Unibroue - Quelque Chose

We had tried the Quelque Chose (BeerAdvocate.com: B+) from Unibroue at the TAP NY beer festival a few weeks ago. Unibroue, was the only non-New York brewery there (from what I could tell). They weren't really in the printed materials but they had a booth. As we approached the booth there was a buzz about their Cherry beer. We worked our way up to the table, got our three ounce pour and moved aside to savor it. It was really good and quite different from the beer we'd been sampling.

We had it again last night. I picked up a bottle at the Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room (Whole Foods on beermenus.com) as well as a growler of Sixpoint's Sweet Action (BeerAdvocate.com B+ overall A from the brothers, beermenus.com). The Quelque Chose (which apparently translates to 'Something') was our dessert beer after a nice dinner which included my wife's tomato, watermelon, mint and feta salad (I'll try and score the recipe for you). The Quelque Chose was really great, just as I remembered. A sweet full cherry flavor that didn't overpower the slight vanilla and spice tones. We had it out of wine glasses, and probably could have had it slightly closer to room temperature.

Now there is one thing especially notable about this beer. It is truly the first beer that escapes what I call 'the Fruit Beer Paradox'. It goes like this:

The Fruit Beer Paradox

I like fruit.
I like beer.
Therefore, I must like fruit beer.

It never seems to work out. I can't tell you how many times I've ordered a raspberry beer wanting to have my cider itch and my beer itch scratched at the same time. I am always disappointed. So at this point I more or less avoid fruit beer. Now as I write this I realize there is on more exception to my fruit beer exclusion: Smuttynose Hanami Ale (beeradvocate.com B-). I more or less agree with the B- rating from beeradvocate.com. I think I probably am giving it some extra points for standing out in a division where I'm consistently disappointed.

Circling back around: Unibroue's Quelque Chose - good beer, dessert beer if there is such a thing. Head and shoulders above the fruity beer competition in my book. And, yes I am on a beer kick.