Merry Monks' Ale - Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served on-tap at the W Hotel Bar in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a very lightly hazy medium straw yellow in color with some moderate amounts of visible carbonation, lots of fine white particles in suspension, and golden yellow + apricot highlights. The beer has a finger tall dense foamy white head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of pale malts with stronger aromas of light fruits (apple, pear, and peach) as well as banana and spicy yeast.

T: Very similar to the smell, the taste of this beer has some light to moderate pale malts upfront with some light fruit sweetness - pear, apple, and peach. There are strong flavors of banana along with just a touch of spicy yeast. Overall this beer is really quite sweet.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and slightly creamy, this beer really coats the inside of your mouth and tongue.

O: Overall this is a pretty nice American example of the Tripel style and the rather significant ABV is pretty well hidden. Much more of a sipping beer but an enjoyable one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2013 20:11:47 | More by dbrauneis

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap, poured into a Duvel Tulip, thanks Erin.

Pours a medium, creamy, ½” white head, with fairly brief longevity and no lace to speak of.
Medium deep, golden amber. Great looks for style.

The aroma is very distinctive but there is little to no hop presence. Distinct yeasty, biscuity malt presence with powerful smells of banana, pear and hard candy. It is very aromatic, yeast driven and very classic Belgium in style.

A medium crisp, vinous entry on the palate with some hints of lemon, but no real hop character, this is followed by distinct Belgium malt, yeasty with distinct flavors of pear and banana, vinous, candied and old world bread. Full, creamy body, with fine, balanced carbonation and a medium but balanced sweetness. Delicious! Excellent rendition of the style.

Long finish of really no hops and light malt, but distinct Belgium hard candy, banana, pear, and yeast.

An excellent and very enjoyable Ale, complex. Best at 50-55 degrees.
Wonderfully delicious Belgium style Ale from the perennially underrated Weyerbacher Brewery.
Highly recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 00:41:44 | More by JTSbeerislife

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Cloudy honey amber brew with a glossy meringue head of an inch's height in a tulip glass.

Musty yeast smell with esters of blood orange and clove. Bit of white pepper and a spearmint hop essence.

Big crusty bread malts with juicy fruit esters. Pear, orange, apple, and banana. Spicy yeast conjures more ground pepper. More must. Nice minty/grassy hop following the nose.

Weak carbonation. Feels wet and a bit flat. Medium body leaning toward full.

This is some good stuff! Another worthy reason to buy the 'Big Beers' case from Weyerbacher. However, this delight comes on draft tonight. Definitely worth the drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 01:24:18 | More by thecheapies

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap poured into wine glass/goblet. Hazy deep golden color, with slight haze. Smells of dried fruit; cherries, and raisins.
Taste of cherries and malt...alcohol is deff there. I really enjoyed this brew. It is a nice sipping beer, great for desert, or on a nice cold night. Not much of a session brew as you can imagine...id buy again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2011 15:57:51 | More by DrinkSlurm

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Weyerbacher, Easton, PA

Poured into a plastic cup (lollerfail), a golden color of indeterminate haze, with a nice fluffy white head. Big big aroma of bready yeast and fruit esters. Taste of sweet malts, bready, with obvious fruit notes: banana, peach, pear, apple skins, and a dash of spice. Very flavorful, very drinkable. Medium-bodied, and quite strong, though the alcohol isn't too overbearing, flavorwise.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2011 14:04:34 | More by Rifugium

claspada

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours like you typical classic Belgian, clear straw in color with a gigantic snow-white foam cap, a little lacing with decent retention.

Aromas begin with yeasty spiciness and clove with a nice sweet, lemony citrus. When I re-examine I get a little more sweetness and a little more doughy yeastiness.

The tastes begin with a subtle yeast clove spiciness, a bit of honey malt sweetness, with a pleasant dry, prickly finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with appropriate medium carbonation. This is the best aspect of this beer; the nice spicy dry finish that slightly lingers in the palate.

Overall this is a fairly drinkable Americanized tripel. By no means the best I have ever had but a fine offering from a reputable brewery. Worth the low investment but not a must have by any means.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2011 15:37:26 | More by claspada

jcurtis55

Indiana

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on-tap at an Uno’s Pizza in Hamilton NJ. It was served too cold but they did put in in the right type of glass. Despite starting off a bit too chilled for a tripel, it was tasting quite fine, alhough I was getting more on the fruit/floral side rather the malt. I did noticed as it warmed a bit the alcohol became more prominent, to the point of being a bit distractive. Not up there with the best Belgians, but that wouldn’t stop me from drinking it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 00:27:53 | More by jcurtis55

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Merry Monks on tap at Shorty's, Hell's Kitchen NYC, served on an Unibroue snifter.

Appearance: Classic Belgian, with a gigantic snow-white head, little lacing and decent retention. Clear straw color, like fresh apple juice or just-squeezed cider.

Smell: Again, classic Belgian. Spice, clove, banana and sweet-lemony citrus (lemon zest). Some sour apple and a beautiful summer crispness. "Fresh air" (sounds like I'm selling fabric softener)

Taste: Follows nose, with subtle spice, banana peel, a tad of honey and a dry, prickly finish. Super refreshing and crisp, but never watery or thin.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation, full flavor. Spicy dry finish that lingers in the mouth and will make you reach for water.

Overall: Drinkability is superb, as with the other American tripel I had at this bar, Allagash Curieux. So fresh, chuggable, enjoyable, well balanced. Utterly delightful, and so perfect for the warm late-spring weather! Again, witness how America can brew Belgians with the best of them!

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2011 05:28:51 | More by DoubleSimcoe

Snow81

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Nice orange glow but so malty you can't see your fingers on the other side

Head: Nice whit e head that sticks around

Smell: Big sweet malty coriander on the nose

Taste: Big mass of coriander hits the palate hard with a biscuit back note and some kind of fruit note floating around on there

Weight: Heavy to medium body with medium to low carbonation

Finish: Sweet grains with hints of coriander

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2011 05:55:39 | More by Snow81

BrewCrew2010

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Body pours a hazy golden orange. Head is long lasting, dense, creamy, & white.

S: A nice Belgian yeast nose with notes of clove, spices, lemon zest, & hint of pear. Bready malt backbone along with grains balance the nose.

T: A nice crisp taste with citrus notes (lemon), sweet bready malt, Belgian yeast, & spices. Finishes dry & flavor is long lasting.

M: Medium body, lively carbonation, crisp texture.

O: I love this beer. Even though it's a high ABV, I could drink 2-3 without really noticing. A much try and a go-to tripel for me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 02:03:33 | More by BrewCrew2010

nickthetick

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: poured a hazy straw into an american shaker pint with a white head that didn't hang around and left no lacing.

S: honey and pale malts with fruity yeast.

T: right up front there is bananas, that mellows into a sweet honey and pineapple flavor. The alcohol is there but doesn't retract from the taste at all. There is some pear that lingers on the back.

MF: a nice medium body and crisp. A little warm but not too much.

D: aawesome triple with some spectacular flavors and I would most certainly search this beer out again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2011 21:58:01 | More by nickthetick

callmeclemens

New Jersey

2.4/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Had on Tap at Twevle Steps Down in South Philly.

A very small head at best with a fine lacing down the glass.
Imeadiatley smelled like a blast of sour fruitiness with just a hint of malt.

Tastes was majorly consistant with the smell, only had a brutally sour finish, and IMO a varried aray of dry not compatable fruit flavour with Pear really leading the way.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 18:44:42 | More by callmeclemens

wcintula

New York

3.03/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Oh man, i expected more from this beer. It poors well, I nice golden straw color with half a finger head in a Chimay chalice. The smell is strongly bready and yeasty, the taste the same with some clove, banana, and grassiness to it. When cold there was a strong metallic taste. It goes down smooth hiding the alcohol very well. I can keep drinking these, but the taste is nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 05:43:21 | More by wcintula

Casey10

Maine

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I aged this brew for over 2 years this is my results

A - A nice clear pour with some nice carbination to feature the beer.

S - Strong grape

T Is a nice variation of the style warm, famhouse, nice sour is just some of the praise of this one.

M- Nice and Dry. This series is good and dry!!!

D - Another must have. If another of these is drunk now one will mind !!!

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 02:54:33 | More by Casey10

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at T*bonz the other day.

The beer pours a striking gold color with good head retention and lacing. Don't get a whole lot on the nose, just some light honey, clove and a hint of citrus. On the palate, this beer is much more impressive. It's fairly sweet, and seems to be dominated by flavors of clove and honey. However, there is some underlying citrus and spice that I think adds to and enhances the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, but for such a high abv. beer, it's not the least bit heavy or tiring on the palate. Ultimately, I thought drinkability was pretty good in this beer, though given the amount of richness/sweetness, I'm not sure I could ever drink more than one. In any event, another very solid beer from the folks at Weyerbacher.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2010 15:08:33 | More by johnmichaelsen

Dennycurr

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Surprising, Belgian "Style", beer that almost got there.
At 1st taste----Wow!
Lot's of flavors.
The beer went down smoothly and was good every sip.
Went to the Beer Advocate to see what was the ABV. Although, I suspected it was---up there--
I was stunned to see exactly how high...9.3 because it wasn't heavy and no real trace of the high percentage.

Not really sure where these people that had this beer---as I did, on tap, say there is no head. This beer had to be poured into 2 glasses, then poured into one to help CONTROL and accomodate the head.
Aventinus style pour---if you know what I mean.
Gosh...I think the others that had it on tap---got an old batch or something.
Nothing flat about the pour or the head.

Good beer...(IMHO)...

Den

PS--WARNING to those who drink those bs American beers and want to venture into another taste--
This beer ain't no Coors Lite...haha.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2009 13:30:28 | More by Dennycurr

Kendo

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got it on tap at the Lionheart -- a 2006 keg tapped in the Fall of 2008.

A: Body is clear, light golden with ZERO head (not unexpected given the ABV and a couple years of age). Some fine bubbles of carbonation, however, rise slowly, giving the impression that it's thicker in heft than the color might lead you to believe.

S: Sweet scents dominate -- bubblegum and fruit (ripe apples come to mind, maybe overripe apples). Also a hint of spice and funk.

T: Sweet flavors dominate as well -- fruity malt that calls to mind berries. Raspberries, actually, as it finishes with a slightly tart dryness that cuts the sweetness nicely.

M: Medium in heft. Low carbonation makes it smooth.

D: OK. Went down fairly easily for a beer of this strength.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2008 19:25:45 | More by Kendo

StrangeBrewer76

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Of the beers I have not had this was one I was looking forward to; very disappointed. Served in a chalice from tap there was little or no head or lacing. The color was a thin gold/ yellow. The smell and taste were dominated by the candy sugar. Honestly this was hard to drink. I spent the whole time drinking it looking at the other options and wishing I could return it.

I maintain that life is too short to get samples but had I sampled this one I would have passed.

This is a beer for the Belgian fans who like the prominent candy sugar taste.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2008 22:23:40 | More by StrangeBrewer76

smilingPolitely

New York

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Surprisingly, I was fortunate enough to run across this one on tap where the only other selections were the typical macros - and they even poured it into a goblet/chalice.
It was much more golden hued than the other tripels I had sampled, and had minimal head retention. It had a sweet fruity smell to it that carried over to the taste which also had a little bit of spice as it finished up. I'd say a raisin flavor was the most overwhelming aspect with citrus in the background. The mouthfeel was heavy and smooth.
I ordered a second before the meal was over and would have definitely been satisfied with a third or fourth if we had stayed longer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2008 17:52:14 | More by smilingPolitely

currysage1

Maine

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter producing and large pure white head that quickly falls into a healthy coating. Brilliantly clear amber orange color.

Smells of citrus, bubblegum, and spice, definate banana in there.

Taste is overipe bananas, bubblegum, not much in the spice but with a subtle hop background. Get some molasses brown bread in there as well.

Not too bad on the feel, nice and light with plenty of carbonation, medium on the body, right to the guidelines.

All together pretty good, many better out there but they do a damn fine job of it down in PA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2008 04:13:37 | More by currysage1

snafui

Massachusetts

1.53/5  rDev -60.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Had this on tap. I noticed in negative reviews folks referred to it as sour, lemony, etc. Not so here. It definitely seemed fresh. But it was like drinking banana juice.
Appearance was a pale yellow, cloudy. Very little head retention.
Smell was pure banana. It smelled like a hefe fermented way too high.
It tasted sweet and full of banana. Very much like a poor hefe than a belgian tripel. I almost thought I was served the wrong beer until reinforced by some companions who had experienced it before.
Mouthfeel was think and sweet.
Drinkability Couldn't sit down with a glass of this and finish it. I actually took the ice from a glass of water I had, and iced down this beer *TWICE* before it was tolerable. My party also found this to be an improvement and I did in fact finish the glass this way and actually enjoyed it. A companion referred to it as headache in a glass and I hope tomorrow doesn't prove him right.

I really hate to be that guy with very few reviews under his belt that jumps on BA to review the terrible but I just don't understand the positive reviews of this beer. I have to jump in here and speak my piece.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2007 04:34:27 | More by snafui

sleazo

New York

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy orange with a supreme lack of head.

S-smells like someone is brewing beer. Am unfinished smell but one that is quite inviting with twinges of ripe tropical fruit. 3.5

T-unlike the smell the taste is dominated by sweet over ripe bananas. The aftertaste leaves a sort of topps bubblegum flavour. Odd indeed and lacking a balance in many ways.

M-slightly thick with a medium carbonation

D-one sided beer with banana dominating. There are a lot of issues here. I did not realize this was a tripel when I was drinking it, i thought it was a singel type. I guess the only thing I can say good about it is the alcohol is well hidden

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2007 16:43:13 | More by sleazo

kkipple

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this on tap in SC, somehow....

Arrived at my table in a pint glass, would've preferred a chalice of some sort but I didn't complain... Merry Monks is a rich clear gold ale with a spotty white head and rather bubbly.

I smell lots of undefined esters, but pick out green apples and a rosy smell among the sweet malt and alcohol.

Hm, this tastes alright... very sweet and estery and warming, with hints of apples, bubblegum, (?) citrus and clove. Mildly dry and crisp. Quite floral, but rather muddled and tough to pick out distinct flavors. Not as complex or interesting as real Belgian Tripels I've had, this is still a pretty good American stab at the style.

Bottom line: It's no Allagash, but this is a decent tripel and worth a shot. I'm still wondering why <unnamed bar> gave me a pint of the stuff... at 9.3% it's almost as if they want their customers to get drunk and order more or something....

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2007 00:01:39 | More by kkipple

Backer2004

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What's better than a free pint? A free pint of Merry Monk's Ale. Picked this one up at Mellow Mushroom as part of the Carolina Brewmaster's Pint Night.

Though it doesn't take a genius, I could tell this was a tripel based on the medium pale color, fruity esters, and hoppy taste. Medium body and just a bit of head. Lots of carbonation. A good tripel but nothing fantastic. Still yet to find an average or below beer from Weyerbacher.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2007 21:57:22 | More by Backer2004

cubedbee

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a pint glass, this is a clear glowing gold with a thin ring of off-white head. Nose is very fruity, citrus and tropical fruits, with a faint whiff of alcohol and a bit of spiciness. Taste starts out with a sweet doughy malt which quickly gives way to very sweet fruitiness, citrus, apple, pineapple. Finish is peppery and somewhat alcoholic, leaving a lingering warmth in the throat. Medium bodied and slightly syrupy, this is definitely a sipping beer. Couldn't drink too many at once, but this is a pretty solid local tripel.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2006 18:51:46 | More by cubedbee