De Steen
Monnik Beer Co.

Darkness and brightness square off on the palate with Monnik's Belgian-inspired creation that borrows nuances from Flanders type ale along with an imaginative American attitude.

De Steen's alarming darkness carries near complete opaqueness, showing tangy garnet lightness at its edge. A wisping coffee-like collar of foam swirls agains the rim while toast, pepper, red wine and balsamic tease the nose with light char and impressions of sourness. The sweetness of hard candy meets a cola-like maltiness for a semi-sweet start to the session.

The malt sweetness simmers in the recesses of taste while the bolder toast, sourness and fruit flavors take the middle palate. Black cherry, red grape, apple, lemon and lime tease the palate with its fruit acidity. Plum, blackcurrant and black berry prelude to a savory, sour balsamic finish. Peppercorn and a mild woodsy bitterness carry the finish into a tannic closure of robust red wines.

Medium-bodied for sour ale, the texture of malt continues to balance the sourness, peppercorn and toast. Lingering candied taste is modestly of cola and candy en route to a cabernet tartness that sides just slightly on the side of sour.