Monk's Brew
Mikkeller ApS

Monk's BrewMonk's Brew
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #85
ABV:
10%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,497
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 11.68%
Reviews:
175
Ratings:
472
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 11, 2023
Added:
Mar 22, 2008
Wants:
  29
Gots:
  59
Formerly Monk's Elixir
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Tiernan:
Photo of Tiernan
Rated by Tiernan from Texas

4/5  rDev +1.5%

Nov 04, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
March 2009: 1 pt. 9.4.fl. oz. corked "champagne" bottle, as Mikkeller Monk’s Brew, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Very dark brown colour, slightly hazy, huge tan head. Malty and vinous aroma, notes of brown sugar, oak and spices. Rich and warming mouthfeel. The flavour is sweet and malty, again notes of brown sugar, oak and spices, nicely balanced with the hops. Hints of chocolate and coffee. Maybe not quite a trappist, but nearly there. If Mikkel is as skilled at paternosters and avemarias as he is at brewing, he may sign up as a trappist monk any day!
Jul 11, 2023
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle into a snifter. 2017 edition, had 4/7/23.

Pours a dark amber, semi opaque, with a one inch foamy head and brief foamy lacing. Aromas of malt, dates, figs, caramel, light yeast, a light herbal aroma. Flavors of malt, caramel, dates, figs, raisins, light yeast, some herbal hop bitterness. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.

A solid example of the style with prominent dark fruit and a solid, malty profile. Very nice.
Jul 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by metter98 from New York

Jul 04, 2022
Photo of mwilbur
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota

4.02/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2017 vintage. Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a murky dark brown hue with 2-3 inch frothy tan head with excellent retention.
S: Boozy dark dried fruit, brown sugar, crème brûlée, a vinous red wine note, and an almond note too.
T: Boozy and smooth dark dried fruit, vinous red wine, toasted brown sugar, and a background almond note.
M: Medium heavy body. Effortlessly smooth and mildly creamy feel. Mild hop bitterness and astringency in the background. Malt sweetness in the foreground.
D: Love the boozy dark dried fruit combined with the vinous red wine. Wish this had a touch more depth/complexity, but it is holding up extremely well 5 years on.
Jun 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by smithj4 from New York

Jun 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.95 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Jun 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.89 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Jun 19, 2022
Photo of Storm_Rryder
Reviewed by Storm_Rryder from Iowa

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good, this is very similar to a tripel. I can't really tell the difference between the two styles. Maybe the difference is simply the darkness from roasted malt that give the caramel like flavors. But it has the same spices as a tripel. A bit high ABV for a regular brew, quite enjoyable though. Not easily available here so unlikely to have it again but Im happy I had it.
Jan 07, 2021
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from fridge temp. Pours dark brown with tan head. Nose is dark fruit forward - grapes and cherries spring to mind. An interesting sweetness. Yeast, a hint of lemon, leather, and grass. The taste is really nice - fits in a Belgian quad category for me. Raisins, wood, bread, vanilla, dark chocolate, brown sugar, candy, malts, some nuts, and plums. Mouthfeel is very nice - not overly thick and viscous, but smooth. Alcohol not really detectable. I'm a fan.
Aug 30, 2020
 
Rated: 3.57 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jun 03, 2020
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Got this from the Mikkeller beerfest in Boston a couple years back. Been waiting to drink it for a while. I don't see a date but it's gotta be like 2-3 years old.

Pours an off-white almost tan colored foamy thicker slight rocky almost 1 finger head with great retention and moderate lacing, dark hazy auburn brown color

Nose brings loads of fruit, various darker fruits with fig, raisin, prune, date, pear, a little chocolate, a bit nutty, some brown toasty darker malts, little caramelization, candi sugar, toffee, candied dried fruits, soft smooth alcohol with a little mulled wine and some oxidation with a touch winey and hint of paper oxidation but works well in general, a touch yeasty

Taste brings more malt up front, sweet candy malt, a bit of chocolate, toasted biscuity Belgian malt with some caramelized sugar, candi sugar, toffee, and more of the mulled wine with a little oxidized winey characters, some smooth soft alcohol as well as a little tingle, lots of fruits as well, fig and candied raisins, dates, a little bitterness, brown sugar raisin like, finishes with more mild oxidation and mulled wine as well as chocolate, biscuity toffee, and loads of candied fruit, a bit sticky

Mouth is med to fuller bod, rich almost chewy, smooth alcohol that gets a little tingly hot as it warms, loads of carbonation definitely too much and gets distracting

Overall I think the aging helped, the fruity esters exploded and the alcohol smoothed out, although it did come through a bit hot at times, carbonation goes overboard, malts were nice, oxidation had both good and bad points, so good beer that's a nice sipper but not incredible.
Dec 31, 2019
Photo of Hat_Fulla_Beer
Reviewed by Hat_Fulla_Beer from Canada (AB)

4.29/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle poured into tulip.

Pours a dark chestnut brown with three formidible fingers of cappucino head that leaves cool coral reef lace as it recedes.

Smells of dark sugar, candied fig and plum, caramel squares, milk chocolate, banana bread, peppery yeast and ghostly green hops.

Tastes of more candied dark fruit, spiced brown sugar, browning banana, caramel pudding, mild chocolatey sweetness and more soft leafy hops.

Feels interesting. Carbonation starts out peppy and prickly, then softens into a creamy smoothness. Finishes sweet.

Verdict: Vigorously recommended. Absolutely delicious.
Nov 30, 2019
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From the big bottle in a snifter. This mighty fine ale pours
a muddled dark brownish black with a fantastic head of long
lingering khaki foam that settles to about 1/2 an inch with
excellent lacing. Nose of dark fruits, dark candy sugars, and
subtle Belgian spice of coriander and clove. Flavors remind
me of what Bornum USED to taste like---dark fruit notes of date
and fig, dark bread, dark brown sugars, and a touch of clove
with banana notes. Nice mouth feel; medium body, medium
high carbonation, and a sweet yet subtly dry finish showing some
wine characteristics.

Overall excellence from an excellent brewery!

Cheers
Oct 23, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
"Best by 6/31/21"; drank 5/29/16 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque brown/purple rust appearance.

A normal pour yielded a HUGE khaki head; a thick curtain of lace.

Clove, plum & fresh bread notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Mild plum & fresh bread flavors up front; bold clove & booze heat notes on the finish.

This was drinkable but way too boozy & clove forward to be very enjoyable; perhaps I should have let this age much closer to 2021 after all?!
May 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by SaraMatt from California

Apr 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by quantumech from Singapore

Feb 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by groleau from Canada (QC)

Feb 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Griphon from Florida

Jan 23, 2019
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

5/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
En copa Teku. Viendo Los Vengadores - La Era de Ultron. Ricas frutas oscuras. Todo lo esperado en una quad belga deliciosamente bien implementado y con el alcohol muy bien oculto
Jan 14, 2019
Monk's Brew from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 472 ratings