Unibroue Maudite 750ML

Unibroue Maudite 750ML is a bottle-conditioned Belgian-style strong dark ale brewed in Quebec at 8% ABV. A multiple World Beer Awards gold medalist — including a "World's Best Beer" title in 2020 — Maudite has been a flagship of Canadian craft brewing since its debut in 1992, earning recognition for its spicy, cognac-like complexity and amber-red depth.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Chambly, Quebec, Canada  |  Style: Belgian Dubbel / Strong Dark Ale  |  Brewery: Unibroue

Production & Heritage

Unibroue, founded in Chambly, Quebec, has operated as one of North America's most respected Belgian-style breweries since the early 1990s. Maudite — French for "damned," a nod to the Quebecois legend of the flying canoe — launched in 1992 and quickly became a cornerstone of the brewery's lineup. The beer is bottle-conditioned, meaning live yeast remains in the bottle to drive a secondary fermentation that deepens flavor over time, much like aging wine. Unibroue is one of the only breweries in the world to apply this monastery-rooted technique across its entire range, including kegs and cans.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Malty sweetness leads, followed by orange peel, wild spices, and distinct notes of coriander and clove. Floral hop notes weave through a subtle but undeniable warmth of alcohol.

Taste: The entry is rich and toasty with caramel and dark-fruit malt sweetness reminiscent of sherry or port. Mid-palate, robust spiciness emerges — licorice, tannins, and a vinous quality that feels genuinely cognac-like in its layered complexity. As the beer warms in the glass, wheat and citrus undertones reveal themselves beneath the malt structure.

Finish: An assertive, crisp hop bitterness arrives to counterbalance the malt richness, creating a long, dryish close. Lingering warmth, spice, and a faint alcohol accent persist without harshness.

How to Drink Maudite

Pour into a tulip glass or Belgian goblet at cellar temperature (around 50–55°F) to allow the full aromatic profile to open. The yeast sediment can be left in the bottle for a cleaner pour or gently swirled in and added for extra body and complexity.

• Belgian Beer Float: Maudite's caramel-spice backbone pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert serve.
• Beer Cocktail (Bière Brûlée): The dark-fruit malt sweetness and spice stand up well when mixed with a splash of aged rum and a cinnamon stick.
• Braised Dishes: Use Maudite as both the cooking liquid and the table beer alongside carbonnade flamande or beer-braised short ribs — its malt depth intensifies with heat.

Best For

• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate Belgian brewing traditions
• Cellaring alongside wine — Maudite's bottle conditioning allows it to develop new flavor layers over months or years
• Pairing with a multi-course dinner as a bold alternative to red wine
• Gifting to anyone curious about world-class Canadian craft beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Maudite taste like? Maudite delivers toasty caramel and dark-fruit malt sweetness with layered spice — coriander, clove, and licorice — balanced by a crisp, dry hop finish. Its complexity is often compared to cognac or port rather than typical ales.

How does Maudite compare to Ommegang Abbey Ale? Both are North American interpretations of Belgian dubbel-style ales, but Maudite tends to be spicier and more vinous, while Ommegang Abbey Ale leans toward a softer, caramel-forward profile. Maudite's bottle conditioning also gives it a living character that evolves in the bottle, a technique Ommegang does not universally employ.

Is Maudite good for sipping neat? Absolutely — poured into a proper goblet at cellar temperature, Maudite is designed to be savored slowly, revealing new flavor dimensions as it warms in the glass.

Where is Maudite made? Maudite is brewed by Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec, Canada, a small city about 30 kilometers southeast of Montreal known for its historic fort and, thanks to Unibroue, its Belgian-style ales.

What foods pair well with Maudite? Aged cheddar or Gruyère complement the malty sweetness. Braised lamb shanks mirror the beer's robust, warming character. Dark chocolate desserts bridge the caramel and spice notes. Charcuterie boards with cured meats and dried fruit echo Maudite's vinous, dried-fruit undertones. Poutine — a nod to its Quebec roots — works surprisingly well, the rich gravy and curds matching the beer's body.

What sizes does Maudite come in? Maudite is commonly available in 750ML bottles, a format traditional for Belgian-style ales meant for sharing, as well as standard 341ml bottles and multi-packs.

Is Maudite worth the price? Maudite sits in the premium craft ale tier, and its bottle-conditioned complexity, multiple gold medals at the World Beer Awards, and aging potential deliver strong value relative to imported Belgian dubbels at comparable or higher price points.

Why Maudite?

Maudite earned a "World's Best Beer" designation at the 2020 World Beer Awards — a distinction shared by very few North American ales. Its bottle-conditioned production, applied since the first batch in 1992, is a monastic technique that Unibroue extends across its entire lineup, making it one of the only breweries on the planet committed to this practice at scale. The result is a living beer that rewards patience; cellared bottles develop sherry-like oxidative notes and deeper fruit character over time. For anyone seeking a Belgian-style strong dark ale with genuine pedigree and proven critical acclaim, Maudite stands as one of Quebec's most important contributions to the global beer conversation.