Brother Thelonious - North Coast Brewing Co.

XxNitExX

Nebraska

3.3/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from 12oz bottle in to Chimay Goblet

A- Deep mahogany color with brilliant red highlights. Small little wisp of head that dissipates quickly. Looks like a Cabernet from a distance because of the small head.

S- Bready malts, small hint of fruit. Light alcohol tinge but very strong burnt bread smell.

T- Tastes like it smells. Very strong bready malt, with some dark fruit. Also has a nice sweetness that helps with the kind of overkill smell.

M- Lingers on the tongue for all the wrong reasons. Kind of like how astringent coffee sticks to your mouth this burnt bread taste sticks. Rather unpleasant.

Overall, not a horrible beer, but when compared to others in the style (Chimay Blue) it just doesn't match up.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 06:05:27 | More by XxNitExX

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

MI_gal616

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +22%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A dark orange/amber color with a good 1" head
The smell is sooo good. Yeasty, with a bit of wheat. Smells sweet.
Flavor is full of sugary malts. It's creamy in the mouth with hings of banana, clove spice, and biscuits. Yup, like the flaky Pillsbury doughboy. There is a light bitterness, especially on the finish, which I like because it keeps the beer from being too sweet.

Overall, it's a delightfully rich Belgian amber, very smooth, and almost syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:34:57 | More by MI_gal616

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

Dmart1223

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really, really liked this beer, for about 90% of the journey. It doesn't measure up to its Belgian counterparts, but it still has a little richness, a little complexity and a lot to think about.

The beer pours a hazy mahogany with a fine head that quickly fades... I'm guessing from the high ABV. Still, there's persistent bubble action that keeps the beer alive.

The smell was pungent...damn. Like raisin bread, dried fruit and rain. Bit of an odd combo, but who doesn't like any of those smells?

The taste threw me. First you get a thick, almost oily coating of sweet, dry fruit, like figs, mixed with fresh tobacco. That's a good thing, as weird as it might sound. A warm starts mid-gulp and flows down to the gullet, warming the soul.

Where I was put off was the aftertaste. First you get a hint of bitter and alcohol, which is great, but it starts to grow into a metallic, skunkiness that lingers. I wasn't a fan.

For me, drinking this beer was like eating a choice cut, New York Deli sandwich between two slices of Wonder Bread. The meat's clearly there, but the bread just isn't strong enough to keep up. I'm a big fan of this beer, but I really wish it was consistently terrific.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 06:00:51 | More by Dmart1223

barnzy78

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, pours brown with a bubbly, tan head that fades to a foam leaving no lacing on the glass. Aromas are dark malt or candi sugar, hot alcohol, spicy Belgian yeast,
bread crust. Tastes are dark candi sugar, banana, spice, cinnamon, bready, molasses, tea leaf. Mouth-feel is creamy and smooth with ample carbonation. Overall, it's good, but the cinnamony spiciness is too forward. It's almost like a winter warmer Belgian dark ale with all that spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 01:01:29 | More by barnzy78

BlankFrank

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

I've had this beer quite a few times; it's definitely a pretty good standby. I'm glad to see how popular it is among so many different types of people. It's truly heartening to see so many good Belgian and Belgian-style beers gaining so much exposure and popularity.

Appearance yields a nice dark coppery, reddish brown with a decent amount of off-white-to-tan head. Not really any lacing to speak of.

To the nose, a fairly sharp sourness hits first, giving way to dark fruit and caramelized sugar. Some spice is there, too, along with a tinge of alcohol. It's pleasantly intriguing.

There's a fair amount of complexity going on, once the beer hits your tongue. Caramel, dates, figs, malty sweetness, and a touch of clove are present at the front. The medium-long finish coats one's mouth with spices and the funk of very, very ripe fruit, a good kind of funk, though. The alcohol is not very noticeable.

Mouthfeel is a little too carbonated for this style, in my opinion. It feels more sharp than round, but does still give a little slickness.

All in all, this is a good beer. It may not be utterly fantastic or singularly unique, but I am still quite glad to have it around any time.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 06:28:34 | More by BlankFrank

Braz

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark reddish brown with a big creamy off white head. No lacing. Hazy body. Aromas of dried fruits and wine, burnt sugar. A little sweet, slight tartness. Very warming effect from the high alcohol. Subtle spiciness in the finish. Body is well carbonated. Overall this is decent. Not the best I've had. Could see this getting a little sickening though this style certainly isn't for sessions. Just a little too sweet and rich for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 15:19:48 | More by Braz

1Nrwyscotch

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

375 ml bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A. A deep brown color that does not let the light through with a tan head that lingered for just a short time.

S. Some sweet caramel and with a burnt brown sugar aroma.

T. It is very sweet with the caramel leading the way and not much else. It does finish a little warm from the alcohol.

M. A thick sweet syrup.

O. Its a bit of a let down flavor wise. I probably would not get again but definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 02:32:27 | More by 1Nrwyscotch

BWED

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into wine glass

A- Very dark murky amber. One finger head, light tan, quite fizzy. Resembles and retains like a soda head. Pretty quick to go, with not even a ring around the rim. Obviously that leaves no chance of lacing.

S- dark candied fruit, some brown sugar, with a little boozy wine/grape. Aroma is very intriguing.

T- Candied fruit transcends the aroma and reaches the taste buds. (That's deep...) with a general sweetness. A little bit of a metallic after taste. That's not so good.

M- Quite smooth, medium body. Not too thick, less carbonation than I thought it would have. It feels a little bland on the tongue. Yet drinkable, and the high ABV expressed through a nice calming warmth.

O- I have heard good things about this brew and thought it would have been better than this. It looked a little bland, it tasted a little bland, and it felt a little bland. It wasn't awful, but things just didn't seem to come together well. The smell on the other hand, is the highlight, and quite something. It is very pleasing and I may just sacrifice the last oz. and use it in my oil burner.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 04:27:46 | More by BWED

bskrtz

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle served cold in glass beer challis

A) Cherry cola color, clear but dark. Very small off white head disapates quickly.

S) Smells wonderful -- mild spice, very sweet, dark fruit -- its all there

T) Sticky sweet. Mild despite the high alcohol. Cooked caramel, cocoa, taffy apple.

M) A bit flat -- could it be this particular bottle? Thick and syrupy.

O) I'd like to try this one again, and so I will. This bottle was a bit flat which may have more to do with the vendor and less with the beer. Flat is bad....

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 01:13:24 | More by bskrtz

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brother Thelonious has a medium, beige, creamy head and a dark, murkey brown appearance, with essentially no lacing left on the glass. The aroma is of rich, strong, fruity malts (think dates and figs) and fruit cake. The flavor is the same, with an alcohol and brandy pick-up, raisin, sugar, and a slight hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is thick, but not too thick, and North Coast Brother Thelonious finishes heavy, wet, cloying, and smooth. Drinkability is limited. Overall, this is an outstanding beer!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 18:10:47 | More by RonaldTheriot

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.45/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- Slightly hazy dark brown body. Cream colored 2" fluffy head that reduces fairly quickly to a white ring.

S- Funky, fermented fruit, banana, prunes

T- Heavy malt characteristics, slightly wheaty with a little caramel in the background. The finish is spicy, peppery and slightly burning, but the 9.4 ABV was nicely masked.

M- Medium body, medium carbonation

Overall, a decently crafted brew. Not my favorite of Belgian, but complex nonetheless. Worth a try

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 23:23:52 | More by gcamparone

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 fl oz brown bottle served in a pilsener glass.

Deep maple in color with ruby and mahogany highlights. Thin, carbonation-filled lightly tanned head that fades quickly to a thin, broken sheet leaving no real lacing.

Aged, vinous fruit: raisin, fig, date, red apple; faint orange citrus notes. Light milk chocolate aromas as well which work nicely with the darker fruit. Notes of bourbon-like alcohol character.

Rich, brown sugar and milk chocolate that is cut rather quickly by a slightly tart vinous fruit component; as the aroma foreshadows, plum, raisin, fig, and red apple. The bourbon alcohol character isn't all that well masked, but it works with dark fruit and moderate malt sweetness.

Full bodied. A bit slick in spots, but overall pretty smooth; a nice accomplishment given the bold flavors.

A very flavorful Dark Belgian that could probably benefit from a year for the alcohol and fruit to mellow a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 20:49:34 | More by NEhophead

TheCondor

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I took some notes, so it has taken me a while to sit down and type out all my beer reviews. That being said, I popped this on opening night of Monday Night Football. I wanted an exciting beer to go with the occasion. Side poured with standard vigor from a bottle into a goblet.

Appearance - Pours a deep brown color with almost no transparency. Small head dissipates into almost nothing quickly, but no worries. Very cool packaging, love it!

Smell - Banana, caramel malts, maybe some dark fruits and brown sugar all play a part in the nose of this brew. Interesting, to say the least.

Taste - A very good brew indeed! Many of the above mentioned aspects of the nose were involved in some form or fashion in the taste. The sweetness of the fruits is balanced by a mild spicy zip that leaves a drinker wanting another. Well done

Mouthfeel - Finishes slick and heavy, well carbonated.

Overall - A quality beer certainly worth your time. Not Chimay Blue, but a good Strong Dark Ale nonetheless. Give this one a shot, see what you think. If nothing else, your friends will think the packaging is cool, and there is a good cause that the sales of this brew supports. Check it out!

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:42:23 | More by TheCondor

DiabolicBrew

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: deep brown with garnet highlights
S: strong clove, banana caramel malt
T: Malty sweet, slight banana clove, rich notes of dark fruit. Slight alcohol.
M: creamy full body
O: pleasant representation of the style. Slightly over powering sweetness, but over all nice balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:29:20 | More by DiabolicBrew

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap for the 4th Annual LA Beer Week Beer Festival at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a slightly murky honey brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, brown sugar, caramel, yeast, and spices. Taste is much the same with a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 04:16:43 | More by UCLABrewN84

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, poured in a goblet

A- pours dark murky brown with just a bit of light sneaking through. Small light tan head that disappears quickly to nothing, no lace.

S- ripe banana pudding turns into dark, sugary raisin, caramelized brown sugar and booze.

T- sweet caramel, malty with a bit of spiciness. Notes of dark fruit, finishes sweet and warming from the alcohol.

M- medium-heavy body, moderate carbonation, foamy and a bit heavy. Warming alcohol but not overpowering, however it almost leaves a tingling numbness on the tongue.

O- an interested strong ale, the flavors don't quite mesh for me but it is a nice warming drink for a cool all night. It will definitely sneak up on you.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 01:45:08 | More by Treyliff

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a murky amber colour, thumb of head with decent retention and no real lacing.

S - Sour fruit, Belgian yeast is dominant with cloves and sour cherries. Some chalky dark fruit scents and a peppery spice on the finish.

T - Dark fruits, burnt sugar, raisins and figs, hint of cloves and creme brûlée. A sweet raisin bread flavour lingers with a buttery finish.

M - Pretty heavily carbonated, goes down prickly and finishes sticky and wet.

O - A tasty Belgian Dark Ale that nicely captures the flavour profile of the style. Glad I picked this one up an certainly worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 02:37:56 | More by andrenaline

colts9016

Idaho

2.95/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into my Schlitz goblet at 51 degrees.

Appearance: A one finger head that is light tan, foamy, and very poor retention. The head left no lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is a dark copper brown with reddish copper hues. The clarity of the beer is opaque.

Nose: A very strong alcoholic aroma that is followed by the malts. The malt is roasted caramel with a biscuit overtones. The hops is medium with some fruity esters, citrus, and spiciness. Other aromas are raisins, cherries, mild pepper, and an earth tone.

Taste: The malt in the beer is on the forefront of the palate, notes of roasted caramel and biscuit, The hops is a push back a little with fruity esters, citrus, and resin. Other flavors in the beer is raisins, cherries, mild pepper, earth tones, and subtle sweetness.

The mouth feel of the beer is coating, astringent, thick, and chewy.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium and the finish is full. This beer has a lot of potential, but fell down on a lot of fronts. To me, this beer could have had more body and could have been more refined in the flavor department. I felt that here is the flavors in the beer, take it. If the beer could have been finessed, this would be an outstanding dark ale. Alas, I am not the brewer, maybe this is how they intended to make it.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 04:04:25 | More by colts9016

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

TheFishmonger

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brother Thelonious begins with the familiar champagne ritual - untwisting the wire bail, edging the cork out a millimeter at a time until it comes free with a pop. The head is voluminous and creamy, but quickly subsides into a narrow, persistent band. The scent and flavor are matched. There is a touch of an alcohol bite, but not much considering the ABV. Then, a flood of raisin and prune, sweet and malty. I am very much reminded of the Corsendonk Christmas Ale. Since I haven't been able to find that around here the past few years, Brother Thelonius is a welcome addition!

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 20:44:10 | More by TheFishmonger

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle poured into an oversized tulip

A - One finger of caramel colored head. Very hazy brown color with red highlights. Left a little bit of lacing along the glass.

S - I'm getting some caramel and chocolate malts. I enjoy the spicy clove phenolics and the way they mesh with some darker molasses notes.

T - Great rich chocolate malts right up front show complexity with a nice red fruit quality. Half way through the earthy hops show up with a little bit of some bite to them. The hops and alcohol finish the taste, complementing nicely.

M - Medium-full bodied, Semi-dry, Moderate carbonation.

O - Good complexity in the nose and great complexity on the tongue, I enjoyed that it stayed away from a big sweet profile yet still being full bodied.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 00:43:35 | More by Jparker37

SGDJosh

3.35/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tasted at Sweet Grass Dairy on 9/18:

A - Pours reddish brown with a 1.5 finger head on top which dissipates into light lacing on top.

S - Lots of candied fruits, malts, yeast...

T - Lots of figs, raisins, Brandy notes, little bit of bread with a nutty finish.

M - Medium body with light carbonation.

O - Good beer but I feel like it needed more carbonation. It was heavy, sweet, and rich but needed something to cut though that.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 21:47:55 | More by SGDJosh

Blackwolf

2.85/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from bottle into oversized wineglass

A- Poured a red/brown murky body with a tan head, which held very little retention. No lacing on the glass either.

S- Dark fruits, yeast (and a lot of it), some brown sugar, a little bit of caramel and roasted malt. There is also a heavy note of alcohol in it too. Very powerful aroma, but I am not too sure if I like that.

T- Sweet roasted malt, caramelized sugar, dark fruit, lots of funky yeast and tons of alcohol. Again, a bit overwhelming, but manageable.

MF- medium body, medium carbonation, sticky... Very bittersweet flavoring left on the palate, and some warming effect. For a belgian, I would expect more.

O- I really like Northcoast, but I have to admit, this was not very impressive or well balanced to me. So many things could be different about this belgian, but it is a manageable beer. Personally, for the style, I doubt I would make my rounds to this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 12:20:28 | More by Blackwolf