La Fin Du Monde by Unibroue is being judged as BJCP category 26C, Belgian Tripel. The beer is presented in a tulip glass at 48°F, showing a light amber color around 7 SRM, a distinct thick haze, and a lovely creamy foam stand that lasts minutes.
The aroma is biscuity-dry with obvious pepper and dry herbs of sagebrush, bay laurel and eucalyptus with relatively subdued fruit-ester element of honey, apricot and dried peaches. Ethanol and strong phenol ferment character emerge with swirling.
The flavor starts rich and very fruity with a bready-biscuity malt backbone complemented with the aforementioned apricots and peaches with an additional dry apple note. A very solid bitterness and emergent dried herbs and pepper dominate the mid-palate with angles of light clove, black pepper and juniper sage with appreciable ethanol heat. The finish is long and quite dry with hints of malt sweetness largely swamped by lingering phenols of pepper and spice and lasting bitterness. Gas content is high and mouthfeel is full and thick, with a trace of astringency and fusel-heat that contribute to the hot-dry finish.
Overall, the palate is a little rough compared to the pure malt and fruit delivery of alcohol of something like Westmalle, but it drinks well and firmly shouts Tripel. If you like strong golden ales of complex Belgian character, this hits the mark. Given the lovely sweet-spice-heat character, I'm pining for a slice of homemade apple pie.