Brooklyn Monster Ale

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

2005, consumed fresh. Sampled with creme brulee as suggested by Garrett Oliver. very lively and vinous aroma of sherry, port barrels, caramel malt, cookie dough, flowery hops, peaches, orange rinds, sherry and alcohol. Complex would be an understatement. Flavor is similar, expanding on the fruit notes to include melons. Also noted are tobacco, raisins and earthy tones. Palate is exceedingly smooth for such a young barleywine. Finishes very dry.

2000, consumed in early 2006. Sampled with homemade baked Alaska, a divine pairing. Noticeably thinner. Chocolate and caramel flavors abound in a very complex combination. The interplay of malts and alcohol is seemless, balancing the mouthfeel and finish very nicely. No signs of oxidation, fantastic. This was excellent at a young age as well as at six years old.

(2003 bottle) Amber in color with orange edges. I could almost confuse this for an IPA based on aroma alone, very hoppy! I could simply describe this beer as an overcarbonated Avery Hog Heaven with even more hops. Well masked alcohol, rather easy to drink. A good beer, but not spectacular.

Beautyful red amber color with just the right thickness head to make it reasonable. Aroma isnt terrible interesting, mostly barley malt and a tad of other side notes. Flavor hides the 11 percent nicely, and is a quite reasonable barley wine. Im not a huge fan of the end to this beer, it is a little more of a bitter bite than the warming feeling I have experienced in other brews (old horizontal comes to mind.) Regardless, a fine brew that I would not say no to in the future.

2004 edition. 12oz bottle served in my NB worthy snifter at 61.5°. Dark copper color with a nearly non-existant head. Aroma is spicy, alcoholic, and earthy but I don’t really get any malt. The initial taste is vanilla and brown sugar followed by a rush of bitter, earthy, and hops, over-ripe fruit, yeast, and alcohol. Nice mouthfeel, the alcohol thins it out at the end. It is a sipping beer, nice and warm with moderate flavors, but nothing really sticks out about it.

12 fl. oz. bottle via dkachur (thanks!), shared with Lubiere, served almost cool in a tulip glass.

App.: Deep ruby, clear, frail white froth. Aroma: Metallic (unfortunate), really big cherries, raisins and molasses, a touch of licorice, a bit of meaty mash, fair alcohol, light warming spices. Palate: Medium+ body, soft carbonation, a bit syrupy. Flav.: Burnt sugar, cherries, wood, lots of alcohol, a touch of nuttiness, a bit of vanilla and marzipan, some apricots, touches of tang; plenty of alcohol and nuts, light licorice.

Heavy-handed and simple. Needs aging, maybe?

Mushroomy barley and orange aroma. Crystal clear copper color, medium head, good lacing. Obvious alcohol, barley malt, and candy. Slight celery finish. Not really my thing.

bottle from Pailhead, thank you Kevin. aroma of caramel malt and spice. pour is a deep amber with an off white head. flavor is of sweet caramel but with a strange almost metallic after bite. certainly has the abv to kick some ass, but needs a bit more balance.

Pours a clear orange with a minimal head. The aroma is medium sweet, big caramel malt and a bit medicinal. Flavor is very malty and fruity with a noticable alcohol finish. Rich texture, medium bodied.