Shilling Me Softly
Troubled Monk Brewery

 

355ml can, a sort of sneak attack delivery to we denizens north of Red Deer, as such. Nice name, even if I'm not exactly into classic hip-hop musak.

This beer pours a clear, medium copper amber colour, with three fingers of puffy, finely foamy, and somewhat creamy off-white head, which leaves very little in the way of lace around the glass as it quickly blows off.

It smells of musty and grainy caramel malt, a sense of peaty smokiness unrequited, some plain earthy yeastiness, muddled dark orchard fruity notes, and some weak leafy, weedy, and dead floral noble hop bitters. The taste is bready and slightly doughy pale malt, a lessened generic caramel sweetness, ephemeral estery smokey notes, very faint spicy essences, and a suggestion of meek leafy, earthy, and grassy hoppiness.

The carbonation is fairly understated in its plain and barely palpable at times frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, nothing else really caring to chime in at this particular juncture. It finishes just a tad off-dry, the wan malt carrying us out on a bland-ass something or other.

Overall, having now had my fill of this offering, I certainly do feel like a shill - not in the stupid Scottish brewing meaning, but in the broader term - plain, ineffective, and not worth my time as an Alberta beer imbiber. It hurts saying such a thing, especially from this typically heady brewing concern, but there always comes a time...

A very interesting choice - I was transported to a British pub by this one. Definitely an old world brew, and that is no a bad thing by any means. The Red Shed malt stands out proudly, giving this seasonal a lovely base taste. The minimal carbonation is on point for the style. A pleasant surprise - the perfect "I'm just having one" pint. Cheers!