Ephemere (A Beer brewed with apples by Unibroue)

Back when I was a novice beer drinker (about 72 hours ago) I use to tell people that Unibroue (a canadian brewery that does some nice twists on Belgian style beers) was my favorite brewery.  That was before I had tried Ephemere.  The name is french for ephemeral(I think) and (like many of the Unibroue beers) is linked to a Legend.

Legend has it that that an Ambitious Fairy decided to show herself to a farmer(this was not ok because Fairy's will lose their magical powers if they show themselves to humans(unless that particular human is Peter Pan but, I digress)).

The fairy appeared to the farmer while he was riding in his carriage and took over the reigns.  She led him deep into the orchards where she laid with him.

This beer pays tribute to the ephemeral nature of the seasons and the risque fairy that laid with the farmer and then disappeared at sun down.

I can't remember how the farmer is linked to the beer at all.  Maybe he was an apple farmer.  Yes, let's say that he was an apple farmer for the sake of my progeny who read this.  They will at least find some solace in my rationality.  Wow, huge digression, back to the problem.

I find this "back story" inconsistent with contemporary fairy lore.  We all know that fairies will come back to life if we all say "I do, I do, I do believe in fairies."  That is fairy lesson number one.  This fact alone left a bitter taste in my mouth the sweetness of the beer could not touch.

I would like to rename this beer the "Harbinger of the 'Opposite of Flavor.'"  This new name is not note-worthy or clever...just like the flavors of this beer.

This beer is a twist on the popular belgian white ale (top fermented beer usually brewed with coriander, orange peel and...I think something else...the other ingredient escapes me at the moment).  Anyways, popular examples would include "Hoegaarden" and "Allagash" white ale.

Oh, the Spanish brewery named "Estrella Damm" makes a damn good White ale with a bit of licorice in it called "Inedit".  I had it with Alex and we both thought it was Awesome.  She got goose bumps because it reminded her of home(Alex es de Espana).

Yes, I've been meaning to tell you where this beer falls flat(get it: "flat"...it's a pun) and it's that it has very little flavor.  The beer is overwhelmed with a fruity bouquet of apples and maybe a slight pear scent.  It is a cloudy gold color (like unfiltered white ales tend to be) but Taste is below par.  It seems to be a cross between a hard cider and a white ale and it comes up short on both ends.  None of the flavors stand out as "good."

This beer conjures images into the drinker's mind that depict the transitory nature of life.  It grants the possessor a reason to do something profitable with their life.  This reason stems from the fact that life is too short to consume beers of a second rate standing.

Though this is the case this beer has its place.  It is a not so bitter (only 10 IBU's) yet overwhelmingly sweet reason to live life to the fullest and not waist a moment of the gift we named "life."

Eat, drink and be Joyous!

-Ryan, Beer Aficionado

Special Thanks to Ah Saum.  She always rekindles my joy in writing.  Your words and diligence inspire me.