Bitter Monk - Anchorage Brewing Company

hopsbreath

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up at Beaumont Market in Portland, Oregon for $13. Taking my time, and pouring by parts into a Meyer's Duvel tulip, I managed to drink the whole 75cl bottle over the span of a couple hours. I didn't see this information in the other reviews so here's some bottle flash: "Ale brewed with Apollo, Citra, and Simcoe hops. Dry hopped in the barrel with Citra hops. TRIPLE FERMENTED - First in the tank with a belgian yeast, second in french oak chardonnay barrels with brett, and finally in the bottle with a third yeast for natural carbonation. Batch #1 July/2011"

A: Slightly hazy guava in the glass, huge rocky white head, lots of clumpy lacing. Are you not entertained?! About as appetizing as a beer can look. 5/5

S: Brighter citrus consisting of lemon and lime, some nice wood, Brett earth in full display, and a definite grapiness. I honestly didn't know that this was done in wine barrels before the pour, so I checked the label to see if Nelson Sauvin hops were used. Nope, French Oak Chardonnay. The wine is easily appreciated. 4/5

T: Out of left field this suddenly becomes quite the DIPA. The nose promised a complex beer but the taste is pungent and aggressive with the hops right out of the gate. Big citrus and deep bitterness truly define tongue numbing. Only after going back for a sip or two can the earthiness and spice really be singled out and only then by thinking about it. I've used the term grapefruit frequently in the past when describing IPA's, but this is the truest representation I've ever had of eating a segment of the fruit, membrane and all. Even the long tingly bitter finish is intact. I think it's best to consider the taste as the sum of it's parts rather than individual components. The hops lend the great bitterness and citrus, the brett gives a true earthiness that can only be found in pith, the wine barrels further enhance the organic nature of raw grapefruit. I say again, this is grapefruit in a glass. As simple as that sounds, this is remarkable and unique. 5/5

M: Full, astringent, quaffable, and bone dry. 5/5

O: A stunner of a beer. The second beer I've had from Anchorage and the second home run as well. The brewer's talent seems incredible. The grapefruit segment I described in the flavor could be a happy accident but that just seems too uncanny to be chance. This beer was designed to be that way and that just might be the most impressive thing about it. I don't like Belgian IPA's. It doesn't matter this time though because Bitter Monk is in a league of it's own. Find me a valid comparison. I don't believe it exists. 4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 03:33:27 | More by hopsbreath

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