Urban Monk
Fonta Flora Brewery


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Fonta Flora Brewery
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #270 - ABV:
- 9.1%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,489 - Avg:
- 4.14 | pDev: 8.45%
- Reviews:
- 4
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2021
- Added:
- Feb 15, 2014
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 7
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding


Notes:
Brewed in exchange for a notorious painting, the Urban Monk is a good friend, Ohio native, amazing artist and our Imperial Stout. Aged on local American single malt whisky soaked oak spirals from Blue Ridge Distilling Co. in Golden Valley, North Carolina. Expect deep notes of American hooch, toasted oak and roasted cacao.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.13/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle poured into a snifter
2018 vintage
A- pours deep black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has good retention
S- smoked barley gives a peat-like aroma up front, followed by caramel & chocolate. Undertones of oak, whiskey & campfire
T- smoked malt up front gives notes of campfire, followed by notes of chocolate and caramel. Mid-palate gives some oak and whiskey, the finish is more smoked barley
M- medium body with moderate carbonation, slightly foamy mouthfeel and finish
O- the smoked barley takes center stage with noticeable oak and whiskey undertones
Sep 16, 20182018 vintage
A- pours deep black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has good retention
S- smoked barley gives a peat-like aroma up front, followed by caramel & chocolate. Undertones of oak, whiskey & campfire
T- smoked malt up front gives notes of campfire, followed by notes of chocolate and caramel. Mid-palate gives some oak and whiskey, the finish is more smoked barley
M- medium body with moderate carbonation, slightly foamy mouthfeel and finish
O- the smoked barley takes center stage with noticeable oak and whiskey undertones
Rated by WOLFGANG from South Carolina
3.83/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Feb 2018
May 22, 2018Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.02/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Large shared bottle. Essentially black body with an excellent tan head.
Modest whisky barrel impact but vanilla, wood and whisky are all evident.
Full body with medium carbonation.
Sep 04, 2016Modest whisky barrel impact but vanilla, wood and whisky are all evident.
Full body with medium carbonation.
Rated by belljt33 from North Carolina
4.44/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Turkish Monk- Aged on coffee, cardamom and Defiant Whiskey spirals.
Feb 08, 2015Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.47/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Arrives with a whipped cream mocha head perched on the pitch black liquid; lacing webs the side of the glass
Smell: Chocolate, Bourbon and vanilla
Taste: Chocolate fudge and coffee, up front, with the Bourbon tones building but not dominating the mid-palate; toasted oak and vanilla tones add complexity to the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy with moderate carbonation
Overall: As good a Bourbon barrel stout as I have tasted from a North Carolina brewer; if this was bottled it would give BA Sexual Chocolate and Event Horizon a run for the money
Nov 09, 2014Smell: Chocolate, Bourbon and vanilla
Taste: Chocolate fudge and coffee, up front, with the Bourbon tones building but not dominating the mid-palate; toasted oak and vanilla tones add complexity to the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy with moderate carbonation
Overall: As good a Bourbon barrel stout as I have tasted from a North Carolina brewer; if this was bottled it would give BA Sexual Chocolate and Event Horizon a run for the money
Reviewed by krenmr03 from North Carolina
4.54/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
9.1%? Unbelievable. Soft mouthfeel, no alcohol bite, a ton of chocolate throughout. Just a hint of bourbon/oak way in the background, letting the beer itself be the focal point in typical Fonta Flora fashion. SRM = 40+, and a nice medium brown head. Overall, a fantastically drinkable imperial stout. Get some.
Feb 24, 2014
Urban Monk from Fonta Flora Brewery
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
40 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!