With the developing interest in Belgian abbey ales and the monasteries that brew them, it’s time to remind the world that here in the U.S., we have a Monk of our own. Jazz icon Thelonious Monk is the inspiration for North Coast Brewing’s new Belgian-style abbey ale called, appropriately enough, Brother Thelonious. The beer is being released in conjunction with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (www.monkinstitute.org), and the brewery will make a contribution to the Institute for every case sold to support jazz education. Like a Belgian “Dark Strong Ale”, the beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9%. The package is a 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish and features a label picturing the jazz master himself.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by Hannah from OK, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (8/9/2008 9:05:24 PM)
"Pours a thick-looking, opaque brown with nice head considering the strength of the beer. Aroma is richly malty and accented by raison and vanilla notes. Flavor is balanced, malty and powerful depite an unfortunate metallic taste in the finish. Full bodied with effervescent carbonation."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 750ml @ $8 Unit Cost: $5.05 per Pint
[2] Review by mmmmBeer from Edmonton, Canada who has tried this beer a couple times. (8/6/2008 2:35:10 PM)
"Deep red body with hints of brown a massive brown cap with great retention sits on top and leaves behind lots of sticky roapy lacing. Sour yeast some spice in the nose brown sugar can be noticed on deep inhales the smell is incredible. Flavor is sweet and dark with hints of liquorish and brown sugar with coffee in the finish. This is a fully carbonated big belching beer. Apple and wood with a pine quality come out when warmer. This is very authentically Belgium tasting with its own unique flavor a other winner from North Coast."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $3.6 Unit Cost: $4.8 per Pint
[3] Review by Cybercat from Atlanta, GA, USA who has tried this beer once. (8/1/2008 8:51:32 PM)
"Aroma is very enticing, more fruity than malty; I get hints of both apple and banana, as well as a touch of yeast. It pours a rich, clear, dark chocolaty brown with a thick beige head that persists. Flavor is fruity with some malt and a fair amount of hop bitterness, as well as a hint of burnt caramel. Texture is smooth and lively, and this dubbel goes down very pleasantly. This is a brew for sipping slowly and appreciating."
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
9/10
Mouthfeel:
10/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.6)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[4] Review by doulos31 from Middletown, DE, USA who has tried this beer once. (7/26/2008 4:46:39 PM)
"Ruby red/brown pour, with minimal head and some lacing. A burned aroma left me feeling this was some sort of Belgian Scottish Ale (if that makes any sense at all). A taste confirms....really sweet, malt profile similar to a scottish ale... a fruity malt flavor with cherries. Kinda too sweet, but not horrible. A moderate to high level of carbonation. Okay."
Aroma:
6/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.2)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by beercronic from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who has tried this beer once. (7/12/2008 12:03:42 AM)
"I'm not sure of what to think of this stuff... it comes across very in my face and oversweet immediately. Poured out a nice tan head of noteworthy size but it survives by a ring only. The beer is sort of near to a mahogany and very clear. The aroma is very sweet with a huge fruit presence - cherry, raisins, wood, vodka-like alcohol nose, caramel (tons of malt) - tons of aroma but nothing that really grabs my bag. The taste is quite malty and totally lacks any obvious yeast. The taste is quite similar to the aroma except the aroma seems more on the caramel side. There are more... K, I just let it sit a further 30 minutes and here's what I can add: the aroma becomes more refined but keeps more of a vermouth smell, the taste has also improved making this a malt bomb with good fruit, mild candy, the spice has mellowed significantly but there is still notable alcohol which isn't that bad but it does not mix well with this burnt sugar taste. Nears full bodied, thick feeling on the mouth, smooth otherwise, very fine carbonation but I'm still on the fence with the type of bitterness I'm getting. It doesn't last long though. Odd, this beer is completely chuggable now. I guess I like this more than I thought. I put Rime of the Ancient Mariner on permanent repeat while consuming this. Up the irons!"
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.4)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $3.6 Unit Cost: $4.8 per Pint
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(3.6)
