As a part of a mixed six, I picked up a bottle of Weyerbacher’s Merry Monks. Since I have had several Weyerbacher’s (the Double Simcoe IPA and the Slam Dunkel) in the past, and heard G-LO sing the praises of the Merry Monks, I thought I would give it a go. The Merry Monks is one of the year-round beers produced by Weyerbacher. Per their website, Merry Monks is described as a Belgian Style Tripel Ale, while the bottle that I purchased had a label saying that it was a Golden Ale. Does this mean that there are two styles of Merry Monks or perhaps I picked up an older version? Either way, here is what Weyerbacher has to say about the Merry Monks on their website:
Merry Monks’ is a Belgian style Abby Tripel. To be true to the style, Merry Monks’ Ale is bottle conditioned. This means we add a bit of sugar and yeast just prior to bottling. This imparts a special effervescence to the beer, a creamier carbonation, and also extends the shelf life. The on-going fermentation inside the bottle will change the character of the beer as it ages, and you’ll find it becomes dryer with age. You may want to lay down a few bottles for future evaluation. We suggest storing at cellar temperatures – around 55°F – and away from light.
When you try this beer you’re in for a unique treat. The special effervescence and creaminess are immediately apparent when pouring. The pilsner malts combined with the Belgian yeast strains yield a remarkable and complex flavor- perhaps you’ll note subtle hints of banana. The flavor is nicely balanced and the finish moderate to dry, begging for the next sip. This 9.3% brew is available year-round.
I found this beer to have the following characteristics…
- Appearance: Golden with good foam and lacing.
- Aroma: Very mild notes of malt, hops, yeast and spices (nutmeg & clove).
- Taste: Creamy with malt and sweet (apple-grape-citrus notes) beginning followed by a spicy (coriander) finish.
- ABV: 9.3%
This was a good take on an old style. I found this to be very easy to drink, and at 9.3% ABV, a very dangerous start to the afternoon.