Bitter Monk - Anchorage Brewing Company

MrOH

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

My wonderful GF bought this to celebrate her completing her first semester of grad school, and my getting promoted at work.

Hazy dark straw with HUGE creamy white head, excellent retention. Good lace that slides down the glass after a bit.

Pinepple, muskmelon, lychee, apricot, plum just loads of tropical and stone-fruit aromas. A slight piney note. Some burnt sugar. The brett contribution is small but noticeable. Katey says some chardonnay character is there.

BONE DRY. Huge dryness up front, then all of the tropical flavors come in. Oak pops up for a second, then a very bitter, slightly piney finish. Don't really get any brett personally, Katey says she gets a touch of sourness. As it warms, it softens a bit, and the bubblegum and stonefruit flavors from the primary yeast can come through. Brett funk is now noticeable, but still very subdued. Maybe an aged bottle would have more, although the hops would be gone by then. It's almost confusing to taste this.

Very light, high carbonation. Definitely suits the brew, but I would personally like a touch more body, not much, but I'm pretty sure this beer's gravity finished below 1.000.

Very intense. Definitely would never be a go-to of anything, but will definitely try to get another bottle or two to share with some folks who would "get it". Makes you have think about it as your drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 02:01:03 | More by MrOH

Kreko7

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-20-2013 19:37:49 | More by Kreko7

JamesStreet

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -8%

05-20-2013 17:58:54 | More by JamesStreet

thampel09

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-20-2013 04:35:36 | More by thampel09

2dogbrew

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

05-12-2013 00:16:49 | More by 2dogbrew

littlebeer

California

4/5  rDev -8%

05-08-2013 08:13:47 | More by littlebeer

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%

05-08-2013 07:24:23 | More by beernads

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-07-2013 23:54:14 | More by cadaugherty

sirsteve42

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-07-2013 04:59:59 | More by sirsteve42

dvmky

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

05-05-2013 17:33:16 | More by dvmky

bmwats

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Hazy golden-orange hue. Pours about a finger and half, bubbly white head. Settles pretty quickly. Peak and valley lacing.

S: Hay and wheat prominent. A little citrus, and coriander.

T: Hoppy, yeasty, and bitter. Slight tinge of citrus, sweetness, and spice.

M: Light body, dry bitter finish.

D: Sip and enjoy. The character will dictate it.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Interesting hue, nice head, and some solid lacing. Nose is hay and wheat with fruit and spice components. Yeasty and hoppy with citrus and spice. Overall, this is a pretty good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 05:49:10 | More by bmwats

cgentzkow

California

4/5  rDev -8%

05-02-2013 17:14:33 | More by cgentzkow

HeadyTheElder

Louisiana

5/5  rDev +14.9%

05-02-2013 15:17:50 | More by HeadyTheElder

MastaShonuf

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

04-26-2013 13:13:10 | More by MastaShonuf

shangwang

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-20-2013 17:47:03 | More by shangwang

Rollzroyce21

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

04-20-2013 07:43:34 | More by Rollzroyce21

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -8%

04-20-2013 03:51:57 | More by hoppymcgee

bigsquirrel

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

04-15-2013 19:51:51 | More by bigsquirrel

LambicKing

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

04-05-2013 14:41:46 | More by LambicKing

RandyKemka

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -8%

04-04-2013 18:52:20 | More by RandyKemka

Rope

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is one of Anchorage's best ventures.

Appearance-
Pours out like a Belgian, but you see the hop oils dance with the last few drops.

Smell-
Exactly as advertised, a bitter pine front with a hint of that spicy Belgian yeast.

Taste-
Powerful, the hops stay with you front to end laced with the Belgian taste.

Mouthfeel-
Oil to coat your mouth, and protect you from freezing in your Alaskan study.

Overall-
Fondly remembered, greatly missed. It comes close to what I would call "a thinkin' beer", but retains an approachable quality.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:57:09 | More by Rope

ryanpj

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

04-02-2013 01:57:25 | More by ryanpj

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-31-2013 00:46:41 | More by drgonzo2k2

BAsbill

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

03-30-2013 04:27:19 | More by BAsbill

JakeWik

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-28-2013 23:40:49 | More by JakeWik