Terrible
Unibroue

TerribleTerrible
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Unibroue
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #33
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,663
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 11.03%
Reviews:
1,004
Ratings:
2,355
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 25, 2024
Added:
Nov 15, 2002
Wants:
  161
Gots:
  394
In 2002, when the SAQ requested an exclusive new high-end product, Unibroue responded with Terrible. Given its dark colour and 10.5% alcohol content (a first for Unibroue), we knew that this Belgian quadruple-style ale might very well be greeted with reticence.

So we gave it a name that would evoke terror and worry, but also something extraordinary, formidable and awe-inspiring. From here on out, no other beer can ever be called Terrible.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Avagadro:
Photo of Avagadro
Reviewed by Avagadro from New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: pours a deep molasses color that barely let's light through when held to it. Foam is light chocolate in color and a touch on the grainy side. Lacing is nonexistent, and the body is slightly hazy.

S: I was hoping for more bouquet, but what is present is delightful. Rum, prunes, and chocolate are present and enticing.

T: Dry and oh so complex, Terrible is easily the best BSDA, in my experience, that is being brewed on this continent. The flavors are bold and vibrant without being cloying, a mistake that is all too continent in the US. Rum, prunes and chocolate give way to apricots, cherries, and cloves as this elegant brew unfolds on your tongue.

M: light and delicate with just the slightest touch of carbonation. I would have liked to see the same creaminess that is displayed in their Trois Pistoles, but I guess that is hard to do at 10,5 abv. I am impressed that the abv is so high while still maintaining a delicate mouthfeel.

D: as mentioned above, this is one of the best BSDAs I've come across from this continent. It will even give many of the highly acclaimed Belgian breweries a run for their money. This is a must try of you can get your hands on it, and worth a trade if you can't.
May 17, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of solok
Reviewed by solok from California

4.69/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Deep, dark color. Limited head sticks around. Smells like gingerbread. Flavor also has some molasses, like pfeffernüsse. Nice little ethanol burn balances it out. Spice flavor reminiscent of Christmas ales. Port-like consistency. Light effervescence.
Jan 25, 2024
 
Rated: 4.94 by SoFistDecayDead from California

Jan 21, 2024
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My bottle was “best before 1/18/2018” so I am not going to write much of a review until I get a fresher one to get a better idea of what they intended.
But even almost 7 years after the best by date, this is still seriously good.
Dec 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by TheRealBen from Massachusetts

Dec 20, 2023
Photo of Grax
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa

4.41/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The aroma gives off a thick and pungent smell reminiscent of molasses, cherry, and some spice. The flavor is strong and follows the smell very well, with cherry-esque malt, molasses, and some spice punctuating the body. It's creamy and smooth. Overall, a very flavorful and smooth beer, very enjoyable to drink.
Dec 20, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by Jorgedeluis from Ohio

Nov 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.82 by not2quick from Missouri

Jul 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by Taenim from Maine

Jul 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jul 12, 2023
Photo of RamonaBeer
Rated by RamonaBeer from California

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A delightful beer that I really enjoyed - and will get again!
Mar 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by TXRobbo from Texas

Mar 11, 2023
Photo of DFred
Reviewed by DFred from California

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown pour and light brown head, it presents itself beautifully in the glass. The aroma is a mix of yeast, dark fruits, and spices, with a strong caramel and candied sugar scent. The taste follows the aroma, with strong figs and dates, caramel, and candied sugar. The beer is full-bodied yet highly carbonated, making it smooth and easy to drink. Despite its high alcohol content, it is well-balanced and the alcohol warmth is pleasant. The complexity of flavors and excellent mouthfeel make this a truly wonderful beer. It is a measuring stick for other Quads.
Feb 12, 2023
Photo of scott451
Reviewed by scott451 from Canada (ON)

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured a 341ml bottle into a chalice. A one finger fine tan head on black. Excellent head retention and some thin lacing.
Subtle spice and esters in the nose.
Dark fruit. Chocolate. A extremely mild hop finish.
Very smooth. Medium body. low carbonation.
An awesome quad. Somewhat subdued but well worth a try.
Jan 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by 6thstreetbrewpub from District of Columbia

Jan 01, 2023
Photo of AlexandraDen
Reviewed by AlexandraDen from Canada (ON)

4.19/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
These days I dont have much time to write reviews, but still want to put up some thoughts. Tons of people do in depth on look, smell, etc... Others do nice long proce. I think I might try to do nice, concise, in between reviews without reiterating what others say.

Didn't know this was a Quad! I think the 10.5% is a nice middle line for Quads (many often much higher).

A nice deep brown colour with ruby shade, with a lighter, washed out brown frothy head just around a finger with greath thickness and retention. Floral smells sure but malty sweetness, sweet bread, raisin and mild spice notes on the nose.

A lovely mix of flavours somewhere between malt, sweet bread, and others. Opens with a great wooden flavour, kind of like oak but a little more mustiness to it. A big of dark chocolate but not particularly strong, did note some dried fruits, almost like cranberry-raisin mix. Yeasty flavours but not chewy like other quads or even other tripels. Spice is there but muted. Slight medicinal aspects on the finish with brown sugar, but not in the sweet way, more like the way where the sweetness ends and the mild brown sugar flavours lie on the tongue after a minute.

Good carbonation, higher than expected, dense tiny bubbles. Smooths out over time, body is medium and not too thick whatsoever. Lighter bodied than you'd think, more carbonation than you'd think as well. Very unique little balance. Alcohol is well hidden... When it's cold. As it warms, even just a little, you feel it a bit more on the exhale. Not overwhelming, and it opens up the flavour to be a little sweeter, a little bit more sweetness, a little more spice and fruit like mild cinnamon and plum/raisin, and rum like notes. Great, unique Quadrupel. It's not a malt bomb, it's not dessert like or super sweet, it's not super thick, and there's some mild balancing bitterness here. Very interesting!
Nov 26, 2022
Photo of Broman
Reviewed by Broman from Alaska

4.42/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bottle

Appearance - Grand frothy light brown head sits atop a dark pop body. When held to the light the body has a red mahogany color to it with nice clarity. Head stays with the beer throughout the enjoyment of it and nice even lacing lines the glass.

Aroma - Citrus fruits and sweet floral. Great Quadruple smell.

Taste - No alcohol on the tongue, Belgian yeast and subdued sweet fruits, complex smooth and enjoyable, slight malty/ brown sugary thickness lingers in the back of the throat

Mouthfeel - Lighter than expected, mild carbonation

Overall - Absolutely enjoyable beer to drink. Checks all the boxes in my opinion of a great Quadruple.
Nov 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by doctorgary from New York

Oct 30, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: It pours dark brown with a light brown colored head. It has excellent head retention.

Smell: It has a strong fruity aroma up front with plums and prunes. There are some perfumy and rose like nots with very low spice.

Taste: It has strong fruitness in the flavor with plums and prunes. The fruity impression makes it sweet overall. There are some caramel notes with rose like and wine like qualities.

Feel: It has a medium full body with strong, but pleasant alcohol warming.

Overall, strong alcohol and complex flavors makes this a wonderful, yes strong beer.
Sep 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by CRObighit2 from Canada (ON)

Aug 21, 2022
Terrible from Unibroue
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 2355 ratings