Belgian Monkey
Lake Bluff Brewing Company

Pours translucent tawny in color with a decent amount of off-white head. Aroma is sweet and malty, and the flavor matches the aroma. I must admit I was expecting a great deal more carbonation from a Belgian style ale. The carbonation here is quite muted, yielding a subdued mouthfeel beneath a pervasively malty backbone. Raisins and dark fruit are present, along with a healthy dose of alcohol, but the whole thing is tilted so far in the malt direction that the beer comes off as very one-dimensional. There is a bit of spice present as well, but not enough to yield any semblance of balance. This is not a bad beer; fans of sweet, bock-like malt will be pleased. But for those seeking a more traditional Belgian style strong dark ale, I can't help but feel there will be some disappointment. This brew has potential if some sense of balance were to be infused to offset the dominantly malty flavor.