Unibroue Blanche de Chambly Beer Review

Blanche de Chambly
Unibroue (Chambly, Quebec, Canada)
Style: Witbier
ABV: 5%
$2.87 per bottle ($11.49/four 12oz bottles)

Unibroue’s Blanche de Chambly is a capable torch bearer for witbiers but is overpriced.

I went to Binny’s, Chicagoland’s alcoholic beverage superstore, with the intention of buying some cheap brandy and leaving. The beer drinker in me thought, “I’ll scope out the beer section to have a better idea of what I’d like next time I come in. I won’t actually buy any beer. I need to save money so I will not buy any beer.”

My steely resolve wavered, especially after seeing another aesthetically-pleasing Unibroue product: Blanche de Chambly beckoned me this time. Something about the foil-covered tops draws me. It must subconsciously remind me of unwrapping a present.

I popped open a bottle to enjoy during the Butler-VCU Final Four game.

The Blanche de Chambly looked a deep, golden yellow. It was very opaque; I could not see through the glass. The head was about an inch and it left soon after it appeared.

It had an aroma of yeast and wheat that I could barely detect. It essentially smelled clean without much else.

Once in my mouth, Blanche de Chambly felt very fizzy and carbonated. It was almost like I had taken a swig of soda. The taste was crispy, light and again very subtle. It does not linger.

The Blanche de Chambly isn’t a bad beer; it’s actually a solid witbier. But it’s underwhelming and impractical, given that it costs about $12 for four bottles. This somewhat disappointing experience will likely end my foray into Unibroue’s collection.

2/4

Allagash White Beer Review

Allagash White
Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, Maine)
Style: Witbier
ABV: 5.2%
$2.25 per bottle ($8.99/four 12oz bottles)

I remember my first encounter with Allagash: my friend, Chad, and I were sitting in a bar in the near southside of Chicago. We were killing time so, naturally, we decided to binge drink.

I’m partial to wheat beer and spotted “Allagash White: American witbier” on the drink menu.

Allagash. It sounded to foreign and mysterious, even Nordic god-ish.

I pointed at the menu item and Chad said, “Dude, you’ve never had Allagash? It’s the bomb.”

I responded with a stare that said “I hate you for being cooler than me.” Although it probably looked like a confused “I can’t read” to him.

We smothered the spat with beer, and drank in style. Ever since that first time, my face has lit up with possibilities whenever I’ve seen Allagash on a restaurant’s menu.

For the clinical purposes of this review, I picked up a four 12-ounce bottle pack. It put me back $8.99, which isn’t inconsiderable given my precarious financial situation. But it was worth it.

Upon pouring, the Allagash White’s zesty, pale, orange color immediately becomes apparent. It is slightly cloudly in the middle and especially up top, almost resembling a miniature funnel cloud. The head is foamy and about a finger’s width but it doesn’t stick around for a while, leaving a web of foam in its wake.

The smell matches the zesty look. It has a very fresh scent that isn’t overpowering. I could detect orange, spices and a bit of lemon.

The White tastes every bit as delicious as it looks. It tastes of citrus and herbs with a lingering spice aftertaste. I’m not normally a person who likes lingering aftertastes, regardless of what I’m tasting, but this beer makes it work.

Allagash White is a great beer to have on its own. It is extremely drinkable. Most folks can certainly enjoy this witbier during the dog days of summer because it’s light but retains flavor. This is personally one of my favorite beers and remains a stalwart go-to beer after all of these years.

4/4