Midnight Sun Monk’s Mistress

A new brewery… or at least one that has now gone mainstream, welcomes itself to the blog… Midnight Sun Brewing Company brings a couple of treats to us, compliments of Malt & Vine.  This particular brew, Monk’s Mistress or La Maitresse du Moine, just happens to be a big 11.5% ABV dark belgian… hmmm tasty.

As far as the tasting goes, they hit the style pretty square, and definitely on the dark side.  A great big head leads to a nose that brings forth spices… ginger and clove, allspice as well.  the 11.5% ABV is there, in the body, but you really can’t taste it at all.  The  dark body lends itself to a clean dark finish, leaving you fully satisfied with this take on the style.  Overall a pretty tasty brew from the new guys.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Fish Brewing Monkfish Belgian Style Triple Ale 2009

Was excited about this little brew when I saw it at M&V the other day… Fish Brewing Monkfish Belgian Triple.  My excitement was fleating, though, as the brew underwhelmed in many instances.  The brew pours a really nice copper color… a little darker than expected, but good looking nonetheless.  The nose is sweet heading into a really, really mild body… I even struggle to write anything that describes this brew due to how mild it is… almost like all of the beery goodness is canceled out, where one might shine through, another blocks and dulls it… same into the finish.  Overall, just not enough to write home about here.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Maredsous Tripel

Been on a Belgian style kick lately… can’t remember why I picked Maredsous Tripel up but much happiness that I did.  The noce is really nice with spice, citrus, and fruity aromas all mingling together and hitting at different points… I probably smelled this one for 5 minutes before I actually took the first drink.   The body is Belgian for sure, fitting in with the style nicely with a mild quality throughout.  The finish is an extension of this mild quality and leaves you with a very satisfied feeling… a great beer that will be had again.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale

And now… the moment we have all been waiting for… drumroll… the official tasting of the Limited Release Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale!!

We have been on a bit of a Belgian-style trip lately in the ’sac so this brew fits right in with where our mindset is at.  As noted on Oh Happy Day #7 – Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale, the bottle is sweet and the glass they sent it with is just as sweet, so had to do the official tasting with it.

Straight off the bat, on the pour, you can start to smell the belgian yeasts… not too in your face… definitely there, though.  The color is copper (12 – 14 SRM or so) and the head is brilliant white.  The brew drinks really nice and smooth in the front… surprisingly so, and the yeast is just in the background throughout the body.  The finish is sweet, definitely not dry, and leaves just a slight bitterness.  The mouthfeel is smooth and light with a medium-high carbonation. 

Overall, this is a really solid and approachable Belgian-style ale.  Especially with 10.2% alcohol, the aroma is strong but the body is nice and easy and it is gone before you know it.  A solid outing from the folks at Redhook!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Stone Vertical Epic 08

Mr. Dave wasn’t very happy about this one… Stone Vertical Epic 08… of course we opened it before we read the bottle and it noted that this was meant to be stored until 12/12/12… but what can I say… we all really enjoyed it now and I am sure that we can get more…   He thinks he can keep a bottle in his fridge for 3 years… I would like to see it, sir… I would like to see it.

Like I said, though, we liked this one… the Belgian influence was subtle but profound, leading from nose to body.  The light brew was downed in no time as the clean and refreshing beer went down so very easy.  A good one now and we all would love to see it in 3 years…

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

BridgePort Fallen Friar Belgium Style Tripel Ale

The newest in the Bridgeport Big Brews line, Fallen Friar Belgium Style Tripel Ale comes at you hard and fast (@ 8.2% ABV) and true to the style, no real deviation… pours a nice amber color, smells nice and mellow but the yeast is there waiting for you… sucker punching away.  This was pretty well received and tied for first for most of the folks at our recent tasting at Miss Jessi’s house.  For me it was last on the list though, folks, and since my opinion is the one that counts, it gets a Will Buy Again… nothing more, nothing less.  Won’t wow you but stays true to the style and gets the job done.  From their press release:

 

About BridgePort’s Fallen Friar Abbey Style Ale The Fallen Friar 22-ounce Big Brew combines German pilsner malt and Pacific Northwest wheat malt with German Hallertau and Czech Saaz hops. However, the secret that lies behind this brew is in the cloves, banana and spice from fermentation with a selected strain of Belgian yeast, and with slight oak overtones from French oak wine barrels. BridgePort’s Fallen Friar Tripel Style Ale will be on tap at BridgePort brewpub + bakery, BridgePort Ale House and at select bar and restaurant locations around Oregon. With 700 cases produced, this limited edition brew will also be sold at retail grocery stores throughout Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho while supplies last.

 

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Brewery Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence

I am pretty sure I am supposed to really, really like Brewery Omeggang… but I just can’t get myself to go over the top… I mean they don’t really make a bad beer… but amongst all of the flavorful and unique brews out there I just can’ get them past will buy again or middle of the road.  Again, not that bad… really… but I think there is some self imposed peer pressure out there and I have a complex about it.  Ok. Done. On to the blog.

Another beer brought to you by Mr. Dave… Chocolate Indulgence… thanks sir for providing.   Of course, you see the label… you think chocolate… but I tell you that it isn’t there.  Not sure how much they use but they need to at least double it up because the chocolate is as absent as contraception on prom night.   There is a bit of a Belgian nose to it… but absolutely no chocolate in either the body or the the nose… really.  I do catch tell tales signs of malt and coffee in there, which aren’t bad mixed with the Belgian yeast and overall presentation but if you were hoping for chocolate, you should wait and go with the Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock.  That is where the money is, my friends.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Brother Thelonious

Another fine brew from the North Coast Brewing Company – “Brother Thelonious” is a part of the mighty American Artisan Series and pays tribute to jazz legend Mr. Monk with both a Belgian-style ale and a donation for every bottle sold to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Good work on both counts.

Definitely Belgian tasting with an up-front yeast kick and the high alcohol content front and center, this brew’s got definite depth of character and all the hallmarks of a smooth sipping dubbel. There’s a sweet honeyed undercurrent and a complex assortment of roasted malt and caramel at work, and a slight bitter kick at the end of each mouthful that keeps you very interested in picking up the glass for more.

Little and often is probably the watch-word here, given the high ABV – take it as one for curling up with in your favourite arm-chair with a good book and plate of cheese by your side rather than a session beer, and you’ll be sure to enjoy.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Le Merle Saison

According to North Coast Brewing, they make “The best beers in this world… or any other” – and the more of them I try, the more convinced I am that they could be… just could be… almost right. Can’t say they are for sure because if I did I might as well give up testing others, and that’d never do. But I digress…

Part of their “American Artisan” series, La Merle is a saucy little Belgian Farmhouse number – pours a beautiful amber-orange with that traditional Belgian haze and an intriguing yeast aroma to go with the fine frothy meringue head that caps things off beautifully. Slightly sour and astringent, this is probably a little bit of an acquired taste, but certainly one well worth getting to know.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Lagunitas We’re Only In It For The Money

Last taster of the night at Miss Jessi’s was Lagunitas We’re Only In It For The Money (Frank Zappa’s 4th album) .  This was the least popular of the night and consequently the biggest belgian of the night.  It is an aquired taste and if you don’t like the belgian yeasts, then you shouldn’t go for this.  For that genre, though, it wasn’t bad… closer to a Unibroue brew than anything.  A bit too much for the casual drinker.  The color is golden copper with small head. As noted, it has a big belgian nose and body.  The tastes really hits at the middle of the tongue and leaves a bit of a bitter aftertaste. It should be noted that it didn’t pair that well with pizza… but I am sure it would have with some brats and sauerkraut.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road