Brooklyn Monster Ale

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

Amber red body with a small ring of foam. Fruity aroma at the begining and more hoppy at the finish. Small notes of citrus and syrup gets more bitter at the middle. Very thick in the mouth almost like syrup. The finish is very caremely.

Bottle, aged about a year, not bad. Flavors are acidic, chiefly of apple, with hints of wood on the aftertaste which warms. Deep red amber color. Alcohol prevalent overall. Somewhat of a watery mouthfeel. I would like more richness.

[Tasted with svoger at Carlsens in 2005.] Thisone was too much at that time. No doubt I’ll find it better today or in the future. Time will show. As it is with barleys, the dominat alcohol is too much and it only ran very slowly down in the deep south.

Bottle gift from Stegosaurus. Amber pour with small head. Piney hop aroma with hints of fruit. Mild in taste but blended rather well. I liked this.

(Bottle, vintage 2005) Dark copper colour with small, very brief head, leaving just a beige ring around the glass. Fruity nose with notes of caramel, toffee, treacle, marzipan and hints of dark rye bread ... Earl Grey tea? A dash of rubbery hops hovers above it all. Fiery, fruity taste leaning in a vinous Madeira direction, accompanied by notes of dried fruit (dates, figs), marzipan, moccha and molasses. A sweetish, but fresh dash of hops sends you off towards the finish. Full bodied, syrupy, but still smooth. Definitely a bit sweet, but well balanced with the hops in the finish being exactly what is needed. Not as aggressive as many barley wines, but brilliantly balanced and actually very nice.

"Born in 2004" Good to hear, Brooklyn! Thanks for the 411. Appearance: Pours a robust brown, with a touch of red. Like an English Breakfast tea, except its beer, and with a crowning off-white head which faded (there it goes!) into a tight, neat bubble ring around the glass. Smell: Cherries soaked in alcohol. Possibly a bit of freshly cut pears, but its rather difficult to smell around the alcohol. Taste: Hoo-boy! Very sherry-like in flavor, with bit of wood in there. Hmm. I’m not really getting any clear cut malt or hop signals beyond the alcohol fumes. Long, spicy finish that eventually begins to erode the back of the throat. Mouthfeel: The body is a bit thinner than most barleywines (reminds me of Young’s Old Nick, except way more alcohol). Its all rather coarse on the palate, but it’s only a young barleywine and one that I feel is much need of a good, long nap in the cellar. Drinkability: 11.80%?! Well, that explains alot. Hmm. For some reason I thought it was less, but I certainly *feel* the ABV. I was wondering why my typing skills were degrading throughout this review. Not one of my favorite barleywines.

Great under estimated mega drink! The manly barley wine. Beautiful color, nice and strong yet sweet and warm with biting finish. A lovely drink.

bottle . . pours deep dark brown with a light white head . . aroma is raisins, malts, whiskey, dried fruits, slight hops . . taste is molassas, brown sugar, raisins, slight hops and grapefruit . . alcohol is hidden well . . i really enjoyed this one . .