Golden Monkey - Victory Brewing Company

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

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

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

beerluvr

New Jersey

2.73/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours with a firm rocky pure white head, over yeast-hazed yellow-gold liquid. Nose is spicy with some coriander notes, tart aromas also. Taste is a bit tart and sour at first, then a small amount of malt sweetness creeps forward followed by a slight dryness. Finishes a bit dry and tart...not one of the best interpretations of the style, I remember this being a little bit better tasting last time I drank it.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2002 03:23:34 | More by beerluvr

doerickson

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Straw color with no head of any significance. Predominant smell is of bubble gum. Mild carbonation. Taste is overwhelmingly sweet; confectioner's sugar/cotton candy flavors are all over the place. Not very drinkable. If you're looking for a domestic tripel, there are much better choices out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 21:48:30 | More by doerickson

allboutbierge

Austria

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The only beer similiar to this i have tried was la fin du monde. I enjoy this much more, du monde is way too sweet and while the taste of this brew does have sweet properties they are balanced with the other more subtle flavors which are mellow spices and malts. I had a long day today-4 classes, work, a mid term, and a paper due. This has relaxed me nicely and im only half way through with it. I am a huge victory fan and i see this as yet another winner
drink up!

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2002 13:55:47 | More by allboutbierge

jackndan

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Victory Rally* Monkey: Big orange color, not much head, but very nice Belgian lace sticks to the side of the glass. The aroma is very aggressive, with lots of citrus aromas. The taste is rough and nice: lots of citrus tastes, followed up by a nice bite of hops, and HUGE alcohol warmth. One of those beers that causes you to automatically relax: great taste and smooth creamy mouthfeel. I’m cellaring this thing for the 12 inches of snow I expect next February.

* review made during 2002 World Series.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2002 19:26:37 | More by jackndan

HopheadEd

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice! 750ml corked bottle, one of four I hid from my wife, for about two weeks. Definitely got better as it warmed to room temp. Nice, big head, slowly fading to a nice collar. Aroma of yeast, fruits, alcohol. Tastes of spices, hops, yeast and alcohol. Clean, dry, spicey finish. Nice triple. Good Ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2002 18:46:17 | More by HopheadEd

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This beer is almost overpowering in it's youth. The bottle I had was bottled July 25, 2002, I believe. The beer pours with a nice head that produces a light lace and has a very attractive orange-yellow color. The aromas seem to be constantly changing as the beer warms. Most smells are sweet, as is the taste. My initial taste produced almost emtirely alcohol. While the beer was a little too cool, it tasted as though somehone had put a shot of Vodka in my beer. As it warmed, the alcohol nose and taste diminished, but never completely disappeared. Towards the end of the glass, the sweetness became very strong, almost overpowering. I will let the other 5 age for a while before opening another, because it is a good beer that will probably mellow with some aging.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2002 10:55:27 | More by aaronh

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy, peach colored with a white head that holds fairly well, and drops to a nice creamy collar but leaves no lace. The aroma is quite full with a soft fruitiness, some orange, a sweet bready malt, a light spice and some alcohol. The body is medium with a very fine & effervescent carbonation that caresses the tongue and fills the mouth. The taste is rich and full, with candyish malt, spice - some coriander is noticeable, and finishing with a lingering spicy sweet malt. The alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming. Very well balanced with just enough hop bitterness and spice flavor to keep the big sweet malt from getting out of hand. Not extremely complex, but big. Very rich and highly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2002 17:43:21 | More by NeroFiddled

doho95fu

California

2.78/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

No sir - I don't like it. Had a draught at GingerMan in Greenwich and I was disappointed. I love Storm King Stout and was looking forward to trying another Victory beer. It may be that I don't have alot of experience with type of beer, but still ... I didn't like it. The taste was all over the place and I was unable to grasp anything. The color and smell were fine, decent head. I honestly couldn't wait to finish it because I was in my favorite beer bar and there were other beers waiting.... Storm King Stout is strong and tastes great, doesn't knock you over with the alcohol taste, this did for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2002 14:08:08 | More by doho95fu

BeerManDan

California

4.97/5  rDev +34.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Just out of this world. I like to discribe the taste and aroma, but I can't. It is just out of this world. Victory Brewing does it again. This is a must to beer lovers. I can discribe the feeling you get when drinking this beer. This has to be one of my number one beers to buy. I now have three!

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2002 13:18:42 | More by BeerManDan

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a nice head but this disapates fast due to the ABV%. Sweet complex nose. The taste beats the tongue with honey sweetness and a yeast/clove taste.. the finish is dry. This brew is not for the timid, but you will will be rewarded with a "mindblow" of a beer if you try it... Watch out for the 9.5 ABV....

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2002 20:21:31 | More by frank4sail

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hard to control pour (making it ideal to bring to parties as many will think its a "golden" lager and wonder why they have to constantly suck on it to keep it from overflowing ; ) )...Hazy and slightly chunky gold color, parts of the head rise an inch and others less, as it settles. Complex aroma, promises of flavors to come. Medium bodied mouthfeel, flavors of deep cherry, some dried dates, and an alcoholic warming of a brandy. Very similar front to back, maybe could use more complexity, but the brew is assertive. A pretty good match to Belgian Pales, with fewer sour notes than some. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 08:37:28 | More by ADR

Todd

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12oz brown bottle.

Appearance: is just about average ... a cloudy golden colour topped with a thin white lace, but with pour head retention.

Smell: Aroma is faint, at first. Floral, bready, a bit yeasty in the nose with notes of caramel emerging as the beer warms.

Taste: A smooth, creamy, rich and full-bodied beer. Hops hit the palate first with a soft floral flavour and flash of spicy bitterness that mingles with a spicy (and warming) alcohol character. A pleasing herbal flavour stretches the entire tasting experience. Malty sweet and very sugary (like golden syrup from England), with bread and yeast flavours. Touch of caramel. Quite the one dimensional beer actually. Finish is dry with residual yeast flavours and a slightly bitty / oily palate.

Notes: Compare this beer to its style and it falls short. There's much better examples out there, and with less hype surrounding it. Is it a good beer? Yes it is, good ... but that's about it. Just another big beer with lots of hype and good marketing for the beergeek fish to bite at.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2002 15:06:34 | More by Todd

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

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow, this stuff is strooong! A good strong Belgian-style, but I still prefer other beers over this of similar style. I am re-reviewing this beer now, almost 2 years the day...my how far I have come. Today is July 9, 04. Anyway, back to the beer. Looks beautiful with a huge pillowy head, and is very smooth despite the 9.5 abv. Needs more oomph in the nose to back up its big-beer profile. Aroma is nice, citrusy, spicy, mildy hoppy and alcoholic, but more reminiscent of a Belgian Wit moreso than a Tripel. It's a smooth Tripel as well, which is a bit of an oxymoron. Where's that spicy carbonated bite? I don't know if I should complain or not on that front. One that is quite quaffable but could use some more "tough-guy" character.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2002 21:12:10 | More by IrishRedRock

ElGuapo

New Jersey

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

i love belgian style ales, and this one does not fall short of expectations. smooth, creamy, and potent as all hell. it goes down great, and gets you hammered with a great taste that is not dominated by malt

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2002 20:56:56 | More by ElGuapo

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle review from 15DEC02...
Slightly cloudy, dullish golden color, with a small, fine head and a bit of lace left in the glass....; I like it's nose...spicy, fruity and a touch yeasty.... Has a pretty good mouthfeel, overall. Body is medium, and it travels over the tongue in a smooth manner. Going down it has a nice combo of fruity flavors, spiciness, yeasty notes, and some traces of pepper...leaves you a tad warmer than before... Real nice!! (Original bottle review: 08JAN02...4.50, re-review 15DEC02).

overall: 4.35
appearance: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4.5

*** ***

On-tap review from 07JUL02...
Fresh from the Victory taps... Lovely cloudy, medium- golden color, though a very small head and minimal lacing. Wonderful nose! Sharp and spicy, with some sweetness! Good body, and nice over the tongue, especially towards the last half of the pint. Great semi-sweet malt and candi-sugar-like flavor, along with a sharp, Belgian-style spicy bite. Better as it warms...Superb! (4.0/4.5/5.0/4.0/4.5 - 4.55)

253

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2002 09:36:16 | More by Bierman9

goindownsouth

South Carolina

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

An exceptional would-be Belgian bier. Very fruity and spicy aroma with a nice head that fades to a lacey head down the glass. Great taste from this tripel. Not as strong as many other tripels (9.5% abv), but still has plenty of kick to offer. Well worth seeking out. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2002 18:37:53 | More by goindownsouth

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

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice gold color and medium body. This brew presents with more that the usual malty sweetness with a nice hoppy bitter twang half way down the glass. Easily drinkable and a decent representation of the style. Deceivingly high in alcohol which is not very apparent oin the flavor or finish.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2002 13:22:09 | More by beernut7

jreitman

California

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

Nice yellow color with orange hue and a thick white head. Noticed some chill hazy and sediment suspended in the beer. Spicy flavor with some malt sweetness towards the back of the mouth. Highly carbonated with a pretty large alcohol kick. Overall a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2002 16:38:58 | More by jreitman

LarryV

Massachusetts

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

Pours an orange-golden color with a huge, chunky head almost like whipped cream. Head hangs around for a long time and leaves lacy rings down the glass. Aroma is mild, rather citrusy with hints of banana. Mouthfeel is on the creamy side and seems to coat the tongue. Rather cloudy in appearance due to the yeast. Victory calls this a tripel, and though it tastes similar, it's not as complex as some of the Belgian tripels I've sampled. Still a nice beer to get mellow with.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2002 13:13:37 | More by LarryV

proc

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is one interesting beer. Pours out to a bright, but cloudy gold color with a huge head. Taste is that of spices, like nutmeg and clove and banana. This is a beer to have when you are having one to savor.

Thanks to pbrian for sending this my way!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2002 05:54:56 | More by proc