Monk's Mistress - Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

TCHopCraver

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled the third week of March. I presume it is a 2011 vintage.

Wow, that is DARK. Much darker than I expected; it looks more like a stout to me than a Belgian Strong Dark. The color is dark brown, bordering on black. The head was a dark tan and blossomed out at about a finger and a half before quickly receding. Just a little dotty lacing is left behind as the beer goes down.

The aroma is not as strong as I thought it might be, but it is quite sweet. I smell lots of banana, a little coffee, some caramel, fig, brown sugar. It is a pleasant smell, but just not very strong. Curious.

Whoa, the flavor is much bigger than the smell is. Notes of banana and clove are heavy, with supporting flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar. Candied fruits and molasses also come to mind when mulling the flavor. The Belgian yeast strain is quite evident in the sweet, spicy tastes. A bit of booze comes through, but not a crazy amount.

The mouthfeel is a little strange. It's very syrupy at first, with a medium body. The carbonation kicks in at about the same time that some booze does, adding a bit of a sizzle to the sides of my palate. The finish is actually a little dry.

Overall, I'm not entirely sure what I think about this beer. It has a very nice, sweet taste and a decent mouthfeel, but it just seems like it's missing a little something that I can't put my finger on. It's certainly good, just not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 04:56:05 | More by TCHopCraver

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-18-2013 14:35:58 | More by drgonzo2k2

atone315

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-18-2013 03:17:23 | More by atone315

Kuaff

Alaska

4.66/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Served at cellar temperature into a Midnight Sun goblet.

Monk's Mistress is a very dark, deep, murky brown color. It looks kind of like swamp water... in a good way. Imagine delicious swampy water you want to drink... uh... okay, maybe I should just move on. The head is pretty big for an 11.5% ABV ale. A solid two fingers or so of light tan, frothy foam.

The aroma... oh the aroma! There are mysterious scents of dark fruits, yeasty bread, and a hint of cinnamon. Makes me feel like I'm in my family's kitchen in December when copious amounts of Christmas sweets are being baked!

The taste follows the aroma pretty well. The predominant taste is a glorious sweet breadiness, but the dark fruits return here as well, revealing some definite raisins, and possibly some prunes and figs. The after-taste possesses a subtle, roasty chocolate character that I haven't experienced in any other Belgian strong dark ale. Phenominal.

This mouthfeel is slightly sticky, and has a lively, animated carbonation which I believe helps mask the alcohol. And that brings me to the ABV... has anyone seen it? I've been looking all over the place for the whopping 11.5% ABV, but I just can't find it. Tell me if you've seen it.

Just incredible. This dark ale is downright magical. And it's awesome that this is available year-round at a mere $8~10 per bomber. Midnight Sun has struck again.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:52:57 | More by Kuaff

huysmans

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-13-2013 10:28:35 | More by huysmans

FredGallagher

Alaska

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

An amazing Belgian Strong Dark Ale that has very smooth characteristics (unusual for its bald class). Fruity undertones. Gets better as you sip. Midnight Sun Brewing has been really top notch lately. This beer is a gem.

I carry ontap all year round, compelments spicy italian - such as a pepperoni pizza. Not for the novice - but great gateway into darks.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2013 04:20:34 | More by FredGallagher

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-02-2013 22:55:46 | More by xnicknj

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-02-2013 06:36:14 | More by Kelp

Lare453

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-22-2013 23:55:55 | More by Lare453

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-08-2013 16:22:07 | More by ShemRahBoo

Jspriest

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

04-02-2013 01:44:25 | More by Jspriest

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-24-2013 02:59:34 | More by Sparky44

nkeckhar

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

03-04-2013 00:45:16 | More by nkeckhar

popery

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

02-26-2013 07:30:58 | More by popery

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

02-21-2013 01:26:46 | More by kjkinsey

mjenkins5

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

02-20-2013 02:59:15 | More by mjenkins5

2dogbrew

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -14%

02-02-2013 22:59:16 | More by 2dogbrew

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

01-14-2013 00:27:08 | More by CanisMajor

MordorMongo

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

01-13-2013 23:18:10 | More by MordorMongo

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

01-12-2013 06:08:22 | More by spycow

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

4.7/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

How sweet it is to have a friend in Alaska to fly this beauty to the plains of Oklahoma...

Poured from 22oz bomber into Crown and Rose Pub nonic glass.

Monk's Mistress is a splended drink and is just this side of black with deep red spikes at the fringes of the glass. The camel colored head starts out frothy and bulging, then simmers to a fine film in a couple of minutes. Lace is colored the same leaving thin flowing wisps about the glass.

English toffee, dark fruits, molasses, chocolates, wild yeasts, currant jelly, peppery spice, and table wine - I know this is going to be a good experience.

Knocks it out of the park with flavors of plum, fig, grape, chocolate, caramel malt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a vanilla bean aftertaste that has my full attention. Outstanding and unforgettable.

Medium bodied and perfectly carbonated, this drink is getting the job done. Well done. Provides a very good coating so that those flavors have plenty of hang time.

I don't think I'll ever score a beer as "perfect", but this is about as close as it gets if there is such a thing. I notice not everyone agrees, so maybe there are inconsistencies, but Monk's Mistress knocks my socks off.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 00:40:52 | More by DelMontiac

gleemonger

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

12-08-2012 00:00:20 | More by gleemonger

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark mahogany color with a beautiful head on pouring. Malty fragrance with dark fruit. Nicely sudsy in the mouth.

Seriously rich but touched with some tart flavors. More than a hint of licorice, along with raisins and dried figs. They seem to have made a textbook example of the dark fruit flavors. Just a slight drying at the end with some yeasty flavors, seems to be the extent of the Belgian character. Very sweet and seems to get sweeter as you sip. It seems too alcoholic for my taste, at least in this style, but it's hard to complain about such a hearty, rich and flavorful brew.

All in all, this is a quite drinkable dark brew. It seems like a Dubbel with a big load on. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Best Damn in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 07:25:27 | More by mactrail

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

10-29-2012 01:05:39 | More by t0rin0

juliusseizure

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

10-27-2012 03:04:12 | More by juliusseizure