Resurrection Red
The Lucky Monk

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

This month's Monk Society bomber is a new seasonal for the Monk, a red ale. (Full disclosure, the e-mail-advertised ABV is 6%, but the label tells me it's 5%, so for official purposes, until further notice, I've split the difference.) This stuff pours a slightly murky sunset rose-auburn topped by a half-finger of dusty cream foam. The nose comprises papaya peel (yeah, I know, I was surprised, too, but it's an ephemeral version of the fruit, as though 'twere printed first on a marshmallow before hitting my 'strils), light candied orange peel, dry caramel, and old toffee. There's a touch of some vague spiciness, but I can't pin it down. The taste brings in more of the same, though those fruity notes are all rather musty now, and there's a strong sense of bad nougat pervading the proceedings. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, an unfortunate little beer, one that just doesn't do it for me at all. The flavors are just too far off the mark, regardless of style, really, for this stuff to ever work.