Stickee Monkee | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonewalker.com
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
A Belgian Quad by recipe, but aging it in spirits barrels garners its own category: Central Coast Quad. A beer formulated to sit on the sweeter and malty side so that we could utilize it for blending. 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 this beer: toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco.
45 IBU
Added by ThreeWiseMen on 11-07-2010
Reviews: 245 | Ratings: 2,251
4.77/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Serving: 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bomber poured into a Founder's CBS snifter. Bottled on 4/18/16, making this about 5 and a 1/2 months old.
A: Pours a pretty slick dark brown color, decent amount of bubbly mocha head around the edge.
S: Really dynamic here with layers of sweet molasses and brown sugar, followed by a punch of dark fruits and grapes, with a nice wrapped finish of oak and bourbon.
T: Bigger fruit notes up front, raisins, figs, molasses. Finish is just a touch of oak and bourbon and vanilla, not huge though.
M: Medium to full body with just enough carbonation that is more noticeable in the pour. Alcohol hidden very well.
O: Very surprised by this one. It's odd that across the Proprietor's Vintage series, I actually prefer Helldorado and Stickee Monkee to both Parabola and Sucaba. Maybe it's just the light, more drinkable balance that these two have, I'm not sure. This one is sweet and tasty, but not too heavy or bruising on the palate.
Recommendation: Like the other boxed Firestone Walker beers, this one is a must-try.
★ 1,047 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Serving: 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bomber poured into a Founder's CBS snifter. Bottled on 4/18/16, making this about 5 and a 1/2 months old.
A: Pours a pretty slick dark brown color, decent amount of bubbly mocha head around the edge.
S: Really dynamic here with layers of sweet molasses and brown sugar, followed by a punch of dark fruits and grapes, with a nice wrapped finish of oak and bourbon.
T: Bigger fruit notes up front, raisins, figs, molasses. Finish is just a touch of oak and bourbon and vanilla, not huge though.
M: Medium to full body with just enough carbonation that is more noticeable in the pour. Alcohol hidden very well.
O: Very surprised by this one. It's odd that across the Proprietor's Vintage series, I actually prefer Helldorado and Stickee Monkee to both Parabola and Sucaba. Maybe it's just the light, more drinkable balance that these two have, I'm not sure. This one is sweet and tasty, but not too heavy or bruising on the palate.
Recommendation: Like the other boxed Firestone Walker beers, this one is a must-try.
★ 1,047 characters
4.52/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
9-21-16 - On tap at Isaac Newtons in Newtown, PA. Served in a tall stemmed tulip glass. Almost no head and very little lacing. Quick swirl brings back a slight caramel colored surface head. Dark brown and clear. Aroma knocked me out (even better as I go deeper). Taste is nice and sweet for this quad. Sooo smooth. So glad I stopped in.
★ 339 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
9-21-16 - On tap at Isaac Newtons in Newtown, PA. Served in a tall stemmed tulip glass. Almost no head and very little lacing. Quick swirl brings back a slight caramel colored surface head. Dark brown and clear. Aroma knocked me out (even better as I go deeper). Taste is nice and sweet for this quad. Sooo smooth. So glad I stopped in.
★ 339 characters
5/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A - super dark brown with a reddish hue (mahogany) with off white head that dissipates quick. Very clear otherwise.
S - Smell is dark fruits (figs, cherries, plums), brown sugar, candi sugar, caramel malt, really sweet candy like.
T - Taste is basically the same with big sweet candi sugar flavor, then dark fruits like red grapes, sweet cherries, plums, and figs, caramel. Definitely some vanilla, oak and bourbon in there too but less so than youd expect.
M - Heavy beer, thinner than parabola but still a big ass beer. Aftertaste is super smooth and clean Belgian quad, I'm guessing this is not a Belgian yeast ?
O - great beer. Had both on tap and in bottle. Would buy again in a second.
2013 and 2016 side by side: .2013 is more malty with age, has some oxidation to it. Both are amazing.
★ 799 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A - super dark brown with a reddish hue (mahogany) with off white head that dissipates quick. Very clear otherwise.
S - Smell is dark fruits (figs, cherries, plums), brown sugar, candi sugar, caramel malt, really sweet candy like.
T - Taste is basically the same with big sweet candi sugar flavor, then dark fruits like red grapes, sweet cherries, plums, and figs, caramel. Definitely some vanilla, oak and bourbon in there too but less so than youd expect.
M - Heavy beer, thinner than parabola but still a big ass beer. Aftertaste is super smooth and clean Belgian quad, I'm guessing this is not a Belgian yeast ?
O - great beer. Had both on tap and in bottle. Would buy again in a second.
2013 and 2016 side by side: .2013 is more malty with age, has some oxidation to it. Both are amazing.
★ 799 characters
4.39/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
1L howler from Sherbrooke Liquor store, and obviously the best format in which to appreciate this particular offering firsthand, eh?
This beer pours a clear, dark orange-brick brown colour, with three fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and well-bubbly tan head, which leaves some decent melting ice floe lace around the glass as it slowly but surely sinks away.
It smells of rather sweet brown sugar syrup, bready caramel malt, slightly biscuity toffee, dark fleshy orchard fruit, vanilla-forward Bourbon notes (with some wood and rye graininess), subtle milk chocolate, a touch of besotted yeast, and very tame earthy, leafy, and floral hop bitters. The taste is still fairly sweet, with the big caramel/toffee malt one-two punch, some now molasses-like dark sugary character, heavily creamed coffee, somewhat laid-back Bourbon (and no change on that vanilla stranglehold), muddled black Mediterranean fruit, a growing omen of alcohol ingress, and some hoppiness that left without closing the damned door.
The bubbles are adequate in their barely supportive frothiness, the body a solid medium-heavy weight, and pretty smooth, if you maintain a certain cognitive dissonance about that well north of 20-proof, behind the scenes booziness, and getting creamier as things warm. It finishes sweet, yeah, and sticky, sure, and bereft of monkeys [sic], but somehow moderated in all.
Holy mother of all that is holy (ok, HOLY SHIT!), is this good, no, great, no, no, no - freaking fantastic! Not in a world-beating manner (because that would mean that it's on par with Westy 12 or Rochefort 10), but because it seems to be defining something different, maybe the 'American Quad', i.e. big and sweet, but level, with lots of (obviously) sugary fruitiness, and yet sans the old castle basement musty and phenolic stuff. Whatever, this is so enjoyable, I'm going to have to sign off now before I really embarrass myself!
★ 1,917 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
1L howler from Sherbrooke Liquor store, and obviously the best format in which to appreciate this particular offering firsthand, eh?
This beer pours a clear, dark orange-brick brown colour, with three fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and well-bubbly tan head, which leaves some decent melting ice floe lace around the glass as it slowly but surely sinks away.
It smells of rather sweet brown sugar syrup, bready caramel malt, slightly biscuity toffee, dark fleshy orchard fruit, vanilla-forward Bourbon notes (with some wood and rye graininess), subtle milk chocolate, a touch of besotted yeast, and very tame earthy, leafy, and floral hop bitters. The taste is still fairly sweet, with the big caramel/toffee malt one-two punch, some now molasses-like dark sugary character, heavily creamed coffee, somewhat laid-back Bourbon (and no change on that vanilla stranglehold), muddled black Mediterranean fruit, a growing omen of alcohol ingress, and some hoppiness that left without closing the damned door.
The bubbles are adequate in their barely supportive frothiness, the body a solid medium-heavy weight, and pretty smooth, if you maintain a certain cognitive dissonance about that well north of 20-proof, behind the scenes booziness, and getting creamier as things warm. It finishes sweet, yeah, and sticky, sure, and bereft of monkeys [sic], but somehow moderated in all.
Holy mother of all that is holy (ok, HOLY SHIT!), is this good, no, great, no, no, no - freaking fantastic! Not in a world-beating manner (because that would mean that it's on par with Westy 12 or Rochefort 10), but because it seems to be defining something different, maybe the 'American Quad', i.e. big and sweet, but level, with lots of (obviously) sugary fruitiness, and yet sans the old castle basement musty and phenolic stuff. Whatever, this is so enjoyable, I'm going to have to sign off now before I really embarrass myself!
★ 1,917 characters
4/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016 Release. 22oz bomber. First experience with Stickee Monkee.
A-Poured a Dark brown, with little rays of light coming through. Mild carbonation with a slight tan head.
S-brown sugar, molasses, slight notes of bourbon and bread. Very light and sweet.
T-molasses and brown sugar. Slight hint of bourbon and oak. A tad sweet, maybe coconut. Very mellow and sweet. Dessert beer.
M-light bodied, with minimal carbonation. Bourbon and brown sugar up front, slightly dry finish. Extremely drinkable beer.
O-This was a very balanced and drinkable beer. A little light compared to others of the style, but a solid beer. Would definitely drink again, but would prefer Trappistes 10 for the price and availability.
★ 716 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016 Release. 22oz bomber. First experience with Stickee Monkee.
A-Poured a Dark brown, with little rays of light coming through. Mild carbonation with a slight tan head.
S-brown sugar, molasses, slight notes of bourbon and bread. Very light and sweet.
T-molasses and brown sugar. Slight hint of bourbon and oak. A tad sweet, maybe coconut. Very mellow and sweet. Dessert beer.
M-light bodied, with minimal carbonation. Bourbon and brown sugar up front, slightly dry finish. Extremely drinkable beer.
O-This was a very balanced and drinkable beer. A little light compared to others of the style, but a solid beer. Would definitely drink again, but would prefer Trappistes 10 for the price and availability.
★ 716 characters
4.59/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage. Pours a dark brown with minimal foam and lacing, some sediment. Strong barrel and molasses scents. Not super thick, mild boozy tanginess.
★ 151 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage. Pours a dark brown with minimal foam and lacing, some sediment. Strong barrel and molasses scents. Not super thick, mild boozy tanginess.
★ 151 characters
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 version
This is a sweet beer. No doubt about it. It tastes like molasses carmel to me. I'm glad I'm drinking am 8oz pour because I can't drink much of this. But it's absolutely delicious and I'm glad I've now had it.
★ 227 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 version
This is a sweet beer. No doubt about it. It tastes like molasses carmel to me. I'm glad I'm drinking am 8oz pour because I can't drink much of this. But it's absolutely delicious and I'm glad I've now had it.
★ 227 characters
4.4/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2015 Vintage; Below Average Cellaring Conditions
The beer pours a very light head before it dissipates quickly and leaves a ring around the inside of the glass. The head is a light tan color with a nice and creamy appearance. The beer itself is an opaque beer with a dark brown look that strongly resembles black. However, if you look at it from the top, you can tell the actual beer color.
The smell is pretty good. The smell consists of a strong dark fruit notes from the malts and surprisingly pleasant and present caramel malt note. The barrel notes definitely come out well in this beer. The whiskey note is present and its slight spiceness contrasts well with the Belgian Candi sugar. The smell also has a present molasses note but it tends to get lost rather quickly.
The taste is fantastic. While the Quad notes are second to the barrel notes, it is actually a close second and the two actually mix with each other in a good way. The taste is much more complex than the smell because of this. The whiskey taste is not as strong but there is definitely an interesting molasses note and brown sugar mingling with the Belgian sugar to create something sweet with the spiceness from the whiskey keeping it from becoming too sweet. There is also a slight hop bitterness to the beer as well in the aftertaste but not much. The aftertaste tends to be fairly sweet with some caramel in it.
The feel is pretty good. It is a heavy bodied beer but the body feels much thinner than someone would expect it to. The carbonation gives it a fizzy texture that gives it something else to do. It has a slightly sticky finish to it.
Overall, this is a very good beer and Firestone once again demonstrates why its Proprietor Vintage series is immensely popular among craft beer fans. While the taste notes and the barrel aging are different than what you would expect from the style, it still manages to stay faithful to it. This one is a definite must have to get a hold of.
★ 1,968 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2015 Vintage; Below Average Cellaring Conditions
The beer pours a very light head before it dissipates quickly and leaves a ring around the inside of the glass. The head is a light tan color with a nice and creamy appearance. The beer itself is an opaque beer with a dark brown look that strongly resembles black. However, if you look at it from the top, you can tell the actual beer color.
The smell is pretty good. The smell consists of a strong dark fruit notes from the malts and surprisingly pleasant and present caramel malt note. The barrel notes definitely come out well in this beer. The whiskey note is present and its slight spiceness contrasts well with the Belgian Candi sugar. The smell also has a present molasses note but it tends to get lost rather quickly.
The taste is fantastic. While the Quad notes are second to the barrel notes, it is actually a close second and the two actually mix with each other in a good way. The taste is much more complex than the smell because of this. The whiskey taste is not as strong but there is definitely an interesting molasses note and brown sugar mingling with the Belgian sugar to create something sweet with the spiceness from the whiskey keeping it from becoming too sweet. There is also a slight hop bitterness to the beer as well in the aftertaste but not much. The aftertaste tends to be fairly sweet with some caramel in it.
The feel is pretty good. It is a heavy bodied beer but the body feels much thinner than someone would expect it to. The carbonation gives it a fizzy texture that gives it something else to do. It has a slightly sticky finish to it.
Overall, this is a very good beer and Firestone once again demonstrates why its Proprietor Vintage series is immensely popular among craft beer fans. While the taste notes and the barrel aging are different than what you would expect from the style, it still manages to stay faithful to it. This one is a definite must have to get a hold of.
★ 1,968 characters
4.37/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My introduction to the Belgian Quad style took place with the 2015 version of this beer and it blew me away. This review for the 2016 version is just a carbon copy. This beer is probably one of the best beers I've ever had. It's smooth sweet flavors and wonderful nose just keep inviting you in for more. If you don't pay attention, the abv will get ya! This beer is worth the annual wait and Firestone Walker does an amazing job. Get it while you can!!!!
★ 461 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My introduction to the Belgian Quad style took place with the 2015 version of this beer and it blew me away. This review for the 2016 version is just a carbon copy. This beer is probably one of the best beers I've ever had. It's smooth sweet flavors and wonderful nose just keep inviting you in for more. If you don't pay attention, the abv will get ya! This beer is worth the annual wait and Firestone Walker does an amazing job. Get it while you can!!!!
★ 461 characters
4.66/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
**
07/20/2016
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: dark brown, opaque, frothy head...fades quickly.
AROMA: caramel, cinnamon, French toast, tobacco.
TASTE: molasses, plum, fig, cinnamon, banana, root beer,
FEEL: so this is where the name comes from, right? stickey and sweet, like a cinnabon.
Very complex taste. The barrel has made this very mellow and enjoyable. This is a great beer. Can't wait to see what some age will do to the other 2 bottles I picked up ( but I'll have to).
**
★ 490 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
**
07/20/2016
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: dark brown, opaque, frothy head...fades quickly.
AROMA: caramel, cinnamon, French toast, tobacco.
TASTE: molasses, plum, fig, cinnamon, banana, root beer,
FEEL: so this is where the name comes from, right? stickey and sweet, like a cinnabon.
Very complex taste. The barrel has made this very mellow and enjoyable. This is a great beer. Can't wait to see what some age will do to the other 2 bottles I picked up ( but I'll have to).
**
★ 490 characters
4.25/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Shared 3 ways. Vintage 2016. Look was chocolate brown with a decent lace. Smell was mild and sweet. Taste warmed up but finished fairly boozy. Overall I would definitely go again.
★ 179 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Shared 3 ways. Vintage 2016. Look was chocolate brown with a decent lace. Smell was mild and sweet. Taste warmed up but finished fairly boozy. Overall I would definitely go again.
★ 179 characters
4.58/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle Date: 2015
Palate Contaminants: none
Appearance is an opaque brown that lets little light through. It might not let much light through, yet it's not super dark. It's pretty interesting.
The nose is not particularly volatile. A little dark wood, dark sugar (not quite molasses), and alcohol. Characteristics are slightly sweet and moderately savory.
The taste beats the smell on intensity by a mile. The savory elements are what strike me first. Butter, toffee, and caramel. It also has a bit of nuttiness, I'll go with Brazil nut and hazelnut. Tea, too. I guess those go with the woody motif. Sometimes I get a bit of burnt sugar, and then vanilla hits me every two or three sips.
It's only about a year old, so there's still a bit of alcohol, but it doesn't feel like a twelver. The weight isn't heavy, but it has a ton of flavor. The aftertaste lingers for a while and is pretty enjoyable. Super drinkable. Be careful.
★ 932 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle Date: 2015
Palate Contaminants: none
Appearance is an opaque brown that lets little light through. It might not let much light through, yet it's not super dark. It's pretty interesting.
The nose is not particularly volatile. A little dark wood, dark sugar (not quite molasses), and alcohol. Characteristics are slightly sweet and moderately savory.
The taste beats the smell on intensity by a mile. The savory elements are what strike me first. Butter, toffee, and caramel. It also has a bit of nuttiness, I'll go with Brazil nut and hazelnut. Tea, too. I guess those go with the woody motif. Sometimes I get a bit of burnt sugar, and then vanilla hits me every two or three sips.
It's only about a year old, so there's still a bit of alcohol, but it doesn't feel like a twelver. The weight isn't heavy, but it has a ton of flavor. The aftertaste lingers for a while and is pretty enjoyable. Super drinkable. Be careful.
★ 932 characters
4.32/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Awesome quad! Has awesome caramel and chocolate notes. Drinks very smooth and has an amazing aroma. Not as thick of a pour as i would have expected. Shared with a friend, this was the vintage 2016. This was an amazing find at a random Mobile gas station in flagstaff. Will be on the hunt for more. Big fan of F-W's fancy brews.
★ 327 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Awesome quad! Has awesome caramel and chocolate notes. Drinks very smooth and has an amazing aroma. Not as thick of a pour as i would have expected. Shared with a friend, this was the vintage 2016. This was an amazing find at a random Mobile gas station in flagstaff. Will be on the hunt for more. Big fan of F-W's fancy brews.
★ 327 characters
4.24/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Shared with a friend. Vintage 2016. Top notch Quad! Nice chocolate and caramel notes. I've got another bottle a few years older that I am excited about drinking if it's as good as this!
★ 189 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Shared with a friend. Vintage 2016. Top notch Quad! Nice chocolate and caramel notes. I've got another bottle a few years older that I am excited about drinking if it's as good as this!
★ 189 characters
4.32/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours a tad thinner than I expected. Slightly opaque very dark brown color. The barrel really comes out in the smell and is the most prevalent scent. Underneath you also get cherries and dark fruit. Taste is sweet with toffee and butterscotch undertones. It feels a tad thin but pleasant. Overall an excellent beer. Combines the best aspects of barrel aging with the sweet fruitiness of a quad.
★ 394 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours a tad thinner than I expected. Slightly opaque very dark brown color. The barrel really comes out in the smell and is the most prevalent scent. Underneath you also get cherries and dark fruit. Taste is sweet with toffee and butterscotch undertones. It feels a tad thin but pleasant. Overall an excellent beer. Combines the best aspects of barrel aging with the sweet fruitiness of a quad.
★ 394 characters
4.62/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Firestone Walker teku.
Looks dark brown, like a cola with a touch of lacing. Beautiful look.
Smells malty and sweet.
Taste follows the nose. Belgian flavor with molasses and sweet malty notes. Hint of brown sugar and caramel.
Medium mouth feel. Smooth!
Overall my favorite Belgian beer. I've waited a long time to drink this beer and it doesn't disappoint. I picked up 3, will age the other two and enjoy it again. Well done.
★ 454 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Firestone Walker teku.
Looks dark brown, like a cola with a touch of lacing. Beautiful look.
Smells malty and sweet.
Taste follows the nose. Belgian flavor with molasses and sweet malty notes. Hint of brown sugar and caramel.
Medium mouth feel. Smooth!
Overall my favorite Belgian beer. I've waited a long time to drink this beer and it doesn't disappoint. I picked up 3, will age the other two and enjoy it again. Well done.
★ 454 characters
4.42/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a 16 oz Troegs snifter tulip vintage 2016 at near room temperature. Pours a dark mahogany with a 3 inch off white head, that leaves behind some traces of lace behind.
Smell is oak, vanilla, ripe fig, clove, bourbon, brown sugar, and toffee.
Taste follows loads of oaky vanilla, clove, and dark fruit upfront with cooked brown sugar and bourbon in the dry and bold finish.
Mouthfeel is a big medium, little carbonation, dry, and a sipper that goes down darn easy.
Overall this is spectacular, very complex, I can't wait to see how it develops.
★ 560 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a 16 oz Troegs snifter tulip vintage 2016 at near room temperature. Pours a dark mahogany with a 3 inch off white head, that leaves behind some traces of lace behind.
Smell is oak, vanilla, ripe fig, clove, bourbon, brown sugar, and toffee.
Taste follows loads of oaky vanilla, clove, and dark fruit upfront with cooked brown sugar and bourbon in the dry and bold finish.
Mouthfeel is a big medium, little carbonation, dry, and a sipper that goes down darn easy.
Overall this is spectacular, very complex, I can't wait to see how it develops.
★ 560 characters
3.68/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark and creamy with no discernible head. Smells of coffee, fig, and raisins. Taste is boozy molasses, sweet, apple and some light bitterness. Definitely dark fruits. Complex beer with a lot of flavor and a lot going on. This is a sipper. All in all this might be a bit much for me personally. I appreciate the style, but it's not going to win me over except maybe in the dead of winter in front of a fireplace.
★ 424 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark and creamy with no discernible head. Smells of coffee, fig, and raisins. Taste is boozy molasses, sweet, apple and some light bitterness. Definitely dark fruits. Complex beer with a lot of flavor and a lot going on. This is a sipper. All in all this might be a bit much for me personally. I appreciate the style, but it's not going to win me over except maybe in the dead of winter in front of a fireplace.
★ 424 characters
4.4/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: dark cola. S: wonderful aroma of figs, dates, raisins, a light bit of charred oak, very slight hint of bourbon. T: mostly follows nose, slight bit of belgian yeast, but this is mostly offset by the barrel. This beer feels like a barleywine. F: medium. Thickens slightly as it warms up. O: very enjoyable. Worth it. Would buy again.
★ 346 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: dark cola. S: wonderful aroma of figs, dates, raisins, a light bit of charred oak, very slight hint of bourbon. T: mostly follows nose, slight bit of belgian yeast, but this is mostly offset by the barrel. This beer feels like a barleywine. F: medium. Thickens slightly as it warms up. O: very enjoyable. Worth it. Would buy again.
★ 346 characters
4.69/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Rich dark body with a slight head. Sweet toffee and caramel aroma. Flavors come in waves, quad notes hit up front with a rich caramel finish. More barrel notes present themselves as the beer warms. As the beer is right now it is already in the upper echelon for a barrel aged quad. I will probably age a bottle or two to see how it develops, but a case can certainly be made to just drink this fresh.
★ 405 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Rich dark body with a slight head. Sweet toffee and caramel aroma. Flavors come in waves, quad notes hit up front with a rich caramel finish. More barrel notes present themselves as the beer warms. As the beer is right now it is already in the upper echelon for a barrel aged quad. I will probably age a bottle or two to see how it develops, but a case can certainly be made to just drink this fresh.
★ 405 characters
4.87/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Great for dessert. Pours smooth with little to no head. Caramel tones come through with the turbinado brown sugar. Flavorful and balanced, it was a very drinkable brew. The alcohol is well hidden, but can sneak up on you in the end. Another awesome effort from Firestone Walker.
★ 283 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Great for dessert. Pours smooth with little to no head. Caramel tones come through with the turbinado brown sugar. Flavorful and balanced, it was a very drinkable brew. The alcohol is well hidden, but can sneak up on you in the end. Another awesome effort from Firestone Walker.
★ 283 characters
5/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
L: Dark dark dark no head no lacing
S: Comes out a it warms vanilla dark fruit oak
T: Big flavor! oak vanilla chocolate dates so complex
F: Big beer. Thanksgiving.
O: Brains are on vacation
★ 190 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
L: Dark dark dark no head no lacing
S: Comes out a it warms vanilla dark fruit oak
T: Big flavor! oak vanilla chocolate dates so complex
F: Big beer. Thanksgiving.
O: Brains are on vacation
★ 190 characters
4.47/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 Vintage
So damn drinkable! Nice barrel aromas but not overpowering. Soft, leathery mouth feel. Sweet, malty flavors that are enhanced by the barrel flavors instead of dominated. The best part is the finish. My tongue feels like it is melting into a heavenly place. It keeps pulling me back for another sip so quickly.
★ 329 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 Vintage
So damn drinkable! Nice barrel aromas but not overpowering. Soft, leathery mouth feel. Sweet, malty flavors that are enhanced by the barrel flavors instead of dominated. The best part is the finish. My tongue feels like it is melting into a heavenly place. It keeps pulling me back for another sip so quickly.
★ 329 characters
4.21/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Whole Foods Rincon in Oxnard. No head on this 12% heavy weight. Belgian quad style reminds me of an imperial stout leaning toward a barley wine. Very much on the sweet side. My accompaniment for lunch to a shroom burger.
★ 235 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Whole Foods Rincon in Oxnard. No head on this 12% heavy weight. Belgian quad style reminds me of an imperial stout leaning toward a barley wine. Very much on the sweet side. My accompaniment for lunch to a shroom burger.
★ 235 characters
Stickee Monkee from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
4.45
out of 5
based on 2,251 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Milky like the bottom of a miso soup, with a deep brown and ruby body, a dense light tawny head fades to a thin ring. The nose is hit hard with rich caramel and alcohol burn, whiskey spice and raw oak, butter and warm vanilla. Between the oak, alcohol, and whiskey notes, this leans more towards a liquor than a beer- which I'm all for. Flavor backs off this intense heat and puts on the forefront warm butterscotch, vanilla sweetness, toasted wood, a bit of ethanol, a touch of brown sugar, and toasted malt verging on classic German foundations. As the name would imply, very stickee mouthfeel here, rich and hot and thick and syrupy.
What a ride. More like a barleywine than a quad, especially with the only diminutive presence of added sugars, but delicious nonetheless. The heat of the nose didn't scare me, quite the opposite, so I was disappointed that even with the rich and colorful flavors it had toned itself down from this olfactory advertisement. Still packs a wallop with variety and nuance, as oxymoronic as that sounds, and totally enjoyable.
★ 1,058 characters