Brooklyn Monster Ale

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Brooklyn, New York USA

Toffee and burnt malt aroma. Amazing deep red color. This is an extremely thick beer. Starts with carbonated kick and ends hoppy. Update 10/24/08: Cracked on 06’ vintage. Malt presence very evident. burnt sugar, bitterness evident on back of palate. Alcohol pretty well hidden. Much thinner now.

This is a hard beer to rate. It’s a barleywine to be sure, and strong. I don’t wish to comment much on the flavor and behavior, the above are averages. I’ve been drinking this since 2001 vintage, and every year it changes, as well as changing (duh) with age, (though less than with vintage). The 02 was probably the best year, though 01 and 04 were quite solid too.

12 oz. bottle, "was born in 2005," sampled in a snifter. L: Hazy reddish woody amber with a tight head of creamy foam that quickly dissipates into a thin sudsy lacing. Light amounts of splotchy lacing. S: Dried apricots and pears with cleaner solvent-like alcohol. At the edges is a soft spiciness and metallic silver tin scents. F&T: Smooth with a full bodied creaminess and a dry alcoholic sting in the back of the throat. Apricots, pears and light touches of tropical fruits mesh with the caramel malts to give this a sour sweetness. The alcohol is both spicy and metallic, grows stronger in strength and warmth as the taste progresses. Bare hints of herbal hops that turn quite citric juicy in the finish. A finale of grain bread, citrus and metallic flavored alcohol. If the alcohol was more tamed and balance in the taste, I think the drinkability would only increase, this starts to become harsh as you near the end. One bottle and I’m done for the evening.

Slightly sweet aroma, with hints of dark fruits, alcohol, and citrus hops lurking in there. The pour is a dark reddish amber, with a thin off-white head that fades to a dusting and a ring. Very balanced flavor. Slight sweetness and hints of alcohol. Nice long slightly bitter finish. I’ve laid down some of this, and will come back to visit it as the years go by.

Wow. I had this one aged four years. One of the best liquids that has ever passed my lips. What a supple experience. All the flavours - caramel, strawberry jam, caramel, brown sugar, caramel, uber-ripe juicy mushy rasberries - are so balanced and soft that you can taste everything melt into itself so perfectly. The palate is magnificent, perfect carbonation that is fairly subdued and not too lively. The body is beautiful not quite clear ruby-copper. Very tiny head that settles to leave a small soft white coating on top of the beer. I was so blown away by this beer.

2001 vintage via kramer17801, opened July,9 2007 -12 oz. glass bottle- color of light muddy brown, with a thin off white head - nose of raisins, dried leaves, anis, dates, and slight alcohol – taste of raisins, dried leaves, anis, dates, earthy, cola, and slight alcohol (good but, it might have needed more time in the glass bottle)- body is medium, sweet, and with low carbonation – aftertaste of coffee raisins, cola, prunes, and dry earthy different tasting but very complex

2007, opened on a rare cooooold night in Florida. Pours a dark copper with a thin white head that quickly fades. Aroma is hoppy, toffee, and roasted malt. Hops are very aggressive american hops combined with smooth english malt. A very nice combo. Body is very much like a fine sherry, but without the sweetness. While it has yet to really age any, still very smooth and complex, very tasty. Alcohol is there, but well hidden. Hops do not slam you in the face, but you know that they are there. I am putting away a couple to see how this ages, because I think this is smooth now and can only imagine what this will become. A must try.

12 oz bottle via BA-SS-07 (thanks!). 2006 bottle. Pours a copper with an average sized beige head. Nose is fusel alc, vanilla, and grainy. Taste starts with some burnt caramel, orange-peal, toffee, and grapefruit. Body is medium, carbonation high. Abv is there for 10% but not overwhelming. I think think would age well for a couple years.