Even die-hard wine lovers need a truly great beer on occasion! At Church Street Wine Cellars, our Burlington, Vermont wine shop has just added a great line up from Unibroue.
Unibroue beers are very different from what you are used to, are available in 750 ml cork-finished bottles, and are every bit the companions to the dinner table that our small, artisanally-produced wines we represent are. Classically Belgian-styled, these wonderful (and quite flavorful) Canadian beers from just outside Montreal in Chambly are brewed using an age-old process of in-bottle refermentation. They are only partially filtered, rather than totally filtered (which is the norm in today¹s beer industry). This means Unibroue beers keep all their protein and part of the yeast, producing a genuine upscale beer. These beers are on fresh lees. The lees deposit themselves at the bottom of the bottle as result of refermentation and natural carbonation. The process is the same as with champagne; except with champagne, the yeast is removed, while with Unibroue beers the lees are left in the bottle. This method gives a very particular taste to the beer and provides a natural source of vitamin B. Every single beer is brewed in one batch and is not water-softened.
The classic way to enjoy these beers are by resting the beer on its side and gentrly rolling it back and forth with your hand to meld the yeast back in with the rest of the beer just before serving (we’ll show you what we mean in the store). Think of these as beers for the table more than simple quaffing beers and pair them as you would wine with various dishes…just ask us for some menu pairings! Pick one up and give one a try next time you are in shopping our great value wine selections.
Unibroue’s brewing methods were inspired by the great European brewing traditions and, in this respect, are one of a kind in North America. Their brewing methods are time consuming and costly. Given that the beers contain no chemical additives or preservatives, they require strict quality control. This all-natural brewing process is also why Unibroue beers are higher in alcohol content and can provide a rich flavor without the bitter aftertaste of conventional beers. Moreover, they have a longer shelf life and adapt very well to the room temperatures, unlike conventional beers. In fact, they age quite beautifully for generally 2 to 5 years!
The disadvantages: cost of course. Unibroue beers are slightly more expensive than industrially produced beers (generally $6 – $9 750 ml, and are the perfect beers for two to share…or armchair quarterbacking for that matter) in order to cover the cost of production. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far:
– A more refined taste
– Richer in flavor
– Thicker foam that protects the beer
– Excellent source of vitamin B
– Competitive advantage over other brewers
– Almost unlimited shelf life (flavor evolves to a port wine after ten years)
– Ecological (no chemicals)
We hope to crack one with you sometime!