Stickee Monkee | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonewalker.com
Style: Belgian Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolves and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful molasses flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco.
Added by ThreeWiseMen on 11-07-2010
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 2,791 | Reviews: 372
4.72/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is moderately low.
Smell: It has a deep, malty aroma with some bread and a bit of caramel. It has some raisin, sugar, and plum notes. There is a little bit of spice as well.
Taste: It has molasses, dark caramel, and sweet sugary flavors up front. There are complex plum and raisin notes. There is a low spiciness in the background with some alcohol notes.
Feel: It has a moderately heavy body with alcohol warming and is very smooth.
Overall, an excellent combination of flavors and aroma notes.
561 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is moderately low.
Smell: It has a deep, malty aroma with some bread and a bit of caramel. It has some raisin, sugar, and plum notes. There is a little bit of spice as well.
Taste: It has molasses, dark caramel, and sweet sugary flavors up front. There are complex plum and raisin notes. There is a low spiciness in the background with some alcohol notes.
Feel: It has a moderately heavy body with alcohol warming and is very smooth.
Overall, an excellent combination of flavors and aroma notes.
561 characters
4.59/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
So much brown sugar. So smooth
30 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
So much brown sugar. So smooth
30 characters
4.87/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing!!!
Firestone Brewery:
Brewed with Belgium candi sugar and Bourbon barrel with molasses and notes of toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco.
157 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing!!!
Firestone Brewery:
Brewed with Belgium candi sugar and Bourbon barrel with molasses and notes of toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco.
157 characters
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.21/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: dark chestnut brown with ruby highlights. Wonderful clarity. The heads forms a ¼-finger of light tan that spritzes vigorously and fades very quickly to a lacing at the edge of the glass.
Aroma: the bourbon aroma is the headliner and very prominent. There is nothing to indicate that this beer is a quad or anything resembling Belgian. There is only the faintest hint of dates in the nose, but you have to search for it.
Flavor: for sake of perspective, the bourbon barrel-aged flavor is right on par with Bourbon County stout. No less, no more. The initial flavor is bourbon and very sweet, which is just on the cusp of being unbalanced toward too sweet. The bourbon transitions to maple syrup and caramel/brown sugar. There are many depths of flavor. I’d love to try this beer as a non-BA variant. I don’t get the molasses/coconut/leather described on the box. Very sweet but shy of cloying. No alcohol flavor or heat despite the abv (11.4%).
Mouthfeel: medium-medium. Lighter than I expected given the style and abv, but spot on for style. Well done.
Overall: worthwhile. The bourbon BA compromises this beer as its style (quad). Its very good, but the BA masks any resemblance to a quad other than its sweetness. This beer to me seems more like a generic BA strong ale. The beer possesses no candied fruit / fruit cake flavors traditional with the style. The beer was enjoyable nonetheless.
1,416 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: dark chestnut brown with ruby highlights. Wonderful clarity. The heads forms a ¼-finger of light tan that spritzes vigorously and fades very quickly to a lacing at the edge of the glass.
Aroma: the bourbon aroma is the headliner and very prominent. There is nothing to indicate that this beer is a quad or anything resembling Belgian. There is only the faintest hint of dates in the nose, but you have to search for it.
Flavor: for sake of perspective, the bourbon barrel-aged flavor is right on par with Bourbon County stout. No less, no more. The initial flavor is bourbon and very sweet, which is just on the cusp of being unbalanced toward too sweet. The bourbon transitions to maple syrup and caramel/brown sugar. There are many depths of flavor. I’d love to try this beer as a non-BA variant. I don’t get the molasses/coconut/leather described on the box. Very sweet but shy of cloying. No alcohol flavor or heat despite the abv (11.4%).
Mouthfeel: medium-medium. Lighter than I expected given the style and abv, but spot on for style. Well done.
Overall: worthwhile. The bourbon BA compromises this beer as its style (quad). Its very good, but the BA masks any resemblance to a quad other than its sweetness. This beer to me seems more like a generic BA strong ale. The beer possesses no candied fruit / fruit cake flavors traditional with the style. The beer was enjoyable nonetheless.
1,416 characters
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 Vintage:
Pours a deep dark mahogany, minimal head, fairly translucent. Huge molasses/brown sugar aroma, leather, bourbon barrel. Sweet brown sugar and molasses up front, followed by leather, raisin, dried fig, bourbon barrel; boozy upon swallow. Pretty thick and syrupy, carbonation creates a creamy mouthfeel.
2018 Vintage:
Also pours deep mahogany with a reddish hue, minimal head. Aroma is not as developed - I get raisin and slightly boozy, faint coffee; brown sugar is hidden. Very sweet at first, thick and syrupy, I taste leather, raisin, barrel char, slightly bitter finish. Carbonation adds to creamy mouthfeel as well.
Overall:
I preferred the 2017 vintage - the 2 year of aging really made a difference. The beer developed nicely and the flavors married even more. I am going to buy a few more of the 2018's and go for a 5 year vertical,
9/11/18
12 oz bottles, 2017 & 2018
4.5 rating
916 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 Vintage:
Pours a deep dark mahogany, minimal head, fairly translucent. Huge molasses/brown sugar aroma, leather, bourbon barrel. Sweet brown sugar and molasses up front, followed by leather, raisin, dried fig, bourbon barrel; boozy upon swallow. Pretty thick and syrupy, carbonation creates a creamy mouthfeel.
2018 Vintage:
Also pours deep mahogany with a reddish hue, minimal head. Aroma is not as developed - I get raisin and slightly boozy, faint coffee; brown sugar is hidden. Very sweet at first, thick and syrupy, I taste leather, raisin, barrel char, slightly bitter finish. Carbonation adds to creamy mouthfeel as well.
Overall:
I preferred the 2017 vintage - the 2 year of aging really made a difference. The beer developed nicely and the flavors married even more. I am going to buy a few more of the 2018's and go for a 5 year vertical,
9/11/18
12 oz bottles, 2017 & 2018
4.5 rating
916 characters
4.25/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.49/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid black color . Above average body with low carbonation. Body has a slick , oily, smooth feel to it, exceptional feel overall.
Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, molasses, burnt sugar followed by some malt.
Taste is very similar to aroma. Has bourbon sweet candy like taste but is far from sugary sweet. There's a mild coffee flavor and bitterness that really works well with the sweet bourbon and keeps it nicely balanced.
Overall this is first class all the way. I will definitely pick up more just to keep a few around for special occasions
547 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid black color . Above average body with low carbonation. Body has a slick , oily, smooth feel to it, exceptional feel overall.
Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, molasses, burnt sugar followed by some malt.
Taste is very similar to aroma. Has bourbon sweet candy like taste but is far from sugary sweet. There's a mild coffee flavor and bitterness that really works well with the sweet bourbon and keeps it nicely balanced.
Overall this is first class all the way. I will definitely pick up more just to keep a few around for special occasions
547 characters
4.65/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
2018 Release:
L - Deep, opaque brown - nearly black with mahogany highlights along the edges with a very thin dark tan head that dissipates quickly and doesn't really leave much lacing behind.
S - bourbon, chocolate, caramel, dark fruits, dates, candi sugar, plums
T - Complex, but follows the nose: sweet bourbon, chocolate, and molasses dominate up front followed by caramel, dark fruits, dates, vanilla, candi sugar and notes of alcohol warmth throughout
F - Full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation - sticky, thick, but smooth and soft.
O - This is one hell of a quad. Incredibly complex, but everything intermixes well together to create such a tasty brew. One of my favorite quads and definitely one of my favorite beers to date.
748 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
2018 Release:
L - Deep, opaque brown - nearly black with mahogany highlights along the edges with a very thin dark tan head that dissipates quickly and doesn't really leave much lacing behind.
S - bourbon, chocolate, caramel, dark fruits, dates, candi sugar, plums
T - Complex, but follows the nose: sweet bourbon, chocolate, and molasses dominate up front followed by caramel, dark fruits, dates, vanilla, candi sugar and notes of alcohol warmth throughout
F - Full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation - sticky, thick, but smooth and soft.
O - This is one hell of a quad. Incredibly complex, but everything intermixes well together to create such a tasty brew. One of my favorite quads and definitely one of my favorite beers to date.
748 characters
4.46/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours out like root beer with brown head. Retention is minimal and leaves very little splotchy lacing.
The nose has figs, plums, candy sugar, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, pumpkin empanada filling and a touch of all spice. Lots of stuff going on. All great stuff. Alcohol warmth is surprisingly low considering the abv.
Oh wow almost taste like a cola. Lots of vanilla and molasses. Sweet plums and brown sugar are also very prominent. Bourbon makes a appearance and isn't too over powering. Again the alcohol warmth is minimal.
Mouth feel is full bodied, soft, and some what silky, low carbonation adds the the smoothness.
625 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours out like root beer with brown head. Retention is minimal and leaves very little splotchy lacing.
The nose has figs, plums, candy sugar, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, pumpkin empanada filling and a touch of all spice. Lots of stuff going on. All great stuff. Alcohol warmth is surprisingly low considering the abv.
Oh wow almost taste like a cola. Lots of vanilla and molasses. Sweet plums and brown sugar are also very prominent. Bourbon makes a appearance and isn't too over powering. Again the alcohol warmth is minimal.
Mouth feel is full bodied, soft, and some what silky, low carbonation adds the the smoothness.
625 characters
4.64/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 edition
Bottle poured into chalice
Murky Dark brown cola colored liquid, one finger taupe foam cap quickly settles to a layer of foam, some carbonation
Aroma of raisins, dark fruit, brown sugar sweetness,
Taste is sweet, molasses, brown sugar, raisins, caramel, whiff of coconut, whiff of toasted oak
Rich, almost syrupy, low sudsing , abv well hidden,
Delicious beer , repeatable
394 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 edition
Bottle poured into chalice
Murky Dark brown cola colored liquid, one finger taupe foam cap quickly settles to a layer of foam, some carbonation
Aroma of raisins, dark fruit, brown sugar sweetness,
Taste is sweet, molasses, brown sugar, raisins, caramel, whiff of coconut, whiff of toasted oak
Rich, almost syrupy, low sudsing , abv well hidden,
Delicious beer , repeatable
394 characters
4.46/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.51/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a few 2018 vintage boxed bottles to cellar. I’ve never tried these, but the reviews were superb. I figured to try one, in case for some odd reason I didn’t concur with other reviewers, as I actually haven’t found many / any Belgian styles I’d revisit. This is a unique twist. Aggressive pour to a tulip glass yielded a bubbly two finger head that fizzled down to a tiny ring. Color is a deep caramel brown, very clear. Lacing is prominent. Lots of carbonation when disturbed. Nose is a bit subdued, mostly a hint of caramel and leather. First sips are delicious sweet, smokey, light oak, refined bourbon flavor that glides all the way down. The bourbon seems much different from most of the BBA stouts I’ve had. Yes, I know...this is a quad. It’s super mellow, brisk, not heavy and earthy. For being a fresh, high ABV brew, the alcohol bite is minimal. It’s more reminiscent of a sugar alcohol twinge at the very end. It reminds me of a Medjool date, even more so as it warms. Mouthfeel is perfectly right in the middle, with a lasting enjoyable reminder of all those nuanced flavors.
I must say, I was never a Firestone Walker fan when I only tried their six pack offerings, but their big boy beers are a ho...nubba...lebow! Sucaba was the first that changed my opinion (that flew off the shelves with none to cellar. Tragedy!). Now Stickee Monkey is on the must get more yearly list. It’s so crisp, one could easily put this away quickly. It’s on the sweet side, so combined with the ABV, it’s a one-two punch that would limit you to one-two before you fall over. Super brew. I’m starting to think if it comes in a brown box with a FW signature, just buy several when you see them on shelves.
I’m late to the game on a lot of these wonderful staples, but glad to be catching up. Last comment as I write: the booze just smacked me in the head. I have monkee sweats!
1,902 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a few 2018 vintage boxed bottles to cellar. I’ve never tried these, but the reviews were superb. I figured to try one, in case for some odd reason I didn’t concur with other reviewers, as I actually haven’t found many / any Belgian styles I’d revisit. This is a unique twist. Aggressive pour to a tulip glass yielded a bubbly two finger head that fizzled down to a tiny ring. Color is a deep caramel brown, very clear. Lacing is prominent. Lots of carbonation when disturbed. Nose is a bit subdued, mostly a hint of caramel and leather. First sips are delicious sweet, smokey, light oak, refined bourbon flavor that glides all the way down. The bourbon seems much different from most of the BBA stouts I’ve had. Yes, I know...this is a quad. It’s super mellow, brisk, not heavy and earthy. For being a fresh, high ABV brew, the alcohol bite is minimal. It’s more reminiscent of a sugar alcohol twinge at the very end. It reminds me of a Medjool date, even more so as it warms. Mouthfeel is perfectly right in the middle, with a lasting enjoyable reminder of all those nuanced flavors.
I must say, I was never a Firestone Walker fan when I only tried their six pack offerings, but their big boy beers are a ho...nubba...lebow! Sucaba was the first that changed my opinion (that flew off the shelves with none to cellar. Tragedy!). Now Stickee Monkey is on the must get more yearly list. It’s so crisp, one could easily put this away quickly. It’s on the sweet side, so combined with the ABV, it’s a one-two punch that would limit you to one-two before you fall over. Super brew. I’m starting to think if it comes in a brown box with a FW signature, just buy several when you see them on shelves.
I’m late to the game on a lot of these wonderful staples, but glad to be catching up. Last comment as I write: the booze just smacked me in the head. I have monkee sweats!
1,902 characters
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2014 Vintage
22oz bottle into a snifter. After four years, this beer has aged wonderfully. Great barrel notes on the nose and taste. Dark fruits, molasses, sweet and smooth on the taste. Overall, fantastic Quad.
212 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2014 Vintage
22oz bottle into a snifter. After four years, this beer has aged wonderfully. Great barrel notes on the nose and taste. Dark fruits, molasses, sweet and smooth on the taste. Overall, fantastic Quad.
212 characters
4.69/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing well founded quad with hints of molasses and tobacco. Intense taste without much bitterness and overall a pleasure to drink. The bourbon barrels add character as well.
175 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Amazing well founded quad with hints of molasses and tobacco. Intense taste without much bitterness and overall a pleasure to drink. The bourbon barrels add character as well.
175 characters
Stickee Monkee from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.47 out of
5 with
2,791 ratings
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