Monks' Ale - Abbey Beverage Company (Monastery of Christ in the Desert)

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Slightly hazed copper kissed golden yellow with a medium bright white head reduced to a thin cap and left attractive decorative lace.

S-Lightly sweet biscuit malt with pleasant notes of apple/pear and a rather sharp zing of dank, earthy hops.

T-Pleasant fruity notes up front with apple and pear being dominate with lightly hints of citrus rind in the background. Biscuit malt sweetness adds a pronounced bready profile and adds balance. This one is very unassertive and unassuming yet very enjoyable and interesting at the same time.

M-Medium-light bodied and rather sharp with lingering fruit notes and hop bitterness.

D-A simple, yet enjoyable and highly drinkable brew. I can see why the monks that make beers such as this keep it for themselves to power through their day! Possessing a low ABV with enough flavour to keep things interesting this is a brew that is easy to enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2010 13:28:10 | More by Deuane

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +21.4%

05-14-2013 01:41:39 | More by aty11b

MsLiberty

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +28.6%

05-08-2013 22:14:16 | More by MsLiberty

UCLABrewN84

California

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, candied fruit, yeast, and spices. Taste is much the same with spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that tastes better than it smells.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 04:50:43 | More by UCLABrewN84

GRG1313

California

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

04-07-2013 16:10:01 | More by GRG1313

lisahope27

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +28.6%

03-02-2013 03:19:14 | More by lisahope27

johnhames

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

02-12-2013 20:09:26 | More by johnhames

Michaeldmanley

Texas

3/5  rDev -14.3%

02-06-2013 09:13:49 | More by Michaeldmanley

tubeyes

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%

02-02-2013 03:08:48 | More by tubeyes

josejose

3/5  rDev -14.3%

01-27-2013 19:08:55 | More by josejose

asafarc2

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

01-04-2013 00:19:29 | More by asafarc2

jbarra101

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -21.4%

12-03-2012 00:48:29 | More by jbarra101

searsclone

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev 0%

11-19-2012 01:12:27 | More by searsclone

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -14.3%

11-12-2012 22:44:14 | More by IPAchris

brplatz

New Mexico

3/5  rDev -14.3%

10-09-2012 20:54:48 | More by brplatz

JayKay412

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -14.3%

09-23-2012 02:11:43 | More by JayKay412

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -21.4%

09-14-2012 02:37:26 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

acat25

Texas

4/5  rDev +14.3%

08-31-2012 22:10:43 | More by acat25

nmann08

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev 0%

07-28-2012 15:35:48 | More by nmann08

nach0king

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Quite light for a Belgian pale ale but one that, if you like spice, will grow on you:

A: The head went a bit too quickly but it was lovely before that, and even after there was some creamy lacing. A deep, metallic copper.

S: A little bit of spice and grains - nothing bitter on the nose at all.

T: You can tell it's quite heavily hopped but at the same time there's some clove-y funk and a great deal of spice. Really this rounds all the bases. Gets better as you drink it.

M: Tiniest bit of effervescence gives way to chewiness.

This would be readily sessionable. As it stands I want to try their other stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 01:56:37 | More by nach0king

beergoot

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at Eske's Brew pub in Taos, NM...

Crystal clear amber; very thin head. Slight fruity esters and light bread notes in the smell. Taste was very mild. Some banana and clove with a faint biscuit flavor. Off-kilter, light bitterness. Light, water consistency.

I couldn't get too fired-up about this beer. Seemed bland and non-distinct overall. Not a bad beer, just blase...

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 22:41:12 | More by beergoot

nosavingsaccount

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.3%

06-30-2012 00:22:41 | More by nosavingsaccount

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Nice aroma, starts out with mild fruity esters, some spicy phenols. Some banana and clove. Big bold flavor overall. Moderate pine and citrus hop bitterness.

Appearance: Deep gold with orange highlights. Hazy. Small yellw and light orange head dissolves after 60 seconds or so. Some lacing.

Taste: Fruity esters, apricots, spicy black pepper, moderate clove. Hops are mostly citrus. White sugar. Malty sweetness, nutty malt flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Creamy, slick and oily. Finishes mildly dry, expecting dryer from the moderate hop bitterness and spicy phenols. Low carbonation.

Overall: Savory brew that's easy enough to drink. The hops and spice are a bit high, but the esters help to balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 23:24:03 | More by soulfly1492

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

06-12-2012 19:34:01 | More by goblue3509

JSeabrookeFox

2.75/5  rDev -21.4%

06-08-2012 06:23:59 | More by JSeabrookeFox