-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Éphémère (Blueberry)
Unibroue
As its name suggests, Éphémère is an ephemeral ale that comes and goes with the seasons. It was developed as a series to feature a seasonal fruit in a refreshing, lightly spiced white ale. The label depicts a fairy, an ephemeral spirit associated with fruits picked at the peak of ripeness during each harvest season. She first appeared in the spring of 2001 and has since been celebrated on a variety of seasonal fruit ales such as apple (brewed all year long), cranberry, blackcurrant, peach, raspberry and blueberry.
A seasonal beer available for a limited time. Notes of freshly picked blueberries quickly made it a Canadian favourite.
A seasonal beer available for a limited time. Notes of freshly picked blueberries quickly made it a Canadian favourite.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LGF:
Reviewed by LGF from Canada (QC)
4.31/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.31/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is the first time I've seen this beer and I live in Quebec, so it's probably new. A tip for ephemère beers : don't drink them too cold. I've noticed that they are much more tasty at about 10 celcius. All of them.
A Relatively hazy red/dark pink color, about 3 fingers of head (but I just poured it wrong) that dissapeared pretty quickly. A little lace stays on top.
S : Wow. Very nice blueberry smell. Smells like blueberry muffins. A little yeasty just like all of the unibroue beers.
T: Love it. Very sweet. Again, it somewhat tastes like blueberry muffins from restaurant. Very, very easy to drink. It's also a little spicy, can't identify which spices they used for this but the effect is very nice. Maybe citrus too, I'm not sure. It's not too sour. Definitely my favorite ephémère as far as taste goes.
M : Not bad, just not as great as it's other characteristics. A little creamy, and a little too many bubbles in my opinion. The taste doesn't stay long enough.
O : Very, very nice beer. I'm impressed by that one. I'm a big fan of unibroue beers, but I usually like their other products more than their éphémères. This one is definitely my favorite éphémère though, didn't expect it to be that good. I'll buy it again for sure. If you like blueberries, you'll love that one.
Tulip glass, 750 mL bottle, drank at about 8-10 celcius.
Jun 22, 2016A Relatively hazy red/dark pink color, about 3 fingers of head (but I just poured it wrong) that dissapeared pretty quickly. A little lace stays on top.
S : Wow. Very nice blueberry smell. Smells like blueberry muffins. A little yeasty just like all of the unibroue beers.
T: Love it. Very sweet. Again, it somewhat tastes like blueberry muffins from restaurant. Very, very easy to drink. It's also a little spicy, can't identify which spices they used for this but the effect is very nice. Maybe citrus too, I'm not sure. It's not too sour. Definitely my favorite ephémère as far as taste goes.
M : Not bad, just not as great as it's other characteristics. A little creamy, and a little too many bubbles in my opinion. The taste doesn't stay long enough.
O : Very, very nice beer. I'm impressed by that one. I'm a big fan of unibroue beers, but I usually like their other products more than their éphémères. This one is definitely my favorite éphémère though, didn't expect it to be that good. I'll buy it again for sure. If you like blueberries, you'll love that one.
Tulip glass, 750 mL bottle, drank at about 8-10 celcius.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by seveneighty from Canada (AB)
2.02/5 rDev -46.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
2.02/5 rDev -46.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
An extremely underwhelming beer. In fact, my first thought when trying it was, "WTF?"
I was eagerly anticipating trying some fruit beers from Unibroue, but when I tried this one as my first taste of an Ephemere 6-beer sampler pack, I was astonished at how unsatifying, low-flavor, and unmemorable it was. The only nice thing I can say is that the color is nice! Perhaps my taste receptors weren't working on this particular flavor (echoing what another reviewer said recently before me) but I really could barely taste or smell much of any blueberry at all and 'weird' would be the best way to describe what I tasted. It went down bland, almost stale, and definitely something I will never try again. I just hope the other Ephemere flavors waiting in my fridge are more palatable.
Jun 01, 2019I was eagerly anticipating trying some fruit beers from Unibroue, but when I tried this one as my first taste of an Ephemere 6-beer sampler pack, I was astonished at how unsatifying, low-flavor, and unmemorable it was. The only nice thing I can say is that the color is nice! Perhaps my taste receptors weren't working on this particular flavor (echoing what another reviewer said recently before me) but I really could barely taste or smell much of any blueberry at all and 'weird' would be the best way to describe what I tasted. It went down bland, almost stale, and definitely something I will never try again. I just hope the other Ephemere flavors waiting in my fridge are more palatable.
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)
4.02/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.02/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hazy pinkish with a large head. Fantastic fresh blueberry nose. Light wheat body with considerable tartness. Well-carbonated. Refreshing.
Jul 26, 2018Reviewed by TigerSoul from New Jersey
3.99/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.99/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I must admit to approaching this one with my typical 'fruit beer skepticism'. I came up in the craft and exotic beer universe by drinking Hacker-Pschorr weiss that was served in a glass first treated with raspberry syrup and a lemon wedge at the base. My wife then discovered Lindeman's Lambic Kriek. That was it for me as far as the fruit flavor infusions, and I generally avoid them however we make frequent trips to Montreal and although there are now scores of craft breweries from which to choose, I still consider the 'giant' Unibroue's products to be exceptional. This one was included in a sampler pack and I must say that it is delightful. The smell is hands down one of the most heavenly I've experienced from a beer, fruit-infused or not, full of wild blueberries. And the taste is so well-balanced, not over the top with the fruit and a nice little yeasty quality. Highly recommended, but not just for 'hot summer days' as suggested. Lovely.
Jun 29, 2018Reviewed by Poljazz22 from Canada (QC)
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is one of my favourites in the Ephémère series. There is a real authentic fresh Quebec wild blueberry flavor and smell. Well balanced carbonation is a plus! And I am a fan of Belgian wheat ale. A great beer on a hot summer day.
Jun 27, 2018Reviewed by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma
3.6/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a well carbonated golden color. Nose of tart blueberry and wheat. More blueberry is in the nose than the taste. Light-body and high carbonation.
Less champagne-like than the apple variety but not as much fruit flavor as the apple ephemere. It's something different though, and I enjoyed it.
Mar 25, 2018Less champagne-like than the apple variety but not as much fruit flavor as the apple ephemere. It's something different though, and I enjoyed it.
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.6/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle poured into 12oz glass. Poured a clean, clear reddish brown color, with an inch-and-a-half of slightly pink head, that dissipated over a couple of minutes, and left no lacing.
A big blast of blueberry burst boldly forth when the cap was unbound.The berry was dominant in the nose, with some light grains in the background.On the tongue, the blueberry was more subdued, and the grains a bit more pronounced. The flavors combined nicely though.
The body was light and crisp, and had a somewhat surprisingly dry finish. Drinkability was very good, although I'm not sure I'd have two in a row though. Maybe on a hot summers day.... Overall, a very nice brew. An excellent change-of-pace beer. certainly worth trying.
Feb 20, 2018A big blast of blueberry burst boldly forth when the cap was unbound.The berry was dominant in the nose, with some light grains in the background.On the tongue, the blueberry was more subdued, and the grains a bit more pronounced. The flavors combined nicely though.
The body was light and crisp, and had a somewhat surprisingly dry finish. Drinkability was very good, although I'm not sure I'd have two in a row though. Maybe on a hot summers day.... Overall, a very nice brew. An excellent change-of-pace beer. certainly worth trying.
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)
3.65/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.65/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: Poured with a finger and a half of head that didn't lace much but stuck around fairly well. The body shows ample carbonation in it's slight pinkish hue.
Smell: Not much here, a faint whiff of blueberry and maybe some malt, and that is it. Warming doesn't really help it come out very much.
Taste: Beer and blueberries, as I both expected and desired. The berries start off mild with a faint yeast and malt presence and then kick into high gear as you drink the beer. It's well balanced, and not clingingly sweet.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation helps out the crescendo of the experience, less so the start. Good transitioning but it is a little basic on this one and a nice mild Blueberry aftertaste with a dry yeast hint that doesn't stick around.
Drinkability: Easy to drink, very light bodied but perhaps not the most refreshing thing I've head. I suspect to slight twang of yeast has something to do with it. Regardless well done.
Final Thoughts: This is a good measuring stick as to what a fruit beer should be. The Blueberries don't overpower it and make me ask, why didn't you just make some kind of berrywine/cider and the bitterness and malt reign it in. That said, I wouldn't say I was blown away by it, which for Unibroue, is a rare exception. Still it is well made and worth a try.
Oct 30, 2017Smell: Not much here, a faint whiff of blueberry and maybe some malt, and that is it. Warming doesn't really help it come out very much.
Taste: Beer and blueberries, as I both expected and desired. The berries start off mild with a faint yeast and malt presence and then kick into high gear as you drink the beer. It's well balanced, and not clingingly sweet.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation helps out the crescendo of the experience, less so the start. Good transitioning but it is a little basic on this one and a nice mild Blueberry aftertaste with a dry yeast hint that doesn't stick around.
Drinkability: Easy to drink, very light bodied but perhaps not the most refreshing thing I've head. I suspect to slight twang of yeast has something to do with it. Regardless well done.
Final Thoughts: This is a good measuring stick as to what a fruit beer should be. The Blueberries don't overpower it and make me ask, why didn't you just make some kind of berrywine/cider and the bitterness and malt reign it in. That said, I wouldn't say I was blown away by it, which for Unibroue, is a rare exception. Still it is well made and worth a try.
Éphémère (Blueberry) from Unibroue
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
99 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!