Mongozo (Palmnut)
Mongozo B.V.

Mongozo (Palmnut)Mongozo (Palmnut)
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From:
Mongozo B.V.
 
Netherlands
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #152
ABV:
7%
Score:
82
Ranked #25,185
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 18.87%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
50
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 31, 2022
Added:
Oct 31, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

1.39/5  rDev -60.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25
330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 7%. Deep orange-brown colour, moderate white (or slightly off-white) head. Sickly sweetish and nutty aroma, not good at all. Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is unfresh, medium sweet, alcoholic and slightly sickly, nutty notes. Hardly any bitterness. Definitely not "my cup of tea".
May 31, 2022
 
Rated: 2.12 by desint from Belgium

Nov 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

May 18, 2015
Photo of MarkoNm
Reviewed by MarkoNm from Slovenia

2.38/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours a clear amber color. The head is quite generous, sligtly off-shite with nice retention. The aroma is quite complex, surprisingly. There are the typical lager qualities of malt aroma, and also some nuts, slightly woody and grassy aroma, as well as some more yeast. The taste is a bit sweet and slightly sour, followed by a minimal bitterness. There’s some nuttiness in the back present. It has a dry feel, but otherwise drinkable and pleasant.
Feb 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by safaricook from Netherlands

Feb 18, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by Stoutsman from Kansas

Jan 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 25, 2011
Photo of eric5bellies
Reviewed by eric5bellies from Australia

4.12/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drank from my De Struise Tulip

A - Pours a hazey brown colour with an off white head that retains and laces well.

S - Quite sweet on the nose with candy sugar.

T - Tastes a bit like a flanders oud bruin in that its got plenty of sweet dark fruits.

M - Light to medium body with medium carbonation.

D - I like this beer a lot even though it wasn't what OI expected.
Oct 17, 2010
Photo of janubio
Reviewed by janubio from Spain

3.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper to brown colour, pours a big head and there's akways some foam on it. Smells is toasted, hints of chocolate, prunes and tropical fruits. A bit light feeling on the tongue, sweet (but not too sweet) flavor, tastes of chocolate, cinnamon, a hint of vanilla,caramel, prunes and tropical fruits are present as well. Two different mongozos in two days that really surprised me.
Feb 15, 2010
Photo of GRG1313
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

3.69/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Supposedly "brewed in strict accordance to a centuries old African recipe based on the African palmnut."

Pours a murkey brown with a very thin white head. Not particularly good looking in all candor.

Nose is sweet chocolate and big carmel and with more and more spice as it opens up in the glass. The most carmel nose I've ever smelled; not unattractive-different.

Mouthfeel is thin but the flavors are so bold and layered that mouthfeel is not significant.

Flavors of sweet and sour sauce. Tones of sweet cooked fruit, toffee and carmel and green peppers and mixed spices. There is a bit of a sour character to this beer. It is unique in flavor and worth a try. Not sure what food I would eat with this one but it's interesting on its own.

Finish is light coffee and pleasant malt.

Worth the experience; tastes good and, as I recall, was very inexpensive. Pretty unique.
Oct 02, 2009
Photo of ABOWMan
Reviewed by ABOWMan from Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured an easy three fingers of light tan dense foam. Lacing is minimal. Clarity??? There isn't any. This light tan beer looks more like unfiltered apple cider.

The aroma is reminiscent of over ripe bananas and pineapple.

The flavor is like a peach fruit compote. Not a lot of beer flavor. Hard cider might be a better description for this beverage.

Mouthfeel is rich and full. Drinkability is limited to acquiring a taste for this unique beverage.
Apr 18, 2009
Photo of stcules
Reviewed by stcules from Italy

2.53/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Reddish color. It has a lot of floating bodies in it.
He foam is white, quite compact. Not bad after all.
In the smell fruity notes, tropical-like. Sweet and sugary. It could be the palmnut.
For sure, peculiar.
Not too exciting. Well, there is a lot worse, of course.
Essentially an experiment. Stramge.
Feb 06, 2008
Photo of Dukeofearl
Reviewed by Dukeofearl from California

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
$2.79 for 11.2 ounce bottle at Wine Expo in Santa Monica, CA, March 2007. Tasted in June 2007.

Pours a pretty golden with a nice creamy head of medium sized bubbles. Aroma of rich honey and sweetbreads. Flavor follows through- generally mellow in flavor, a nice, non-complicated Belgan Golden Ale. Solid Belgian yeast traits make this tasty. As I have no idea what Palmnut is, or what flavor it brings to the party, I can't comment on its contribution to this brew. But it is enjoyable and I like it.
Jun 06, 2007
Photo of DogFood11
Reviewed by DogFood11 from California

2.3/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Poured into a small tulip it forms an easily managed fizzy white head that falls to a solid cover. No lace. Body is copper with a slight haze.

smell like I was dropped off at a prune factory, except the prunes are in liquid form mixed with some medicine. Quite medicinal to me and the drinkability and taste factor suffers. Suggestions of chocolate deep in the backdrop never really become a factor. Tart at times, more so in the smell but it creeps in when its cold and fades as it warmed. It shows some Belgian Strong Dark ale characteristics but it has a near golden body? Whatever, I'm not going to trip on mouse turds here its just not all that good no matter where we put it.

Notes: The taste was the best part of this offering which gives it a big boost but its just an ok brew at best.

12oz bottle picked up for curiosity and a chance at finding a gem. This is no gem, this is not a belgian strong dark ale and finally this is not worth another sampling.
Nov 24, 2006
Photo of atigerlife
Reviewed by atigerlife from Hawaii

4.42/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
OK, I just bought this because the label looked interesting and it was an African beer made in Belgium. Too unusual to pass up...

Poured a very hazy brown [thick apple cider] with a nice fluffy light brown head that had good lasting power. Decent lacing. Interesting to look at.

The aroma was sweet, fruity and some brandy backbone. Also some light spices and a sweetness that was sort of a honey/butterscotch. Certainly a lot going on in the aroma.

The taste was sweet, malts and sort of a light nuttiness. Some honey and mango in the background. Dark fruits were also present. Very nicely melded together.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied, cleansing and creamy.

Overall, I found this beer to be very interesting, very intriging. Quite unique and delicious. Amazing ABV since I never noticed the alcohol. I would definitely like another.
Jul 09, 2006
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I passed on this beer on several occasions because it looked more like a novelty beer and did not take it seriously. After reading it's description, I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. Good stuff. Did not expect the belgian fruitiness, spiciness, candiness, or yeastiness. Very rich with dates and figs with background notes of raisons, prunes, peaches, pears, and papayas. Well rounded and complex. It has a sesame seed flavor and oily texture that I can only assume is from the addition of palmnuts. Though not as good as the many outstanding Belgian beers, it's certainly gained respect in my book.
Jun 14, 2006
Photo of granger10
Reviewed by granger10 from Wisconsin

3.97/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Extremely murky light copper color. Nice frothy head rests atop. Moderate lacing. Yeast chunks are apparent.

Aroma is leaning on the sweet side with caramel and butterscotch. There's also some strong yeasty bready notes and some Belgian funk. An earthy element and spices round out the aroma.

Taste is strong on the bready notes. There's also a slickness to it, an oilyness really. I think this is from the palmnuts, maybe. I do in fact notice a nutty flavor in the body but I don't know if that's the palmnuts or not. Less sweet than the aroma suggests. Light fruits like banana and orange. Finish is spicy from the yeasties but also has a moderate sweetness to it with a bit of a plum/chocolate combo.

Alcohol was not noticeable. I'm really surprised its that high. Mouthfeel is slick as I said before but still has enough of a bready precense to give this beer a substantial feel. Drinkability is good for the bottle but I still would only want a few of these at one sitting. This was a nice offering and an intriguing beer.
Mar 20, 2006
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
7/28/05- Purchased at Plumpjack's in San Francisco, CA

Presentation- 11.2oz bottle with a stamped code on the front label. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Butterscotch colored pour with many a yestie floating around. 1/4 inch evaporative head and poor lacing. I gave it a better rating because it had a cool ass volcano effect from the stream of carbonation coming up in the center of the glass. This shit was pumping some hardcore fizz.

Smell- Smells like a wit-belgian dark combo. Decent amount of orange peel and corriander, with some dark fruit as well.

Taste- Tropical fruit tastes? Oranges, mango, papaya??? Plus some maybe prunes? Corriander and pepper as well.

Mouthfeel- Very compact carbonation. A bit slick...the palmnut?

Drinkability- Has pretty good flavor, strange mouthfeel and a cool carbonation that should be on display next to the cool onion volcano's the chefs make at Benihana's. Worth a try for sure.
Jul 29, 2005
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Cool bottle, nice pour. Very hazy dull amber color with an excellent champagne head.

Very potent smell of sour fruit and alcohol. Lots of fruit--dates and raisins. Very complex, but perhaps a bit too strong for it's own good.

The incredibly fizzy body serves to dull a bit of the flavor's zip. Sour fruits upfront, club soda fizz in the middle, and then a very harsh rush of flavor in the back. Tastes like the aftertaste of a good triple--if that makes any sense. The lingering hint of alcohol and spice, only it's not lingering--it's right there. Odd. Not bad, but not great.

Decent body, but it's too damn fizzy to drink more than one of. It's a good beer, especially at a $1.50 a bottle, but nothing to write home about.
Jul 23, 2005
Mongozo (Palmnut) from Mongozo B.V.
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 50 ratings