Blue Monk Barley Wine
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant - Eleventh Avenue

 

 

 

 

Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a medium is foamy head with OK retention and some lacing. Aroma of light cereal notes with some hints of toffee is interesting. Taste is also a mix of dry cereal notes, hints of toffee and dry biscuit notes with some light residuals suagr notes and warming alcohol notes. Body is about average with good carbonation and warming alcohol notes. Straightforward example of the style.

650ml bottle poured into Sam Adams pint glass.

Pours a deep, clear copper orange with three fingers of foamy tan head that leaves dense forest lace as it recedes.

Smells of sweet caramel malt, boozy stewed oranges and grapefruit, candied dark fruit and dark leafy hops.

Tastes of boozy raisins, toffee pudding, more spicy stewed citrus, caramel apple, molasses and citrus rind hoppy bitterness.

Feels rich and creamy. Full bodied with velvety carbonation. Finishes dry.

Verdict: Highly recommended. Careful with this one.

 

 

 

2014 edition - 9.5%

Appearance - Pours a rusty copper with a finger of bubbly white head.

Smell - dark fruits (plum, raisin), bready caramel malts, light toffee sweetness, booze, earthy and leafy hops.

Taste - Starts off with the dark fruits (plum, raisin), then goes into the bready caramel malts, light toffee sweetness, earthy and leafy hops, and booze.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full bodied with light carbonation. Finishes dry with a slight lingering sweetness and booze.

Overall - A barleywine that has the elements in place. I would classify this as an English barleywine as the hops are more to the English standard. I was hoping that the sweetness would stand out a little more. Also, there was no need for the excessive wax on the bottle - just an aside from the brew itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a bottle of this cellaring as we speak but just tried on tap as well, Calgary Crowfoot location. Arrived in a goblet, a murky orange hue like super-concentrated apple juice and with minimal froth. Aroma sweet and pungent, sweet dark fruits, toffee, fresh orchard fruits, and green hops all integrated together quite nicely. Thick syrupy body as one would expect, minimal carbonation and a decent blast of rich dark flavors but with a surprising amount of fresh fruit as well. Raisins and dates, candied peaches and mandarins, apple, pear, almonds, and maybe a touch of sweet brown spice like cinnamon, a few other malty flavors in the background that evoke molasses and toast. Not roasted. Do not be fooled by the IBUs listed. Finishes sweet but one does get some pine resin ... Less hoppy than other American barleywines but with ample fresh fruit character and everything melds together well. Points for balance even if I was looking for a bit more hop power.