Decent head retention. Aroma of bread, yeast, wood and a tart finish. The taste is tart fruits, toffee, plum, yeast, bitter hops and wood. Full bodied. 7/3/9/4/16
2008 vintage rated side by side with the newish vintage. Not a full rating, but the older vintage seemed rounder, with more pronounced wood and fruit notes. Exceptional. This aged very well. 9/4/9/3/18
2008 vintage rated side by side with the newish vintage. Not a full rating, but the older vintage seemed rounder, with more pronounced wood and fruit notes. Exceptional. This aged very well. 9/4/9/3/18
Tried
on 05 Apr 2012
at 21:26
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
750ml from my dear Canadian brother: Pours a reddish brown color with a large beige creamy head. Aroma is tons of fruits, a wee bit of booze, plums amongst other things, and Belgian yeast. Taste is much the same. Sweetness starts out at the front and stays through to the aftertaste. Spices and hops balance off against the fruity sweetness and provide a nice dialectical complexity. Alcohol is faintly noticeable and it is in a very warming way. This is an excellent Belgian strong.
Tried
from Can
on 03 Jan 2012
at 15:46
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
A reddish brown ale with a thin moka head. In aroma, a nice sweet corky caramel malt with light cherry notes, quite nice. In mouth, a smooth sweet caramel malt with vanilla notes, light Brettt, cinnamon, quite nice. On tap at Bieres et Saveur, Sept.3 2011.
Tried
from Draft
on 18 Sep 2011
at 19:56
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle @ Dan’s house. Dark red appearance with light tan head. Sweet red fruity (raspberry, cherry), a little woody, sweet, caramel malty nose. Belgian yeasty, caramel, cherry, amber malty flavor. Fruity, belgian, caramel aftertaste. Pretty tasty brew.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Jun 2011
at 21:22