Brother Thelonious - North Coast Brewing Co.

jmerloni

Massachusetts

1.48/5  rDev -60.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

A - Dark walnut brown, moderate head that doesn't lace real well and has zero retention. Dull looking, though.

S - Almost nothing here, some grape, cherry, raisin, and other dark fruits. Little maltiness to speak of on the nose. Kinda just smells like rum. And vinegar.

T - Ew. Dark fruits that taste molded. No hops to be spoken of and nothing but nasty white sugar. Wow. I didn't expect this beer to be the disaster that it is.

M - Terrible mouthfeel. Light to medium bodied. Tastes like a skunked beer that's thinned out from a decade of sitting there. I feel like I should stir this shit every time I take a sip because it's so out of whack. The flavors are entirely disparate and not together. The alcohol comes through entirely, and the only thing I can taste on the swallow is vinegar and it stays there.

D - Atrocious beer. Worse than anything I've ever tried. This is a pathetic attempt at the style and a pathetic attempt at a beer. This should be used as a salad dressing or something. I've grown to know and love beer, and this beer is a disaster at its fullest. Worst I've tried to date in a list that includes "Cave Creek Chili Beer" - whatever that is. Don't ever buy this beer - this is awful and I feel insulted that a respected brewery would put this out on the market.

PS: I should note that Ruedrich's Red Seal amber ale is one of the three beers I've ever rated as 5 stars - right next to Pliny The Elder - so it's not like this brewery can't do better than this crap. This is fucking terrible and they should be ashamed of themselves for thinking they can swindle people into buying this just because they price it at 11 dollars a four pack and think they can convince people it's good via the price they set. Pathetic.

PSS: Fuck - I can't believe I have to finish this. Picture the worst wine you've ever drank and imagine drinking a 3 liter bottle in one sitting.

This is embarrassing for this brewery - I can't believe they put this crap out on the market. They should be ashamed of themselves. I don't care if I never taste Ruedrich's Red Seal ever again - this brewery deserves not a cent of my money for putting this beer out. They will never get a cent of my money again. This beer is shameful. I don't support the idea of good breweries putting out shit beers and thinking they can make money off of them just because they have a good reputation and because THEY THINK THEY CAN FOOL PEOPLE BY CHARGING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT FOR IT. Beer drinkers are not fools, North Coast - I'm sorry. I will have no part of giving you another cent. What a joke.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 23:50:50 | More by jmerloni

chumba526

Oregon

1.88/5  rDev -50.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Beer appears a dark brown color, thin light brown foam. It doesn't look much different from coke.

The smell is very sweet there is a strong overtone of prunes dates and a noticeable metallic smell.

The taste is overly sweet: there are tones of dark fruit like raisons and prunes but it's as if they were coated in a crazy amount of sugar. Kind of tastes like a fermented dr. pepper. There is also a very unpleasant metallic taste to the beer. The high carbonation makes the rough on my palate: it is not smooth. If you like Dubbels to have a huge amount of sweetness with no balance and if you like your beer to have the carbonation of soda you might like this. For me though, it was a drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 21:27:44 | More by chumba526

twelvsies

Maine

2/5  rDev -46.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I had this beer probably five years ago when I first saw it. Wasn't impressed, but I figured it was worth another try at least so I can put the awesome Monk bottle next to the DFH Bitches Brew bottle I have. Anyway, on to the beer...
Actually, one interesting side note - I've opened probably hundred's of thousands of corked bottles (6 years of bartending, several beer bars) and this was the hardest bottle to open.
OK, now on to the beer. Dark brown color, odd colored brownish head, dissipates quickly. Man, the nose on this is quite funky, not in a good way. Definite whiff of soy sauce, not a good sign, and cardboard. Unfortunate. It really is an alright tasting beer, but if I catch that whiff before a sip it kind of ruins the whole thing for me. Sticky mouthfeel... Too bad - I really wanted to like this beer. I am a jazz musician myself and Thelonious Monk is one of my idols. Too bad the beer does not represent. Awesome label, great brewery (otherwise), yet a terrible beer. It's ok, it was worth the $9 to have the bottle on my shelf.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 01:16:18 | More by twelvsies

bubseymour

Maryland

2.1/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

Appearance - Very scary looking dark and murky with 1 finger large bubbled head that isn't that impressive.

Smell - whole lotta sweet spice. Scary again.

Taste - Horrendous. But then again, Belgian Strong Ales don't work for my palet at all. No hop notes, spicy and boozy. Warming to the belly.

Mouthfeel - The 1 decent point of this beer is that its smooth and creamy.

Overall- This is a very love/hate beer and style I suppose. This isn't a drinkable liquid to me however.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 00:28:39 | More by bubseymour

rembrant

Ohio

2.17/5  rDev -42.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Pours a medium red brown with a 1/2" head that's gone quick. A more down the middle pour can form head but it still fades. Not much lace but a pretty color

Aroma Not much. Seems a touch of malt and something yeasty-tangy.

Flavor Well, there's a moderate malt,some yeasty old wood thing that's hard to figure. Second swig I get some trace of fruit-herbal hops and a metallic aftertaste. Progressively, barnwood and scrap iron tastes grow. Reminds me of an old wood box full of bits of old hardware, copper,steel,aluminum and old musty wood.
Mouth Body and carbonation about medium, aftertaste lasted awhile...but in this case,that's not very pleasant.

Drinkability. Well, impulsively I added this to some other singles on the spur of the moment. I had confused it with an IPA I wanted to try,and also had no idea it was over $3 a bottle.

I'd never cared for Belgian. Some years ago I went way over budget on one supposed to be good stuff...and found it almost too abrasive and rank to finish. Deja Vu

I can't see that dank wood and assorted metal as a taste I'd acquire. Worse yet, it STAYS on the palate. Easily the least drinkable brew I've had in some time.

That I could have indulged in a Bell's Expedition at about that price makes me very sad.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 01:21:13 | More by rembrant

mactrail

California

2.18/5  rDev -42.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

This is a surprise. I remember this as being rich and a little sweet, but this batch seems to be rather thin and definitely on the acidic side. Looks well enough, more red than coppery in the Duvel tulip. Nice head but coarse bubbles. The nose is a little vinegary.

Sharp and hints of some kind of bacteria like a Grand Cru, only much drier. Where did all the sugar go? Tart, rather bitter, quite earthy. Body is thin. Flavor makes me think of shellac. Aftertaste is very bitter and dirty.

From the 12 oz bottle from the cooler at Olive Tree in OB. I'll give this a taste if I see it on tap, but I'm leery of the bottles now. It was quite tasty in the big bottles but it has been three or four years since I've tried it.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 06:10:19 | More by mactrail

Vancoubeer

Washington

2.2/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I love dark beer. I try to buy one everytime I am at the local beer store. This beer really let me down. It had the smell of motor oil. It looked great. Dark beer with brownish head. But the taste was lame. It tasted almost as it smelled. It was like nothing I have had before. I had a hard time tasting the normal ingredients found in beer. It was more like a syrup. I will stay away from this. I am mad because North Coasts Old Rasputin is one of my favs on nitro. But this was a disappointment. IF you like abbey ales, try it but beware.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 04:22:04 | More by Vancoubeer

beernazismustdie

2.21/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2

It looks picture perfect when you pour it: thick, rich, and smooth with a small head. However, it's all downhill from there. It's like taking a beautiful girl home only to find out she's a bizarre headcase.

"Complexity" is a common word used to describe the taste of this beer. "Complexity" is evidently nice beer-snob word that's synonymous with "vomit inducing." This stuff is nearly the strength of barley wine and does not hide the alcohol well, as others have noted. Frankly, it tastes like a porter with cough syrup and molasses mixed in.

This was by far the most disappointing beer I've tried, and I've spent the last several years developing a taste for "finer beers." I would rather drink your typical mid-grade macro brew yellow water than this crap again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:12:53 | More by beernazismustdie

Kudashov

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

25 .oz bottle poured into a clean chalice . With a very aggressive pour there is little head , none . Not like the the chalice on the label . The head faded so quick , very disappointing . Smells of chocolate and fruit. Brown clear hue with no lacing as head reduced to nothing . Taste is spicy like BBQ sauce but also very watery . This not the worst brew I have had during my new hobby but this is bland , boring , brown water . Bleak . When this quest of finding " new beer " was started there have been some lousy beers but this is very disappointing . The 9 abv is well hidden , hidden behind a boring lousy brew for 9+ bucks a bomber . First time , last time .

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 21:01:50 | More by Kudashov

albern

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I'm giving this one the thumbs down. I was sorely disappointed and was hoping for so much more. The beer pours a nice cloudy, tawny brown, with a caramel consistency, and a smallish head. The head dissipated quickly, no lacing either. The smell is caramelized, yeasty, perhaps a tinge of some fruits, such as apple, rind, and lemon. The beer is medium bodied and then it goes down hill fast. This beer does a terrible number in terms of masking its robust ABV, in fact, I got nothing but harsh, throaty alcoholish burn. The beer had none of the candied sugar fermentation, the sweet yeasty malts of a Belgian, or the complex fruity carbonation and warming notes. This beer just hit all the wrong notes. I drank a small glass and got rid of the rest. What a disappointement. It seemed that they just let this one ferment too long until it carmelized what should have been warming notes, and lost its redeeming Belgian character.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2008 23:45:57 | More by albern

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

2.28/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into tulip
A- hazy brown/red with 2 finger off white head slowly dissipates into thin layer after couple of minutes
S- Raisin, lots of sugary sweet raisin, can smell it immediately as the bottle is opened, very strong and distinct
T- Same as smell- Lots of sugary raisin sweetness, not my thing, trying to get over it but really can't
M- Medium-Full Bodied, Good amount of carbonation. The flavor reeally lingers on the tongue
O- I dont see myself revisiting this one again, My taste buds just don't agree with this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 05:41:23 | More by BasterdInABasket

bobhits

Kentucky

2.3/5  rDev -39%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

deep amber 2 finger head. Tones of bubbles racing to the top.

Belgium yeast and malt...wow...how new. Touch of alcohol.

Sweet, yeasty, amber, caramel malt covered in yeast...simply boring as hell. If you like this style be default enjoy...otherwise avoid like the plague.

Lots of carbonation, medium body...very drinkable very nice mouth feeling.

Abby ale is another word for crappy yeasty mess more often than not. I have had so many beers of this style and I keep being left baffled how people enjoy it. Candy and sweetness are not positive unless balanced by a bitter flavor. These beers lack that and ultimately suck as a result. Factor in this isn't an overly well done one for the style and things just get worse. It's odd I can love a beer of this style if they get it right...and i mean RIGHT, but even the slightest failure and it's crap. This sadly is crap.

If you like the style give it a try but for me and at 9.4% it's just a keep away.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 08:50:05 | More by bobhits

capeannbass36

Massachusetts

2.33/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Cork was a pain to open...then just a pffft....no pop.

A- Pours a dark ruby mahogony with a one finger tan head that fades quickly....although the lacing hangs around for awhile.

S- Sweet malt, almost too sweet.

T- Oh my god....this is too sicky sweet. Feel like a little kid rejecting some nasty childhood medicine. Horrid. Forced two more sips down, for a total of 3. Dumped this one.

M- Somewhat slick and oily.

O- Perhaps this was a bad bottle?? I tried tweaking my review...can't....I am shocked at how bad this was.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 16:11:51 | More by capeannbass36

Yojimbo1941

Wisconsin

2.35/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a 1pt 9.4 fl oz bottle into a tuilp glass

A - Dark brown with reddish hues, slightly off-white head which quickly dissipated

S - Dark plums, raisins, a bit of cherry, brown sugar, cinnamon, some dark bread, dates, gingerbread

T - A weird sushi flavor is the first thing I noticed. Odd. Soy sauce? Overripe plums, vinegar, rotten fruit

M - Medium

D - At 9.4% this is not one to session, but relax with, which makes it all the more frustrating that the flavors are off. Maybe I got a bad bottle so I'll hold off posting this review until I've finished my first glass.

Post-first glass:

Gets a bit better taste-wise but I'm still confused by the first impressions. Again, maybe I bought an off-bottle. I'll try it again some time but until then I can't really recommend this beer. I am disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2010 22:23:14 | More by Yojimbo1941

rec

Australia

2.35/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This isn't really much like a Belgian Strong Dark Ale at all. It's a little like La Trappe's Quad - syrupy and one-track. It's probably closer to a porter than it is a dark ale. I'm disappointed, and the departure from the apparent style has sapped my enthusiasm to write a detailed review.

I would not recommend this, which is a shame after tasting their very good Pranqster Belgian Pale.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 09:10:08 | More by rec

MrGroovy

2.43/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

I signed up with Beeradvocate to review this beer. I agree with one reviewer who said it has a delicious, rich, complex initial flavor.... quite appealing... That reviewer mentioned the flavor of figs.... Yes, a fruity, complex and delicious FIRST flavor was evident and appealing....

But in the bottles I had it went downhill FAST after a nice beginning. Some kind of sweet and awful taste rises up as it stays in your mouth and as you swallow -- I wouldn't call it an "after" taste because it starts BEFORE you actually swallow the beer!!!

This is sad because the first flavors in the beer are great but it quickly takes on a strangely rich fruity awfulness.

Maybe it had gone bad and skunky in its own way? I bought it chilled at an upscale market... so I assume it wasn't THAT old....

Having read another reviewer who noted the same problem, I wonder if the brewery knows about it? Someone should tell them -- Great beer at first, strange and awful secondary flavor / aftertaste....

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 17:53:39 | More by MrGroovy

tonistruth

Nevada

2.45/5  rDev -35%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- 2 finger off white head with good retent, dark bronzed amber, lacking lace

S- fruity, sweet & spicy alcohol, sweet

T- alcohol present throughout, sweetness rather tame, fruity, dried fruit, hints of cardboard, sugary, simple, alcohol can get harsh awith warmth

M- medium body, but very light on palatte, hagher carbonation barely felt, alcohol burn (especially with warmth)

D- simple for a belgian, bland at times, nothing worthwhile, at least its for a charity

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2007 18:05:01 | More by tonistruth

Offa

California

2.5/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This is to me another disappointing, rather bland, uninteresting, and one-dimensional abbey ale. Although I have had several that I think are complex and flavourful, many others I've had simply seem bland and one-dimensional and this is one of the worst.

It looks good, a deep reddish-brown and slightly murky with a small but dense, permanent tan had that essentially never shrinks and leaves a very little foamy lace.

The aroma also is nice and promising - fruity, darkly toasty with a hint of chocolate at first that soon weakens to leave a lot of stewed fruit, fermented apples and pears, kulich (sweet Russian easter bread with dried fruit), candied citron, spices bark, hint of grapefruit - clearly alcohoplic and meaty but pleasantly and interestingly so. This is a nice, promising smell.

The taste, though, fails to live up to the look and smell. It is light, zesty, and tart, with bittersweet fruit, tart cranberry juice, cirus, hint of burnt caramel and alcohol, with brief initial promise and complexity. This promptly degrades, however, into complete blandness with merely overly strong, persistent tartness being the main quality, with only very weak hints of cranberry and burnt dried fruit. It rapidly becomes tiresome and boring, the tartness which at first seemed like a nice quality utterly dminates the drink, leaving almost no other taste or character. What compelxity it started out with vanishes and I see no point in drinking this.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2008 18:06:42 | More by Offa

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.5/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass, the beer is a very cloudy, almost murky, reddish-brown coloring. Very translucent around the edges. It had a slight film of head on pour, but was gone by the time I sat down with the glass. The beer has a sweet, toasty smell to it, with bits of toffee and earth. The beer is carbonated and sharp on the front of the tongue, paving the way for a darkly sweet mid-bodied rush over the tongue. Sour notes at the back of the tongue, with caramel, raisin, and apple flavors. The beer feels awkward in mouth, and the flavors don't seem to blend well. The finish is sharp and quick, and the aftertaste is a sour earthy taste that leaves some sense of a film in your mouth. Not one that I would reach for seconds, and I'm glad I only picked up a loose bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 00:41:38 | More by GarthDanielson

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.53/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I was under impressed by the bottled version so I decided to give it another go on draft at Mad Mex Robinson during happy hora I figured $2.50 it can't hurt me this time unlike buying the 750ml portion. Appears with no head whatsoever light cream collar of lace is left with each sip though dark ruby brown body. Aroma has light chocolate, raisin, and apple tones with alcohol evident with other over ripened fruits. Taste has a slightly spicy character with a touch of herbal hops, let me say though the flavor is so weak overall diminished by all standards trace of fruit and alcohol very watery presence espeically on draft in bottle I didn't like the way the flavors melded on tap I don't think it's flavorful enough. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied texture is way too light give me something I can bite into like Thelonious's music. Drinkability...I'm not going to bother again support his foundation I guess but this beer doesn't represent the artist or the music very well. Not too many clunkers from North Coast but this one's weak.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2006 13:20:33 | More by WVbeergeek

rarbring

Sweden

2.53/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A dark brown beverage with a ruby red tone, a beige head, leaving some curtains and a few spots as lacing.

The smell is sweet, dried fruits, figs, dates and raisins, some alcohol, sherry and yeast.

The taste is sweet, sweet, sweet, like liquid Christmas pudding. One with a bitter tang at the end, like from raw flour.

Medium carbonation, soft and like thin maple syrup.

This is really too sweet, I can't enjoy it even as dessert. Sorry!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 19:54:24 | More by rarbring

Lostcarkeys

2.53/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bought this a few weeks ago and finally got around to trying it,

A- Almost a cherry coke color with minimal head and lots of fizzle

S- Barely noticeable distinctions. A sweetness and nutty notes is overtaken by fruity raisin taste embezzled in there somewhere

T / MF- A bit of a disappointment. I do have to say I was a sucker for the label, but the sourness and sweetness were not a good concoction in my mouth. Be ready for the high carbonation!

O- It was worth a shot, but I don't think I will be buying this one again

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:18:40 | More by Lostcarkeys

cbl2

New York

2.55/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

$7.99 750 mL 9.00% No best by date.

Appearance:

Poured with vigor this dark brown ale with hints of ruby produces a quarter inch of tan foam that rapidly settles in my chalice.

Aroma:

Malty sweet, but punctuated by an odor of rotten wood and alcohol.

Taste/Mouthfeel:

Coarse biting mouthfeel, there really isn't much more to this beer. Once the carbonation settles all that is left is a mildly bitter, mildly sweet bland mess.

I feel bad for the Thelonious Monk institute of Jazz which is associated with this beer, and only receives $2 for every CASE of this swill sold. I'll finish the bottle, but I won't be trying this again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 14:32:34 | More by cbl2

Armand

California

2.55/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a chilled pint from Oggis. One overpriced beers due to the ABV. Big deal. I'd pass on this one.

A: Pours a very dark brown. There is a small light tan head which fades quickly.

S: Smells primarily of caramel malts, raisins, and sweet fruit.

T: Raisin, and caramel, sweet liqour due to the ABV, with a citrus note that I don't car for too much.

M: Syrupy and overall too much to sit back and enjoy. Didn't car for this one too much. Even for the ABV I had to down it quick like you would a BMC

O: Too harsh and strong to enjoy.

Serving type: draft

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 00:47:16 | More by Armand

bradford

California

2.58/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This beer looked really good coming out of the bottle into my La Fin Du Monde tulip. Nice head retention, solid lacing and a real nice brown copper hue. The smell was quite pungent with a lot of alcohol in the nose. Taste left a bit to be desired. I liked the initial taste, and then the alcohol hit. The burn was a bit too much for my liking and the mouthfeel was too strong with alcohol. I let the beer warm up a bit thinking I could get more of the underlying taste, but to no avail. I am a huge fan of North Coast, but this beer was just too abrasive for me. I took my time with this beer and eventually had to give the rest to my roommate. A decent beer, but not up to par from what I expected from North Coast. Although I don't feel bad paying 8 bucks for since partial proceeds from this beer go to charity. Worth a try but nothing worthy of seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 19:16:22 | More by bradford