Violin Monster
Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom

Violin MonsterViolin Monster
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From:
Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Dark Wheat Beer
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 15.16%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
120
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 16, 2020
Added:
Aug 31, 2013
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  33
A geographical approach to the werewolf legends results in identification of a major werewolf area stretching from mid-Germany into the Netherlands and Belgium.

With this in mind, we have created a strong, dark, spice ale using ingredients from those regions.

Brewed with Midnight Wheat, warming spices, and a hint of brown sugar, the Violin Monster is black as night and packs a punch at 9.5%.

Unleash your inner beast with Violin Monster Dark Ale, but beware...it finishes with a bite!
Awwwooo!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 3.93 by redleg64 from Michigan

Mar 16, 2020
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan

Dec 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by dd53grif from Michigan

Sep 24, 2019
Photo of Quackershnoc
Reviewed by Quackershnoc from Michigan

4.04/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: really black; creamy, dark khaki head that hangs around

Aroma: lots of spice-big clove, nutmeg; slight nuttiness; roasty malt backbone; hint of banana

Taste: starts with some roasty notes; a bit of chocolate; moves into nice malt spine-like brown baked bread; spices kick in here; a little earthiness; ends with light notes of banana; a little more malt; big spice-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon; more light earthy notes; aftertaste of spice, wheat, and dark chocolate

Mouthfeel: creamy; viscous; medium bodied

Overall Impression: this is a cool beer; there is a lot going on in there-much more complex than I was anticipating; it’s pretty spice heavy so I don’t think I could drink a lot of these back to back, but on a cold fall evening it’s really nice; I will definitely buy this again

From notes taken 11/04/2014
Mar 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Rostie from Michigan

Feb 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.14 by Lonewolfwmv from Michigan

Dec 03, 2017
Photo of BenHoppy
Reviewed by BenHoppy from Michigan

5/5  rDev +33%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It's surprising that reviews aren't higher for this beer. I'm sure most who reviewed never had a Dark wheat style before, I know its my first one. But this beer is beautiful in every way.
When fresh the beer pours as a stout but smells like a red wine with its dark, nutty fruity aroma. The taste is also a bit like wine although you know it's a beer. It has flavors of barley, malt, red grape, berries, nuts, molasses, and nutmeg. Not very impressive fresh. It's a hard one to take down and the alcohol presence is rough. However put some away to age for a year or longer and you will see it turn into a totally different beer.

Aged 1 year this beer turns into a stout with strong flavors of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and coffee. There is still some wine, grape, berry presence but it moreso has a creamy chocolatey, vanilla, coffee taste. Don't knock on this beer until you age it. Haven't read one review on here as to how this tastes with a year on it and let me be the first to say it ages gracefully. So therefore I give this beer a perfect score.
Nov 19, 2017
Photo of ZeneralGodzilla
Rated by ZeneralGodzilla from Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this twice. Two dfferent batches. My first was one of the best beers I've ever tasted. The second was only passable. Not sure what happened.
Nov 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Oct 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.2 by aclockworkchris from Michigan

Sep 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

May 23, 2017
 
Rated: 1.44 by Raziel313 from California

Nov 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by JDoHo from Michigan

Nov 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by jamesod from Michigan

Sep 30, 2016
Photo of DrainBamage
Reviewed by DrainBamage from Michigan

3.24/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
Pours dark a slight head in the center and around the edge of the glass. Smells of fermented berries, quite strong. There is bitterness on the tongue, but otherwise smooth going down. Tastes like fermented nuts and berries. Average beer, but first I've had in this style, so a little hard to judge.
Sep 29, 2016
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.77/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a growler via Jungle Jim's in a snifter. This unique Autumn ale pours a deep
murky black with a nice light brown head of foam that subsides to a thick ring, thin
pool, and light lacing. Nose of pumpkin spices of clove, nutmeg, and allspice notes
mixed in with dark sweet malts. Flavors flow off the charts with nutmeg and clove
blasting in the front and rear of the taste, some dark malt notes strike a tone of light
black strap molasses and toffee mixed with a subtle bitter orange note and herbal hops
melding into the rear but still overtaken by the spices. Nice mouth feel, warming, smooth,
nice wheat mouth feel, full, and a finish that is well spiced.

Overall this is a good ale, yet more than one is more than enough to get the hint. Some of
the spices are extremely forward and could use a good dose of balance.

Violin Monster is a feller from the Michigan Area who is well....a violin monster....and pretty good
from the youtube clips I saw.

Cheers
Sep 18, 2016
 
Rated: 2.56 by clager from Michigan

Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Sep 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by DoctorEvil65 from Washington

Jul 30, 2016
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

4.07/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz brown bottle - not dated

Arbor Violin Monsters' body is almost black in hue. A 2-finger bubbly chocolate milkshake like head was produced. The head sank to form a collar of foam with hit and miss lacing clinging to my tulip glass. The nose detected the smell of toasted malt, followed by sweet caramel/toffee, and a light somewhat peppery spice, The taste is very similar to the nose with the addition of chocolate along with a dash of sweetness from brown sugar. The mouth feel is creamy with a medium carbonation and a high-medium to full body. The finish is lightly bitter and warming from the alcohol.

Violin Monster makes a nice Fall/Winter drink. This ale is one of my favorite Arbor Brewing beers.
Mar 28, 2016
Violin Monster from Arbor Brewing - Plymouth Taproom
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 120 ratings