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

Birdlegs

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

01-01-2013 10:49:55 | More by Birdlegs

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-05-2013 10:26:13 | More by williamjbauer

goatas4

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-03-2013 14:40:36 | More by goatas4

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-03-2013 05:43:13 | More by Kelp

DougT

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-11-2013 02:45:27 | More by DougT

chinchill

South Carolina

3.89/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle served in a snifter. This Brown Ale pours a clear mahogany with a mostly short-lived tan head that manages to leave decent, spotty lacing.

The rich aroma is very appealing and promising, wit ample notes of dark fruits, toffee and roasted nuts. Hints of apples and woody hops.

Taste: neither what I expected from the nose, nor quite as appealing. The flavor is more malty with a darker roast and some burnt notes I did not smell, and the toffee mostly turns to caramel. Bittersweet, with the bitterness dominating almost from the outset and leaving what I though was a slightly too bitter aftertaste. Those other aromas do appear and include burnt toffee, toast, caramel, apples, a touch of smoke, dates and other vague dark fruits. There are some earthy hop flavors in addition to the bitterness.

M: medium+ body; slightly astringent; medium-low carbonation.

O: Despite the comic marketing on the label, this is a serious and complex beer that's well worth seeking out if you like English style Brown Ales.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:19:07 | More by chinchill

dsegel

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +13%

03-15-2013 23:18:06 | More by dsegel

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Presentation: 500ml brown pop top with cool Monty Python label. Despite what this says, I have a (very) strong feeling that this is Riggwelter (one of my all-time favorite beers, though nearly impossible to get in good condition Stateside) rebranded. Same abv%, same Maris Otter base, Pale Chocolate signature malt and 'strong Goldings finish'. Add to that the fact that this beer, while brewed at Black Sheep in Masham, isn't listed anywhere on their UK website, and, well, I stand pretty firm in my conviction. Let's see what kind of condition it's in. No best-by date, into my Riggwelter imperial pint.

Appearance: An attractive walnut beer, with surprisingly high levels of streaming carbonation and gorgeous lacing. Though bottled versions typically run a bit frothier than cask versions, I don't remember Riggy being quite this lively. Bright clarity, and a lusciously creamy light tan head that shows amazing retention. Interesting sidenote: I thought Riggy used to be bottle conditioned, but there's no film of yeast left in the bottle, nor in the glass. Perhaps I'm misremembering, or something's been changed for the US market? Though a bit over-carbed for my taste, this is GORGEOUS beer.

Smell: Just a hint of banana (that Black Sheep notes is present in Riggy) and some vinous fruit, along with earthy, yeasty notes, a hint of toasty caramel, and a touch of malt and cocoa powder. Really nice, though I'd like just a touch more malt character.

Taste: Nicer on the palate, as the pale chocolate malt and toasty Maris Otter come through first and foremost, supported by vinous notes and a ghostly hint of apple. Ends hoppy bitter and medium-roasty. The flavors are nice, though I'd like just a bit more intensity here. Perhaps with a fresh sample?

Mouthfeel: Light-side of medium-bodied.

Overall: Again, I'm pretty damned sure this is Riggwelter and, to top it off, this is the freshest example I've had in a LONG time. I hadn't had a worthy example of Riggy in years; this reminds me how damn fine this beer can really be.

At $5.00 a pint, this is a bit expensive, but solid as all hell.

B+ 89

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 02:47:58 | More by BedetheVenerable

JMS1512

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +6.4%

02-22-2013 13:57:43 | More by JMS1512

Brenden

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one starts off as a beauty and maintains it, for the most part. The head, a light tannish color, is a thick, creamy, pillowy crown sitting over two fingers high on the medium-brown, red-hued brew. It maintains itself pretty well, eventually falling to a foam. Thick, creamy lacing is left at the top of the glass, followed by some lighter patching the rest of the way down.
The smell is potent, pouring out of the bottle as it's opened. This beer varies from boring, run-of-the-mill varieties, and is the most interesting English brown I can remember. What I find most distinguishing is a strong raisin/date/fig aspect coming alongside an otherwise nutty and earthy malt backbone and with a touch more earthiness and a little grassiness. It's even got a bit of a woody aspect and some smokiness from the roasting that's very light and complements the overall character well. The aroma, while strong, doesn't give as much variance as the flavor, where more of the complexities play out.
The body is a sturdy medium with plenty of depth and texture to it. A nipping crispness remains constant alongside a bit of creaminess that remains likewise constant.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 20:42:31 | More by Brenden

khargro2

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

01-13-2013 22:59:47 | More by khargro2

RockAZ

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Had to get the cool Grail Cups, so the bottles come with them. Nice brown ale, a bit firmer on the malts than the usual brown ale to me. Much more strength coming from fruity flavors like dates, figs and sweet at first but finishes bitter. Interesting beer, not going to be a favorite because it does have a funky aroma that a lot of English beers have in this style.

Love the cup, glad to have it. Now who wants to drink the other bottle?

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 23:33:58 | More by RockAZ

Offa

California

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is very good, a fuller and more characterful ale than the regular Holy Grail, which is itself good (at least the version actually brewed in England; I had one brewed under contract apparently that was bland and simple).

Dark brown, a bit reddish, it has a big tan head slowly shrinking to puffy, rocky head, a little lace.

Aroma is dark toasted barley, caramelised toast, hints of wood and tea and nutshells, some winy prune. It's not super complex, but it's well-rounded, full bodied and very nice.

Taste is winy dark fruit and wood, strong toast, some tea, subtle but firm bitterness and light sweetness, very balanced and well-integrated, with a very English character overall, and very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 00:08:27 | More by Offa

let8it8grow

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

12-07-2012 04:51:42 | More by let8it8grow

harrylee773

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

11-06-2012 02:06:48 | More by harrylee773

jagada

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

10-28-2012 06:18:01 | More by jagada

mixed_master7

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.4%

09-25-2012 04:18:31 | More by mixed_master7

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.23/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nose is dark chocolate, coffee, nutty, roasted malts and just a hint of hop bitterness. Taste is a lot lighter than the scent. Some chocolate, a slight skunky flavor (which seems to be common in British ales), some nutty flavors, toffee and just a hint of earthy hops. This is a really good traditional British ale. Reminds me a lot of being back in England at The Bull sipping on some Everard's Traditional, just a bit roastier. It even has a bit of a woody taste like the traditional real cask ales I had in England. It finishes dry with a bitter hoppy taste that sticks around. And drinking it out of a Monty Python chalice (that came with the gift set) is just awesome.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/564416_10152126878630137_2015011585_n.jpg

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 02:32:25 | More by DonDirkA

Stoutlad

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

09-09-2012 23:20:25 | More by Stoutlad

JacobA58

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

08-22-2012 16:13:28 | More by JacobA58

beergoot

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark amber body with excellent clarity. Thick, creamy, long-lasting head. Lacing coats the glass as the beer disappears.
Sweet, malt aroma. All-grain bread with hints of caramel. Taste is predominantly sweet with a rather bitter and slightly sour aftertaste. Medium body with a crisp, clean finish.

A nice enough brown ale. A little too rough at the finish for me, but I'd have another with no qualms.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 18:15:35 | More by beergoot

djwhit24

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

06-21-2012 01:57:44 | More by djwhit24

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a dark reddish brown with a half finger of very light tan head that dissipates quickly into a thin film and ring around the glass, leaving light lacing. Aroma dominated by sweet and roasted malt with a hint of nuts and hops. Flavor is similar, dominated by light toasted and caramel malt, finishing abruptly with a sharp hop finish that is dry and a bit astringent. The initial flavor is great for a moderate ABV brown ale, but the finish is not complementary. Light to medium bodied. A satisfactory brown ale and not too bad considering that it's a tongue in cheek presentation.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 03:35:02 | More by LiquidAmber

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

With the cartoonish and somewhat comic marketing campaign, no one should under mind the beer inside, because doing so is a missed opportunity for any appreciator of English Pale Ales and Brown Ales.

This Brown Ale is certainly knighted with a masculine and gentlemanly pour of solid brown with bronze highlights, and bright clarity. As the foam stance of ivory foam builds, it recedes from a rocky head to a thick blanket while coating the glass with sheets upon sheets of lace. Beer's simply don't look better.

The rich aroma of fruits and nuts abound even with the more solid overtones of chocolate, toast, and toffee. A fruity-nutty mix of dates, apples, figs, cashews all weave into the malty focus, and with an almost woody hop character lurking beyond.

The malty focus dictates the flavor spread but does so with a complex and varying combination of flavors that include the toffee, toast, slightly scorched caramel, peanut brittle, bread crust, and freshly kilned barley kernels. But it's the rich estery taste of apples, peaches, dates, figs, and marmalade that set this Brown Ale apart. Balanced only with the medium hop additions of earthy grass and wood bitterness, this keeps the beer balanced but doesn't draw undue attention away from the complex maltiness.

Although the malty-rich taste exists, the body prefers and creamy malt character that evades the sweeter tone than the taste suggests. Instead the medium-sweet beer allows for the medium-textured body to endure through the middle palate but then falling off quickly afterward and then providing a minty and woody semi-malt dryness that closes the beer.

Though I might prefer a slightly more toasty dominance that may promote more nutty character rather than the sweeter and fruitier example we have here, I recognize that this Northern English Brown Ale favors a complex fruity and malty variation that both excites the palate and is comfortably inviting at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 05:27:57 | More by BEERchitect

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.83/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a light, vibrant, ruby-brown coloring with a thin, off-white, filmy coating on the surface of the brew. Aromas of tangy butterscotch, toffee, and hazelnut, giving a cloying sweet blend on the nose. Flavors are sharp due to the light body and increased carbonation, making the initial mouthfull slightly abrasive. The palate is slightly roasted, with a mild nutty sweetness for the backbone, and not much else past that. The aftertaste is extremely short-lived, so it's hard to get a grasp on what is actually going on. Somewhat sweet, but again, not for long. The finish is a little effervescent and sharp from the carbonation levels, leaving a slightly unpleasant feeling in mouth. Not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 04:09:11 | More by GarthDanielson