Monk's Indiscretion - Sound Brewery

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

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

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

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

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

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Purchased in Ponderay, Idaho. Comes in a 22 oz. brown bomber. Pours out a bright yet slightly hazed honey apricot hue, lots of carbonation visible, with a tall tight white foamy head that retains.

Clean grains and vibrant citrusy hops on the nose, pomelo, calamansi fruit, gooseberry tartness.

Light clean grains up front in the flavour, which are immediately enveloped by leafy citrusy hops, slight tartness. Forget grapefruit notes, this is more akin to pomelo, more tropical. Some dry yeasty spice provides a clean drying finish. It all does what it does well.

Light bodied mouthfeel, silky slick and effervescent texture, brisk carbonation.

One hell of a beer, what a great surprise, wish I would have picked up more. The label doesn't lie, this is deceptively drinkable, especially for the abv% which is hidden so well it's non-existent. Certainly more of a Belgian IPA than anything else, and well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 03:49:41 | More by IronDjinn

lifeboyq

Washington

2.18/5  rDev -47.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

If this is a tripel, my asshole is square. This is a shitty IPA, PERIOD. Any belgian yeast in conjunction with the flat out stupid hops in this offering is like the meat on a .10 lb burger with an oversized bun; As balanced as stephen hawking on a tightwire. It tastes a mixture of horseurine (yes i've had some) and grapefruit juice. The typical too high acidity and no malt base to back it up. poor retention from that same body problem (hey up ur temp). Anyway(s), it is a crying shame that this is sold commercially with the word belgian anywhere near it. Blasphemy. Garbage, unless of course if you like over hopped beers with no body. It's probably not that bad, but you get my drift.

I guess after an 08 samael and an 07 sami helles, I could be wrong, but then again, probably not.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 07:51:06 | More by lifeboyq

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

Huge thanks to libbey for this bottle...

A: Pours a great peach color, verging on amber, with just a slight rocky white head. Big bubbles and tiny bubbles mingle around the edges of my snifter.

S: Mmmm. Mild citrus and herbal tea. The lemon and orange notes are muted but the earthy tea like quality, but it's a perfect balance. This might be one of the best smelling beers I've ever had.

T: Black tea with lemon is my first inclination. There is a wonderful earthiness mixed with that mild citrus bitter. The Belgian yeast comes on after, giving this beer an astringent alcohol taste. It's a bit overwhelming, but for a 10% beer I'm not surprised. The finish is a touch of clove and lingering bitters.

M: Medium bodied beer. It starts out fresh, earthy, and fruity, but finishes a tad stinging and dry. The booze really tightens it up in the end.

O: This is a top notch beer. I'm loving the wet earthy hops, the mellowed lemon, and the familiar Belgian qualities of this beer. The finish is a bit harsh, but overall, I'm really impressed. I'm really pleased to have had the opportunity to try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 01:46:41 | More by trxxpaxxs

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber courtesy of Libby, I must say...this is an attractive packaging with the clean double label and the neck tape. Pours a hazed orange color with a creamy white head that floats around forever and leaves nice sheets of lace. Great looker here.

Nose is hugely tropical, with notes of papaya, grapefruit and mangoes leading the way. Dry hopping and yeast esters intertwine themselves in a very seductive and mouth-watering way unlike nearly anything I have smelled before. Malts are light and grainy with perhaps suggestions of honey and wheat.

Big, bold tropical flavors show a masterful job of hop flavor and yeast interplay. I am really enjoying the delicate clove with papaya overtones. Its like a Jamaican fruit salad with a healthy dose of mandarin oranges. Mouthfeel is great and fine-bubbled. This is a unique twist on the tripel style, nice change of pace from the usual suspects. Great beer, thank you very much Matt for this treat!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 00:01:16 | More by twiggamortis420

litheum94

California

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, golden saffron. Decent, yellowish head, thick and creamy. Settles to a very small cover, with a whispy top.

Lots of tropical fruit on the nose, reminds me of Citra. Coriander spicing and dry cracker malts. Earthy Belgian yeast.

Flavors follow almost to a T: citrus and tropical fruit hops. Very crackery malts. Earthy Belgian yeast and a good amount of spice on the finish. Some alcohol burn.

This is a very good Belgian. Tasty and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 20:28:56 | More by litheum94

libbey

British Indian Ocean Territory

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

22oz bottle poured into a NB globe.

A: The beer pours a clear golden orange with a minimal head that left a nice trail of lacing throughout the session.

S: The nose has a big sweet mango tropical flavor with a slight bananna belgian finish that is very subtle. Alcohol becomes more pronounced as it warms.

T: Taste is big citrusy tropical fruit. This big hop presence balances well with the thicker candy like malt presence. The booze comes to the front the longer it sits in the glass and I would swear this beer was dry hopped by the finish I get. Sharp and tasty.

M: The carbonation is spot on with a nice medium bodied mouthfeel. The finish is sharp and dry. Nice.

O: Overall this was a very unique take on the style by the guys at Sound. Hard to pin down style wise but quite enjoyable non the less. A beer I would certainly have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 04:59:30 | More by libbey

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

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a medium orange amber. Nice white two finger head with lacing. Active carbonation kept the head looking great. Very attractive. Aroma of citrus hops, sweet malt. Flavor of unidentifiable fruit, nice estery components, light citrus, well integrated. Bitter cardomom tripel finish. Medium bodied. Unusual and nicely done. This was an interesting take on a tripel, properly spiced and Belgian yeast, but the the flavor is hard to describe, but held together well. Nice job.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 04:19:19 | More by LiquidAmber

distantmantra

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer poured an golden orange color with a fluffy head of white foam. Very little lacing clung to the sides of the glass.

S: There was a sweet aroma of pineapple, tangerine and Belgian yeast. Almost reminiscent of a high octane Belgian IPA.

T: The flavor of Monk's Indiscretion is al;most identical to the aroma, with very sweet tropical fruit notes and some candi sugar, and spicy banana Belgian yeasty funk.

M: The beer has sweet sticky mouthfeel, with medium level carbonation. The 10% ABV is very noticeable.

O: This is an interesting beer, almost like an Imperial IPA/Trippel hybrid. A little too sweet for me, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 18:28:49 | More by distantmantra

grittybrews

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a pale orange-gold with two fingers of fluffy off-white head. Slightly sweet aroma of tangerine and tropical fruit. It's very nice, although I would have guessed that this was an IIPA.

Moderate carbonation and a creamy, slightly sticky mouthfeel that finishes a little thin. Banana and candi sugar sweetness up front followed by tropical fruit and slight yeasty spice mixed with hints of pine on the finish.

This is an interesting tripel -- a little on the sweet side, although the booze is well hidden. It actually came across more like a sweet Belgian IPA...not that it's a bad thing, given Sound Brewery's excellent IPA track record.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 04:26:59 | More by grittybrews

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

toweringpoo

Japan

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap and (I'm assuming) fresh from the brewery at Devilcraft in Tokyo at the release event. Beautiful cloudy appearance. Feel like I should be saying, 'aw sunny d!'. Orangy yellowish color. Nose is citrusy/tropical hops and some spiciness from the Belgian yeast. Flavor is similar to the nose. Contrary to other reviewers, I think this beer is very well balanced. I'd like to know what kind of hops are in this. Anyway this is the best beer so far from this brewery. Extremely drinkable at 10 percent. Alcohol is not noticeable at all. Recommended but I bet it depends a lot in the freshness.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 08:01:12 | More by toweringpoo

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pored a light golden color with good carbonation leaving a nice white cap

S: Loads of juicy fruit, bubble gum and sharp booze

T: Very sharp cutting booze, juicy fruit bubblegum, acetaldehyde notes of green apple and some estery notes of some banana, little citrus and very tasty overall

M: Nice body, carbonation and loads of taste

O: A very nice beer overall

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2011 19:54:55 | More by barleywinefiend