Éphémère (Elderberry)
Unibroue

 

Pours a 5-finger white head that vanishes, leaving no lace. Hazy red/amber color. Light-medium bodied and medium carbonation, elderberry nose. Almost sweet elderberry flavor, hops totally hidden. Best by 4/12/2019, $1.99 for a 12oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Cloudy dark golden pink pour. 2 fingers of foamy pinkish head. Great lacing.

S: Tart and fruity... elderberry and jam. Light yeast.

T/F: Light berry and fruit... not as much as expected from the nose. A bit floral as well... milder Belgian style yeast and wheat underneath. Packing less 'oomph' than expected. No real tartness but not sweet either. Well carbonated... light bodied. Fruity/berry finish and aftertaste.

O: A solid fruit beer... not the best of the Ephemere series but very easy drinking. One I'd definitely have again.

(12 oz bottle, BB 04-12-19 ... poured into a generic tulip glass)

L: hazy, pinkish tawny liquid; dense sponge of snappy, crackly foam atop, slight pinkish tone... no lace

S: aroma burst forth right from cap removal - lots of berry... sticking my nose in the glass, the classic spice and light citrus essence of the base beer beams prominently, but a nicely-balanced, jammy berry note stands parallel

T: the Belgian spice and almost green apple skin flavors combine with the vinous, almost brandy-like berry... somewhat punchy bitterness via the spice and perhaps also carbonation; the finish has a rather strident herbal / berry skin bite and a mild phenolic hum, all lasting long into the otherwise dry aftertaste... rather flowery perfume note builds on the palate

F: well-carbonated, but not quite sizzly; seems to be a delicate, fleecy texture to its viscosity... in combo with a thin dusting of yeast sediment, the wheat element is apparent in tangible 'cushion' to its body... wonderfully dry

O: interesting taste, thankfully far from sweet... I could definitely see drinking one at a party if it was an option... it might go well with a salad containing dried berries, walnuts, pungent blue cheese... welcome variation

L) Pours a lovely rub-red color with a small white head. No lacing.

S) Smells very acidic and fresh. The elderberry is quite evident, in addition to some slight honey sweetness and a wee bit of barnyard.

T) The taste is surprisingly dry compared to the nose. There is some acid from the fruit and ferm, and some herbaceous notes that work fairly well with the rest of the profile, but it really is dry where you might have thought it'd be super juicy and wet.

F) Medium-high carbonation and a standard body for the style. Not a bad sipper.

O) This brew is fine. A decent elderberry beer, but much drier than anticipated.

12oz bottle poured into 12oz tulip. Poured a murky pink color with almost 2 inches of lively, light pink head that had good retention and left no lacing.

A notable berry scent jumped out as soon as I cracked the cap. Behind that was a bit of yeast and grain.

Nearly identical on the palate, along with a gently tart component.

The body was medium, and had a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability was very good, I could easily drink a few of these. Overall, another good version of this beer. Worth trying if you see it.

Nice understated fruity beer. Pours a beautiful dense amber reddish color with a slightly pink, bubbly white head. Head retention is about average and there is a wispy ring of lacing near the top of the glass. Aroma is fruity and a little malty. The tartness is somewhat covered in the aroma. Taste is a mild, effervescent fruitiness, with a slightly tart undercurrent and an overall malty presence. Understated, bubbly and a little fruity. Mouthfeel is good, delicate, nicely carbonated with understated fruit, sourness and maltiness. This beer does not stand out, but the subtle flavors are well done and it is very drinkable.

Pours a cloudy red color. 1/4 inch head of an off-pink color. Good retention and great lacing. Smells of fruit (similar to blackberry), alcohol, sweet malt, slight herbal notes, slight yeast, and a hint of citrus hops. Fits the style of a Fruit/Vegetable Beer. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also an elevated tartness and strong herbal dryness. Tastes of fruit (similar to blackberry), alcohol, sweet malt, strong herbal notes, slight yeast, and slight floral hops. Overall, good appearance, complexity, herbal notes dominate aroma and body, so the blend is unbalanced.

The slightly hazy pinkish purple beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 2” off white creamy pinkish purpleish head that recedes slowly leaving little or no lacing on the sides. Sipping creates some small patches of lacing that mostly slide back down to the liquid

The aromas are mostly slightly tart elderberry forward and are a lot like a mix of several different berries with the blueberries in charge. There are also some nice floral notes mingled in here

The flavors are slightly tart and mostly fruity with the berry mix up front but with no real bitterness showing. It seems like there's a mix of berries in here backed up by a light, sweet wheat and floral character with just a hint of bitterness.

The mouthfeel is light bodied, slightly tart with a bit of acidity and with a soft light prickliness from the finely bubbled carbonation. The finish begins as the berry flavors and tartness head for the background while allowing a well balanced slight sweetness and slight bitterness to emerge before they recede leaving some light berry tartness to close out the show.

On the whole this is a refreshing and enjoyable wheat beer with lots of berry flavor and floral character that is blended with just enough tartness and carbonation to freshen the palate. I'd be happy to have another and may go looking for few more.

 

 

Pours a dark, hazy pink with a decent head and good fizz.

Smells pleasantly perfumy, with fruit and potpourri blending nice against a plain, lightly peppery wheatmalt.

Tastes like it smells. Simple, almost understated by today's standards, but still very lively and pretty. The elderberries are sweet on the very front and get bitter and nicely medicinal near the middle, giving way to a finish of wheat and some old timey aperitif-like bitterness on the very back end.

The Ephémère series may seem quaint, in this the Age of Sours, but I still appreciate an well-made beer in which the fruit accentuates beeriness, rather than defining it. Elderberry is the best Ephémère by a wide margin, and it's definitely worth your money.

 

A purple-brown and slightly hazy colour, moderate carbonation, and 2 fingers of pinkish head.

Smells of soured fruit, blueberry Hubba Bubba bubble gum, and fruity jam.

Tastes fruity and floral, slightly sweet, slightly sour, and again the berry gum.

Light body, slightly expand in your mouth foamy.

Drinking this on Muskoka, Dec 12th, 2017. Fruity, interesting feel, and a little strange overall. Love the brewery.

 

Pours a purplish-brown with a barely off-white, nearly creamy head.
Smell is sour, perfume & fruit with a bit of malt.
Taste is perfume, tart, elderberry & wheat.
Very lightly carbonated, lightish body, hint of drying.

Great pink color with nice haze. Light fruit taste. While fruit taste is there it is not overwhelming. Low ABV makes this an easy drinker.