Golden Monkey - Victory Brewing Company

jimiv73

California

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this is good beer anyway you look at it and you cant beat the price either!!! the guy at the grocery store reccommended this and i cant stop drinking it!!! six packs cost 11.99 and a tall boy is 6.99 and this kicks in at a heaping 9.5% also oh yeah!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 23:49:31 | More by jimiv73

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Excellent Victory brew - an easy "go to". In the glass it is gold with a copper hue. Good quality head with good lacing. Scent is on the mild side but definitely a Belgian style ale. Mouthfeel is fine champagne like carbonation. Flavor is sweet with a significant banana presence, spices and some other mild fruits.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 00:42:32 | More by Oakenator

freditoj

Alabama

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Dark yellow, good thick 1 inch head. It's an inviting beer to drink.

Smell - Smells toasty.

Taste - Amazing taste, very hoppy and flavorful. Complex mixture of flavor which is amazing.

Mouthfeel - It feels smooth on the mouth, taste again is very bold.
Overall - Very good beer, good ABV, amazing taste. Will definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 21:49:10 | More by freditoj

StevieW

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I am now a full fledged Victory fan. I was a little worried about the name and the label, Golden Monkey ? The smell was very strong at the beginning then settled once in the glass. I noticed alot of citrus, fruity, oranges maybe. Poured a nice cloudy golden color. The head was nice a big and melted down the side of the glass, the taste was delicious. Alot of yeast, but very crisp, citrus, slightly sweet, but very drinkable. Unbelievably drinkable. 9.5 % ABV will sneek right by you. I can't wait to have another.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2002 17:53:41 | More by StevieW

Stagi

Colorado

4.63/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Yellowish orange color with a thick white head.

Smell brings some yeast, fruit, spice, and malt.

Tastes great, nice mixture of malt and fruit. A surprisingly great beer from Victory

Feels very nice, almost perfect carbonation in my book.

I could drink this shit all night, so good..

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2007 00:44:38 | More by Stagi

bierman2000

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

One of the better Triples on the East Coast. I would not classify this as a Strong Pale Ale. 9.5% alcohol will creep up on you as you enjoy this highly dangerous, drinkable beer. Enjoy slowly if you can as it is very refreshing and seems light, but is not.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2003 14:44:23 | More by bierman2000

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours almost the color of a hazy BUD I hate to say.Very little head-nice lacing.Nice malty,sweet aroma-somewhat spicy but not too much.Great flavor I cant say enough about it.Citrusy-almost lemony.Malty with a nice lingering sweetness.Theres definately spices in there but they seem to swirl together with none in particular standing out on its own.Nowhere near as phenolic as some Belgian triples can be.Silky smooth mouthfeel-goes down dangerously easy.A great beer from Victory-most Ive had have been great actually.Nice to see an "American" version of a Belgian classic that is just fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2004 01:10:35 | More by lackenhauser

Dan3279

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first review, hopefully I its not too bad.

The first time I had this beer I had it on tap at a local bar and enjoyed it very much. I am a huge fan of Belgian style ales and this one is favorite. Even with a high abv of 9.5 it is very easy to drink without having a strong alchol taste. The drinkability is great and its easy to drink more than one in a single sitting.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 01:56:42 | More by Dan3279

Lafe

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew poured a beautiful cloudy, golden liquid. The aroma while pouring was very fruity. It formed a nice white head, probably half-an-inch thick.

The head quickly dissipated, but left a thin lace on the glass. The word to describe this tripel is "fruity". And I mean that in the best way possible. Any description of the taste of this brew should include the phrases "liquid bread", "yeasty", and "fruity" in it.

The yeast esters, maltiness, and hint of warming alcohol in this brew make this a wonderful example of the tripel style of beer. I will relish finishing off this six pack! What higher praise is there?

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2003 06:10:11 | More by Lafe

JohnnyM2002

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

The most amazing part of this beer is the smell; almost cinnamon and dry fruit (on a sidenote..my wife has a candle that smells exactly the same..it's called Kitchen Spice). Pours a cloudy golden color.
Tastes spicy (not hot) with a lingering sense of wheat. I enjoyed this beer over a reuben sandwich and it complimented the spicy pastrami very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2006 00:25:07 | More by JohnnyM2002

ninaturner

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Very bright gold with a two-finger head.

Aroma: Bitter smell right off the bat. Spices and herbal quality shines through.

Taste: Again, bitter taste but also a good balance with a sweet honey-like quality. Favorite part about the taste is the herbal character and bitterness. Great aftertaste compared to other beers of this style. However, does not seem to fit in well with other tripel styles. I still like the taste, though.

Mouthfeel: Light mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Very good.

Drinkability: Although it is not as comparable to other tripels, I still enjoy the drinkability of it and the earthy herbal qualities. This is something I would enjoy on a regular basis.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2010 19:53:09 | More by ninaturner

stingo

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Just had this fine brew on tap at the local beer bar. It has a distinct golden color which was quite appealing. While I'm not generally one for pale ales, much less strong ones, this was a very winning combination of silky smooth mouth feel with a nice bite on the finish that was very appealing. Not sure I could drink it for an entire night but it is definitely worth a taste.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2002 16:17:16 | More by stingo

rdrummer

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of the few micros that I have had in the bottle that was better than the tap version. The golden hazy color of the bottled version is equal to the draft with a little less head, but just as much lacing. The aroma is superb when you first uncap the bottle. There is a hoppy, citrusy smell that is very enticing. It does have an alcohol aroma with its ABV being over 10%.

The taste of the bottled Monkey is really quite extraordinary. It is remindful of some of the better Belgians such as Kwak. I tasted the hoppy nature of this right away but then there is a wheaty undertone, which could as easily be a different variety of barley. The underflavors are citrus, and possibly cardamon. It is very rich in the mouth with the ability to make you want to savor it longer than is necessary to drink it.

In total, I find that Victory has not over-hyped this beer. I think it has not gotten enough press. The taste is almost addictive. At least, I hate to think that I'm coming back just for the high alcohol content. But no, it really is the definition of drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2003 00:11:54 | More by rdrummer

Rudgers73

New York

4.55/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was another great example of how much Victory rocks. This was the best American shot at a Belgian tripel without putting any yeast in the bottle. It was right up there with the best of them. Smooth, sweet, balanced, bold, and it sure packs a punch. Great job Victory. You are maintaining a great standard with me.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2007 01:05:10 | More by Rudgers73

mophie

Delaware

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

In the bottle, this is a terrific beer. On tap, it's exceptional (especially when the "tap" is in the Victory brewpub in Downingtown!). Beautiful Duvel-yellow in color, with a frothy white head. Aromas of sweet citrus and spice, especially coriander. Taste is a magical blend of tropical fruits and spices, again coriander, and perhaps some clove and pepper. This is really an exceptional beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2002 19:25:26 | More by mophie

Loki

North Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Old Bay in New Brunswick, NJ and so good I had to come back a second time to sample it again and get a good review. They even served it in a Belgian glass like it should be.

Poured a golden yellow with a clover (light) honey tint with a thin head that fades fairly quickly. Small carbonation streams around the glass.

Aromas of a bready malt and some fruit. Hints of orange and honey, with faint whiffs of alcohol on the end of the nose.

The taste was amazing. Very rich and full of sweet malt. The monkey starts with a candied malt sweetness, that leads to some honey and coriander flavors then to a slightly spicey malt. The finish is a nice balance of hops and spice that are ever so slight, but create great balance. The alcohol kick is a bit high, but not overwhelming. Medium body with Medium-high carbonation that has champaigne like bubbles. Drinkability is very, very high but the high alcohol content would make you want to limit the number you had.

Great beer and thanks Gavage for the recommendation!

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2003 09:04:49 | More by Loki

faernt

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a goofy beer. I started drinking this stuff about a year ago and it did me. Then the bad batch appeared. It was STANKONIA!!! I poured it out and tried again. STANKONIA again!!! I emailed those guys at Victory and told them. They emailed me back and apologized and said they were correcting the problem. I brought the beer back to Sam's (in Chicago) and they credited me (truly, Sam,'s is fair). So...now...I'm back to drinking this fool and it is worthy.
It's golden. The Head is not much.... but there. The lace is THERE! It's well intended. The truly interesting thing is its little stink. It's like perfume. Good perfume has a little rot in it. So does Golden Monkey. It tastes a little rotten too. It has a good mouthfeel. It's actually quite silky. I'll keep it on hand always unless I have tricks played on me and then I'll have to make the trip to Downington. Drink this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2003 03:43:55 | More by faernt

oelergud

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Golden moderately carbonated brew with a solid white head that stays well and leaves a nice lace.
Very hoppy scent, some good spice and caramel, earthly as well.
Taste is unbelievable! hoppy and sweet at the same time in perfect harmony, aftertaste is next to nonexistant which makes you reach for the beer constantly, this is a highly alcoholic beer but you wouldn't know from the taste. Some light grain quality to the flavor is present but subtle.
Full and solid body, doesn't leave much of an impression in the way of being slick yet feels smooth and mellow.
Very drinkable, this beer drinks itself.
Absolutely amazing!@#

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2004 00:05:22 | More by oelergud

halfpgl

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A bright white head that doesn’t stick around for the finish. This clear bright pale brew has a nose to excite the taste buds. The spicy aroma pulls you in. The taste is as bright as the color. Spices abound and delicately balance out the alcohol that has the potential to do damage when you’re not expecting it. This beer is DANGEROUS, it can easily become a session beer and at 9.5% it will floor you. Dangerously good!

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2004 22:35:39 | More by halfpgl

RushLimbmalt

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This bottle was brewed on may 4th 2004. It has aged really nice in my opinion. It pours a hazy dark yellow and has a nice white head and lot's of yeast floaties. The aroma is very sweet and fruity and the yeast imparts a nuttiness. The taste is very sweet upfront and then the alcohol tries hard to overcome the nutty, fruity flavors. The mouthfeel is very full like any good tripel. This is one of the best tripels I have ever had. Kudos to Victory for brewing this winner.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2005 00:12:32 | More by RushLimbmalt

allengarvin

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy pale golden color, head retention a bit disappointing. Very nice aroma, herbal with notes of dill and lemongrass. Flavor is sweet from the start, more of a light, airy candy sweetness than mere malt. Bitterness is restrained but there's a touch of grassy, herbal hop flavor. Very fruity, reminiscent of oranges. Finishes a little tart. Light bodied with a crisp, effervescent texture.

Very interesting, complex, and tasty. And quite deceptively strong: it's hard to believe such a light refreshing beer tops 9% alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2005 01:55:20 | More by allengarvin

bubseymour

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - copper clear with 2 finger billow head of perfection. Carbonation is a violent storm rising through my glass that seems to have no end in site. Looks like an underwater volcano. 5 minutes without a sip and head retention is still holding steady at 2 fingers due to the continous carbonation explosion.

Smell - very spicy scents. Cinnamon perhaps?

Taste - Very complex taste. Warming sensation due to high alcohol but not the least bit boozy or burn going down. Smooth. Spices are noted in taste. Belgian hops are noted in taste and present slightly at the end for finish. Did I say how unbeliavably smooth this is for 9.5% beer?

Mouthfeel - Creamy head on lip, well bodied and pleasant

Overall - I think this is an incredibly well crafted beer and I think this is my first Tripel (have to check my profile though). Victory does it again! They are #1 brewer and this is another superb beer in their quiver.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 23:03:01 | More by bubseymour

beertravel

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've seen this wonderful golden brew fermenting in their open tanks. What a beautiful sight it is! The perfume in the nose carries over to a fruity flavor on the tongue. The alcoholic content is well hidden and is very drinkable which is scary. This brew is another example of Bill and Ron's desire for quality and responding to what the people want in a beer. Distinctively in the Belgian style, this is made in a small town in PA giving the imports a run for the money. Don't miss this one!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2002 14:59:43 | More by beertravel

bmills1608

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice deep golden color, with a fluffy white head, about 2 inches thick. Carbonation bubbles present and steady traveling up the glass. Smell is clean dry and spicy, herbally with a touch of sugary malt.

The taste is strong and up-front right from the start and hits you with a banana and clove taste early. This is followed by and almost candied malt sweetness that while noticeable is not at all over the top and melds beautifully with the early spice. Overall the taste is quite delicious and mouth filling. One of those special brews that as soon as the glass hits the table, you're wanting more. Great overall flavor. The high alcohol level to me was hardly noticeable, which makes for a dangerous beast, but is a real testament to the character of this beer. While high in alcohol, so well built it is, you don't even notice it. The finish is clean but lingers, and ends dry and a bit yeasty.

I feared the Belgian styles. I was afraid that I could be opening a Pandora's box of great beer that I would then have to go and try. They got me. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2002 06:20:26 | More by bmills1608

maxpower

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy yellow, with a thin white head that doesn't last very long, not much lacing either. Flowery yeasty aroma, sweet and malty, thick and creamy full mouthfeel, warming alcohol taste and an awesome, spicy clove flavor,a big and beautiful trippel, I need more.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2002 17:55:16 | More by maxpower