Monk's Brew (Red Wine Barrel Aged With Raspberries) - Mikkeller ApS

TheBeerCarl

Idaho

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours a disturbing cloudy brown like liquid chocolate or Mississippi River water. It has a thin light brown head. Could use more head.

S: Prunes is the first thing I smell but then it kind of morphs into a marinara tomato sauce like smell with some heat. The lingering notes are of dough, yeast and some floral notes. Weird but intriguing.

T: Über intense tart raspberry with some earthiness to back it up which fades to citrus and bitterness.

M: A good medium bodied mouthfeel with sharp carbonation that supports the tart raspberry flavor.

Overall this was an intense quad, very flavorful but tasty nonetheless!

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 09:13:49 | More by TheBeerCarl

brown2cu

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a dark red and is topped by an off white head. There is some spotty lacing around the glass as well.

S: the smell is heavy raspberries as well as some woody notes. I can't detect a lot of specialty malt as well as alcohol. Therefore, it's fairly one dimensional to me.

T: a lot of tart raspberries; almost wine-esque. There is also a lot of malty sweetness that brings the tartness down.

M: Full bodied, dry, and silky.

O: a wonderful beer; my first from mikkeller.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 05:00:17 | More by brown2cu

ToasterChef

Maine

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A room temperature bottle is poured into a NERAX goblet.

The beer is a very dark plum color; it is nearly brown. A dirty pinkish head of foam rises up as I pour, but it settles to a skim of foam rather quickly. A good slick with some patchy foam is left behind as I swirl the glass about.

The aroma is full of raspberries. It smells like it could be a fruit beer. I can also detect a decent amount of red wine tannins. I am not picking up any of the scents I associate with a quad, but that can be understood, considering the barrel aging that this beer went through.

The beer has a tart raspberry flavor, like a frambois. Some red wine flavors are also there, but they are mostly overpowered by the sour fruit. There really isn't any smoke, peat or other flavors I expect from a quad. The alcohol is also masked well.

This is a fairly tart beer. I really makes me pucker up when I sip it. There is some warming from the alcohol, mostly vapors, after I swallow.

I find this beer to be a really good way to experience what barrel aging can do for a beer. It tastes very little like a quad but is still quite an enjoyable beverage.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:58:41 | More by ToasterChef

kevanb

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12.7 oz bottle poured into a snifter

Pours a murky burgundy color, hues of red and brown when held to the light. Fairly opaque, decent finger of brown/red head rises quickly but recedes just as fast. A nice layer of film rest on top, and the head is easily resummoned with a swirl of the glass, no lacing to speak of. The aroma is interesting, lots of yeast, dark fruit, alcohol, spot on for a quad, a bit of the berries, hard to pick out the barrel and wine characteristics though, a bit disappointing, the alcohol is really strong and masks some of the other qualities. The flavors are a different story, lots of dark fruit, the raspberries really pop here, yeast is definitely big, some oakiness, very chewy, finishes with a nice dark grape finish, really peculiar and this beer definitely gets better as it warms. There is certainly a lot of sweetness, not uncommon to a quad, but its not overly sugary and the alcohol, while present, is very subtle and balanced, well integrated compared to the nose where it just dominates. The body is great, one of the better bodied quads I've had in a while, thick and big, while remaining very palatable, quaffable and smooth. Ample carbonation, lively to the tongue without being prickly and abrasive, nice finish.

Verdict: Certainly an interesting experiment, not convinced it really came together, maybe with age this will turn into a better, more integrated beer. Right now it's a bit disjointed and lacking something cohesive, but was definitely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 04:04:35 | More by kevanb

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is very hazy brown in color and has some yest particles visible near the bottom of the glass. It poured with a thin beige head that died down a bit, leaving a thin head covering the surface.
S: Moderate aromas of dark malts and raspberries are present in the nose - the raspberries remind me of a linzertort.
T: The taste has flavors of sweet raspberry purée along with notes of dark malts and hints of red wine.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little tart and dry on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather easy to drink because it hides its alcohol very well. The raspberries and wine barrel aging make it taste unlike most other quads.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 19:34:50 | More by metter98

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.01/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

this is extraordinary, but much much different than the regular monks brew, which I recall being so luxurious and rich, I think the acid of the wine barrels cuts through some of that delicacy, but its still lovely in this version. pours a red tinted brown color, syrupy looking in texture with a decent tan head that fades out relatively quickly. the nose is pucker, almost sour, wine tannins and acid, raspberry jam, Belgian yeast. the flavor hits hard, tart as hell from the berries, which are really fresh like all of mikkellers fruited beers. the yeast is robust, and its hard to tell if red or white wine barrels were used, but I kind of think maybe a blend of both, because this has some features of both. honestly, the fruit and barrel treatment almost overwhelm my favorite features of the regular monks brew, the rich chocolate malt interacting with that huge Belgian yeast. the feel here is acidic and thick, carbonation lacking just a bit, but it still feels like something fancy, which I cant really describe but I like it a lot. overall a clever beer, that's been turned totally upside down in this variation. the fruit adds a lot, good stuff. booze is invisible, look out.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 19:13:58 | More by StonedTrippin

peabody

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a nice dark brown with lots of nice off-white bubbles that lace the glass. Good looking pour.
Smell is raspberry and lemon peel with a strong yeast that burns the nose. Can't smell the alcohol.
Taste is raspberry and sugar malts with Belgian spices and a slight hint of alcohol.
Mouthfeel is very clean at first then turns into a pretty sticky malt feel.
Overall this is good but the cost of the thing is a bit much. Other than that, pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 02:23:44 | More by peabody

aasher

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one pours a medium bodied raisin brown in color with only a slight off white lacing around my glass. The nose is certainly different. It features a sweet, jammy red raspberry upfront followed by raisins, prunes, plum, and a dark and bready Belgian malt. That's about as complex as the nose can be for this style. It's really impressive. The flavors are a nice mix too. There is some tart raspberry with some fruity sweetness upfront with bready malt, red grape character, some prune, and almost some raisin bread. It's enough to make you think about each sip. It really is pretty complex. It drinks a little light in body for the style. I like this one. It isn't spectacular but for $10.99 for a 375ml I can't complain at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 03:25:47 | More by aasher

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Murky brownish, ruby red with a thin tan head that quickly settles to a ring of foam.

S - Raspberries, almost like raspberry preserves, oak tannins, hint of chocolate and caramel along with some red wine notes.

T - Tart raspberry with some red wine acidity followed by caramel and chocolate. Almost reminds me a raspberry, caramel fudge brownie. Oak and wine tannins linger in the finish.

M - Medium to full body, well carbonated. Finishes dry reminding me of a red wine.

D - Nice balance of sweet and tart. Would pair nicely with dessert. Reminds me of a stout raspberry brownie pairing from Matt Van Wyk and Flossmoor at an early Brewpub Shootout

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 00:51:18 | More by brewcrew76

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: quite dark red brown. Full tan head. Not much light getting through this.
Smell: Sublime candied raspberries. Dark fruit and thick port like heft. Great.
Taste: Similar to the nose but not as together in the taste. Wonder what this will be like with some age.
Overall: another creative and satisfying effort from the artists at Mikkeller. One was hard to come by. Wish I had another to put back for a couple of years. Bet this will be an amazing beer with some age.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 23:05:16 | More by cindyjeffsmith

DovaliHops

California

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown with a dark, ruby hue to it. Large reddish tan head that takes some time to go down. Very good-looking beer. Scent is quite vinous. Tart red wine aroma with some strong, fresh tart raspberries in the nose. Dark fruits from the base beer, but the raspberries take over. A ton of oak and wine aromas. Very interesting aroma. Taste has some rich, dark fruits at first. Sweet chocolate with some oak and dark fruits, then it becomes tart raspberries. Smooth chocolatey rich beginning, with a tart raspberry, wine-like finish. Some warming booze in the finish as well. The quad is there, but there is also a huge, tart raspberry flavor. I was worried about this one having a slight medicinal flavor, but none whatsoever. Mouthfeel has some nice carbonation, possibly just a tad bit too much. Full bodied with a tart, lip smacking finish. Drinkability is fairly high. Overall, this is one unique beer. This is better than the wine versions of the other dark mikkeller beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 06:25:15 | More by DovaliHops

Infamous7100

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a deep and opaque brown with a half finger khaki head. Nice retention and lacing. Hints of ruby do make themselves evident as well.
S: fruit forward! Raspberries are quite evident on the first whiff and its aroma is eeriely similar to a wine. As it warms, the tart raspberry aroma subsides a bit and mixes beautifully with sweet malts, sugar and other dark fruits. Complex and fantastic.
T: not to state the obvious, but its quite tart. However, as it warms, the sweetness of the malt does well to cut the tartness a bit and provide a suitable balance. The sugary notes and vinious qualities resemble a slightly less sweet and more carbonated port wine. Not as boozy as a 10%double abv would normally drink.
M: creamy, slick, carbonated. Not as full bodied as other quads I have tried. The finish is dry, but bittersweet. Its unique and pleasant.
O: not your typical quad, but I love the interpretation. Let this one warm a bit before you drink it as the warmth really brings out the sweetness that provides levity and really makes this brew work. Highly complex and very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 18:39:27 | More by Infamous7100

larryi86

Delaware

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12.7 oz bottle poured into a goblet

A- Dark brown with a two finger tan head.

S- Raspberries and some more raspberries, red wine, some dark fruits, slightly tart, some typical Quad smells.

T- More tart raspberries than the nose, still has a lot of fruit, mainly raspberries, red wine, some earthy spices, sweet malts, yeasty, again can tell the base is a Quad.

M- Full body, carbonation is a little prickly at first.

O- A tasty, tart raspberry beer. Gets better as it warms, but does not taste as good as it smell. Alcohol is very well hidden. This is a unique and complex beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 21:17:27 | More by larryi86

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a murky brownish amber with a creamy, lingering khaki head.

S: Aromas of caramel, red raspberry, plum, black cherry, oak, and dark chocolate fill the nose.

T: Notes of plum, raisin, fig, dark chocolate, black cherry, oak, caramel, toffee, woody spices, and red raspberry fill the mouth. The finish is prickly and dry with robust notes of plums, black cherry, red raspberry, and oak.

M: Medium in body, chewy, and a bit dry for the style. Carbonation is active, but very restrained. Alcohol presence is subdued.

O: Of the three Monk's Brew variations that I've tried to this point, this one is by far the best. The addition of raspberries and aging in wine barrels give this beer a very distinct aroma and taste that I'm finding difficult to compare to anything else. I really like it. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 21:00:39 | More by mrfrancis

match1112

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

murky brown body with some amber hues around the edges. thick light brown head settles in to a frothy wispy cap. spotty lacing is left behind. at arms length away there are huge notes of raspberries and red wine. this is not your typical quad, the big malty body and abv are hidden by the rspberries and merlot notes. very tart with a long bone dry finish that leaves me wanting more. carbonation might be a touch much, as it seems very lively on the tongue. didn't think i would end up liking this straight from the fridge but as it warms it really grows on me.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:32:15 | More by match1112

yamar68

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark beer even for a quad... silent chocolate body with an edge of burgundy clarity, a healthy tan head dissipates after a few minutes leaving all kinds of lacing - great looking beer.

The red wine and raspberry really do take over the aroma... faint barrel character, some powdered sugar, pretty fruity between the grapes and berries, a bit of smooth vanilla, the classic quad characteristics take a back seat to the adjustments made and I'm not complaining.

On the tongue, raspberries really take the reigns. Not overly sweet but definitely focused - raspberry shortcake next to a glass of merlot. Like nothing else I can think of, this certainly isn't brewed strictly to style but it presents a very intriguing pallet of flavors.

Super drinkable given the ABV... would buy again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 04:55:00 | More by yamar68

Trilogy31

California

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Cloudy chestnut brown with thick puffy foam that leaves chunky lace in its wake. Beautiful nose of intense raspberries (chambord, jammy notes). A touch of funky earth, bakers chocolate and some bramble along with a balsamic note before the beerbegan to warm. The taste brings beautiful sweet and sour raspberries, mexican oregano?, plum and raisin with a slight sherry rancio note and a vinous almost chateaunuef du pape character in this beer, really enjoyed its complexity and i am struggling to come up with descriptions. Very refreshing and hides its abv well with a slight sourness and good carb cleaning up for the coming sip. Well done and as usual i just wish his beers weren't so expensive.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 03:00:02 | More by Trilogy31

adamette

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Live review. Poured from the 12.7 oz. bottle that I bought at Save-On in Mentor for $12.99 last week. 4401204 stamped on the top of the cap, over the gold foil which covers the cap. I am not sure what that might mean or if it is even significant. Poured into a clean, clear glass.

A Murky dark black cherry body that does not let light through but there are edges of dark black cherry. On top of that body is a significant 3 inch light brown head with only moderate pour that lingers for 3 minutes. Additionally, a LOT of sediment in the bottom of the bottle makes it even more murky as you get closer to the bottom of the bottle. Great look. 4.5

S Sweet malt with raspberries. I expected this given the style and the inclusion of raspberries. I guess it is even more sweet with a "deeper" raspberry smell than I might have guessed. The smell is magnetic! 4.0

T Wow, there is so much going on with the taste of this beer....where to start?
First is a Kriek like tartness, the middle is a very sweet malt, there is a sense of red wine also in the middle and then a finish of some heat (alcohol). The raspberry is certainly there too but not like a raspberry from, say, Lindeman's Framboise (a kind of candy or fruit punch raspberry) but more of (like mentioned already) a tart Kriek like raspberry. This might be the most dynamic tasting beer that I have ever tasted! It is nothing if not challenging and complex. 4.5

M The kriek tartness, the significant malt sweetness, the sense of red wine and the heat of the alcohol all drive up the mouthfeel for me. The beer dances across my tongue in a symphony of tastes. 4.5

D/O Drinkability is not that good. The huge ABV and "big" tastes means that I could only ever have one of these in an evening (as I will this evening). Additionally, it costs more than $1 per ounce so that drives down the drinkability for me. Overall this is a very interesting beer. I suspect, though, that only beer geeks (like me) would be interested since it is so
1. expensive and
2. complex, challenging rating: 4.0

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 03:28:35 | More by adamette

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
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, raspberries, oak, red wine, Belgian yeast, clove and other spices, candi sugars, some booze.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, lots of raspberries, plums, raisins, dates, other dark fruits, oak, vanilla, red wine, some sourness and sour cherry, Belgian yeasts, clove, other spices, candi sugars, some booze.

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

D - Really nicely balanced Quad with a great mouthfeel. Raspberries and red wine add some great complexity.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 06:16:33 | More by ngeunit1

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Raspberries? red wine barrels? quadruple ales? There's going to be a sensory overload, coming right up...

Dark brown and with a purpleish tint, you can tell just from the color of the beer that it has some dark secrets. As the firm semi-spritzy, semi-creamy head form, even it conveys burgundy tint. Solid retention and broken lace is the constant reminder of the wine and berry infusion that decorates the beer.

Aromas are absolutely mouthwatering (I'm not sure if astringency is relegated to mouthfeel only) as the sharp and juicy berry and vinous scent puckers the jowls and whets the whistle. The backdrop of Belgian strong dark ale is easily dwarfed in favor of the fruit additions and barrel aging. Port wine, sherry, and raspberry extract come to mind much more quickly than does any beer.

Where the beer provides the tepid underlying maltiness that houses the carbonation and grounds the finesse esters and spices, the beer enjoys the beating that it takes by the brunt of sheer raspberry puree- so rich are the fruit flavor that it conjures memories of prune juice, lemon, dates and figs. Currant, red grape, black plumb, sweet tobacco, apple, and blackberry notes only add to the fruity matrix. With no hop bitterness in sight, the beer relies on the fruit and barrel tannin to balance the malt and fruit; which it does to perfection. Surprisingly, the sweetness of the beer is thin and terse, relying on the fruit acidity to carry the beer from early palate and into its extended aftertaste.

Full bodied to start, the beer's creamy carbonation and fully malted textures derive a very dessert-like experience. But just when you expect the dripping weight of residual sweetness to coax the palate, there's instead a thin and acidic sweetness that prefers a balance of dry merlot. With all those fruity acids, woody tannin, and vinous dryness going on, the beer is every bit as complex in texture as it is to taste.

Where I was luke-warm in my affection for the regular Monk's Brew, this version is seductive and as guilty of a sin for me as beer gets. I know not to become enamored by the fruit, or the barrel aging, or the wine influence. But as a culinary delight, I simply cannot help myself. This is an extraordinary fruit beer that begs a pairing of chocolate truffles.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 04:20:28 | More by BEERchitect

Brenden

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is dark brown and thick, with red-brown highlights at the edges. The brown head grows to an impressive height and thickness, has good retention, and leaves sticky patches and spots of lacing in good quantity.
The smell is potent out of the bottle. The first hit is tart and tangy raspberry but very much like red wine, vinous and ripe with tannins as expected. The initial smell (though not the look) tells me something like Flanders red, then it immediately gives more of an impression of brown ale character more like an Oud Bruin, but there's more to it. The heavy malts base, seeming addition of candi sugars, and light notes of a Belgian yeast strain make it earthier with a subtle sweetness playing well and allowing the tartness to set the stage. It gets mellower as well as more flavorful and complex as it sits and the sweetness mingles even more. The entire way there's a prominent barley-like, possibly roasted dark malts overtone. Alcohol is masked like I've ever smelled or tasted any beer with an ABV this high to manage; this is one of few beers with which it is simply impossible from the aroma or flavor to know it's got a 10% ABV. It does warm, though, and the drinker should be careful with this one.
The feel isn't bad, moderate carbonation setting the tone in a medium body with a consistent crispness.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 18:24:28 | More by Brenden

jlenik

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

a: pours an incredibly dark amber brown, hints of dark ruby can be made out in light. brownish red head comes and goes

s: oh! I get a lot of fruit notes at first along with some acidity from the wine barrels. this is definitely a dessert beer (or not in my case!)

t: Lot's of raspberries upfront, acidity, dark malt sweetness, dark chocolate flavors, and a bit of oak finishes the taste.

m: This is one smooth beer. Alcohol is very well hidden and the raspberries and wine barrel aging really put this beer over the top!

o: I'm always hesitant about Mikkeller but this one blew me away! Price is high but I would totally pay it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 21:37:46 | More by jlenik