Unibroue Terrible 750ML

Unibroue Terrible 750ML is a Belgian-style quadrupel brewed in Quebec, Canada, at 10.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. A 14-time gold medal winner across the World Beer Championships, World Beer Awards, and Australian International Beer Awards, this dark strong ale stands as one of North America's most decorated Belgian-inspired brews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.5%  |  Origin: Chambly, Quebec, Canada  |  Style: Belgian Quadrupel  |  Brewery: Unibroue

Production & Heritage

Unibroue operates out of Chambly, Quebec, and has built its reputation on Belgian-inspired brewing traditions adapted to Canadian craft sensibilities. Terrible undergoes bottle refermentation — a second fermentation in the bottle using fresh yeast — a technique Unibroue applies to all of its Belgian-style beers. The brewery is one of the only operations in the world to use this method universally across its lineup, whether bottled, kegged, or canned, resulting in natural carbonation and evolving complexity over time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with thick, pungent notes of molasses and dark cherry, layered with roasted malt and a subtle warmth of spice. Deeper inhalation reveals dried fruit character reminiscent of figs and dates alongside a Madeira-like richness.

Taste: The entry is full and coating, with candied sugar and caramel malt arriving immediately on the tongue. At mid-palate, date and plum flavors emerge alongside cherry-inflected malt and measured spice notes. The peak brings those distinctive Madeira wine qualities into focus — rich, oxidative, and layered — balanced by a restrained sweetness that keeps the 10.5% ABV from overwhelming.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with molasses, dark fruit, and roasted malt lingering well after each sip. A gentle spice note and residual caramel sweetness round out the experience with notable depth.

How to Drink Terrible

Serve Terrible at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip glass or Belgian goblet to concentrate its complex aromatics. This is a sipping beer meant to be savored slowly, much like a digestif. For cocktail exploration: try it in a Black Velvet variation, substituting it for stout alongside sparkling wine for a richer, maltier take; use it in a Beer Flip with a whole egg, sugar, and nutmeg, where the quad's caramel and fig notes amplify the custard-like texture; or build a Belgian Shandy with fresh-pressed apple cider and a cinnamon stick, letting the dark fruit profile meld with orchard fruit.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian-style complexity
• After-dinner sipping on a cold evening as a dessert substitute
• Cellaring for one to three years to explore how bottle refermentation evolves the flavor
• Pairing with a holiday cheese board or special occasion dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Terrible taste like? Terrible delivers rich flavors of dates, plums, caramel malt, and candied sugar, with a distinctive Madeira wine character and subtle spice running throughout. It drinks thick and warming, with dark fruit and molasses dominating the profile.

How does Terrible compare to St. Bernardus Abt 12? Both are high-ABV Belgian-style dark ales with deep malt complexity and dried fruit notes, and drinkers frequently describe them as closely related in spirit. Terrible leans more heavily into Madeira wine and molasses character, while St. Bernardus Abt 12 tends toward a smoother, more yeast-driven Belgian profile with banana and dark sugar notes.

Is Terrible good for sipping neat? Terrible is built for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature — its 10.5% ABV, layered dark fruit complexity, and long finish reward patience and attention in the glass.

Where is Terrible made? Terrible is brewed by Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec, Canada, a brewery known for producing Belgian-inspired ales using traditional bottle refermentation techniques.

What foods pair well with Terrible? Aged Gouda or Stilton blue cheese complements its caramel and dried fruit notes. Braised short ribs or beef carbonnade match its malt richness. Dark chocolate or chocolate torte mirrors the molasses and roasted malt character. Dried fruit and nut boards echo the beer's fig and date profile. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the candied sugar and warming spice.

What sizes does Terrible come in? Terrible is commonly available in the 750ml bottle format, which is standard for Belgian-style ales that undergo bottle refermentation.

Is Terrible worth the price? Terrible positions as a premium craft offering within the Belgian quad category, and its 14 gold medals across international competitions provide strong validation of its quality at the price point. For a bottle-refermented quad with this level of critical recognition, it represents solid value among world-class dark strong ales.

Why Terrible?

Fourteen international gold medals make Terrible one of the most consistently awarded Belgian-style quadrupels brewed outside of Belgium. The bottle refermentation technique — applied universally by Unibroue and practiced by very few breweries worldwide — gives the beer a living complexity that evolves in the glass and in the cellar. Its deep Madeira-inflected malt profile distinguishes it from European counterparts, offering a distinct New World interpretation of a centuries-old style. For anyone serious about Belgian-inspired dark ales, Terrible has earned its place among the benchmarks of the category.