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: 2,834 | Reviews: 389
3.89/5 rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark color. Modest tan head with limited retention.
Chocolate and vanilla perhaps some dark fruit. Very sweet aroma.
Very rich and sweet. Loads of chocolate and some subtle vanilla and wood character.
Considerably warm from alcohol. Modest carb. Fairly smooth
Feel like it was too sweet and boozy. But very rich and flavorful. A 10% beer that is less sweet and boozy would be a better quad.
403 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark color. Modest tan head with limited retention.
Chocolate and vanilla perhaps some dark fruit. Very sweet aroma.
Very rich and sweet. Loads of chocolate and some subtle vanilla and wood character.
Considerably warm from alcohol. Modest carb. Fairly smooth
Feel like it was too sweet and boozy. But very rich and flavorful. A 10% beer that is less sweet and boozy would be a better quad.
403 characters
4.34/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2018 bottle.
Pours dark brown with a finger of tan head.
The nose is licorice, cherry, tobacco, and leather. Intense.
The taste is similar. Chocolate, caramel, cherry, Belgian sugar, and mild banana. Medium+ sweetness with balancing barrel.
The mouthfeel is creamy, slick, and medium-full.
Overall, a nice, rich quad. Tasty sipper.
336 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2018 bottle.
Pours dark brown with a finger of tan head.
The nose is licorice, cherry, tobacco, and leather. Intense.
The taste is similar. Chocolate, caramel, cherry, Belgian sugar, and mild banana. Medium+ sweetness with balancing barrel.
The mouthfeel is creamy, slick, and medium-full.
Overall, a nice, rich quad. Tasty sipper.
336 characters
4.22/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poours an effervescent & chestnut hed brown with a pinky of tan head. Viscious, zero head retention & lacing
S: Brown sugar, figs, vanilla, a touch of iron, weird, molasess & booze as well
T: Brown sugar, molasess, vanilla a little coconut, woody dryness & figs with just a little booze heat up front. Figs, raisin, Brown Sugar dryness, a little banana, sweet & green & just a little booze burn, a modicum of woody dryness once warm. Finishes with nice brown sugar sweetness, plenty of drryness ( Boozey & Woody ), a little vanilla & fig
MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation
Nice take on this style that hides the heft & booze well. If I come across again, I will stock up!
693 characters
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poours an effervescent & chestnut hed brown with a pinky of tan head. Viscious, zero head retention & lacing
S: Brown sugar, figs, vanilla, a touch of iron, weird, molasess & booze as well
T: Brown sugar, molasess, vanilla a little coconut, woody dryness & figs with just a little booze heat up front. Figs, raisin, Brown Sugar dryness, a little banana, sweet & green & just a little booze burn, a modicum of woody dryness once warm. Finishes with nice brown sugar sweetness, plenty of drryness ( Boozey & Woody ), a little vanilla & fig
MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation
Nice take on this style that hides the heft & booze well. If I come across again, I will stock up!
693 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
4.5/5 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
4.37/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I have enjoyed their small beers, so now I'm going through some of the more specialty and bigger beers.
Aroma is wood and bourbon and vanilla with only hints of the quad. Pours with small head for style. Brown to black, except in light can see the garnet quit well.
This shines more in the taste. Rich and complex. This being a fresh version (2018) it has a new crisp almost sharp bite. Some dark rich fruit and berries starts to show. Still strong on the vanilla, but some really tasty shots of berries....oh, so nice. Dry enough with the wood lingering and maybe even a little hop character sticking to the tongue.
Man, that berry is so nice. With the vanilla it has a strawberries and cream quality.
Feel is good but nothing exceptional. Moderate with enough carbonation. In time there is a silky smoothness that appears in the feel, leading to a greater appreciation of this aspect.
This is about the flavors they derived. Worth it, indeed.
963 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I have enjoyed their small beers, so now I'm going through some of the more specialty and bigger beers.
Aroma is wood and bourbon and vanilla with only hints of the quad. Pours with small head for style. Brown to black, except in light can see the garnet quit well.
This shines more in the taste. Rich and complex. This being a fresh version (2018) it has a new crisp almost sharp bite. Some dark rich fruit and berries starts to show. Still strong on the vanilla, but some really tasty shots of berries....oh, so nice. Dry enough with the wood lingering and maybe even a little hop character sticking to the tongue.
Man, that berry is so nice. With the vanilla it has a strawberries and cream quality.
Feel is good but nothing exceptional. Moderate with enough carbonation. In time there is a silky smoothness that appears in the feel, leading to a greater appreciation of this aspect.
This is about the flavors they derived. Worth it, indeed.
963 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
4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep brown molasses colored brew. A true sipping beer, with a wave of tastes depending on the length of time in oak barrels. I drank this 2017 vintage in late 2018, tasting oak, coconut and molasses. Delicious!
210 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep brown molasses colored brew. A true sipping beer, with a wave of tastes depending on the length of time in oak barrels. I drank this 2017 vintage in late 2018, tasting oak, coconut and molasses. Delicious!
210 characters
4.63/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Medium head. Pours brown and lush. Tastes like molasses sassafras and by gum it sorghum. Nah for reals though it's a wine-barrel-aged type treat. Yum
153 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Medium head. Pours brown and lush. Tastes like molasses sassafras and by gum it sorghum. Nah for reals though it's a wine-barrel-aged type treat. Yum
153 characters
4.44/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 Vintage
"Stickee Monkee is meticulously brewed with Belgian candi sugar in the classic Quadrupel manner, then aged for more than a year in retired bourbon barrels to create a stylistic outlier that we call a "Central Coast Quad". The result is a beer that offers profound molasses flavors with notes of toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco."
12oz bottle poured into glass.
Dark brown colored body with brilliant garnet edges when back lit. Does not produce much of a head, but a thin ring is fed by rising bubbles, and there is a artistic partial island left in the middle of the glass. No lacing.
The alcohol arises in the aroma. Rich malt with molasses emphasis. Has a whiff of coconut and leather.
Taste is rich with molasses malts and candi sugar, along with the oak bourbon barrel. Quite intense with additional flavors of coconut and leather. As suggested the tobacco is there too.
Mouth feel is heavy and creamy. Felt carbonation is low.
This is a candi sugar, molasses alcohol bomb. Great density and intensity. A tremendous sipping beer.
1,064 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 Vintage
"Stickee Monkee is meticulously brewed with Belgian candi sugar in the classic Quadrupel manner, then aged for more than a year in retired bourbon barrels to create a stylistic outlier that we call a "Central Coast Quad". The result is a beer that offers profound molasses flavors with notes of toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco."
12oz bottle poured into glass.
Dark brown colored body with brilliant garnet edges when back lit. Does not produce much of a head, but a thin ring is fed by rising bubbles, and there is a artistic partial island left in the middle of the glass. No lacing.
The alcohol arises in the aroma. Rich malt with molasses emphasis. Has a whiff of coconut and leather.
Taste is rich with molasses malts and candi sugar, along with the oak bourbon barrel. Quite intense with additional flavors of coconut and leather. As suggested the tobacco is there too.
Mouth feel is heavy and creamy. Felt carbonation is low.
This is a candi sugar, molasses alcohol bomb. Great density and intensity. A tremendous sipping beer.
1,064 characters
4.47/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
OMG!!! This beer, super tasty and the smell...it’s what I imagine Willy Wonkas secret river would taste like. And the mouth...holy hell how the flavor sticks to your tongue= mind blown. If you have a chance, DO NOT HESITATE. Cheers!
236 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
OMG!!! This beer, super tasty and the smell...it’s what I imagine Willy Wonkas secret river would taste like. And the mouth...holy hell how the flavor sticks to your tongue= mind blown. If you have a chance, DO NOT HESITATE. Cheers!
236 characters
4.94/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Purchased at the FW store down the street from the brewery. What an awesome beer! Looks beautiful and both taste and mouthfeel were perfect. Excellent!
154 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Purchased at the FW store down the street from the brewery. What an awesome beer! Looks beautiful and both taste and mouthfeel were perfect. Excellent!
154 characters
3.95/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.48/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep dark murky brown, can about see grains of brown sugars floating around, small thin tan head falls fast to small ringed bubbles that surprisingly laces pretty well.
Aroma is sweet malty goodness lots of sugars , molasses, brown sugars floating around and dark fruits. Earthy , woody vanilla light bourbon notes hints of old leather and smoke.
Taste is spot on to the nose a big malty sugary treat with light bourbon notes that enhance instead of distract from this brew. Lots of sugary goodness dark fruits earthy, leather, smoke, vanilla flavor lingers on and on bourbon and anise light alcohol notes all mingled together.
Mouthfeel a little weird fells lighter then it should be on first sip but seems to gain body from the amount of sugary malts just sticking to the tongue maybe. Carbonation is mellow thank the Lord some beers of this style seem to be over carbonated.
Overall this is one damn fine American version of this hard to do style, would be hard pressed to say when I have a a better one.
1,019 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep dark murky brown, can about see grains of brown sugars floating around, small thin tan head falls fast to small ringed bubbles that surprisingly laces pretty well.
Aroma is sweet malty goodness lots of sugars , molasses, brown sugars floating around and dark fruits. Earthy , woody vanilla light bourbon notes hints of old leather and smoke.
Taste is spot on to the nose a big malty sugary treat with light bourbon notes that enhance instead of distract from this brew. Lots of sugary goodness dark fruits earthy, leather, smoke, vanilla flavor lingers on and on bourbon and anise light alcohol notes all mingled together.
Mouthfeel a little weird fells lighter then it should be on first sip but seems to gain body from the amount of sugary malts just sticking to the tongue maybe. Carbonation is mellow thank the Lord some beers of this style seem to be over carbonated.
Overall this is one damn fine American version of this hard to do style, would be hard pressed to say when I have a a better one.
1,019 characters
4.32/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Tasty
5 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Tasty
5 characters
4.52/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2016 Bomber
Pours a rich brown with minimal fizzy khaki head.
Lots of lacing.
Smells of rich figs bourbon, sweet malt, and subtle wood.
Taste bursts with fig followed by bourbon and barrel.
Very sweet.
201 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2016 Bomber
Pours a rich brown with minimal fizzy khaki head.
Lots of lacing.
Smells of rich figs bourbon, sweet malt, and subtle wood.
Taste bursts with fig followed by bourbon and barrel.
Very sweet.
201 characters
4.73/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
very good brew with flavors of bourbon, wood, chocolate covered caramel, figs, dates, and chocolate syrup mixed with espresso and hints of tobacco and smoke
156 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
very good brew with flavors of bourbon, wood, chocolate covered caramel, figs, dates, and chocolate syrup mixed with espresso and hints of tobacco and smoke
156 characters
4.7/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This is a perfect quad, especially for an American brewery! What a great beer...
81 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This is a perfect quad, especially for an American brewery! What a great beer...
81 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
4.25/5 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
Stickee Monkee from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.47 out of
5 with
2,834 ratings
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