Oliver's Hot Monkey Love
Pratt Street Ale House

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From:
Pratt Street Ale House
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
English Barleywine
ABV:
11%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 8.74%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
21
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 28, 2021
Added:
Feb 13, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
A strong ale of great distinction with an A.B.V. reaching the ranges of creativity. Brewed in the tradition of Britain's rarest fine winter ales, such as Eldridge, Pope's "Thomas Hardy's Ale". More than one glass and you could end up sitting by the fire writing short stories or love poems.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of DanO1066
Rated by DanO1066 from Maryland

3.69/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Brace of draught 8oz snifters at The Brass Tap here in Baltimore while watching the 2nd-half of the Tottenham-Liverpool match (So VERY British)
Jan 28, 2021
Photo of bluehende
Rated by bluehende from Delaware

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a very smooth old ale that had lots of caramel and biscuit notes. Very good.
Feb 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.92 by Boone757 from Virginia

Jan 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by wrightst from Maryland

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by RedHaze from Nebraska

May 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by mendvicdog from Maryland

May 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by nineworldseries from Ohio

Jul 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by DruRho from Maryland

Mar 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by cysiam from District of Columbia

Aug 02, 2012
 
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the Pratt Street Ale House in Baltimore, Maryland

Menu Says: English style barley wine. Brewed with honey and as much malt as we could fit into the mash run. This one goes quickly so get some while you can! 10% ABV

(Appearance) Pours a dark ruby copper tone wit a thin cream head with below average head retention. 3.5

(Smell) Honey and Hop aromas over a subtle malt background. Potency is a medium. Nice. 3.5

(Taste) Honey and sweet syrup malt flavor are dominant here. A bit of alcohol hotness pairs with a spicy hop character. Manages to keep the sweet flavors toned down. Pretty good and enjoyable barleywine style ale. 4

(Mouthfeel) Very slick smoothness with little to no carbonation. Alcohol presence is light. Body is medium. Good pairing. 4

(Overall) A good barleywine by Oliver brewing company and one worth drinking by any barleywine lover. 4
Apr 27, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by matt062286 from Maryland

Feb 10, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by nmann08 from Virginia

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by oline73 from Maryland

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.57/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a snifter at Church Key DC from the cask.

Very thin head bubbles on a simple dark red body. At first it appears brown, but after more light and drink it becomes obvious that this is a very dark red beer. Fairly good looking.

Is it me or what? Was this not aerated or served properly? I don't smell anything. I mean zero zip, nada NOTHING... A giant whiff and inhale only brings a very small note of boozy alcohol. Where is the aroma on this thing?

Taste is much improved. Buttery with an interesting vanilla finish. More fruit and spice feelings of cherry and cinnamon. Finish of the beer is a nice caramel malt and real nice soft tannins and velvety feel. There is no sense of wood though with this beer even it comes from chips.

Drinkability is alright and this is a pretty good beer, but it really needs a bouquet on it. I am wondering if this is just the nature of the beast or how it was served.
Feb 21, 2011
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Shared at my tasting on May 29, 2010. Thanks Brad & Scott!

Hot Monkey Love (quite a name, eh?) pours a brown color with adequate head and lacing. The aroma smells like a strong brown ale, with some caramels and dark fruits, as well as alcohol present in the nose. The taste is pretty decent. I found the 11% abv to be very present, though not distracting. The overall flavors were not as big and bold as I expected and hoped. The mouthfeel was a bit thin, in my opinion. I would have preferred perhaps more malt and a fuller body. Overall, a pretty good beer, but not something I could consume too much of.
Jun 25, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.87/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Growler of this showed up at a recent tasting. neat.

Beer is brown and hazy (slightly). Forms a big soapy white head that falls away and leaves no lacing on the glass.

Aroma is sweet with raisins and a slight caramel, also some alcohol.

Beer is medium body and overall smooth. Its a little light in the flavor department which is interesting since these bigger beers usually over do it. No alcohol in there which is good. Drinkability is good and mouthfeel is fine.
Jun 06, 2010
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had this on cask at Frisco's the other day.

The beer pours a brownish cola color with good head retention and minimal lacing. The foamy head is very creamy looking and attractive. The nose is malty with just a slight overtone of sulphur (something I'm noticing increasingly in Oliver beers). Don't get much other then sweet malt on the nose. On the palate this beer is pretty sweet and generally quite smooth. There's a bit of an odd drop off in the finish, and just a hint of a hop bite. The beer is really pretty light and creamy on the palate. The finish is OK, though you can tell the abv. is up there. There is a bit of nutiness at the end, which helps to tone down some of the sweetness.

This is an interesting beer, though a little goes a long way. It's also a bit one dimensional, dominated as it is by the malt. Not sure I could have more then one of these in an evening.
Nov 19, 2007
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.84/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Inner Harbor location.

Appearance: clear light brown color with a short 1/2" head that falls apart immediately. No lacing develops.

Smell: caramel and alcohol are easily detectable and quite pleasant.

Taste: caramel, hints of chocolate, ripe fruits, alcohol, and a decent bitterness makes up a nice warming winter beer.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Light prickliness at the start, but very smooth at the finish. Long aftertaste laden with caramel candy sweetness and strong alcohol tones.

Drinkability: definite winter beer here as this is truely warming and comforting, but the alcohol levels make this a sipping beer. Nice taste and worth trying if its on tap.
Mar 04, 2007
Oliver's Hot Monkey Love from Pratt Street Ale House
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 21 ratings