Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale - Black Sheep Brewery PLC

Dudeletter

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was about with friends the other night, having a good meal with them at the local British pub, when I came across perhaps the only thing more fundamentally British than a pub: a Monty Python beer. Let me share something with you my dear readers: When it comes to Monty Python, I’m a bit of a fanatic. I can quote all of the movies by heart, own the TV series box-set, seen the musical, and have scared away more than one prospective girlfriend upon their discovery of my ownership of a replica of the Holy Hand-grenade of Antioch. So when I saw that the restaurant offered Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale as they called it, I could not order a bottle fast enough.

As you can tell, the bottle itself is clearly marketed to Monty Python fanboys such as myself. Boasting of being tempered over burning witches is all fine and good, but finer still was the beer itself. The beer boasts a rich amber color and a fruity, yet bready smell. Meanwhile, the taste, much like the smell, slightly fruity, you can definitely taste the malt, and has a superb aftertaste to boot. As a whole, it seems being roasted over burning witches does wonders, because Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale is a very solid English Pale Ale, and a rather tasty one at that

Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale is brewed by Black Sheep Brewery, a British brewery located in North Yorkshire, and luckily for all of you eager to try it, yet not so eager to go out of your way to find a bottle of it, they sell it here on their website. At least in my opinion, it’s worth a try not just for the fan appeal, as it holds its own as a good brew, so if it sounds like something you’d want to try, I recommend it. You may smell of elderberries afterwards though.

http://www.dudeletter.com/?p=1265

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 15:50:39 | More by Dudeletter

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a SA Perfect Pint

A - Dark golden pour with a scant, thin white head; decent retention, minimal loose lace.

S - Grainy malt in the nose with a light, somewhat grassy hop scent.

T&M - Very grainy, and maybe a bit harsh on the palate. Relatively smooth otherwise with a rather gentle hand used in the hopping; with a slight grassy edge. Hint of a fruity sweetness malt in the finish.

O - Overall a decent brew that offers sessionability and a decent depth of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 01:19:13 | More by ZeroSignal

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.23/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500ml bottle poured in a shaker glass.

A: Pours a golden to orange absolutely clear color. Forms a big white head with good retention and many lacings left

S: Very grainy. Caramel and hops. A British Ale

T: Follows the nose. Simple beer. Caramel, malts and hops. Slightly sweet upfront and mild hoppy aftertaste

M: Light watery body. Medium carbonation. Mild bitter aftertaste

O: High drinkability. A British session beer. Not good as Monty Phyton

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 17:04:55 | More by eduardolinhalis

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer is copper to amber in color with a tiny, fleeting head that leaves virtually no lacing on the pint glass. The aroma is weak, with faint scents of malt, biscuits, a hint of citrus. The flavor is unassertive and fairly bland. Hints of malt, bread. A bit of astringency in the finish. Overall, this was mediocre. Monty Python is hilarious, but this beer is unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:54:49 | More by Huhzubendah

aranheaney

New York

3.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 3 Heads Brewing Pint Glass

A-Golden without too much head, little to no lace

S-not really much here, maybe a little citrus

T-Very Bland and Ordinary, officially nothing awesome here

M-again, not much going on

O-very disappointing, gimmicky, won't seek out again...

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 00:57:18 | More by aranheaney

drabmuh

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tulip. Beer is yellow and mildly hazy with a big white head, small bubbles, some medium bubbles, some lacing, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is like a cream ale, yeasty, fine, nice, smells fine.

Beer is thin, very thin, a little grainy, creamy, yeasty, mild biscuit, it tastes OK but it is a boring little beer. Not a repeat.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 19:40:13 | More by drabmuh

brewskifan55

Mississippi

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

After seeing Spamalot,there was little doubt this nectar would be in my future. Poured into a snifter as the Knights of Nee stood watch in the distance.

A: "What is your favorite color?" Clear amber with a white half finger head that leaves foamy bubbles. Careful with those coconuts, horseman!

S: "What is your quest?" Verily, I detect a citrus sword fight clashing with light malts. Not a whiff of rabbit, yet it peers from its hole, teeth bared and hungry.

T: Ah, smooth , citrus and malty. Methinks this doth drink like a lager. 'tis more like a summer ale. This is the ale that drinks like this.

M:"What is the air speed velocity of an unladen African Sparrow?" Light to medium with medium carbonation. Great bubbling, like a witch's cauldron, without all the rancid heat and eyes of newt.

O: Crisp, sessionable, yet more like a sequel than the real deal. It's just a flesh wound. If I'm going to drink like the Knights of the Round Table, quench my thirst with a brew that slaps me from my horse and dances silly jigs while farting in my general direction.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 20:19:40 | More by brewskifan55

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

2.48/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

let me blow the dust of this here keyboard. Back in the saddle, kemosabe. Enjoying this beer with some reheated pizza- a meal fit for a king.

A- Clarity is king- see right through this one. A burned orange color, a bit darker than I expected, 1 finger head that settles quickly. Middle of the road- no knocks on it but nothing impressive either.

S- I get some sweet bready malt, it's a fairly pleasing nose. I like it. Simple, but hey, it works.

T- The pale malts come through again, slightly fruity, floral, sweet and simple. Not much else, though. In fact, this beer feels lacking... I see some other reviewers mention hops but I taste none. No freshness date, but this one's gotta have a bit o' time on it I think.

M- Light, fleeting, flavor vanishes. I don't care for it terribly.

O- One and done- it was a freebie, and went well with the pie- but the label is more appealing than the beer. Oh well, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 23:46:15 | More by ShogoKawada

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.45/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from 4/2011 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours an nice orange amber. Thin white head with no lacing. Aroma of sweet malt and with a buttery element. Taste is not quite as nice as the aroma, but pleasant. Sweet malt, slight grain and a hint of hops. A somewhat abrupt, dry finish. A pleasant, but not outstanding ale. Not bad really for a gimmick ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 03:36:47 | More by LiquidAmber

C20Percent

Virginia

1.75/5  rDev -47.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

*Review taken from notes*

Got this bottle from World Market out of one of their Beers of World boxes.

A: Pale yellow with a bright white head.

S: Sweet malts.

T: Terrible. Soapy. Flat. Flavorless.

M: Light. Watery.

O: Did I possibly get a bad batch? This is a terrible tasting beer. Would not recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 19:45:32 | More by C20Percent

chimaylvr

Rhode Island

3.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served in pint glass at The Banshee in Dorchester Mass.

App: Like other reviews, clear, copper-red. light lacing even in a clean glass.

Smell: Hop-less, biscuity, fruity esters

Taste: Ever have a Magic Hat #9? Reminiscent. Different. Since Magic Hat #9 is considered a "vegetable beer" I can't say I disagree with that classification. Malty, slightly fruity having a kinda cran-nut tang

Mouthfeel: A little underwhelming. Carbonation is low leaving a flat taste-feel

Overall: It wasn't bad. I like it better than the aforementioned in taste. Not high on it though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2012 01:38:37 | More by chimaylvr

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

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

Into tulip, no date on the bottle.

A- Clear pale copper pour with thin white cap. Lacing is decent.

S- Slight caramel and toffee. Slight floral hops.

T- Toffee and slight biscuit. Very subtle hop presence. Subtle mineral notes.

M- Light bodied, decent carbonation.

O- Tempered witches? Nah. Decent beer? Yup.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 01:53:23 | More by korguy123

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a clear, pale, copper coloring with a thin, white, frothy film covering the surface of the brew. Aromas of toffee and roasted nut sweetness, with a hint of hops. Flavors are rich and tangy sweet, with toffee and hazelnut characteristics cleaned up by a peppery hopping at the end of the palate. Very light bodied and a steady carbonation feel throughout, with a thinning effect on the flavors. The aftertaste is light and short-lived, with some of the toffee and roasted characteristics shining through. The finish is quick and clean, leaving a clear palate behind.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 03:12:23 | More by GarthDanielson

kojevergas

California

3.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served on-draught into a mason jar at Villain's bar in Los Angeles, California. Reviewed from notes. I'd had this before from the bottle.

A: Pours a one finger head of fair cream and thickness, but bad retention. Colour is a nontransparent copper-gold.

Sm: Biscuity light nuts and some malts. Maybe some toasted malt. A mild to moderate strength aroma.

T: Less hoppy than expected, with some light nut hints alongside tropical fruit esters. Strange but enjoyable. Balanced and experimental, but pleasant. It's nice all around.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A touch too thick, especially for the style.

Dr: Drinkable but strange - not that that's a problem. I wouldn't get it again at this price, but it's nice for what it is. No holy grail here, though.

C+

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 04:34:59 | More by kojevergas

Giggy

Michigan

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A very beautiful coppery amber colored pour. Nice Ivory colored head.

S: Bready, fruity, and nutty. Very inviting.

T: Mild hops,fruity, and a nice caramel malt.

M: Creamy, smooth, and light. Nice carbonation.

O; Will drink this one again. Whimsical label

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 21:50:24 | More by Giggy

thehenbarris

New York

2/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A- Coppery, tinge of red.

S- Almost none. Faint malty/grainy.

T- Again, almost none, and that kills it for me. I felt like I was drinking an adjunct lager. (I said to one of the people who was with me that I'd rather drink a Labatt's Blue.)

M- The only place this beer didn't disappoint. Light with nice carbonation.

I wouldn't go out of my way to drink this if I were you. And I don't plan on having it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 05:56:04 | More by thehenbarris

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

2.98/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale pours a clear, light Copper color. The off white head faded fast.

It has a faint, pleasant, slightly malty smell.

Not much taste. Slightly sweet, easy to drink, no hop bitterness.

Bottom Line - This is a dull boring beer that lacks flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 04:42:37 | More by JohnFatAss

Samp01

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a clear amber, medium white head. Aroma and Taste is a light fruitiness, some toasted malt, and grains, and a bit of grassy notes. A medium body, carbonation is moderate. Finish is some toasted malt, barley yeast, light fruity and grassy notes and some light hops. Overall seems a bit lacking in flavor and aroma, just an average brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 17:38:33 | More by Samp01

nhindian

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into tulip.

A - Pours a pretty amber, bordering on almost completely clear. A lot of active carbonation can be seen rising through the body, culminating in a 1.5-finger, powder white head with decent retention. Solid lacing surrounds the glass.

S - The front of the nose brings a hefty amount of sweeter malts and grain, a touch musty. There isn't a whole lot here, but it does finish with a burst of spicy, earthy hops.

T - For an English Pale Ale, the taste is surprisingly sweet and even rather off-putting. Instead of the clean malts, however, I am getting a somewhat astringent cereal graininess. This swallows the characteristics from the hops, leaving them to fight through this initial shock. There's some kind of fruitiness here as well that just seems misplaced. There isn't a consistent theme throughout this beer and doesn't seem to represent a pale ale at all.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with good carbonation. This feels pretty nice on the palate, and is even crisp at times. It's a shame that the flavors don't leave something better for this to embrace in the aftertaste.

D/O - Drinkability is moderately low. This beer has a nice vision, but strays away from the path too erratically for me to fully get behind it. The hops are almost non-existent in the taste, replaced with a strange malt bill and sweetness. I'll leave this as a novelty beer; fun to try once, but I will not seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 04:29:52 | More by nhindian

mptorpey

Delaware

2.03/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Coper with light carbionation, very little head

S: very yeasty/musty carmal and malty.

T: The smell carries over to the tast of the beer. Not a well balanced beer, some what off putting.

O: A beer that is some what out of balance and has a large amounts of yeast/musty smell and tast that over takes the rest of the flavors in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 07:05:42 | More by mptorpey

sommersb

Tennessee

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 01-11-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Nonic pint
Purchased: Single from World Market

Funny label with Monty Python graphics! The Black Sheep website says this is their top selling beer in the U.S. and Canada...

A: Bright copper-colored beer. Very clear, showing a good amount of bubbles coming from the glass bottom. The head is a bright white color and stands a finger and a half. Good head retention and nice lacing.

S: Kind of a weird musty aroma that I can't quite place. Maybe its a yeast smell. There's also some grape-like fruitiness and herbal notes from the hops.

T: The musty aroma seems to carry over to the taste as well and makes for a buttery-like flavor -- I'm guessing this may be diacetyl. Other flavors include caramel malts and a fruity, light sweetness. Not really bitter - this is more malt forward.

M: Feel is crisp, with medium amount of carbonation and a thin body. The aftertaste features more of the buttery flavors.

O: An easy-drinking beer; I could see putting several of these down at a time. Originally I had this one scored lower, but then I read more about diacetyl and how it is an acceptable aspect in an English bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 04:52:29 | More by sommersb

gopens44

Virginia

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

A - Clear amber with decent lacing from a lackluster yet persistent head.

S- Malts outweighs anything else, save for a sweet grain bill.

T - There is something watery and bland at first that gives way to bitterness mingling with a sweetness best described as a flat artificial sweetener taste. What lingers on the tongue is nutty and again, watery.

M - Carbonation is there yet it still seems flat. Aftertaste is more sweet than bitter.

O - If this were strictly novelty, it would be impressive, but I think they were shooting for a serious beer. I wish this was a bit more pulled together because it does have good flavor, it it just seems a little all over the place.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 18:42:14 | More by gopens44

ABVerageJoe

North Carolina

2.6/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Copper/caramel color with a thick white head which left a medium lacing upon dissipation.

S - Grain, tried to pick up more than that, but could not. Perhaps it smells like both grain and malt liquor.

T - Tastes like it smells; plain grain. Tasted very similar to American Pale Lagers, perhaps Budweiser. Maybe a hint of green grapes.

M - Thin, dry with a slight spice in the tip of the tongue.

O - Not impressed. Maybe it would be better for people who appreciate the nostalgia from the Monty Python movie, but I don't care for it and will definitely not buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:13:00 | More by ABVerageJoe

merc7186

New York

3.35/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on tap at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mentor OH.

A: Golden Straw/Amber Hue, Passes A Lot Of Light, Mild White Head Ring, No Lacing

S: Mild Caramel Malt

T: Caramel Malt

M: Mediocre Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Sweet

Overall, maybe I should have tried this in a bottle, very drinkable but weak too.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 02:40:00 | More by merc7186

tdm168

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a dark copper with a 1" of loose, dishsoap-like head that has decent retention. It smells yeasty like a lot of euro's smell. The taste is lightly malty, sweet, apple-like, and has a very faint hoppy finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and moderately carbonated.

This is a pretty mediocre beer in my opinion. The flavor is light and simple. There's nothing intriguing here.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 00:27:57 | More by tdm168