Lagerness Monster
Jack's Abby Brewing

Lagerness MonsterLagerness Monster
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From:
Jack's Abby Brewing
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
Ranked #12
ABV:
14%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,017
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 7.75%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
216
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 24, 2023
Added:
Oct 17, 2014
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  31
Imperial Baltic Porter. Formerly Lager Ness Monster

This beer started with the same recipe as our Framinghammer Baltic Porter, but with a twist. During the first stage of the brewing process we mix hot water with our malted grains in our Mash Tun to extract the sugars from the grain that will later be fermented into alcohol. The resulting liquid from this process is called wort. For Lager Ness Monster we did this process once, then we refilled the Mash Tun with more grain. This second time, instead of using water to mix with the grain, we re-used our wort from the first batch and concentrated it. This allowed the wort to pick up more sugar than our normal process would allow, resulting in a 15% abv monster! This beer was brewed last spring and has been aging in bourbon barrels since.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LoveStout:
Photo of LoveStout
Rated by LoveStout from New York

3.5/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Apr 11, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

4.49/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Review: 1985
Name: Lagerness Monster
Brewery: Jack's Abby Craft Lager
Location: Framingham, MA
Style: Imperial Baltic Porter
ABV: 14%
Date: Unknown
I am drinking Lagerness Monster today using a Willie Belcher glass. I served it at 48 degrees. The pour created an airy, frothy, two-fingered, dark tan head with average retention. The color is dark brown, nearly black, charting around SRM 38. The beer is opaque. The somewhat quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The appearance is average for this style.
The initial aromas are chocolate, smoky, char, bready, and bourbon. Swirling the glass, I notice oak, caramel, floral, coffee, earthy, molasses, burnt sugar, and toasted cereal grains. I am enjoying the aromas of this beer. I do not remember drinking anything like this. I have a few more beers coming from them.
Big malty smoky with dark chocolate, char, oak, and toasted bread for the first sip. Sipping the glass again, I taste coffee, bourbon, caramel, molasses, burnt sugar, raisins, floral, earthy, bay leaves, and toasted cereal grains.
The mouthfeel is tannic and finishes dry and warm. The body is heavy with medium-low carbonation.
This is a gigantic beer with a massive ABV. I love the big brashness of the beer; it is inspiring. I so wish I had a few more of these beers.
I am looking forward to the Framingham beers that I order. It's a fantastic beer; I'm glad I could consume it.
Dec 24, 2023
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampling a cellar temp 500 ml bottle poured into my snifter. Picked up at the local beer shop a while ago. Has been in my cellar since.
The beer pours a rich cola brown to black coffee color with almost no light shining through, except at the very edges of the glass. A minimal beige head of .5 cm foams up as a dense covering and fades to a sturdy edge layering pretty quickly after the pour.
Aroma is malt dominant and bourbon barrel too. There are hits of dark chocolate and hints of roasted notes, but bourbon is the central aroma that dominates. Not boozy, just the sweet liquor notes and hops are absent on the nose as well.
The first sip reveals a medium body with smooth texture and some fine fizzy carbonation. There is a bit of sticky residue on my lips after each sip.
The flavor is rich and malty with brown sugar and molasses mixing with dark chocolate and roasted malt. Sweet bourbon rolls in with some vanilla also. Never any hops and boozy heat only appears after each swallow. This is fairly complex and a big sipping beer, that only reveals its heat at the very end of the sip. WIsh I had bought a second bottle of this that I could sit on for another year or two.
Dec 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Jul 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Jun 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.26 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Mar 30, 2022
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Solid black,motor oil appearance.
Just above average body with slick,thick creamy feel. Very light carbonation, enough to notice but is mellow and perfect for this.
Aroma is wood,alcohol, sweet bourbon,malt,roasted malt, earthy.
Taste has a bit of sweetness, malty,roasted malt,alcohol, bourbon/whiskey.
Overall this a total home run from jacks abby
Mar 22, 2022
Photo of DrStiffington
Reviewed by DrStiffington from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Big, big beer. Pours thick and dark. Not a ton on the nose other than booze but huge tasting notes. Bourbon from the barrel, plus a bit of chocolate, some licorice. Interesting taste, a lot going on. Hard to describe but very pleasant. Thick mouthfeel. A winner.
Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Jan 29, 2022
Photo of SawDog505
Reviewed by SawDog505 from New Hampshire

4.17/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass not sure when it was bottled. Pours near pitch black with a half finger brown head, that leaves a few streaks of lace with solid retention. 4.5

Aroma is oaked vanilla, cocoa nibs, toffee, roasty coffee, and did I mention some charred bourbon? 4.25

Taste follows woody vanilla, chocolate, toffee, coffee, and a healthy dose of bourbon lingers sip after sip. 4

Mouthfeel is above medium, a tad dry, soft gentle carbonation, and 14% it is a sipper that goes down rather easy because it is very complex. 4.25

Overall I really enjoyed this one, the barrel is strong. The beer is complex and really nice. 4.25
Nov 15, 2021
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours opaque, dark brown in color with one quarter inch head. Taste is big molasses, vanilla and barrel, light butterscotch. Heavy body, moderate carbonation and sweet. Super drinkable for the abv. Solid overall that stays true to the Baltic porter style. Will get this again.
Jun 19, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It's been a damn long time since I took a trip to Jack's Abby and Springdale. Almost a year actually, but yesterday I felt an urge to go there to pick up a few beers. I saw this one and was immediately intrigued. Everyone knows that they know their way around a Baltic porter with the Framinghammer series, but it's nice to see another one outside of that lineup. Let's see what this little monster is all about

Pours nearly jet black with just a finger of light tan head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing

The first whiff of this really reminds me of the cherry variant of Framinghammer, which I also picked up another bottle of yesterday, with tons of deep and sweet aromas. I'm picking up on aromas of dark bread, brown sugar, toasted pecan, dates warm vanilla, caramel, and a touch of earthy bourbon

Further mirroring the FH mentioned before in taste, but sadly in the way that it loses a good bit of complexity in taste. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting earthy bourbon, white pepper, brown bread, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of rich pecan, dark chocolate, light roast coffee, and molasses. A bit too sweet and simple but still tasty

A full body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a very rich and smooth beer. Finishes mostly dry despite this with some warming alcohol

A very good beer from JA. I'm just now realizing that this is basically the same base beer as FH but with more grain added, so that explains the parallels I've been drawing. Either way, this is quality stuff here
May 08, 2021
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.76/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to either Wunderllama or Rub_This_BBQ for this one. 16.9oz bottle (no date) poured into 12oz goblet. Poured a solid black color with less than a half-inch of dark tan head that had low retention and no lacing.

There was some bourbon and wood at the front of the aroma, followed by vanilla, chocolate, and some roast. Thankfully, none of the coffee the label mentioned was apparent.

Pretty similar on the tongue, plus the addition of some alcohol heat. As i drank through the bottle, the roast notes grew until it was very much coffee flavored on the back end.

The body was fuller than medium, but not heavy, and had a semi-sweet finish.

Drinkability was very good, especially for such a big beer, and I had no issues finishing the bottle.

Overall, a very good brew, one I'd be happy to have again. A must-try if you see it.
Apr 16, 2021
Photo of mnj21655
Reviewed by mnj21655 from Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours an inky black a 1/4” of relatively short lived khaki head. Aroma is caramel, molasses, and some coffee; lots of sticky malt. Taste has the caramel and molasses notes along with some vanilla and booze from the bourbon barrels underpinned by some coffee and light-medium roast coffee. Medium-full body with a high viscosity and low-moderate carbonation.
Jan 18, 2021
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.52/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From the 500 ml bottle sampled on Jan 16, 2021.

Deep dark brown-black pour underneath a modest, fading tan head. Lovely to look at.

Wow check out the aromas of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, berries, crackers and wood. Earthy. No alcohol noted.

Full mouthfeel.

Taste is sweet with chocolate, ash, vanilla, berries, and a very warming ending. Again, no booze. A beautifully made Baltic Porter
Jan 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.52 by j37geogaddi from Massachusetts

Jan 10, 2021
Photo of PNByeah
Reviewed by PNByeah from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Dark maple syrup look while pouring but fairly black in the glass with the edges remaining dark brown. Aroma of bourbon and lighter notes of coffee and chocolate. Caramel and bourbon up front, with dates and a nuttiness on the finish. Flavor is fairly thin. Impressed by how well the alcohol hidden; very easy to drink for 14%. Alcohol provides a nice warming sensation. Not very bitter but makes sense for lack of sweetness - sweet/bitter balance is good. Mouthfeel is thin; likely has relatively low finishing gravity. Low carbonation but appropriate for its thinness. Overall enjoyable to drink, but not very complex. I want more out of this beer.
Jan 10, 2021
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Snagged this a few days ago at The Lazy Dog in Londonderry NH ($12.50). Time to enjoy and chill on a Friday eve...

Pours a very dense, dark mahogany/chestnut. Call it black, as I can't see though it, even when held up to light. Has a thin, mocha-beige head, which really is just rim-clinging foam. Doesn't have much lace to speak of, though. Nose has nice bourbon and oak action, with dark choco, dark fruit and molasses. It is verrry smooth, with a medium-plus body that has a some hints of being chewy.

Taste is lovely, with more dark choco, a little vanilla, dark fruitage (raisins, dates, figs) and some molasses.... plus a little brown sugar, all with a solid backing of bourbon. Finishes a bit earthy and semi-sweet. Yes, sign me up! Cheers!!

4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2243
Jan 08, 2021
Photo of LeRose
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This beer is absolutely black, swallowing any light that dares any attempt to penetrate. The scant foamy head vanishes quickly, absorbed by the inky, forbidding depths below. I am going to call it awesome.

The smell is evidence of barrel residence - bourbon vanilla goodness, roast malts, coffee, chocolate, sweetness, and ample dark sweet fruits and I am leaning towards dates more than the usual suspects. Initially there was a significant alcohol hit on the nose, but it vanished.

This is just plain thick velvety goodness for the palate. Definite bourbon and wood notes, vanilla I find up front, then a layer of the fruity fig/date flavors capped off by more vanilla some sweet chocolate and just a fantastic smooch of coffee. The sweetness says molasses to me. The ridiculous ABV is found as a pleasant warming sensation in the chest, not in the taste. There is a slight bitterness and a slight tart tingle to this beer that stops it from being overwhelmingly sweet.

This is a high viscosity brew, thick and nearly syrupy but not quite. Damned near flat, sticky yet not annoying. The little tingle on the end says "more".

This is a beer for when you feel like you deserve a good beer. Decadent, rich, and waves of elegantly layered flavors. Worth the price and effort to obtain, this is an outstanding lager.
Dec 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.48 by Massbmx from Vermont

Nov 28, 2020
Lagerness Monster from Jack's Abby Brewing
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 216 ratings