Autre Chose - NEIPA de Tropiques-sur-le-Lac
Unibroue

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Mar 5 2025 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a foggy golden-amber colour, kicking up nearly two fingers of bubbly, foamy white head that holds together for the better part of five minutes. A messy swath of sticky lace is imprinted onto the glass, with a sudsy cap and thin collar lingering on the surface; looks fine so far. Subdued aroma of grapefruit, orange peel and indeterminate tropical and/or orchard fruits, with undertones of earthy, floral hops.

It's alright - smooth, fruity flavour profile with low bitterness. I'm getting pineapple, pink grapefruit, peach and mango, with resiny, floral hops and citrus pithiness bringing up the rear. Orange, floral hops and passion fruit dissipate into a fruity aftertaste that doesn't linger long. On the fuller side of medium-bodied, with low-ish carbonation and a smooth, pillowy-soft mouthfeel that makes for a highly drinkable IPA.

Final Grade: 3.82, a B+. For any modern North American brewery, it's a practical necessity to have some sort of hazy IPA on offer - and to be fair, NEIPA de Tropiques-sur-le-Lac is a perfectly serviceable one. However, it's also a stark example of how talent in one specific area (e.g. Belgian-style ales) will not automatically transfer to all other areas. This brewery has produced some of my favourite beers of all time, which is likely why I found this otherwise solid pale ale to be a bit of a letdown. I don't begrudge Unibroue for the attempt, but they're better off sticking with what they're good at.

473ml cab served cold into a tulip. LCBO purchase.

Appearance - Hazy, honey brown color with two fingers of loose white head. Moderation retention and leaves a soapy ring of lacing.

Smell - Floral notes with a hint of candied pineapple and candied guava. Possibly some mango as well.

Taste - Light and floral again. Some mild citrus mixed in. Low bitterness but doesn't quite match the candied fruits aroma.

Mouthfeel - Medium-full bodied with a semi dry finish. Good expressive carbonation.

Overall - Solid NEIPA from a brewer best known for other styles and offerings. With that said, based on this choice, I'd be interested in seeing Unibroue explore more IPA offerings.

At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 473mL in a pint glass. From the Walker Rd. LCBO in nearby Windsor. Lot number C052521450. My sixth beer from the Chambly, Quebec brewery, and fourth for 2025. Appreciated and respected by Sundae the cat...

Pours copper with a small head. The nose is a scary malt bomb. Scary, because I don't like many IPAs with malt dominance. Thankfully it's not overwhelming in the taste, but it's still not that great. There is bit of Belgian IPA flavour here trying to save the day, but the dry end notes bring it all down again.
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Pours deep orange with some haze. Foamy, everlasting head, Tropical, canteloupe, pineapple, mango hop flavors mingle with pine resin hop bitterness in the taste. Full bodied and high carbonation. Moderate bitterness and lingering hop sweetness in the finish.

A balanced and complex NEIPA with moderate hoppiness.

Aug 29 2025

 

 

From a 473ml can dated 05/25. A two finger off white head on a cloudy apricot. The head diminishes to a layer. Sheets of bubbly lacing.

Fruity hops in the nose. Taste is fruity up front, but malts come through in the middle. A mild hop finish.

Very smooth with a creamy texture. Medium body and carbonation. Overall a solid NEIPA. Fruit flavours dominate with a solid creamy texture.

500mL pour on tap at PAI in Toronto, served in a glass that wasn’t quite a nonic glass, but it wasn’t a shaker pint either, but it was straight walled…..

Appearance: Cloudy/translucent golden yellow with some strands of white persistent lacing and a thin white head as well.

Smell: Orange, peach, fresh cut citrus.

Taste: Nicely hoppy, but more on the citrus/bitter side with a bready malt for balance. The finish was definitely bitter - it was missing that “juicy” style one gets in a typical NEIPa.

Mouthfeel: A little sticky on the teeth, good thickness, but missing that NEIPA mouthfeel as well. Light carbonation.

Overall / Drinkability: I think this was just a AIPA, not a NEIPA. It’s missing the mouthfeel and the taste, but…..it was enjoyable with Thai food, but one 500mL pour was enough. So off for the style, but a good IPA regardless.