Funky Monk-y
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

This is not the same recipe as the original Funky Monk-y from like 4 years ago.

Appearance: Pours a ruby/brown color of a dubbel, into a tulip glass. Decent but not great head retention for a Belgian.

Aroma: You find out quickly that this isn't a particular style of Belgian beer. It has some pleasantly restrained fruit and phenols but also some very unusual earthy/musty/leafy notes which I really liked. Also, a nice rounded malt nose.

Taste: Medium body and there's some firm hop bitterness to go along with the odd but to me enticing earthiness in the finish.

Very drinkable and "more-ish" for it's ABV. Original and successful. I heard it might be a blend of a few different beers which adds to the interest level as well.

Served up in a tulip.
OK, we've progressed from the diarrhea color of their Houblon Rouge. This offering actually looks like bourbon diarrhea. Baby steps...

The nose is of winter spice...nutmeg, cloves and so forth. More winter warmer than anything to me.

There are dark fruits, cloves, nutmeg, and a fair amount of earth - not really much Belgian here to me.

Again, palate feel is of tight winter/XMas spice. Belgian my ass!

While not overly unpleasant, oy...to me it is way out of style. I still say it's more like a winter warmer. Next...

I was too busy singing to put anybody down with this one on 5/3/2005. 12-oz. goblet pour at the Canal Street location.

Heavy, ¾-inch stout-like head at start with plentiful stick. Deep, dark brown hue and unable to see if anything is happening inside. Roasted notes are the first things to hit the nose, followed by molasses, some chocolate, and a later oatmeal notching – I wonder if this is some kind of hybrid stout. Very weird, cross between a Belgian double and what I would consider a porter with a hit of alcohol competing with a nutty roasted character and some chunky molasses.

Although I am really unsure as to what exactly this thing is, it’s pretty good, so what the hell.

Dark ruby, with very small head and almost no lacing. Smell is malty, spicy, and medicinal. Taste is more of the same, with chocolate and caramel dominating the initial flavor and then giving way to licorice, root beer flavors, and even a bit of sourness. Mouthfeel is good, if a little thin; with this much spice, anything heavier might come off like cough medicine. Finishes sweet and chocolatey, with spices hanging around for a bit on the tongue. I wouldn't drink more than one of these at a time (the guy next to me at the bar had 3 or 4 in a row), but it's an interesting beer nonetheless.

The bartenders told me it was a dubbel, but I am not so sure. Might be more of a hybrid with another Belgian style. It poured black, with ruby tones. There was a slight head that would form a slippery lace. The aromas is straight toffee. The flavor is dark chocolate, licorice, heavy malts, toffee and caramel. Mouthfeel was much thinner than what I expected. Bit watery. It was interesting, but the licorice flavoring would bland out my taste buds after a bit.

*No monkeys were harmed in the brewing of this beer.