Barrel-Aged Merry Monk
Mickey Finn's Brewery

Served in a snifter at the brewpub.

This is the normal Merry Monk dubbel aged for, if memory serves, six months in Maker's Mark barrels. Right on. It pours a decidedly dark garnet (nearly black-brown) topped by a half-finger at best of dirty tan bubbles (foam would be a strong word here...). The nose comprises brown sugar, bourbon-soaked oak, caramel, light molasses, and cinnamon. It seems a lot of the potential Belgian-ness is a touch o'erwhelmed by the bourbon, but in a good way. The taste brings in more of the same, along with notes of clove, light vanilla bean, and very light cocoa. Gotta say, as much as I've detested Maker's Mark in my day, the bourbon really melds well with the base dubbel in this instance. Very nice. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation, a decently smooth feel, and a kinda dry finish. Overall, a very tasty barrel-aged dubbel, a potential sign of great things to come from MF's burgeoning barrel-ing program. (Maybe I should've ended that with a question mark...?)