Éphémère (Apple)
Better rather cold out of something like a champagne flute. Comes in a cool corked bottle and pours a cloudy bright gold with a very-slightly off-white head and vigorously rising carbonation. A beautiful beer that I found myself just looking at and have to give top rank in appearance. Smell is very... apply. Bright green granny smith apply. Not much in the way of malt or hops either one coming through, a little bit of the coriander and curacao promised on the label though. A good smell but not beer-like, even for a fruit beer. Hmm. The taste is more of the same. Perhaps aided by the carbonation, the apples give a strong sensation of acitity, but again very very little in the way of either malt or hops. Spices present but again faint. If I wasn't paying attention this might pass flavor-wise for a sparkling wine. It'd be a good sparkling wine, but as a beer I can't really give it a good score because the flavor just... isn't what I associate with a good fruit beer. Another hit of hops and a tad stronger malt and this could be very good indeed. As a beer, it's just overboard with the apple to the expense of the other ingredients I love so much. One point though, although usually not good for the style, the last glass was better with the yeast in the bottom mixed in. Mouthfeel is pretty good, the carbonation is refreshing. Thin body though, I'd like a bit more in that way. Not unpleasant at all though. Drinkability would be very high as a sparkling wine, but again, when I want a beer this fails to hit the spot. I moved onto another brew directly after this. Final notes: as well as this is made, I wish I could give it a higher score. As with all Unibroue beers I've had, it just comes together beautifully. The numbers don't tell the whole story though--substitute the wine with phmre and you'd have a winning dinner. A good drink, but I can't call it a good beer.