Noire De Chambly / Chambly Noire
Like its namesake, it pours black and opaque with a velvety, generous and frothy head of dark tan foam of respectable staying power. No real lacing but a fine bead rises lazily as is evidenced by the constant bubbling at the surface of the liquid. Surprisingly, aromas are very (too) subtle. I'm accustomed to big and perfumey Unibroue beers and this one somewhat dissappoints. Nary a note of roastiness for such a dark brew and faint aromas of fruit and spice followed by a trademark yeastiness are the brunt of what I found. And this sample was room temp.! Flavours are only slightly more complex than the aromas. This is where field berries mingle with ginger and cloves to create a pleasant but faint flavour profile. No real roastiness from the grains which leads me to believe they used a sparing amount of Black Patent for coloration so it would not impart any real flavour to the beer. All in all, a very average offering from one of my favourite breweries. Maybe it's time for them to issue a saison and break out of the sweetish unbitter beer mould. Sant