Merry Monkey
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Spiced Holiday Ale.

A: Rustic coppery penny coloring, with a dark tannish creamy head of one inch. Strong linear fashion of macro carbonation. Head retention was solid, slim stringy lace lines.

S: Traditional holiday spicing, cinnamon, touch of ginger, cloves and toasted caramel. Sweet nuttiness, baked sugar cookies, along with some bubblegum yeastiness.

T: Flavor was toasted caramel backing, gingerbread spiciness, with some strong cinnamon notes. Alcohol bite with a belgian yeasty presence, bready with cloves, and some honey sweetness. Small coffee, cola and curaco oranges.

M: Tingly carbonation is very lively against a creamy caramel base. Nice weight on tongue, and alcohol warmth.

O: Overall really enjoyed the flavor and complexity, with lots of subtle hints and a strong belgian yeasty flair. Toasty caramel base, holiday spicing is aptly suited, nice drinkability, much less than its 9.5% abv lets on.

 

 

6pk/12oz cans

Pours a bright, mostly translucent golden honey color. A small skim of a head on the initial pour.

Aromas of pine, clove and cinnamon.

The normal Golden Monkey Belgian-style ale is enhanced with holiday spices of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and cranberry with a mild sweetness. Slightly bitter, dry aftertaste. The ABV is well hidden.

Thinner consistency with low carbonation.

Overall, a nice variation on Victory’s Golden Monkey. The flavor profile is definitely a “holiday style” with the addition of the various spices. Enjoyable…cheers!

Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel and cranberry. Hugh ABV of 11% making the holidays bearable. lol

 

 

 

Amber color,one-finger thick, white head. Belgian yeasts, nutmeg, and malt in the aroma. Moderately sweet taste, but too much nutmeg for me. Light bitterness at the end.

Good, strong malty holiday beer!! Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Chimay goblet, this beer features a a clear amber color, lots of carbonation and a bubbly off white head with good retention for a 10% beer. Aroma and flavor are malty, somewhat sweet, with the sweetness cut a bit by cranberry bitterness. Noticeable holiday spices - nutmeg and cinnamon - but not overdone. This one is quite tasty. Mouthfeel is rich and a little boozy. The sweetness is balanced by the cranberry and the touch of alcohol bite keeps this from being a sweet, bland dessert beer, Avery good winter slow, sipper!!!

 

When I think of Victory I think of mid range sour beer.
VERY impressed they came out with this.
It's got a HUGE nose on it. Notes of caramel, molasses, nutmeg, and I actually get plum, dates, and some oak.
It honestly reminds me of a sherry. It hides the alcohol really well though.
It wasn't until I hopped back on a work zoom that I realized I had consumed a 10% beer first thing in the morning...

 

If it's a Belgian beer I'm a fan of it. This one is a nice holiday ale without being filled with nutmeg overload. Perhaps a bit syrupy at the end on the pallet. Not something I would drink all the time but enjoyable in spurts. Perfect for sipping and staring at the yule log.

 

12oz Brown Bottle – Best by September 24, 2025

Victory Merry Monkey filled my tulip glass with an amber body and an off-white bubbly ½ finger head. The head had good staying power. The nose was of spices; cinnamon, and nutmeg dominate. The taste matches the aroma with the flavors of cranberry and orange added. The finish is dry with very light hops noted. The ale is medium bodied and has a slightly sticky mouthfeel. The 10% alcohol is hidden very well.

Merry Monkey is a nice flavorful ale that is especially meant for the holidays.

On tap at Caston & Main Brew Yard into snifter. Pours lightly hazy deep ruby red color with a small dense pink head. Solid head retention, spotty lacing, and streaming carbonation on the glass. romas of cranberry, orange peel, raisin, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon. Muted with a touch of booze. Taste of big cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisin, cherry, clove, peppercorn, white sugar, wood, herbal, grass, yeast earth. Lt med herbal bitter and spicy yeast finish. Slight tart/tang. Medium carb and medium plus body. Balanced bready malt and sticky hop/spice mouthfeel. Lingering spice drying with minimal astringency. No cloying. Very well balanced flavors of spice and yeast in the taste, not too sweet. Light lingering booze of 10%. Very smooth sipper.

 

Clear ginger ale brown with a short khaki head.

Spice is strong and forward, amplified by AND amplifying the underlying phenols. After that, it immediately starts warming the throat and ears. Heavily toasted gingersnap comes out in the swallow.

I definitely did NOT need any alcohol the day New Year's Day, but might as well tick this late xmas gift.

In my opinion, this is an ideal brew for what is expected out of a christmas beer. The sip gives a small taste of that typical Belgian monkey flavor. The mid palate goes from cranberry to cinnamon to nutmeg. The finish combines all the flavors together. They linger well after the drink. It doesn't drink like a 10 percent abv beer at all. Highly recommend just be careful and don't forget the high abv.