Weyerbacher Merry Monks Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

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The first thing standing out about Weyerbacher Merry Monks is the unrelenting effervescence. A myriad of micro bubbles race through the sparkling clear Tripel to reach the creamy white head. Yeast, banana, and bread dominate the aroma. After a sip, sweet grapes come to the forefront, buttered toast, followed by just enough hops to balance. Gets sweeter, dryer, and the 9.3% is more evident as it warms. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Pours a clear golden with head that barely lasts 5 seconds. Aroma is typical for the style with a lot of bananas and cloves that remind of the banana flavored Runts candy once the head has dissipated. Flavor is initially very similar to the aroma but then the spices and alcohol really kick in to create a relatively powerful bite that slowly evaporates and leaves you with smooth banana afterthought. Pretty good.

Purchased at Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont, MA; enjoyed after eating a great lobster roll on vacation in Bar Harbor, ME. Appearance is a moderate cloudy gold with a thin bubbly white head that quickly dissipates. Aroma of banana, clove, Belgian ale yeast, smells potent. Taste goes down with a light burn, definite alcohol flavor, high carbonation, spice notes. Not a huge fan of this one.

Very alcoholic, fizzy, triplet. Hey, farms, earthy, and potpourri. Hazy golden, not very sweet.

Decent Belgian. Not really my style, but I can appreciate the flavor profile - this one doesn't stack up to the best but is easy to drink and I'd have it again. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

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%.