Golden Monkey - Victory Brewing Company

Rope

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance-
The truest thing about the beer, it is a nice golden yellow with a white head.

Smell-
Honey and malt, but really struggling to find the Belgian notes.

Taste-
Starts with a slight lemon, but the honey malt from the nose overpowers. Once again struggling to find anything Belgian.

Mouthfeel-
Well Carbonated, aftertaste lingers a little.

Overall-
A good beer, but it doesn't strike me as a Tripel Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 16:38:45 | More by Rope

Bauzen

New York

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

The color is a misty pale yellow and foam laces beautifully in the glass, but dissolves quickly.

Aroma is potent. Hints of banana and candied ginger round out the bouquet.

An aggressive ABV punches up the all the flavors you take in from the initial aroma, though I found it a little too aggressive for a beer of this genre. The potency won't deter most beer enthusiasts, but it makes for a very 'beefy' tripel - a genre that generally lends itself to Belgian finesse. This beer does not. It wants you to hit you hard, and I don't feel it does the genre justice. The 'higher-rated' tripels out there are lighter and smoother.

That being said, it's a 'good' beer, flavorful and pleasant but deceiving as that 9.5% ABV hits you and you're left wondering what did it. I wish Victory could have let the flavors speak for themselves in this beer. They're certainly using quality ingredients and they know what they're doing.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:22:23 | More by Bauzen

NateEmz

Tennessee

3.03/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Drank this straight from the bottle.

Smell was very powerful and almost overwhelming. Taste was very intense and perfume-like. Strong alcohol flavor with intense herbal tones. Too much for my liking. First beer was very strong and potent. After the initial bottle my pallet embraced the beer and I enjoyed it more.

Would like to try this beer on tap, but don't think I will be buying in a store again.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:00:34 | More by NateEmz

deeznuts420

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured into a chimay goblet. pours a hazy almost straw like color with sediment floating around and carbonation streaming from the bottom.smells fairly floral with bready and caramel notes. taste and mouthfeel - fairly medium to full body with some bitter hops up front and bready almost funky maltiness. overall a middle of the road tripel that would be alright for newbies to the style to try, but if you've had any of the belgian ones like westmalle, chmay white, or a ton of others it definently doesn't hold a candle. not half as complex as those.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 11:52:36 | More by deeznuts420

spoony

Colorado

3.76/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From a 355 ml bottle into a tulip.

A-The pour produces a pale, yellowish-gold colored brew with a very bright, sunny look. The beer is mostly clear with active, champagne-like carbonation visible. The head is one fat finger of dense, white foam that drops slowly.

S-The smell is full of pepper, straw, hay, and a touch of sweet banana. There is definitely some alcohol here, too, with a sweet, estery, candied fruit like nose reminding you that this is no light beer.

T-The taste is mildly sweet banana; earthy straw/grass, and obvious alcohol. Lots of esters coming through. The spices are pepper-heavy, but there is some clove, too. The whole thing is a bit musty tasting, which is not a bad thing.

M-The feel is medium-bodied with prickly, assertive carbonation.

O-I have had better tripels and I have had worse tripels, so I guess this one is middle-of-the-road. High points for looks, in particular. The alcohol is a touch aggressive, and the complexity is not up to par with the best of the style, but I found this beer to be a decent representation of the style. I give this decent marks for emulation of old-world, Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 04:11:42 | More by spoony

ChemicalEngineer

Pennsylvania

3.46/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Light straw yellow with white particulates. Smell is of coriander and wheat. Taste is like a strong wheat ale with a little coriander. Overall, the beer lacks some depth and doesn't have the complexity of others in this style. Not bad but doesn't stand up to Belgian tripel counterparts.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:50:01 | More by ChemicalEngineer

jhutch31

California

4.01/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Had a friend hand me a bottle of this at a social gathering last week. I didn't have any way to take down some tasting notes so I don't have much to add other than I really liked the beer. Definately a strong belgian ale. If you like these types of beers, I suggest you try this one. Complex flavors that work together to make good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 15:55:55 | More by jhutch31

mt24turner

New York

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Look- nice clarity with some particulates floating around, decent amount of head from the carbonation, but it dissipates quickly. leaves a little ring of lace.

Smell- spicy phenols, and fruity esters, smells like clove, tiny hint of banana, peppery spice and some caramel maltyness.

Taste- crisp and fruity to start and then comes heavy with the spice and phenolics, i get a little bubble gum and aspirin taste which im not partial to. finishes with some lingering spice and caramel. no alcohol presence in the flavor

Mouthfeel- carbonation is full and sharp, drinks like a much weaker abv

Overall- i like this beer, but it would not be my first choice for a tripel. the aspirin/bubble gum notes threw me off this one, besides that its a respectable brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 17:06:45 | More by mt24turner

jmutoml757

Virginia

3.21/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.
A- hazy golden color, 2 finger head that dissipated quickly leaving heavy lacing all around the glass.
S- definitely has a peppery scent; there is also a slight floral note and a heavy yeast aroma. toward the end of the bottle there is a citrus hint as well.
T- the pepper/spices definitely come through as well as the malt or yeast. as the bottle comes to an end there is a heavier alcohol note.
M- the malt coats your tongue and the alcohol lingers long after the beer is gone.
O- The variety of flavors and spices that sit on your tongue make this beer fun to try; however, this beer is too malty/yeasty to be all-occasion choice. In addition, the high ABV makes it one with which you have to be careful!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 00:27:54 | More by jmutoml757

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.69/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I got 2 free bottles from a friend of a friend. No best by or bottled date.

It pours a hazy light gold with a 2 finger head of foam and leaves some nice lacing.

It smells spicy and bitter. I get some clove and pepper and the bitterness is of the citrus kind to my nose.

Spicy flavours start off..clove, pepper, followed by some citrus bitterness, some candi sugar sweetness, it finishes decidedly on the dry side. I'm not getting any fruitiness that I like in the style.

On the upper end of medium bodied with good carbonation.

This is a strong fella at 9.5% abv but it's hidden pretty well. Overall, I like but it's a bit to bitter for me to be a big fan of it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 14:27:53 | More by Bitterbill

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Golden color and a little hazy.

S: Banana, clove and alcohol aroma.

T: Follows the nose but finishes with some caramel sweetness.

M: A little heavy but still smooth.

Overall: Decent. The flavors are there but the alcohol comes across a little strong. That being said, this is still an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 21:45:15 | More by JuliusCaesar

d1ckvanswype

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This was one of the first craft beers that took me by surprise when I was just getting into microbrews and craft breweries. I'd never had something quite like it, the spice and fruit tones were unknown to me at the time and it became one of my go-to beers.

Recently I got a 22oz bomber that was dated March 28 2012. It should have been fine, but it was apparently directly in front of a light in the display case, and even through the brown bottle it was skunked to all hell. Thankfully a FRESH six pack just came in and I nabbed it. Please redeem this beer, oh Beer Gods.

12oz bottle poured somewhat aggressively into a Duvel glass.

A: A stunning orange-yellow (more orange when the glass is full, more yellow when it's nearly done) with an okay finger and a half/two finger rocky head, which sadly disappears in just a few moments. Virtually no lacing.

S: Yeast, spice and fruit. YUM. A sweet bready aroma, like a really light fruitcake studded with dried fruit and doused in spices. A touch of alcohol when it's cold, not so bad when it's warm for some reason.

T: Spicy yeast, a cinnamon note somewhere in the middle, dried green grapes and a finish of unripe banana. Rather tart and astringent.

M: Initially fairly wet and refreshing, but it eventually leaves your tongue dry and cracked like a desert, dying for another sip. A little tightness in the cheeks from the astringency, not unlike a fairly tart, dry white wine.

O: There's a reason this is one of the beers that really got me into crafts. It's delicious when fresh, but beware, check your bottle dates before you leave the store and if it's a little old then grab from the back of the cooler. It should age a bit better, I hope.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:29:15 | More by d1ckvanswype

jdbonnette

2.18/5  rDev -41.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.25

I gave this beer a number of shots at different points over the last few months. While I love other beers brewed by Victory, this one just does not do it for me. While yes it is high in ABV, the taste just does not really do it for my pallet. I suggest anyone venturing into this beer, but a single or six pack first. I think you will either love it or hate it, and there is really no middle ground.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 22:50:03 | More by jdbonnette

Hendy011

1.58/5  rDev -57.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.25

Hands down the most disgusting beer I've ever tasted. Pours a neon lemon-lime gatorade yellow. Smells like bubble gum. Overwhelmingly strong. Tastes like bubble gum, pine needles, and wood. Way too strongly hopped - not sure if fits the style, but this beer is just gross. Unpalatable even. Read the other reviews to see if it's something you'd like. Mine is biased in the numbers, but I couldn't even finish this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:15:33 | More by Hendy011

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- Pours a totally clear golden color. A generous two finger head that is thick and foamy with good retention. Leaves some nice lacing and has active carbonation.

S- Citrusy aroma with lemon and orange and also hints of green apple and banana. A little bit of an early hop aroma as well.

T- Sweet and citrusy with a hop balance. Initial aftertaste is banana. Also hot a hint of the alcohol.

M- Medium-heavy body with a good amount of carbonation. Not the smoothest tripel in my opinion because the alcohol is not covered very well.

O- Not a huge fan of this beer mostly because I keep tasting banana, and I don't like banana. I should have known it was called "Golden Monkey" for a reason. Not a bad brew, but not something I would have again because of my banana aversion. I would recommend it to anyone who likes banana flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:03:21 | More by MickeyBeer

barczar

Kentucky

3.71/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a brilliant medium golden with an orange hue and a foamy one inch cream head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of lacing.

Belgian yeast, lemon, orange zesty, sour apple, wheat, and plasticy phenols form the aroma. There's a confectioners sugar sweetness to the lightly bready malt. Floral hops are subtle.

The initial flavor is slightly sweet, a touch citrusy, with a fairly bitter, earthy finish. Subsequent analysis reveals clove, banana, and green apple floating on a backbone of bready malt. Belgian yeast character gives way to earthy hops and pepper.

Body is a touch heavy, with carbonation on the high side, and significant alcohol warmth.

Not the most complex esters or yeast profile, and a bit too earthy and bitter. Fairly hot, as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:57:31 | More by barczar

brewdude1982

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was 12 oz bottle poured into snifter

It poured a faint opaque orange with a huge frothy head. It smelled kind of sweet with a normal tripel yeasty smell. It has a nice sweet taste that fades to a surpringky nice belgium characteristic. I say this because i am not a huge brlgium fan. Very pleasant mouthfeel. A little weak but on point for a Belgium style beer. Overall I would say this is a great beer and since it rocks in at 10% it is a definite regular in my beers I would order at a bar.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:10:50 | More by brewdude1982

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Enjoy By Aug 28 2015

A: Pours a golden yellow color with 2 fingers worth of bubbly head that recedes to a fingers worth rather quickly but retains well from there

S: Belgian yeast, which imparts some spiciness and light fruitiness along with the typical banana and clove notes. Also get some light herbal hops and alcohol

T: Not nearly as much banana or clove as the nose would suggest, but more of the herbal hoppiness and other spices and some apple and pear. Alcohol provides a dry phenolic note, which isn't bad but it doesn't help the beer either

M: Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. Slightly chalky

O: Not as good as its European counterparts, but still a solid take from an American brewery. If the yeast was as present in the taste as it was in the aroma, it would be better. The taste just lacks a little from the nose. Not sure the price can get any better though. Nearly 10% and its under $10 for a 6-pack. What a deal

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 20:46:04 | More by BEERMILER12

AmitC

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep yellow in color. A lot of suspended yeast. Hazy and unclear. Very few bubbles are seen rising up. About two finger thick off white colored head that stays as a thin layer. Excellent Belgian lace on the sides as the head fades.

Somewhat complex with moderate spiciness, some fruity esters. Some spicy, pepper and clove like aroma. Fruity smell is typical of banana and a bit of hefe. Some Belgian yeast is felt as well. Slight malt character. No apparent alcohol. May be some noble hops.

A good blend of spices (clove and pepper taste), yeast smoothness and some faint alcohol. Very hitting touch on tongue. Carbonation and very slight bitterness leaves a dry finish with a lowly bitter aftertaste.

Medium-light body, very lighter despite the alcohol strength. Effervescent. No astringency. Alcohol is not felt, but provides some warmth.

Maltiness is a bit lacking. Drinks like an ordinary Belgian strong pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 23:57:22 | More by AmitC

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a lightly hazed sunny golden color with a brief burst of fizzy foam that settles back to a floating 2mm raft that is remarkably stable for several minutes, no real lacing of note. Medium body and carbonation levels.

It's got the banana, clove, and coriander combo of a staple tripel in a very nice and balanced ratio... but not much else. Perhaps it's a bit too boozey hot in the nose with a fresh bottle, but a month or two of storage can clear that right up. This one works well as an acceptable substitute for more expensive imported tripels if you don't mind some roughness around the edges and a lack of dark fruits, floral and grassy hopping.

So in summary, it's got all of the core elements of a solid, well-made Tripel, but none of the garnishes or fancy flourishes on top of the core elements that some of the fancier Tripels on the market have.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 22:34:05 | More by WastingFreetime

BierStein711

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Best example of the style I have ever had! I made the mistake of having two. My stomach is paying for it. I am afraid the ABV was little too bold for me when it comes to my nightcaps.

Bottle poured into snifter. Two and a half finger off-white head, and yeast flakes are present!

Straw gold in color

Smells of barley malt, coriander, clove, oats. Smells like a witbier to me!

Tastes: Coriander, clove, spices, herbal hop finish! This is a very medicinal beer!

Overall, this beats Westmalle for me! This is a go-to Tripel for me. I say this because I am not too enthused about Belgian beer. Although I enjoy many beer styles, Belgian ones aren't my typical fancy. However, this is a great American example of how bold and drinkable a Belgian beer can be for those of us who are more about American Craft than Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 12:00:24 | More by BierStein711

Kelpius

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clove overtones with a light mouthfeel. Certainly a good bang for the buck beer and good for folks who like a bright tasting beer. Not a palate wrecker, but inferior to the very similar PranQster from North Coast. I consider this a bargain currently.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 05:28:53 | More by Kelpius

Huffs

New York

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams glass and developed a nice white head which had some good lacing. Lacing and head quickly dissipated. Color was straw and cloudy. Aroma was very strong in the alcohol department with hints of grain and malt. Taste was also strong with the alcohol and hints of citrus and malt, fairly sweet overall. Mouthfeel was full and somewhat creamy.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 23:30:12 | More by Huffs

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I poured the Monkey into a tulip glass. There was plentiful foam and a strong golden coloring. The look definitely matches the name.

The smell is a good example of a belgian blonde/golden. I like the belgian yeastiness going on in the nose.

The flavor is good, but just unbalanced. I like the banana in there. This tastes like a decent dubbel (don't know why it is called a trippel).

This is a decent belgian. I would order it on tap as a decent option.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 02:44:10 | More by ummswimmin

BucannonXC5

California

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Stone pint glass
From: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, Calif., on Dec. 27, 2012
Price: $19.99 for a variety 12-pack
Misc.: Box said enjoy by March 10, 2013; Also a long and uninformative spiel about a monkey which really didn’t speak to the beer.

Poured a golden clear color with 1-2 fingers of white head that had good retention from the get-go. Minimal lacing on the sides. Decent retention on the top all the way down.

Smelled banana, cloves, Circus Peanuts candy, nutmeg, pepper and kiwi.

Got a strong taste of alcohol, initially with not much behind it. Still got banana, cloves and Circus Peanuts candy, but all subdued because of the alcohol. Some spices in there as well, but hard to put my finger on what kind. Sweet and sugary as well.

Medium body. Oily texture. Lively (above average) carbonation. Astringent strong finish.

Not a bad beer, but I wouldn’t say it was a great beer. The flavor was lacking in my opinion, but the alcohol strength was there.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 05:10:44 | More by BucannonXC5