Monk's Indiscretion - Sound Brewery

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a touch of haze and a nice 1-finger cap of frothy ivory foam. Attractive.

Smell: aroma is quite funky with a light, sweet malt underneath. Doesn't really smell like a tripel but nice nonetheless.

Taste: somewhat sweet malt with quite a bit of Brett-like funkiness and a slight tartness toward the end. Bitterness is pretty strong for a tripel but it isn't overpowering. An interesting and tasty beer.

Mouthfeel: medium-thick body with a good level of creaminess, but not as bodaciously creamy as I like my tripels, normally.

Overall: a solid and interesting beer. So far, I'm quite impressed with this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 18:06:20 | More by flagmantho

Hopmodium

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-05-2013 21:21:10 | More by Hopmodium

BeerOps

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

06-03-2013 23:59:34 | More by BeerOps

IanSpindler

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-24-2013 01:18:49 | More by IanSpindler

sam_bliss

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Copper Hog. It is Snipes Mountain Brewer's night, but my little taster of this Belgian-style ale was so much tastier than Snipes' Barleywine that I just had to get a tulip-full.

The color is peachy and clear, topped by a nearly white little head. The smell reminds me almost of a cask beer, with notes of cedar sauna and cured firewood. The guava and citrus scents lay fruit over a firm bed of complex malts and hops.

The taste is otherworldly. A roastiness hardly detectable in the aroma arises from deep within the malt mix of red, sweet, and pale bready goodness. Caramel also factors into the rich flavor, which completely dominates the bourbon warmth of high alcohol content. Spicy and oily hops satisfy the mouth in the near-absence of noticeable carbonation. Dark cherry sweetness and the tang of tropical fruit contribute lightness to a very thick, full body. The lingering aftertaste mesmerizes, but the feel is a touch sticky. Earthy texture, Belgian yeast, and all sorts of hops make this multifarious ale almost confusing, yet the tastes blend surprisingly well. Monk's Indiscretion is an epic drinking experience; maybe we should be required to try it on two separate occasions prior to writing a review.

Upon first quaff, I was certain that this is a Quad, brewed in the abbey style. It tastes almost like a Belgian version of a well hopped barley wine. This brew should be sought out and purchased. Enjoy it slowly. Perhaps after an evening meal.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 06:39:38 | More by sam_bliss

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.04/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle. Great name for the new world habit of messing with well established styles.

This beer pours a clear medium golden amber hue, with one finger of bubbly, loosely foamy off-white head, which leaves little beyond a low berm of seashore lace around the glass as it quickly settles.

It smells of semi-sweet tropical fruit - pineapple, starfruit, and a bit of candied banana - softly bready caramel malt, a touch of baker's yeast, and some ethereal musty PineSol. The taste is a whole lot more fruitier, in a subtly bitter overripe rind sort of manner, the pineapple, guava, tangerine, kiwi, and sugary banana esters all there, and well blended at the same time. A pastry-esque bready malt performs admirably underneath it all, as the earthy yeast and slightly acerbic pine needle notes close the book on any and all booze astringency.

The carbonation is rather sedate, and yet duly supportive, the body a decent medium weight, smooth as far as the timid hops and now burgeoning alcohol allow, and creamy in a cookie dough sort of way. It finishes off-dry, the creamed caramel malt holding steady, while the various island hops wisp away one by one.

A pretty decent strong Belgian pale ale, with a respectable Yankee tweak, one that even the best old world producers might be susceptible to attempting. But these guys have this now, as do I, sipping outside while gazing at the rolling Southern Alberta foothills, on a truly summer-like evening. Sigh.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:35:03 | More by biboergosum

Hoppy_McMalt

Washington

5/5  rDev +19.6%

04-16-2013 01:57:34 | More by Hoppy_McMalt

RichH55

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-15-2013 15:41:42 | More by RichH55

kscaldef

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

02-28-2013 21:05:58 | More by kscaldef

510a

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

02-10-2013 17:33:18 | More by 510a

mynie

Indiana

4.39/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I had another one of Sound’s beers and it struck me as a drinkable mess. Not bad at all, but a beer absolutely without a place. Normally you’d chalk that up to someone who didn’t know what they were doing, never took that weird correspondence brewer’s course where they tell you how to identify different varieties of hop by the way the cones look when you pour peroxide on them. But Sound’s marketing ethos is all about smashing through tradition. Only they do so in confounding way, proudly announcing their upper west coast caucasian-ness, replete with evocations of Romantic-era newsprint and unnecessary paper wrapping around the labels. It’s charming, but there’s a sense of existential discord, like if Kelsey Grammer’s Fraiser began calling himself a punk rocker.

But, drinkable, like I said. And interesting. But my critical frame wasn’t set. I wasn’t sure if it was genius or filth. I mean, yes, it was probably neither, but here at the beer hole we prefer to keep things violent and declarative, so each post is like a bottlerocket or a lynching.
This here brew—this Monk’s Indiscretion—is far too competently done to be fully accidental. But it’s also not of any place or style, so I guess the whiteperson blandishments of its packaging aren’t entirely bullshit (which makes them very different from your average whiteperson blandishments).

Umm… tastes like a good Belgian but also not quite like a good Belgian? Worth trying? I mean, yes, grab one. Ignore the question mark on that last “worth trying.” Seek it out. Investigate it. Think more deeply about it than I am capable of.

Full Review: http://mynie.com/?p=226

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 06:10:38 | More by mynie

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours lightly hazy golden orange color with a nice 2 finger fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big mango, pineapple, orange peel, pepper, clove, banana, bubblegum, herbal, floral, grass, earth, and spicy yeast esters. Damn nice aromas with good balance, complexity, and strength of hop and yeast ester notes. Taste of big mango, pineapple, orange zest, banana, clove, pepper, pear, bubblegum, grass, floral, bread, honey, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of citrus, tropical fruit, clove, banana, pepper, floral, grass, pear, and earthy yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity and balance of hops flavors and spicy yeast esters; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a moderate warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent hoppy Belgian strong golden ale! Great complexity and balance of hop and yeast esters; and very smooth to sip on for 10%. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:40:13 | More by superspak

bifrost17

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

01-21-2013 02:07:06 | More by bifrost17

woemad

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

01-21-2013 01:44:55 | More by woemad

match1112

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to Lazerlobe for the bottle!

a: clear light golden copper body. quarter inch of off white head turns to very thin and spotty cap. spotty lacing is left behind.

s: mango, pineapple, bubblegum, alochol, and yeast. very floral

t: loads of tropical fruit. alochol quickly washes away everything.

m: good carbonation, thin body, warming thruout, harsh alochol burn.

o: great aromas and flavor upfront but the 10%abv quickly washes everything away leaving a harsh alochol presence that lingers longer than i like.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 21:12:00 | More by match1112

dirtyskunk

Colorado

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This inspired me to come back for a second bottle to write the first review I've put up in quite some time.

Pours a nice head which lingers adequately. Unsurprisingly skimpy lacing, settles into a very consistent thin white cap though. Crystal clear, and a pale rich copper color.

Smells beautiful. Citrus and floral hops; tropical fruit, peaches, and berries; and a wonderful suggestive undertone of sweet rum cake and grainy breakfast cereal.

Just as delicious as it smells. Big juicy, complex, fruity hop-forward punch with gooseberries, and peach; earthy, spicy follow through that has some very mild and unobtrusive Belgian phenol suggestions. I almost wonder if this is fermented with Brett Drie because of the intense tropical fruit Belgian character.

Wonderful mouthfeel, firm and viscous, great slick feeling of hop oils, with a slight hint that this is not a session brew, but still totally deceptive and scarily drinkable at 10%.

One of the best and most unique Belgian inspired brews I've had. Belgian Barleywine? I'm definitely coming back to visit the brewery. Expect more good things from Paulsbo.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 01:14:07 | More by dirtyskunk

jmccraney

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

12-15-2012 05:46:04 | More by jmccraney

laxer8811

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

11-29-2012 03:26:42 | More by laxer8811

daysinthewake

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

09-29-2012 15:36:20 | More by daysinthewake

hmph

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Graciously received from Lordkyrstic along with a number of other Washington state goodies, thanks!

A - Absolutely beautiful golden honey with a two finger tiny bubbled head, which dissipates to a slim froth on the liquid

S - Super fresh hop smell, citrus and grapefruit, lots of inviting delicious smells, a bit of hop resin as well which is all countered with the hint of spicy belgian yeast mingled in

T - liquid gold, mild hop flavor up front with a hearty tropical taste throughout, almost mangoish
some more earthy hop resin flavors in the mid palate and some thick candied malt, the belgian yeast making a quick appearance before clearing the palate, slight lingering of resinous and sweet

O - Outstanding beer that I feel lucky to have gotten a chance to try. The 10%, for me, was never noticeable and the delicious hops and sweet malt really balanced well for an amazing beer experience, well done Sound, look forward to anything else I get to try from them!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 16:30:28 | More by hmph

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev -4.3%

09-21-2012 03:08:55 | More by MarkyMOD

draheim

Washington

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

22oz into a tulip. Pours a clear copper color w/ a 2-finger frothy head, moderate carb. Thank God this one is carbonated, I was about to give up on Sound's Belgian-style offerings.

Aroma is a combination of Belgian yeast and floral, citrusy hops. Smells fresh and bright. Almost a Belgian IPA.

Taste follows nose. Biscuity pale malt, Belgian yeast, and a nice sharp hoppy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is clean and crisp. Bottle conditioning gives it a nice round softness, hops give it a sharp finish.

Overall, we have a winner here. A solid, hoppy BSPA from just across the Sound.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 00:39:55 | More by draheim

iKrystin

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

09-17-2012 05:05:10 | More by iKrystin

jjcote

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

09-03-2012 12:17:16 | More by jjcote

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

09-03-2012 00:03:52 | More by strongaf