Golden Monkey - Victory Brewing Company

HopsMathias

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Got on tap at The Pint Room. Served in a 13oz fluted glass.
Golden pilsner style color with intermittent lacing.
Smells a little sweet.
Taste is slight banana and clove.
Light mouthfeel with a nice amount of carbonation.
Overall pretty good - a mix between Hoegaarden and Stella.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2013 21:56:46 | More by HopsMathias

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at the Royal Hilltop Tavern in metro Denver.
Served in a stemmed pokal glass.
Gold with significant head.
Aroma of Belgian candy sugar, banana, anise.
Significant carbonation and big mouthfeel.
Flavors of bitter grapefruit rind, grains of paradise, candy sugar, malts.
Overall tasty and rich with some bitterness and pepper spice.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 04:52:16 | More by DenverLogan

Bernardkowalski

5/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely one of my favorite beers!! honestly can go good with anything, but you are better off enjoying this beer by itself. it has so much too offer, such great combination between the yeast and malt's making this an outstanding brew. you can put this on my list of top beers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 23:26:20 | More by Bernardkowalski

hopheadfred

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of my favorite beers of all time! I had it on draft the other night and it brought back all the memories from visits to the east coast. I'm reading all these notes on how to "rate a beer" to style. I think this beer is freaking awesome, so I'm giving it a good score. Was it served perfectly with the perfect amount of head? No. I got it in a pint, not a snifter and was psyched because it's 9.5% MOFOs! That makes the score better, because it made me happy!

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 06:05:59 | More by hopheadfred

jdhchi

Illinois

3.54/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Had this one on tap at a local tap house. Poured clear golden color with very little if any head. Smell was sweet but not as present as other Belgians. No lacing to speak of but still and attractive pour in a sniffer glass. I immediately enjoyed the taste and would order another.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2013 00:31:12 | More by jdhchi

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Willie McBride's in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a lightly hazy medium straw yellow in color with some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some golden yellow highlights. There were light amounts of small visible yeast particles in suspension. The beer has a finger tall dense white head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass.

S: Moderate aromas of pale malts, bananas, and spicy yeast.

T: Moderate flavors of pale malts with some light fruits (white grape, apple, pear) upfront with some slightly stronger notes of banana and spicy/peppery yeast towards the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light to moderate amounts of alcohol heat and dryness in the finish.

O: Not the easiest beer to drink as the alcohol is noticeable but it is a very enjoyable beer and a great example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2012 02:52:13 | More by dbrauneis

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an ommegang chalice at whole foods- pours a clear, bright golden color with 1.5 fingers of creamy head that dissipates quickly and leaves some nice lacing.

Smell is in the styles ballpark- sweet candi sugar, yeast, what seems to me like coriander.

Taste is a little more complex- up front is the sugary taste, followed by yeast and slight bitterness, then a blend of spices (coriander, clove, lemongrass) to finish semi sweet.

Mouthfeel is pretty good- medium to fuller bodied, moderate carbonation, a little bready. This is obviously not really a tripel but is somewhere in steepen that and an American strong ale. I've been drinking it on and off for a few years, never loving it, but never hating it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 21:56:32 | More by Hopdaemon39

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I was so excited to finally see a Victory brew on tap, but looking back I am disappointed it was the Golden Monkey instead of one of their other beers. This one looks quite nice. Foamy head with great lacing and retention. But on the smell & taste front it was pretty one-dimensional. A textbook tripel, if you will. Nothing offensive, but nothing terribly exciting either.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 17:49:29 | More by TheRealBigC

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap served in a pint glass at Victory brewery

A - Golden clear with 2 finger white bubbly head with good retention and excellent lacing

S - Banana, clove, pepper, yeast

T - Follows nose, a nice wheat flavor, and a lot of banana esters. A little too potent for my taste.

M - Medium body, moderate-high carbonation, effervescent, crisp.

O - I prefer a little more complexity or some subtlety to my tripels, not bad but I don't think I'd get this on again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2012 15:04:10 | More by williamjbauer

DCon

Missouri

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on-tap @ the Mellow Mushroom in Franklin (Nashville), TN for $6. Tapped from the Victory Tap Handle w/ a Monkey on it into a 12oz Snifter Glass.

Aroma- Tons of belgian hops and malt hit the nose firstly. After this, light spices and an evident yeast character comes around. Very distinct as a Tripel nose!

Appearance- Received with a .5 finger head that dies very quickly. Has a golden body with good clarity and the lacing is at a minimum with just a few suds.

Flavor- A great deal of tangerine, yeast, and malts hits home for the style at the beginning towards mid drink. Then has a very malty background and a medium bitterness. More of a dryer finish than I've observed in other Tripels.

Mouthfeel- Medium Bodied, High Carbonation, Smooth, Fruity, and a bit effervescent.

Overall Impression- A good overall Tripel by Victory! Especially enjoyed the fruit character and light spices. I'm glad it wasn't too overpowering and held fairly true to style. Would like to see a bottle of this age at some point down the road.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 20:59:20 | More by DCon

kemoarps

Washington

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beautifully clear amber with a white head that laces the sides of the glass beautifully. It looks much flatter than it feels, making for a clean crisp appearance

The nose is primarily fruit and belgian spices. That banana-esque belgian sweetness with almost a tobacco hint underneath.

Tastes mainly sweet and a touch spicy, like theres a Little white pepper in there. The sweetness is that banana fruitiness that is common in belgians with hints of honey and spice. Maybe some sweet citrus (lemon), but thats about as close to hops as im getting

Certainly a well crafted brew (as is true of most victory beers ive had), and tasty. the pepper spiciness doesnt distract or overwhelm but compliments the subtle lacing well. Certainly a drinkable beer and a good tripple. If you like the style check it out but if youre not big on belgians this probably wont be what youre looking force

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 02:16:57 | More by kemoarps

Merkur

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer pours a rather clear yellow color with a good amount of white head.

Beer smells very sweet. Almost a bubble gum smell as well as hints of bananna.

Taste follows the nose. Very citrusy and sweet on the initial sip before giving way to some spicy bitterness.

Mouthfell is a bit on the thin side with a good amount of carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2012 15:33:20 | More by Merkur

CopeTech

California

2.13/5  rDev -42.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Calling this a triple is unfair, it is shallow with none of the subtly of a fully fermented beer.
The appearance is clear and golden, so clear it can't even hold head let alone flavor.
It is almost lager like in its lack of gravitas. I have heard of other beers called girlie beers, this is a virtual beer pretty only for a picture. I wish they delivered more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 02:03:54 | More by CopeTech

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Blonde color. Head is minimal. Lace looks doubtful.

Smells of ripe banana esters, some spicy element to the yeast (black pepper?). Okay, I'm answering my question. Yes, black pepper. Bit of juicy orange.

Spicy yeast yields to fruity esters. Some citrus, some banana, very clean. Not huge, or overly flavorful. The black peppercorn is more of a green peppercorn. Leafy/spicy hops are very complementary. The booze is not entirely idisguised, but this baby is a half-percent shy of ten. Good stuff, and to think that I thought I wasn't a fan. Been awhile since I've last tasted.

Light for a tripel (usually medium bodied), lower carbonation. Suffers a bit on feel.

I thought this would disappoint after having so many delicious Belgians since I've last revisited. But, I was wrong. Kudos!

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2012 01:55:16 | More by thecheapies

paulginva

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: This beer, poured from the tap into a snifter, produced a 3/4" foamy white head with thin head lacing that dissipated quickly. The body was a cloudy amber color with a lot of fizzy carbonation.

AROMA: A sweet aroma of moderate cereal, bubblegum, and some citrus, along with light alcohol and very light esters greets the nose.

TASTE: Pretty much the same -- light grain and bubblegum, citrus, cloves, coriander and very light alcohol. Seems pretty mild.

MOUTHFEEL: Light to medium body with a creamy texture, lively carbonation and good body lacing that dissipated somewhat quickly. The initial flavor was moderately sweet, while the medium length finish was lightly bitter.

DRINKABILITY: Repeatable, but not more than two because of the ABV and the fact that the alcohol is so well masked -- kind of sneaks up on you. Good value and easy to drink (maybe TOO easy). The flavors in this one are surprisingly muted, which makes it even more surprising that the alcohol doesn't stand out more. My impression regarding flavor is that there seemed to be inexplicable gaps in it -- like something else was supposed to be there but wasn't. This wasn't bad but I would like more out of a beer that has this kind of an ABV. I probably won't buy another.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 01:09:55 | More by paulginva

nimrod979

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ Bulls & Bears. Poured a slightly hazy gold. Average white head. Didn't last too long.
Light bready, yeasty banana aromas.
Flavor is a mix of spicy and sweet. Belgian spices mixed with sweeter German0style malts. Banana and clove flavors.
Rather light bodied and carbonated. The alcohol seems to kind of dominate the palate however. Not that I'm really complaining...
Quite an awesome beer. I really enjoy this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 22:07:15 | More by nimrod979

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Millwood Tavern in Gloucester. Arrived in a Duvel Green tulip glass. Dull golden yellow color. A thin white head, but nothing spectacular. Smell was sugary and malty. I enjoyed the flavor a lot though. There was plenty of that Belgian candy sugar taste that I love. Plus, hints of citrus and licorice. Mouthfeel was crisp for a tripel, not bready like other examples. The abv was hidden on the palate, but it sure caught up quickly. Very noticeable after half a glass. For an American version, this tripel is one of the better examples out there for me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 23:31:51 | More by morebeergood

GrindFatherBob

New York

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Owl House

A- A clear gold with big bubbles streaming up the glass the whole time. 1/" off white head.

S- Sun tan lotion, grass, crisp green apples, yeast, sweet caramel.

T- At first you get the alcoholic bite but it blends with a fresh cut grassyness, and the suntan lotion I get off Belgians. Rounds out with caramel, wild flowers/hops, medicinal and a wheaty/oaty character.

M- syrupy, yet crisp and juicy with a dry finish.

O-The best format to enjoy this beer is definately on tap, it's an amazing heady brew and a great heavy summer drink.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 23:44:09 | More by GrindFatherBob

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on tap at the Yard House in Long Beach. Review is from notes.

A: Pure golden, clear with a hint of bright orange throughout.

S: Malt character comes through strongest. Hint of honey sweetness and a good spice profile.

T: Classic taste of light honeyed/spiced fruits with a touch of yeast and light bread. A hint of melon somewhere in there. Bitter note in the middle that reminded me a bit of Poperings Hommelbier.

O: Nice refreshing beer, very drinkable despite the ABV. A good example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2011 00:14:18 | More by BucBasil

zrab11

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- This pours a nice Golden color with a nice 1 finger head with little lacing

S- Has a big spicey aroma aroma with alitle hit of bananna and cinnamon coming through

T- Has a very spicey/citrus flavor to it, The alchol comes through alittle bit and finish's with a fint of banna

M-Light to medium body with a nice crisp finish.

D- Overall this beer is one of the gateway beers that got me into craft beer. Im reviewing it as i had it during my 1st impression. Ive since had it in a bottle and feel it to be alittle unbalanced but on draft is it a pleasant beer to drink and with a 9.8% it will sneak up on you fast

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2011 19:38:43 | More by zrab11

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Cloudy golden. Head is neither voluminous or as long lasting as I would like. Some lacing.
S- Banana and some spice. Primarily fruity but there is definitely some spice in there. The banana and the spice seem more in competition than complemention here though.
T- The same problem persists here. It starts with a fruity flavor, but it somewhat gets overwhelmed by the spice character in the finish.
M- Compared to the paragons of the style it is too light and not creamy enough in the carbonation.
O- A decent triple but not one of the better ones out there. A bit disappointing for me considering the level this brewery usually performs at.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2011 03:20:48 | More by jsprain1

y2jrock60

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Golden in color with a big white bubbly head that dissipates quickly but does slightly lace.

S- Sweet with a hint of fruit, mostly pineapples and melon. I believe I detected noble hop aroma as well.

T- Very unique. Contains a variety of different flavors. The beer is spicy upfront but fades into a fruity mixture of pear, melon, and pineapple. That then fades into noble hop bitterness that lingers mellow on the tongue until the next sip.

M- The high percentage of alcohol can be detected by the warmness. This beer is best sipped.

D- Very drinkable for a big beer, but there's no reason to drink more than three at a time.

This is the first Tripel I've ever had. It reminds me a lot in appearance of a pilsner. It also has hints of noble hops. This beer was very complex and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 06:37:46 | More by y2jrock60

PorterLambic

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear yellow with a good-sized white head. Little lacing to speak of after it dissipates to a thin film.
Smell is fairly light with notes of banana, malt and bread.
Taste is choppy with citrus and malt lighter.
Fairly effervescent with a dry finish. Medium bodied. Decent, even good though not great.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2011 02:13:38 | More by PorterLambic

bskrtz

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served cool in glass beer goblet, on tap at The Yard House

A) Golden brass with modest white puffy head that disappears quickly. Light travels through -- there is no yeasties or sediment.

S) Sweet and spicey, with clove, banana and citrus.

T) Malty sweet caramel, mild peppery spice, apricots and raisons.

M) "Sticky" and a bit flat. This could be the result of the distance from the keg to the tap -- a long way as the beer appears to travel overhead, across the room and faraway

D) The spice, the texture and lack of effervesence (that one expects from true Belgians), put me off. One was enough for me

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 15:47:12 | More by bskrtz

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Drink by date is 12/9/15

Pours a rather boring yellow/light-orange with almost no head or lacing. Aromas and taste of malt and spice sweetness come through, but with too much carbonation.

A medium body that relies too much on carbonation. The 9.5% ABV is very well hidden.

This is the first Tripel I have had, so I can't say how well it captures the style,having had no others to compare it to. Just a little too sweet for my liking. But a good brew nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2011 06:29:04 | More by happy4hoppybeer