Monks' Ale
Abbey Brewing Co. (Monastery Of Christ In The Desert)

Poured from a bottle- mostly clear amber/copper color with short white head leaving minimal lacing. Nose is mild sweet malt and a hint of yeast. Taste follows with a slightly sweet breadiness and hints of dark fruit and spice. All very mild with an almost dry finish. Light and sessionable, I really like this. Better than some of the lower ratings suggest.

 

On-tap at Monks' Corner Taproom, Albuquerque, NM

A: The beer is clear dark golden yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short white head that died down but consistently left a coating of bubbles on the surface and down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of yeast, cloves, and plums are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of Belgian yeast along with notes of plums.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This Belgian single is easy to drink and has a good balance between the fruity and yeasty flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

In a pint glass this beer was a gold color with a small white head.
Aroma of fruit and sweet malt. Faint.
A little more came through in the taste. Peach, white bread, with a little late spice.
Light-bodied.

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass. Clear light amber color with nice head and great lacing. Slightly spicy smell. Clean herbal taste, slightly sweet with a hint of licorice. A bit thin, but overall good.

 

 

A really nice balanced American brewed abbey beer.excellent dark gold color. Subdued smell Wonderful single to dubel style abbey beer taste. Moderate to full maltiness. Yeast. Not overly eatery for the style. Hops well integrated into the taste. Finishes dry making the beer very drinkable. Smooth mouthfeel complements the maltiness. I was just in Belgium and this strongly resembles the abbey beers there; not as complex as the better Belgium abbey beers but still a very good example.

 

 

A- cloudy orange amber color with minimal head and minimal lacing.

S- plum, apricot, honey and sweet caramel malts.

F- taste mimics the nose with the plum and dark candied fruit coming out stronger on the back end. there is honey that comes through just enough to complement the rest of the notes nicely.

M- sweet and bitter but not bittersweet if that makes sense. chewy medium bodied and very tasty

O- a great belgian...i want more! Everything is well complemented and not too dominant.

 

 

 

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a medium coppery amber with a fine half finger off-white head with great retention and lots of lacing. Aroma of bready malt, dark and light stone fruit, Belgian yeast and spicing. Flavor is bready malt, clove, light stone fruit, plum, Belgian yeast with a hint of honey; flavor dries and thins out in the finish leaving a mild aftertaste of clove and light hops. Medium bodied with light creaminess and a bit of stickiness on the lips. A nicely made, light domestic take on a Belgian pale ale. Probably would not be mistaken for a continental one, but covers all the flavor bases nicely. The finish is a little stark, but otherwise quite enjoyable. My sister brought this to me from a trip to New Mexico and if I get the chance, I would like to try this breweries other offerings.

Tasted from a 12 oz bottle bought in Albuquerque.

L - Color is deep gold to light copper. Lots of orange. A bit darker than expected. Crystal clear. Head off-white and solid but not spectacular.

S - Aromas are all about the yeast, are clean, and are distinctly Belgian: light fruit (plum and raisin), honey, black pepper. Low bready malt is just detectable. No hops apparent, as expected.

T - Again the yeast notes are out front, with pepper and spice. Fruity notes are more muted. There is a cracked grain note and a bit of honey in the finish. Again, very clean. Crisp bitterness keeps the flavors sharp.

F - Light to moderate body. Moderate, prickly carbonation. Low alcohol presence.

O - This is a crisp, clean beer with lots of Belgian yeast character. Nicely made!

 

 

A: Deep orange to red color, 1 inch off white head, great lacing

S: Spices, honey, plum

T: Clove with some sweetness, a little caramely malt, and slight hop bitterness but it is ever so slight.

M: Medium but still very drinkable.

O: I like this one. This is right up my ally with the sweet malts and little hop presence. Good beer.

 

12oz bottle. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled caramel, roasted malt and floral notes. Odd bitterness with a malty backbone.

 

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and decent lacing. Smells of strong sweet malt, caramel malt, slight pale malt, hint of yeast, and a hint of earthy malt. Does not seem to fit a Belgian Pale Ale category since there is a complete lack of hops. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, pale malt, slight earthy malt, slight yeast, and a hint of caramel malt. The beer is not a Belgian Pale Ale, but just a Belgian Ale. Therefore, the rating will change, and the almost complete lack of hops will not be a detriment.

 

 

 

 

 

Nice simple ale that is smooth and with distinct taste.