United Nations of Beer

Unibroue Ephemere Blackcurrant

by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(UNOB HQ)

Unibroue Ephemere Blackcurrant (5.5% ABV)
Unibroue, QC, Canada
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The beer equivalent of a Kir Royale (creme de cassis and sparkling wine -- usually champagne). Although that drink is often a bit too sweet for my taste.

Pours pinkish purple with a fluffy head. Smells like a regular Unibroue (yeasty) with tons of blackcurrant up front.

Weird. You expect something with so much blackcurrant to be really sweet (most blackcurrants are very tart, so desserts have a lot of sugar added to compensate). Continues below

This has sweetness, sourness from the berries and bitterness from hops. It's a unique taste experience and takes some getting used to.

At first I did not care for it, but I am enjoying my second glass. Give it a chance.

I'm not sure what's happening at Unibroue. It seemed impossible to find Ephemere beers a year or so ago, but now they are back. You can find Apple and Raspberry as well. All are decent, not spectacular.