Weyerbacher Merry Monks Ale

Brewed by Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Style: Abbey Tripel
Easton, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

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Bottle. Pours a mostly clear dark golden color with a thick bubbly white head. Nose is slightly sweet with some dried fruit elements to it. Taste is sweet and heavy with some sugary elements to it. Not a huge fan of it.

I poured a 12oz bottle into a chalice. I believe the bottling date translated to 11/6/2012 making it six months and 16 days old. It cost $3.45 ($0.29 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark orange hue that’s extremely hazy even before adding the sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Forms a small, white, soapy head which almost completely evaporates and doesn’t lace the glass.

Smell: Lots of banana and black pepper. Noticeable alcohol, but pleasant.

Taste: I think the Abbey-style Tripel is my favorite of the traditional Belgian brews, and Weyerbacher Merry Monks definitely represents the style well for an American brewery. Strong fruit notes of banana and orange as well as some spice and alcohol. They all synergize quite well, though the palette is a bit repetitive and simplistic.

Much like the nose, the major flavors to this beer are banana and orange. You wouldn’t think those fruits would complement each other, but they do and work really well in this case. There’s a subtle black pepper spiciness riding shotgun the entire time. It imparts some nice bitterness to contrast the fruit flavor, as does the alcohol. There’s a hint of rum here, though there’s no obese booziness. Classic Belgian yeast flavor on the finish and in aftertaste is quite pleasant and delectable. These flavors keep repeating, but never become cloying nor boring. I am genuinely impressed.

Drinkability: Though the alcohol to Weyerbacher Merry Monks is noticeable it’s quite tolerable. It creates for a slightly dry aftertaste, though the beer is surprisingly refreshing while in the mouth. The mouthfeel is thinner and flatter than most Belgians of the style, though that leads to a smoother finish and more comfortable experience. It makes good use of its 9.3% ABV weight as its plenty robust but not liquid fire. Maybe not an ideal brew for newbies, but veteran drinkers should be able to handle this with ease.

Belgian Brew Fest: My palate was not at its finest at this point but I recall this being a nice if not a wee bit heavy brew.

Wonderful beer! Hints of sweet banana with a nice sour ending. Pours nice, leaving an appealing appearance and aroma. Highly recommended.

Bottle in the office. Pours a murky golden-orange with a thin covering of beige head and some lace. Nose of Belgian yeast, orange peel, candi sugar, spice. Sweet and fruity, full body, easy drinking for 9.3%.

Excellent beer... The palate is slacking but the barley is excellent... Light on the hops and a little sweet.

Pours a hazy yellow with an orange tint. The color of blush on an apricot. A finger of foam that fell slowly to a thin skin on top. Good retention and lace. Nose is malt bread, caramel, banana and pear. Some apple, raisin and yeast to round it out. Bubblegum and clove, pepper and faint floral. Malt deepens with a little bread as it warms. Taste is banana, pear, a little acidic, pale malt and honey, a little pepper and spice on the back palate. Clove really comes to the palate as it warms. Body is light and mouthfeel is creamy but a little heavy. A touch of grass brings the hops to the palate in the finish as the alcohol leaves warmth and dryness to offset the juicy fruitiness. It’s a little tart and tangy but the bread is amazing and full which both contribute to it’s heaviness. I thought it was a good tripel. Not quite subtle but well done nonetheless. After all a tripel is for sipping not slurping.

White head quickly disappearing. A little hazy for a Belgian tripel. The flavor had some fruit but was too sweet for a Tripel.

Tap. Yellow pour with white head. Smells of bananas and wheat. Tastes of the same. Very good. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Appearance- hazy deep gold color with a thick fizzy head. Aroma- yeasty, some sweet orange, spices Flavor- nice sweet malt, spicy, dry finish.