Funky Miller's Monkey Filler Choc-Banana Bourbon BA Imperial Stout
Moon Dog Craft Brewery

Intriguingly light on the ABV for a Barrel-aged Imperial Stout by Moon Dog, and with a name that takes up enough space that I had to abbreviate Barrel-aged: Funky Miller's Monkey Filler Choc-Banana Bourbon BA Imperial Stout. Named, of course, after an infamous Australian cricket spin bowler with outrageously coloured-hair Colin “Funky” Miller who debuted on the Australian test side at the impressionable young age of 34. I’m not sure how Colin Miller would feel about Monkey Filler, however I imagine he would find the naming of this brew as hilarious and apt as I do – after all a man who dyes their hair bright blue or red (as I did once many moons ago) clearly has a decent sense of humour.

Poured from a 650ml US Bomber sized bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Deep jet-black opaque body with a thin mocha-coloured head that does hang around for long and disperses into surface bubbles. Light splotches of lace are left inside the glass as it goes down the gullet. It’s alright ay. 7/10.

S: Bourbon and dark chocolate on the nose, hints of banana/vanilla/coffee linger in the background as well. Aroma profile is decidedly sweet and decadent, although that bourbon barrel-aging is overshadowing the entire brew, not that someone who likes bourbon [me] is complaining too much. Also, and this is probably only a nit-pick because of my life-long love of bananas [I go absolutely something over them… I’m lost for words here]: It needs more banana! 8/10.

T: Oh yeah! Damn this is one MOFO moreish beer! I know Moon Dog are generally a bit more hit than miss, but this is unequivocally: a hit. Flavour profile starts out with dark and powdered chocolate, adds in vanilla, bourbon barrel sweet notes, brings in a light roasted coffee character, then finishes up on the sweeter side with a banana overtone at the end (and in the after taste). Balance is definitely on the sweeter side, but there is just enough of a bitter chocolate note in the finish to make sure it doesn’t cloy, plus it’s clearly a dessert beer so let’s not mark it down for being on the sweet side [otherwise I’ll have to re-rate a lot of Omnipollo beers]. 9/10.

M: Medium bodied with a nice dense carbonation that really works well. 8/10.

D: FM's MF is one of those beers that is hard to pick faults with, it’s tasty and it all just clicks together. I guess one minor detail is there could be more banana, but when is that statement not true in life? Bananas rock. If you want a creamy-chocolately-bourbon beer you’ve come to the right place. 8/10.

Food match: Banana split anyone?