La Résolution
Unibroue

La RésolutionLa Résolution
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From:
Unibroue
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 9.85%
Reviews:
117
Ratings:
319
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 28, 2021
Added:
Oct 03, 2014
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  78
Inspired by a recipe our brewmaster Jerry Vietz created for his friends, La Résolution is a dark ale with a spicy character. With a 10% alcohol content, its spicy caramel aroma evolves on the palate into pleasant and complex notes reminiscent of gingerbread. Its perfect balance of spicy, caramel and roasted malt flavours is complemented by a pleasant roundness and persistent finish. A cold-weather brew that warms the heart.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MattyG85:
Photo of MattyG85
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota

4.46/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with hints of ruby. Moderate amount of bubbles and a big gushing head that settles into a thin creamy layer.

Smell: A spicy and fruity yeast driven aroma with a scent of spices and dark fruit. Belgian yeast with a scent of clove, peppers, cinnamon, nutmeg, and funk. Malt hints of caramel, biscuit, toast, grains, chocolate, and cracker. Dark fruit hints of raisin, fig, grapes, prune, cherry, and dates. Sweet hits of candied sugar. A pretty solid aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a spicy and fruity yeast driven taste with notes of spice and dark fruit. Belgian yeast with some funk and spice notes of clove, peppers, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Malt notes of caramel, biscuit, grains, toast, chocolate, and cracker. Dark fruit tones of raisin, grapes, fig, cherry, prune, and dates. Sweet taste of candied sugar. A pretty nice taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Spicy and fairly prickly with a drying finish. Some heat is felt but the alcohol is fairly smooth.

Overall: A pretty good Dark Belgian style ale. Good mix of spices and dark fruit flavor.
Apr 22, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.41 by jordanginsberg from Louisiana

Dec 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.22 by Avitra from California

Jul 01, 2021
 
Rated: 3.6 by dansushi from New York

Mar 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by Insomniac from Canada (ON)

Aug 13, 2020
Photo of Mysticmage
Reviewed by Mysticmage from Canada (ON)

3.77/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tried one from a 12 pack sampler from a brewery well known in Canada for some decent brews. This one pours chocolate black as night. Nice collar at start which stayed well. No real lacing which I do look for in a decent dark. Nose was fine: chocolate wood with sweet undertones of earth. Decent taste with smooth finish. A bit sparkling for my liking but overall a fine balance here. Beware the 10% Here, sure doesnt taste like it. A fine way to say goodbye to winter I feel.
Mar 13, 2020
Photo of WanderingRonin
Reviewed by WanderingRonin from Canada (AB)

4.29/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Color is a dark brown with reddish highlights to it and pouring with a half finger of tan colored, finely bubbly head that had a poor retention to it that left only thin, runny lacing.

Boozy dark rum aroma to it with a nice demerara sugar note to it along with a good amount of clove dominate spices to tickle the nose.

First noticeable aspect is the bubbly, oddly high, amount of carbonation to it especially for a beer as dark and strong as this is, lots of dark fruit flavors forward with lots of golden sultana raisins, some hints of apples and figs with a sprinkling of dark demerara sugar and spices, like cloves, ginger, and especially nutmeg.

Medium bodied though lighter feeling due to the bubbly carbonation present in it, with a body strongly flavored of dark black strap molasses with some hints of navy rum to it.

Finish has little in the way of hops, but has loads of warm spice notes on the finish with some hints of cloves, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes that combine with a nice boozy warmth on the after taste that leaves a satisfying lingering heat to it as well as a giving vague suggestion of cognac to it.
Feb 28, 2020
Photo of cratez
Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sample from a 750ml bottle purchased at the LCBO.

A: Brownish black appearance, slightly opaque, with two fingers of beige foam. Head dissipates to a thin ring as beer warms, but strings of lace linger on the glass.

S: Toffee, gingerbread, yeasty effervescence, spice box (star anise in particular). A bit herbal, with fennel and root beer-like aromas as well.

T: Mostly follows nose, along with some burnt caramel and roast.

M: Silky smooth, full side of medium mouthfeel. Spicy carbonation, a bit creamy through middle. Roasty, off-dry, warming finish.

O: An exceptionally flavourful and well-made Belgian Strong Dark Ale, and an appropriate choice for my 500th beer rating on Beer Advocate. :)
Feb 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Jan 15, 2020
Photo of Alexc11
Reviewed by Alexc11 from Canada (QC)

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Volumed, cream coloured head with good retention matched with deep, dark brown hue giving an overall handsome look. Scent and flavor mostly highlighted by cloves, figs, prunes, malt, coffee and caramel - not a fan of prunes and figs personally. My father loved figs and had them around the house growing up but never took to them. But they're delicious wrapped into veal involtini and prosciutto. I also detect a hint of 'root beer' when I let it sit if you can believe it.

I digress.

Moderately carbonated, low bitterness make for a nice (with a slight spicy kick) feel on the palate and finish given the ABV.
Jan 02, 2020
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unibroue 'La Resolution' @ 10.0% , served from a corked/caged 750 ml bottle (2018 & 2019 vintage's)
A-pour is a murky brown from the bottle to a dark murky brown in the glass with a medium size light tan head leaving a spotty lace along the tulip
S-spicy , roasted malts ,
T-sweet caramel dominates , big yet some smoothness ,
MF-ok carbonation , warming , full bodied
Ov-impressive beer , sip & enjoy
prost LampertLand
Dec 22, 2019
Photo of altstadt
Reviewed by altstadt from Canada (BC)

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
Opaque dark brown, almost black. High rate of small bubbles rising from the bottom. Head poured about half a finger of tan bubbles. The bubbles in the head were very coarse, but were being resupplied with smaller bubbles from below at about the same rate they were disappearing at the top. There was still some head after 20 minutes in the glass.

Main scent was sweet, pale caramel malts with some citrus fruit and a hint of fresh mint. Swirling the glass kicked up a little more caramel.

The flavor is of darker caramel malts than the scent. The fruit is mostly fig with some Christmas pudding (or cake) dried fruits and spices. The fruit and spice is much lighter than many dark ales in this style.

Bursts into fine foam that just keeps growing - don't take too large of a mouthful. A little burn from the high alcohol content. Very heavy body.

I've had other beers in this style that were overwhelming. This has been created with a light touch on the fruit and spice. You might get through two of these in a night, but not one after the other. 2019 vintage packed in the 2019 winter season Collection box.

On a whim, I turned the bottom 1/3 of the glass into a radler using a Sanpellegrino Pompelmo, but it didn't work (first dark beer I've tried that didn't). It smelled like celery juice.
Oct 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by Sir_Goatman from Oregon

Jul 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by shelby415 from Oregon

Jun 30, 2019
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.91/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours dark brown with ruby highlights. It has a dense, light brown head. Head retention is excellent. It is clear.

Smell: It has spicy and vinous aromas up front. It has a strong, sweet malty presence with some dried cherry and sugary notes. It is rather spicy with some vinous quality.

Taste: The spices are more pronounce in the flavor which is surprising since they are quite strong in the aroma. The spices take on a peppery sharpness. There are background notes of dried cherry with some sweetness from the malt.

Feel: It has noticeable alcohol warmth. It has a medium full body.

Overall, a very interesting take on a Belgian Dark Strong Ale with the balance towards the spice over the malty rich elements with the other flavors and aromas blending in the background.
May 25, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
"Best by 8/26/18"; drank 2/24/16 @ the Yarchives.

Muddy brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big tan head; a curtain of frothy lace.

Allspice, cream & faint booze heat notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Clove, cinnamon & cream flavors up front; dry booze heat notes on the finish.

Interesting, I suppose, but this never gelled into a cohesive, enjoyable taste for me. Not one I'll rush back to.
Apr 29, 2019
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
At least a couple years old - suspect 2016 vintage but no date on bottle and I did not date the purchase back then. Cork and cage - 3 x 8 ounce pours. Pours a deep brown - seems clear with reddish mahogany notes as light hits - 2 finger creamy tan head. Aroma up front caramel malt, raisin, date, molasses - bit of spice. Taste follows with caramel malt, brown sugar, plum, raisin, and toffee sweetness with some clove, ginger. Nicely carbonated with smooth sweet medium mouthfeel with slightly spicy finish. Really nice.
Apr 20, 2019
Photo of BeardedWalrus
Reviewed by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich midnight black, smells of heavy spices and malty sweetness, nutmeg especially. Taste is spicy and warm, with nutmeg and cloves standing out first and foremost. Mouthfeel is rich, thickly viscous, and warming in all aspects. A perfect beer for those cruel, biting winter nights.
Mar 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.92 by bhawk1 from Georgia

Dec 31, 2018
Photo of TreyIsWilson
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a very dark brown with a large foamy off white head. Tons of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is Belgian yeast, raisins, dark cherries and figs.

T - The taste plums, figs, dark cherries, cloves, nutmeg and Belgian yeast.

M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a crisp dry finish.

O - This is a nice Belgian dark ale. The flavors are on point and the alcohol very well hidden.
Dec 29, 2018
La Résolution from Unibroue
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 319 ratings