Monk's Uncle
Pike Brewing Company

Monk's UncleMonk's Uncle
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Pike Brewing Company
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Tripel
Ranked #237
ABV:
9%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,704
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 14.6%
Reviews:
154
Ratings:
361
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 22, 2023
Added:
Jan 04, 2007
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  42
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a large tulip glass, Monk's Uncle delivered a cloudy golden-orange body beneath a massive head of rocky antique-white foam. The head retention is quite good, and it left walls of splattered lace about the glass.

The nose is fresh with a bready, somewhat wheaty malt and a soft, gently peppery spiciness. Fruit (apple, pear, soft melon), grassiness, and dull dreid-herbs (thyme, rosemary) lie in the background.

In the mouth it's medium to medium-full in body with a dextrinous side; balanced by a gently bristling, fine-bubbled carbonation.

The flavor follows the aroma, and it's fairly straightforward. The malt is lightly sweet and bready with a sugary edge, and infused with a very light phenolic note and the spiciness of the yeast. Some fruitiness is present but it's not bold (apple, dried apricot). A firm bitterness helps to balance it, but the spiciness does most of the work. It finishes dry, lingering in the mouth with a whole lot of spiciness, no doubt due at least in part to the 9 % abv.

Overall it's a decent beer that's well-made (the alcohol is well-cloaked) and fairly complex. Worth trying.
Mar 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.14 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jul 22, 2023
Photo of industrialswill
Reviewed by industrialswill from Washington

4.71/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
A thoroughly enjoyable beer that I think many if not most AAL drinkers would enjoy, too.
The ABV is well hidden.
A 12 oz can of this 9.9% brew is about all I can handle before downshifting into the 4.5% lagers the rest of the night.
I plan on buying more Monk's Uncle..!
Dec 19, 2022
Photo of mounceyboy
Reviewed by mounceyboy from Washington

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Over-at Beer Connoisseur a reviewer said the mark of a good Tripel is how they hide the alcohol. Monk's Uncle doesn't do that as well as New Belgium Trippel or some of the finer brews I've had on tap around Seattle. Still, Pike Brewery does a good job and I agree that all it needs is a little finesse. If you're looking for high ABV then definitely choose this over the chemical brews like Steel Reserve, and I found it comparable to New Belgium's Voodoo Ranger at 9% ABV. A really fine Tripel, like Westmalle, almost tastes like a mellow wine that you don't need to sip, but do enjoy the fragrance! Had to shop Whole Foods and this was a decent deal at $10.49/6-pack. (I can only drink two a day so that works-out well - my preferred New Belgium is 13.99 at whole paycheck.) PS - a good Tripel is best closer to room temp than ice cold!
Dec 13, 2022
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

3.66/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Light head, orange body. Smell is sweat— banana, bubble gum, a hint of coriander, and caramel. Taste follows. Bubble gum and a bit of banana balanced by piney hops with floral notes, some citrus too, and quite a bit of malt for that matter. High carbonation, quite dry, very crisp. The alcohol isn’t very hidden. Good, not great.
Mar 03, 2022
Photo of enzotheMFbaker
Rated by enzotheMFbaker from Washington

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A personal favourite & frequent go-to.
Has a very unique character that is hard to describe, best enjoyed ice cold.
Sep 20, 2021
 
Rated: 2.83 by Ajlvt from Washington

Jun 28, 2020
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2020-02-09
12oz can (!) served in a tulip. Gift from a friend. Dated 09/06/19.

Pours moderately hazy straw yellow with a medium to small head medium to low carbonation. Smell is farmhouse, straw, light banana, maybe more than slight.

Taste is pretty classic tripel. Lots of banana, some clove, something spicy about it that's a little unusual but actually quite pleasant.

Mouthfeel is dry, light. Overall, it's a solid tripel.
Feb 09, 2020
Photo of Mister_Faucher
Reviewed by Mister_Faucher from Washington

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Six pack of cans picked up at QFC in Bothell, Washington.
PKG 09/16/19. Poured in to a pint glass.

Look- Slightly hazy bright golden color, solid off-white head with good retention, a fair amount of lacing. Ample carbonation streaming as it sits.

Smell- Bready/sugary malts, light candied stone fruits (primarily dried plums and figs), pizza dough, some corn, light spicy hops and oily metallic notes.

Taste- Much like the nose but a bit more palatable. Sweet malt liquor and candy stone fruits. Alcohol heat in the finish.

Feel- Medium/light bodied, pretty smooth, fairly well balanced. Moderate carbonation on the tongue.

O- This one really isn't worth visiting. If you want a high ABV buzz, go ahead and go with Steel Reserve or Hurricane and save a few bucks.
Nov 26, 2019
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.74/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Draft: Poured a clear golden color ale with a large white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of candi sugar with sweet Belgian malt notes and light sweet ester. Taste is also dominated by sweet ester with some candi sugar notes and sweet Belgian malt notes. Body is about average with good carbonation with no apparent alcohol notes. Enjoy bale Triple but maybe a tad too sweet.
Oct 15, 2019
Photo of Mrbob558
Reviewed by Mrbob558 from New York

4.18/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I am not sure if the beer I had is the same aslisted. The menu just called it Pikes Place Belgium Trippel while the receipt called it Frosty Monk's Trippel.
In any event, I loved the taste, smooth and strong, consistent. Easy to finish, good color and mouth feel. I would definitely have another if I saw this microbrew again
Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by DMarlinJ from Michigan

Jun 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

May 10, 2019
 
Rated: 2.68 by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

May 09, 2019
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Shared bomber bottle (about $5) in and from Melbourne, FL.
Pours golden-amber, clear, with a large, frothy white head.
Spicy and boozy aroma that's typical for style; suggests something very sweet.
Flavor: moderate bitterness, a bit higher than optimal, with otherwise fairly well balanced flavor
Overall: a fine choice for style at this price point.
Mar 26, 2019
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From notes 2/23/12: Pours an opaque ocher producing 1.5 fingers of frothy, white head that leaves little lace. Aroma is bread, banana, clove, peach, vanilla with a hint of funk. Taste is similar with candy sugar, lemon and honey notes joining the bubblegum; the honey is most prominent in the finish where there is also a slight hop bite. Finish is dry bitter, spicy and boozy. Aftertaste is similar with increasing bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with moderate carbonation, smooth and warm with a little prickle and a lingering dryness. Complex.
Dec 30, 2018
Photo of Noahjedpad
Reviewed by Noahjedpad from Washington

2.28/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Alcohol. Thats what you taste with this beer. It is like drinking a light beer with a splash of some higher proof stuff. If you like your bud light but want to get drunk fast this is the beer for you. I now understand why it was on sale where I bought it.
Nov 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by ghasting from Washington

Oct 23, 2018
 
Rated: 1.81 by Bach_And_Beer97 from Washington

Sep 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by mmilyko from Nevada

Jul 06, 2018
Monk's Uncle from Pike Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 361 ratings