Noel Lavender Ginger
Monnik Beer Co.

 

12 ounce can, thanks to Brutaltruth for this one! No dating that I noticed on the can. Served in a stemmed tulip glass the beer pours a somewhat hazy gold color with about an inch or so off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both good. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like lavender, ginger, peppery spice, pineapple and clove. Taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, but there's also some bready malt, grassiness and some herbal flavors noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit coating and creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this brew, certainly worth trying if you're into Tripels! And their other brews are always tasty too, worth stopping in for their beer and food if you're in Louisville!

 

12-oz can poured to a teku. Goldenrod in color and unfiltered, with half a finger of fizz. Mandarin orange and lavender heavy on the nose, allspice, and bright fruit esters, banana and pineapple. The lavender is nearly part of the texture on the palate, immediately coating the back of the throat and hiding the ginger a bit. Not that the robust florals are offputting or anything, but I'd be interested to try a version with just the ginger.

 

From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This unique ale pours a chill
hazed golden with a decent head of white foam that subsides to
a thick ring, thin wafting layer, and sports some decent lacing. Nose
of floral lavender, ginger, light clove, and candy sugars with herbal
notes. Flavors exceed the nose with a unique presentation of
light cantaloupe, ginger, light pepper, sweet candy sugars, clove,
subtle banana, and wafting herbal hops. Mouth feel is medium,
medium light carbonation that is crisp, medium body, and a bitter
sweet herbal finish that is moderately dry.

Overall, an odd concoction that is a cross between a Belgian
wit and a Crabbies ginger beer.

Not my cup of tea.....or ale, but interesting for what it is.

 

 

 

Bright, beautiful and despite its light color and delicate flavor profile, Monnik's holiday beer is absolutely built for gatherings, celebrations and the looming cold weather. With a not-so-subtle character of ginger and lavender, the beer's floral upstart can handle anything the holidays throw at it.

Noel is a breaming blonde ale with surprisingly bright clarity. With a skirt of foam adorning the collar, its fragrant medley of flowery lavender seems pez candy-like while its generous ginger additions have me begging for Thai food. Its taste however is strongly Belgian with a sweet and yeasty taste of honey, confectioner's sugars, fresh-baked bread and a hint of sugar cookie.

As the ale washes the middle palate, its floral whimsy is joined with natural esters of apple, orange, lemon and honeydew for a radiant and succulent taste. The beer's balance of yeast spices offer a snap of peppercorn, clove and cumin that fights through the strong ginger and the delicate lavender to ensure a crisp and spicy taste to close the session.

Medium-full and moderate on its bubbly feel, the beer's malty weight rests firmly on the tongue. The tandem of peppery spice and vinous alcohol simmers on the mouth and slowly dissolves the lasting malts for an aftertaste of herb and spice infused white wines with a soft honey-like under current.