Monk's Elixir (Monk's Brew) - Mikkeller ApS

largadeer

Kentucky

3.38/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft at Gourmet Haus Staudt. Cloudy, rusty brown. The head pours small but creamy and dense. There's a lot of brown sugar and raisin on the nose, sweet licorice, star anise. Sweet, sugary malt and dark fruit are prevalent on the palate. Alcohol is noticeable and lends a bit of harshness to the finish. There's more spiciness than the nose suggests, peppery with a bit of anise. Medium bodied, a bit roasty in the finish with lingering licorice spiciness. A decent effort, but too boozy to be really enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2011 22:10:21 | More by largadeer

avalon07

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a goblet. Had a dark brown color and a thick texture. There was a big, foamy, off white, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A good aroma of yeast, malt, hops and a sweet component.

T: Tasted of Belgian yeast, malt, a slight hoppy presence, and a syrupy quality. Some alcohol esters present as well. A solid and surprisingly subtle flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a super dry finish. Medium-bodied.

D: In general, this is an all around good, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 12:04:53 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a dark, murky mahogany with a two-finger cream-colored head that lingers throughout the session leaving lots of lacing. The smell was very sweet with caramelized sugar and dark fruits dominating. The taste has a big sweetness of caramel malts and Belgian yeast forming a backbone on which dark fruits and chocolate. The alcohol makes itself known in the taste as well. The mouthfeel is medium bodied but a little lighter than most quads I've had with tons of carbonation. This is a very good example of a quad but probably a step down from the best. Still, very, very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2008 00:37:28 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice two finger, but it dissipates very quickly. Dark brown with some cherry highlights. Can't see any bubbles, but you can feel them on the tongue. Mild roasted malts and heavy tastd malts that have an undeniable sugary sweet aroma. The taste starts with Light roasted and candy syrup. The middle gets more balance with the toasted roasted malt flavors. The yeast adds more of a fruity, cake flavor. Pretty complex yeast flavors and very malty sweet. Hints of light chocolate with some earthy hints of hops.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 05:03:08 | More by scruffwhor

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I poured this from a 750ml bottle, corked and caged with silver foil on top. Huge thanks to BelgianBeerGal, who gave me this as an extra in a trade. The beer was dark murky brown with a thick tan foam, not much lace. The smell is just about perfect, this has a very similar aroma to Westvleteren 12. Dark fruits (plums, figs, etc) with delicious esters and some alcohol. The taste is nearly as good, although I taste some spice (maybe coriander) that I didn't detect in the aroma. The body is thick and coating, the flavor lasts a long time. Absolutely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 02:47:36 | More by TurdFurgison

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

yet another brilliant and distinct beer from mikkeller, the king as far as i am concerned. this one pours really dark, chalky black in color, with some dark brown yeast floaters and a two inch white head with wonderful retention. the nose is alcoholic for sure, dark malts, but not bitter and toasty, sort of mineral rich, volcanic in some way. the yeast is spicy and bright, but not overbearing. its somehow delicate in such a massive brew. in the flavor i pick up something sweet but not sugary, kind of like the birch syrup beers, but to a lesser degree. really awesome malt profile, earthy and lighter despite its color. alcohol is invisible until it warms, and the yeast is classically belgian while also adding some interesting fruity elements to an otherwise black beer. feel is lovely too, great carbonation, velvety glide down the throat, and a full body that remains super drinkable. overall this is a perfect example of what a belgian strong dark ale can be, and its one i had no problem dirnking a 750ml of, despite its 10% abv. this was a special treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 18:12:26 | More by StonedTrippin

bark

Sweden

3.38/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sold as "Monk's Elexir" in Europe.

The colour is dark brown-red, the liquid clear. The beige compact head is finger thick.

The smell is mild. I noted some marzipan, raisins and beeswax.

The taste is dry and surprisingly light. Raisins, yeast and some sweetness. The body is low. The long aftertaste is light and fresh with notes of Coca Cola, nuts, raw beef and a hint of yeast.

The carbonation is strong; the small bubbles are sharp in the mouth. The liquid is mid-smooth.

A strong Belgian-style beer without any traces of alcohol. But there is not much of anything else init either.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2009 19:34:48 | More by bark

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into tulip 1/10/12

A dark brown with a ruby glow once held to the light, enough clarity to see bubbles moving some sediment around, two fingers of beige foam hangs around long enough to leave one thick ring of lace followed by a partial, ends as a thin film

S lots of over ripe bruised fruit, plum and banana mostly, smells a little sweet with burnt brown sugar and brewers candy. I might be crazy but cinnamon and whipped cream come out after a while, booze is hard to miss and just a faint sting on the deep whiffs

T almost disappointed the cinnamon and whipped cream faded in the mouth, I almost had a banana cream pie, a little boozy even for 10% and there’s some spice I can’t place, mild earthy notes and some sweet raisins

M a little thin and the bubbles don’t give it the life I was hoping for, more heat then I like but its not out of control, just a little left behind in the mouth

O nice beer but some age would help its cause, don’t get me wrong this is solid stuff but could be great down the road. A nice mix of flavors and worth a try for sure

I can’t remember what the cost of this one was and I guess that will determine if I buy a couple to age. Not up there with the Trappist versions but a respectable beer for sure

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 16:26:47 | More by wordemupg

dgilks

Australia

4.43/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown colour with deep garnet highlights. Small, creamy tan head. Fair head retention.

Really dense, dark fruit aroma with lots of date, raisin, plum, fig and berry notes. Alcohol and spice add balance and interest.

Bold and very rich with lots of dark fruit and rich malt. The bready melanoidins add depth along with some nice mild spice. Really good.

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. Nice.

A rich Belgian strong ale with lots of great flavour. This is certainly a brooding Belgian rather than a brighter one.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 10:47:42 | More by dgilks

hopdog

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle. Synthetic cork stamped 07/04/14.

Poured a medium brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of dark fruits, caramel, some yeast, a little woody, and some chocolate. Tastes of dark fruits, lighter yeast, chocolate, caramel, and a little bready. Light to medium alcohol burn that creeps up a few seconds after I drank (but overall well hidden).

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2009 22:55:51 | More by hopdog

champ103

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a cloudy dark brown color. A large beige head rises to over two fingers. The head has very good retention. Light lace is left behind.
S: This has a great spicy aroma up front. Some Belgian yeast as well. Sweet malts, bread/biscuit, and dark fruits come out as this warms up.
T: Spicy flavors with some yeast and sweet malt. Alcohol lingers around as well.
M/D: A medium body but a little over carbonated for me. The alcohol shows, but I am enjoying sipping on this.

I split this with a friend. Thats the way to go with this. A little to strong for me to sip it by myself, but it is very enjoyable. One of the better Mikkeller beers I have had. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2009 00:47:27 | More by champ103

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Mmmmm malty heaven. Poured with a nice off white head and lots of lace. Color is a cloudy amber brown. Aroma is very malty yeast dark ripe fruit. Flavor is like nose. Easy drinking. Body is good and ditto carbonation. Finish is nice and on the short side.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 04:37:12 | More by drpimento

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a touch of brown around the edges and a finger of frothy khaki-brown head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet dark caramel malts, plums, raisins, other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove and other spices, candi sugars, some booze.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, plums, raisins, dates, other dark fruits, Belgian yeasts, clove, other spices, candi sugars, some booze.

M - Full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet, spicy, warming finish.

D - Really nicely balanced Quad with a great mouthfeel. Great yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 05:07:40 | More by ngeunit1

GbVDave

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked, caged, and silver foil wrapped 750ml bottle into two St. Bernardus goblets. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Pours a dark brown, very cola-like, with a small light-khaki head that leaves a little bit of spotty lace.

S: Aromas of caramel, toffee, toasted nuts, dark fruit, and cola-nut.

T: See above. Also tasted were spices, dark chocolate, white pepper, roasted nut, spicy figs & raisins, and toasty malt.

M: Medium bodied, slick and peppery, with a nice bit of dryness at the finish.

D: This one shows off barely a trace of its' 10%. Goes down far too easy!

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 15:24:18 | More by GbVDave

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into chalice; no bottle dating, but likely at least a few years old.. Pours hazy extremely dark brown, almost black color with a 1 finger dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass; with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of big raisin, prune, molasses, cocoa, toast, pepper, clove, toffee, roasted malt, dark bread, dark candi sugar, dark earthiness, and yeast spiciness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark malt and spicy yeast esters. Taste of raisin, prune, date, cocoa, molasses, toast, toffee, dark bread, dark candi sugar, light clove, and dark earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, cocoa, molasses, toast, toffee, dark bread, dark candi sugar, light clove, and dark earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice balance and complexity of robust dark malt flavors with fruity/spicy yeast esters; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish; but still definitely a slow sipper. Overall this is an excellent Quadrupel style. Great balance, complexity, and robustness of dark malt and fruity yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to sip on slowly. A very enjoyable offering; this ages very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:35:21 | More by superspak

laituegonflable

Australia

2.65/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark amethysty-red colour with dense beige head that sticks around to a decent crown. Nice cradle of lace. Pretty damn fine.

Huge fruity nose, very candied with a blackcurrant and apple edge. Blackberry, cherry medicine, I could go on but yeah, it's definitely lacking something, needs more than just sweet fruit. Pretty poor and cloying, in fact.

Taste is similarly saccharine. Loads of fruit: apple, blackcurrant and black cherry with a slight weak cider edge and hardly any complexity to it, just sweet and a bit weak. Medicinal edge on the back but it falls short of being nicely phenolic or spicey. Really quite disappointed.

Full body, but not a lot of texture, just very simple.

It's probably hard to produce this particular fruit note from a beer but it just comes out as thinly sweet and under-fermented. Just not very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 23:36:55 | More by laituegonflable

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy dark brown with beautiful ruby highlights when held to light. Huge fluffy off white head persists forever. Smells of dark fruits, brown sugar, spicy yeast, and a touch of alcohol. Taste is very nice with lots of dark fruits, spices, sweet malts, maybe a touch of alcohol. Mouthfeel is creamy and a little syrupy, body is full, carbonation is crisp but not overpowering. I liked this one a lot.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2009 23:31:55 | More by johnnnniee

srandycarter

California

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - No pop from the cork, but no worries. Nice, but small, head reduces to ring. Very little sticky lacing and some cascading walls of bubbles from the rim edge. Kind of a murky, flat brown.

S - Dark fruit, brown sugar.

T - Pumpernickel bread, cooked dark fruits, brown sugar and a bit of cocoa at finish.

M - Medium body, maybe too carbed for me, good balance.

D - Alcohol isn't obvious, and flavors are not sledgehammers. For the style, pretty drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 03:38:29 | More by srandycarter

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown with a small, fading head.
Nose shows sultanas, spicy phenols, golden syrup, port notes and caramelised bananas.
Flavours include more sultanas and dried dark fruit, treacle, port, brown sugar and over-ripe banana. Also some soft booze. Pretty sweet.
Carbonation seems just a little full-on, even considering the sweetness.
Very enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 00:29:25 | More by CrazyDavros

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a brown 750 ml caged and corked bottle.

Loose spongy light beige head with great retention. Intense lacing. Body is a deep dark oaky brown, nearly opaque.

Dry icing sugar and dark dry fruit on the nose, low lying toasted notes, plum.

Flavour gets more complex, smooth chewy dark malt, toasted, bready and molasses sweet. Spicy dark dried fruit in the middle, plum and red grape notes too. Dry toasty, wafery dark chocolate finish, sticky dunkel-like aftertaste with spicy alcohol warmth.

Smooth nearly full-bodied mouthfeel, low carbonation, a bit sticky on the finish but still creamier and smooth than anything else.

From my experience so far Mikkeller seems to be a bit hit and miss--at least regarding my own palate--but I give them/him credit for pushing the limits and experimenting. This time around was pretty close to a philospher's stone, great quad or dark ale or whatever they're trying to pass this off as, excellent dark Belgian ale that's worth going back to. Check this one out for sure and stock up on it.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 07:52:05 | More by IronDjinn

rarbring

Sweden

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is clouded brown and black, a tan head leaving little lacing but good curtains.

The smell is ripe fruits and yeast, almost home brewed plum wine in the fermentation phase. Other fruits as well. Slightly alcoholic.

Starting with the sweet taste of sponge cake, apple jam with almonds, sherry and donuts.

Medium low carbonation, a soft, sticky and oily feeling, a huge body.

Raw, a bit alcoholic, but very interesting, and probably with a big potential in 5 - 10 years.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 20:27:19 | More by rarbring

Crosling

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark ruby/burgundy color with a full head that forms interesting shapes. Aroma is pretty vibrant and shows some juicy dark fruits. Flavor has some hints of banana to accompany the dark fruit notes. It is lacking in body and texture for me. Hmmm, it's pretty good. Young right now. Somewhat disappointing in that it isn't in the same league as some of the better Belgian strongs, but it's still a tasty, well brewed Belgian style ale, certainly better than almost all American versions.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2008 17:05:38 | More by Crosling

Pencible

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured a translucent dark mahogany with some light tan head.
S: It smelled like rick dark fruits (plumb, raisin, cherry) and brown sugar and molasses, with a bit of oak and bourbon.
T: It tasted like brown sugar and molasses and powdered sugar, with plumb and dark cherry and raisin, as well as earthy chocolate and creamy yeast. It had a sweet and mellow aftertaste.
M: It was thick and creamy with smooth carbonation.
D: This was absolutely fantastic with tons of complexity and rich flavors. It had amazing body too, and hid the alcohol like crazy, so it was infinitely easy to drink. Reminiscent of Van De Keizer (blue), which is one of my favorite dark Belgian ales ever. This could maybe improve with age, but I already love it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 15:45:53 | More by Pencible

ADZA

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The brew pours a deep mahogany hue with nice carbonation that leaves behind a caramel laced two finger head and lacing everywhere,the smell is mainly alcohol and candy,it has a medium bodied syrupy mouthfeel which leaves your lips sticky and has tastes of boiled candy,brown sugar,medicinal hops,alcohol and finished with a barley sugar sweetness and overall its alright and definately hides a powerful punch behind its sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 11:05:59 | More by ADZA

cosmicevan

New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a - opened the 750 and poured into my La Trappe chalice (damn that cork was tough to get out). Poured a nice shiny plum purple with a frothy, yet bubbly head. looks pretty good to style and has an almost authentic head unlike many quads that don't originate in belgium.

s - much sweeter than i had expected. really candy like. fruit punch, grape ade. kind of creamy. smells like a solid quad with some sweet added. inviting for sure.

t - much spicier than the nose suggests. in fact the sweetness is swapped out for tart bitterness and first. as the brew opens up, a lot of wonderful other characteristics come out. dark fruits, plums, raisins...somewhat classic just peppery.

m - nice rich full mouth. i can let the beer sit in my mouth and really sop it up. the aftertaste is overly bitter at first, but once my palette warmed up to the beer the authentic quad creaminess really came through.

d - was really in the mood for a quad tonight. at first my nose told me this would be too sweet, then my initial first sip told me it was too bitter...then when my tastes buds dug into the beer, it really became the beer that i was hoping to enjoy tonight. the creaminess and body are like many classics and the flavor, although on the bitter side, really hit the mark. this is a solid beer...in a style where this is stiff competition.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 01:48:57 | More by cosmicevan