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Monk's Blood
21st Amendment Brewery
- From:
- 21st Amendment Brewery
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #117 - ABV:
- 8.3%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #18,753 - Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 12.79%
- Reviews:
- 534
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 04:33 AM
- Added:
- Sep 10, 2009
- Wants:
- 95
- Gots:
- 226
Belgian Strong Dark ale brewed with cinnamon, on oak chips with figs.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by wagenvolks:
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas
3.84/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz can into a Three Philosopher's chalice. Cheers to indiapaleale for the trade via his "Nice Cans BIF".
Monk's Blood displays a deep, dark russet hue that lightens to ruby red in the artificial fluorescent glow of my apartment. A wispy veil of khaki bubbles retains well atop the surface and momentarily clings to the side of the glass. A decidedly American take on a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, as foresty hops hit the nose first. Whiffs of raisin and fig-laden booze follow suit, with caramelized toffee and toasted chocolate malts. Enticing, to say the least...
Hoppy taste, too. Perhaps a bit much for the style, as citrus and pine override much of the caramel and dark fruit sweetness. Drying on the finish, without much of an aftertaste beside a flash of nuttiness and a sourish, near-medicinal booze note. Medium, highly carbonated body with a slick finish that drinks well for the style. All in all, 21st Amendment has crafted an interesting take on the Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but I might pass on this in favor of the originals of the style (Gulden Draak, Chimay, etc.). Still, definitely worth a try.
Feb 24, 2010Monk's Blood displays a deep, dark russet hue that lightens to ruby red in the artificial fluorescent glow of my apartment. A wispy veil of khaki bubbles retains well atop the surface and momentarily clings to the side of the glass. A decidedly American take on a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, as foresty hops hit the nose first. Whiffs of raisin and fig-laden booze follow suit, with caramelized toffee and toasted chocolate malts. Enticing, to say the least...
Hoppy taste, too. Perhaps a bit much for the style, as citrus and pine override much of the caramel and dark fruit sweetness. Drying on the finish, without much of an aftertaste beside a flash of nuttiness and a sourish, near-medicinal booze note. Medium, highly carbonated body with a slick finish that drinks well for the style. All in all, 21st Amendment has crafted an interesting take on the Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but I might pass on this in favor of the originals of the style (Gulden Draak, Chimay, etc.). Still, definitely worth a try.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Lexluthor33 from New York
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reddish brown with a sizzling head and lace.
Aroma of fruits, malt and a hint of cherry.
Taste was sweet, fruity, cherries with a medium body and carbonation.
very good balance and a good beer.
Mar 08, 2024Aroma of fruits, malt and a hint of cherry.
Taste was sweet, fruity, cherries with a medium body and carbonation.
very good balance and a good beer.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.84/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Garnet red color with nice clarity and a cream colored head.
S - Dark fruit, plums, and sweet caramel malt.
T - Sweet caramel malt, plumb, and dark fruit with light and delicate cinnamon.
M - Thick and full bodied with silky softness.
O - The cinnamon has definitely faded, but overall, a solid beer.
Sep 09, 2020S - Dark fruit, plums, and sweet caramel malt.
T - Sweet caramel malt, plumb, and dark fruit with light and delicate cinnamon.
M - Thick and full bodied with silky softness.
O - The cinnamon has definitely faded, but overall, a solid beer.
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado
3.32/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.32/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
April 5th, 2016 - This dark and fruity beer is a fun and interesting experience, and not easily replicated in other brews or breweries. In a shaker pint it looks just like a Coca Cola, and smells of craisins, chocolate covered cherries and cinnamon crusted almonds. With all these strong aromas I thought the flavor might be quite strong, but it's actually mild up front, and blossoms on the aftertastes, with gentle and light notes of cherry, and candy coated almonds, and somewhere in the back, a slight oakiness.
Jun 17, 2020Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Medium carbonation with about a medium body. Has slight slick oily feel that coats the tongue and carbonation is a little prickly
Aroma is yeast, yeasty doughy bread,dried fruit, fruit cake - I mean that in a good way. Slight cherry liqueur and brandy as well
Taste is yeasty malty bread, fruit cake, mildly sweet, some cherry juice as well
This is much better warmer than too cold. Much more flavorful and interesting as opposed to when I first poured it after taking it out of the fridge.
Apr 14, 2020Aroma is yeast, yeasty doughy bread,dried fruit, fruit cake - I mean that in a good way. Slight cherry liqueur and brandy as well
Taste is yeasty malty bread, fruit cake, mildly sweet, some cherry juice as well
This is much better warmer than too cold. Much more flavorful and interesting as opposed to when I first poured it after taking it out of the fridge.
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.02/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: It pours brown with reddish hues. The head is light brown and head retention is good.
Smell: It has bread aromas with dark cherries and raisins. There are low levels of spice in the background.
Taste: It has raisin and dark cherry flavors balance with some bread. There is a moderate warming presence. There are some low spice elements in the background.
Feel: It has a medium full body with smooth alcohol warming.
Overall, plenty of bread, dark cherry, and raisin elements.
Mar 13, 2020Smell: It has bread aromas with dark cherries and raisins. There are low levels of spice in the background.
Taste: It has raisin and dark cherry flavors balance with some bread. There is a moderate warming presence. There are some low spice elements in the background.
Feel: It has a medium full body with smooth alcohol warming.
Overall, plenty of bread, dark cherry, and raisin elements.
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Monks House of Ale 12-oz. tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $2.25
Purchased: Oct. 27, 2019
Consumed: Nov. 1, 2019
Reviewed as: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Misc.: Unable to decipher the canned on date
Picked this up on a whim. Not a big fan of 21st Amendment Brewery, but this one sounded good on the can as a Belgian-Style Dark Ale brewed with Cinnamon, Vanilla, Oak Chips and Dried Figs.” Online description was a bunch of nonsense, so leaving that out.
Poured a reddish brown color with three fingers of frothy khaki head. Lots of bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass at different speeds. World-class foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)
Smelled figs, raisins, dates, oak, hints of cinnamon, plum and purple grape. Not much else, not like that is a bad thing. Even earthier from the can. (Smell - 3.75)
Tasted better than the smell. Got figs, raisins, dates, oak, peppery spice, cinnamon, plum, purple grape, sugary caramel and red apple. (Taste - 4.00)
Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Long, slightly warming finish. (Feel - 4.25)
Thought this one was going to be good. It was actually probably better than it should have been, but not quite as good as I hoped after seeing the ingredients. Which I get does not make sense. (Overall - 4.00)
4.00 | 90 | A-
Dec 23, 2019Glass: Monks House of Ale 12-oz. tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $2.25
Purchased: Oct. 27, 2019
Consumed: Nov. 1, 2019
Reviewed as: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Misc.: Unable to decipher the canned on date
Picked this up on a whim. Not a big fan of 21st Amendment Brewery, but this one sounded good on the can as a Belgian-Style Dark Ale brewed with Cinnamon, Vanilla, Oak Chips and Dried Figs.” Online description was a bunch of nonsense, so leaving that out.
Poured a reddish brown color with three fingers of frothy khaki head. Lots of bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass at different speeds. World-class foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)
Smelled figs, raisins, dates, oak, hints of cinnamon, plum and purple grape. Not much else, not like that is a bad thing. Even earthier from the can. (Smell - 3.75)
Tasted better than the smell. Got figs, raisins, dates, oak, peppery spice, cinnamon, plum, purple grape, sugary caramel and red apple. (Taste - 4.00)
Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Long, slightly warming finish. (Feel - 4.25)
Thought this one was going to be good. It was actually probably better than it should have been, but not quite as good as I hoped after seeing the ingredients. Which I get does not make sense. (Overall - 4.00)
4.00 | 90 | A-
Monk's Blood from 21st Amendment Brewery
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
1454 ratings
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