April 13th, 2007 by Andy
The Quebecois tell a legend of a team of most likely terribly drunk lumberjacks who made a deal with Satan himself to fly home in their canoes so as to make it home for Christmas. While this sounds more related to the infamous 1980’s John Candy and Steve Martin classic “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” it rather relates to one heck of an Ale. As I’ve mused before, the Quebecois can brew some of the best beer in the world and Unibroue’s Maudite bottle refermented ale is probably one of the best beers I’ve imbibed in quite a long time.
This fine ale has a wonderful spicy nose with malt overtones and a subtle hopiness that begs you to take one fine sip after another in a slow manner so as to make every moment count. It pours with a slight white lacing and has a few bubbles and imparts a cloudy mahogany hue due to its bottle conditioning. The Maudite’s taste is best described as damned excellent– a true nectar of the gods. Technically speaking, the taste is highly reminiscent of a Belgian blonde ale with an elegant spiciness complemented by sweet malts. Indeed, this is an excellent beer!! One of the best ones I’ve had in a long time.
So what about drunken lumberjacks and John Candy? Well, apparently, Maudite means “the damned one” to the Quebecois and thus, I dare say that just as I discovered Santa could brew a fine beer, apparently so can the devil himself. I just wonder if one of the lumberjacks also woke up with his hands between two pillows during the harrowing journey home.
