Brooklyn Monster Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Ba Review #272
Served On: 5/20/2013
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 10.1%
Date/ Code: 2012 Release

This was a 12oz bottle from a 24 bottle case I snagged at North York Beverage in York, PA ($34.98).

Look: The aggressive pour rendered a thin beige head comprised of tiny bubbles. Lacing was minimal. Carbonation level was low with a small but steady stream of bubbles rising up the middle. The color was brilliant copper color with surprising good clarity.

Smell: Heavy sweet plum and raisin notes. Heavy candy sugar with some very faint biscuit in the background.

Taste: First up was a cloyingly sweet burst of caramelized winter fruits and brown sugar. Then a roasted note set in towards the middle, like burnt sugar in a frying pan. Then a quick bitterness hit, but nothing that contributed to any balance to the heavy malt sweetness. The finish was some lingering biscuit and raisin notes. The aftertaste had the sweetness moving into some bitterness again. 10.1% ABV gave a warming sensation but was note a big factor on the palate aside from some metallic notes.

I found this brew to be a solid English Style BW. I don’t know that this one would age very well. I’m afraid the high level of sweetness would just become more intense.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 16:08:14 | More by CraftBeerTastic

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.16/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into glass , bottle says this beer was born in 2012

Copper colored beer with a half finger head and small amounts of lacing

Not much of a smell to this beer , a light malty smell is all

Full body to this beer , a real mouthfeel but way too much carbonation to this beer

The taste is very nice the malt pops out up front then the booze takes over and rides all the way through the end , a realy belly warmer

Overall this is a good beer in the barleywine class , I will be picking more of this up for sure

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:35:21 | More by ubenumber2

sjverla

Massachusetts

3.61/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Nose: Vinous. Sweet and tart like sherry. Grape jam and a little bit of alcoholic solvency.

Appearance: Hazy ruby-amber. Some small bubbles around the edge, but no head.

Taste: Sweet and smooth. Immediately caramelly - gives way to subtle fruit flavors. Hints of vanilla and burnt sugar. Rich and smooth with a dry finish. Alcohol heat lingers on the tongue.

Overall: A great investment for $8.69.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:17:19 | More by sjverla

YCantWeNotBeSober

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Born in 2011

A - Pours a hazy, dark orange. Head recedes rather quickly

S - Sweet Caramel, Vanilla, delicious dark fruits, wonderful

T - Follows the nose with a blast of sweet, malty barley. Lots of fruit and surprisingly refreshing. Transitions beautifully into a soft bouquet of grassy hops and a welcomed presence of booze. As it warms hints of cherry linger in the background.

M - Medium-bodied. Oily, moderate carbonation contributing to its refreshing nature.

O - Never had this one fresh, but with 1-2 years on it, this barley wine has really impressed me.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:54:26 | More by YCantWeNotBeSober

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Murky brown with red hues. No head

S: Malts and Booze

T: Very sweet malt. Caramel and butterscotch. Mildly bitter, with alcohol on the finish

M: Slightly sticky

Overall: Sweeter than I'd expected. The malt is nice but the alcohol is pretty heavy. I've enjoyed it well enough

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:24:44 | More by JuliusCaesar

secondtooth

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This is a vintage 2010 bottle, so over 2, nearly 3 years aged.

Pours a murky red-amber, with only a small amount of carbonation and almost no lace whatsoever.

Nose is big and syrupy-rich, with notes of dried fruit (figs, plums, raisins) and a sharp grain-malt tone.

Taste is big and heavy, as to be expected. There's more of the rich maltiness and dried fruit. The intense hops are dialed way back here, and what results is a complex, rich, and rather smooth drinking experience. The alcohol kick is definitely there, but this beast gets friendlier with age.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:13:16 | More by secondtooth

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a 16 oz snifter, bottled in 2012. Pours a bright reddish orange, with a 2 inch off white head, that leaves little lace. Smell is burnt brown sugar, alcohol, apricot, and apple hard candy. Taste is loads of apple hard candy and alcohol, some grapefruit in the finish. Body is maybe medium, plenty of carbonation, a little dry, and not very drinkable. Not a bad Barleywine, but pretty average.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 16:12:04 | More by SawDog505

Immortale25

Florida

3.96/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. snifter. Label says Born in 2012.

A- Pours a dark amber color with barely a 1/4 inch light tan head that immediately dissipates leaving a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and minimal surface foam. Thin, semi-sticky lacing slides slowly down the glass.

S- Sweet malt aroma with a bit of alcohol fume and cereal grain. Small hint of oxidation as well as some musk.

T- Smooth and delicate with some toasty malt flavor and very mild hops. The alcohol isn't so in-your-face but I am drinking it at a very cold temperature at the moment. As it begins to warm, some slightly astringent oak shows itself and adds a bit more character to the beer. The oxidation detected in the nose also starts to come through but is not unwelcome since the rest of the flavor is becoming much more intense. Now the booze element enters and harshens things. It's amazing to see how a strong beer's flavors become more apparent as it goes from cold to warm.

M- Sharp and oily with medium-low carbonation and a medium-full body.

O- Haven't had this beer in years and I remember enjoying it more back in the day. Regardless, it's not a bad barleywine. Just could use some more complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 00:55:58 | More by Immortale25

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.51/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

355ml Bottle. Palm Snifter glass. Enjoyed on mar´13. Bright amber in color, clear appearance. Yellowish froth, not much retention. Toasted malt & alcohol aromas, fruity on the back. Crystal malt & easy rum touch, anise & sugar as well as orange marmalade at first sip. Full body. Soft carbonation. Ripe fruit & gentle warming, brown sugar & molasses are displaced by a very subtle bitterness that arises in the middle. Long warming finish. Dates on the aftertaste. Flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 07:58:03 | More by GONZALOYANNA

AmitC

Indiana

3.79/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

O my God. I was expecting something good. This turns out to be a dampener.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle.

Very small off white to tan colored head that fades very swiftly. Color is Deep amber to slightly copper with ruby hues. Decent lacing on the sides. Moderate to low carbonation. No bubbles. Cloudy and very hazy. No suspensions.

Aroma is off putting. A lot of booze, and too much malt. Oxidized sherry notes. Some hops, yes. A lot of caramel, in fact to much. This beer has no balance and no nice aromas.

Taste is pretty much similar to what aroma is. Booze and malts everywhere. Off flavors. A lot of caramel and oxidization. A very unbalanced beer. Some hops are a saving grace but do not shine. This beer is a boozy mess. Dry to lightly sweet finish. Hops are lacking enough to make it bitter.

Mouth feel: Medium bodied. Low to moderate carbonation. Not astringent as such but booze is overwhelming.

Style Rate: Seems like an English Barleywine. Still a 3.75-4
Personal Rate: 3.75

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 00:30:17 | More by AmitC

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.14/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Born in 2012, this bottle was poured into a snifter. It settles in with a slightly hazed, strawberry-ruby coloring with a thin, filmy ring of surface head. Looks a little on the thin/light side. Aromas of tart and sweet fruit, including cherry, pineapple, and mango, with a subtle toffee underlying richness. Touches of wood and earth on the nose, as well, with some fig and date rich sweetness, also. Very malty nose. Flavors of roast initially, with a steady dose of green, peppery hops keeping all the malt profiles in check. Tangy caramel sweetness, with a bitterness that begins to build as you continue to drink. The fruit profiles that were so prevalent in the nose fall limp on the palate. Oak and tobacco come down hard towards the end of the palate, continuing the knockout punch to any of the malt sweetness. Bitter, slightly cloying aftertaste, with some of the wood and char. Slick, lingering finish. Decent wet lacing can be seen as you swirl and consume. Not sure if this is meant to age instead of being consumed fresh, but there seems to be a lot of confusion on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:22:09 | More by GarthDanielson

cattersley

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful ruby amber, cloudy, little head ring.

S - Small citrus, hop notes.

T - Low hope, smooth malt bill, but very fully sweet sugary taste, little on aftertaste.

M - Surprising light on the palate, since it is so high gravity.

O - I love this beer, this was 2011 and it was so smooth, I am wondering what my 2010 tastes like now!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 20:17:18 | More by cattersley

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a great caramel color withsmall but respectable head, which lightly laces the glass.

S: Aroma is of pine hops instantly and of sweet malts.

T: Taste is at first an awesome balance of sweet malts and piney hop, then fades to a hoppy grapefruit finish.

M: Mouthfeel is a medium body with nice small bubbles of carbonation hint of alchoholic content as you will feel the heat after the swallow.

O: Overall a decent example of the style and look forward to it every year I get to sample some.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 03:28:50 | More by nukem5

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Monster Ale was born in 2012.

Appearance: Beautiful golden amber hue with stunning clarity. Thick streams of effervescence ascend towards a one finger foamy off-white head.

Aroma: At first wiff it is oddly skunky… something I've never experienced with a craft beer or an ale for that matter. However, upon digging deeper into the aroma I'm finding that what I thought was a skunky smell is actually the culmination of a huge amount of english barley. Really smells quite nice when you stick your nose in the glass. Like sugar coated grains mixed with some earth and pine from the hops.

Taste: Right away I'm getting piney hop bitterness with a touch of alcohol. The bitterness magnifies the entire time as caramel malt cascades over the palate. Not quite as robust as I was expecting but does the job. Finish is smooth with some heat from the 10.1% ABV (as marked on the bottle). Bitterness lingers but is never overpowering.

Mouthfeel: Just above medium bodied which is a little thin for a Barleywine in my opinion. Very smooth (four months of aging will do that). A little over-carbonated and yet has good drinkability.

Final Thoughts: I've been really getting into Barleywines lately but unfortunately Monster Ale is not one of the better ones. There is just something a little 'off' about it. Would I drink it again? Maybe, if it was on sale I'd cellar some.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 03:06:01 | More by JamesMN

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.64/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Brooklyn's Monster Ale was one of the first American "craft beers" I purchased three of four years ago. At the time, it seemed such an intense, over-the-top flavorful beer that Brooklyn quickly became my go-to brewery for quality beer. As my tastes have developed and my knowledge of craft beer grown, I've continued to fall back on Brooklyn, and its head brewer Garrett Oliver, as a source of American beer knowledge. It is in that vein I review the 2012 vintage of the Monster Ale.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into an oversized snifter glass, the first thing that hits you is the intense, deep amber of this ale - amber to the point of almost having ruby highlights. A thin wispy head slowly swirls like lazy smoke wafting from a campfire. Agitation of the glass leaves a bit of head swirled on the sides of the glass that sinks back into the brew.

There's a bready, yeasty quality familiar to many barleywines, with a healthy dose of booziness that is characteristic of every Monster Ale I've had, no matter which vintage, not quite like solvent, but approaching it.

Alcohol plays a prominent role in the taste of this ale as well, with notes of grapes and plums. Not as malty or buttery as other barleywines I've had, there's a fair amount of bitter hops I don't recall from prior Monster Ale vintages.

Medium to full bodied, with a higher amount of carbonation than one would typically expect from a barleywine, the higher alcohol content makes puts this on the slightly rough side of enjoyable. There's nothing subtle about it, but then again, it is called "Monster" Ale!

Enjoyable and drinkable, this is a fun and relatively easy barleywine to consume. While some barleywines can be too intense, this one dials it back enough to be more accessible. I wouldn't call it a starter barleywine, but it certainly would be one to include after an initial foray into the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 22:37:21 | More by TheHoppiest

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

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

Bought a 4-pack of the 2012 Monster Ale just before the holidays. Finished a Tony Luke's Italian hoagie then off to desert which I poured into a snifter for review.

Appears a clear ruby copper with 1/2 finger head that fades to a thin film of bubbles & suds that cling to 1/4 of the glass rim. Smells of light fruit: green grapes, apricot, fig, berries. Has some caramel undertones & a honey touch. Smells of the English barley wine style to me. A small bite of the hops are still there.

Tastes sweet with a nice hop bite that punches through with ample bitterness. Fruit tastes are there with a tongue coating of honey & brown sugar. Well balanced and seemingly dry in taste. Residual sugars are definitely there but the sweet malts are kept in check with the hops. The alcohol seems well in check after having let the bottle warm at room temps for 30 minutes. Even still, you can detect the alcohol in the nose and in the back of the throat - precisely why this is so damn appropriate on the coldest day here in Philly the 2 years.

Overall, a very nice barley wine. No off flavors which indicates something very well brewed. I assume this is of the English style, otherwise the age seems to have mellowed this one a bit if it were of the American style. Will age my 4th bottle of the pack to see how it fares towards the end of 2013.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 23:17:08 | More by jwhancher

mkotsayfan

California

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter. Pours a deep copper color with a quickly dissipating white head. The aroma has the usual barleywine flavors: caramel malts, slight bit of hops, toffee, dark fruits. The taste is solid if unspectacular, exhibiting flavors of the malts, toffee, and caramel. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with decent carbonation.

Overall, a decent barleywine from Monster, but nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:35:24 | More by mkotsayfan

TexasBrewSlinger

Texas

2.09/5  rDev -43.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25

reddish caramel color, bubbles quickly dissipate,

nose is slightly offputting, soapy, boozy, hoppy, not much sweetness coming through

flavors of sherry, citrus, even a little woody (even though no barrels)

I'm usually a big barleywine fan but this doesn't do it for me. I will age my last 2 in hopes of improvement but this is a major pass for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:54:07 | More by TexasBrewSlinger

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2010 bottling reviewed in December of 2012. Served in a Great Lakes snifter. The beer has a nice amber-brown color with a finger of tight off-white head and decent retention for a barleywine. Not getting much of a nose on this beer. Some faint estery notes and a bit of sherry.

Medium-full body and nice slick feel. Mild nutty, malty flavors up front accentuated by a spicy, peppery note. Not much depth or complexity to the malt. It does not dominate and is overshadowed somewhat by the pepper. At mid-palate there is some molasses, tea with lemon, and some alcohol. After 2 years in the cellar, the alcohol is not overdone and contributes a pleasant, warming finish. As the beer warms a bit, some deeper malt notes do start to creep in on the back of the palate.

A nice-tasting beer, but a somewhat disappointing barleywine. Lacks the deep, rich, luscious malty sweetness and velvety texture one expects from a top example of this style. All I get are nutty flavors and a bit of pepper. I don't get the sweet, bready, or fruity notes in the profile at all. The brewer has every right to express this style however they like (it's one of the great things about barleywines - there is so much room for interpretation). Let's just say I prefer something more traditional.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 10:00:34 | More by deadonhisfeet

mdfb79

New York

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

From 11/21/12 notes. Had this on tap at Rattle n Hum, leftovers from their "Rare Beer Night". Served in a tulip, 2008 vintage.

a - Pours a murky amber-brown color with two inches of off white head and low to moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of caramel malts, toffee, toasted malts, maple, sweet brown sugar, and some pine hops. Pretty nice, lots of caramel in the nose.

t - Tastes of caramel, toffee, sweet dark fruits, alcohol, raisins, brown sugar, light hops. Alcohol isn't as well hidden as the nose, but considering it is almost 11% ABV it isn't too bad. Again, a ton of caramel.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, most heat seems to be gone. The body was lighter body than I expected it to be for a big barleywine.

o - Overall a pretty good barleywine. I woudl imagine that 4 years took a fair amount of heat off of this one and that it could be pretty boozy fresh as the taste still had some, but it is pretty nice after 4 years. Not sure if I'd think it'll get much better than it is now, but worth checking out if you like barleywines.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 15:21:47 | More by mdfb79

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2011 vintage.

A-Pours a clear glowing ruby hue. Mild head. Moderate lacing too.

S-Yeasty. Sweet with all sorts of caramel. Apple cider. With the near year of age, any hops have disintegrated.

T-Flavor is better. Sugary sweet with some burn. Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, blah, blah, blah. Has an sorta astringent flavor.

M-Sipper. Dry. Not bitter. Take your time.

O/D-One dimensional. Lacks complexity. Could be better, could be worse.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:29:35 | More by VelvetExtract

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Served in a snifter. Beer I've overlooked for years, glad I finally picked one up. Nothing special, just a well crafted barleywine that tastes good.

Beer is brown, darker than expected, tight white head of small bubbles, mildly tan, decent retention, some lacing, nice carbonation.

Aroma is malt, simple, mild yeastiness, mostly malt.

Beer is medium in body, sweet up front and in the middle, mildly bitter on the finish, a decent beer with a nice connectivity and good palate. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 19:01:38 | More by drabmuh

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

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

12 Oz bottle poured into a snifter
2011

A- Pours hazy copper color with a half a finger of an off white head. Definite alcohol legs.

S- A lot of caramel, dark fruits and molasses. A slight yeast and bitterness.

T- A big malty beer. A get a huge caramel and molasses up front. Followed up by a lot of dark fruits. There is a lot of plum and fig flavors to this beer. A bit of burn sugar and a slight grainyness. This is a nice feeling and tasting beer but I cant help to think mine has been sitting under a lamp for a while too long. It has a slightly off yeasty flavor. Maybe a bit of age will weed it out.

M- Big, malty, smooth, sticky. A slight alcohol burn. Not bitter at all, very sugary sweet.

O- Nice stuff. I cant help but be a bit thrown off by the off flavor in mine. Maybe its been sitting under a lamp too long, maybe its still a bit young or maybe its just the beer. Worth trying and hopefully aging.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 00:33:58 | More by TwelveOunces

FLima

Brazil

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Date to be enjoyed before November 2014.
Interesting colour, brownish orange. It made almost no head.
I could sense a good quantity of hops in its aroma. Same for its taste, also with caramel malt, some raisins and tofee. The quantity of hops tweaks a little its style, but why not?
The booze can be felt, but also in a good way, warming up your tongue, as one expects in a Barley Wine.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 01:12:55 | More by FLima

ajcarp

British Columbia (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage poured into a tulip glass.

A: Muddy brown with a thin, almost non-existent head.
S: Dank. Kind of like a wet mop.
T: Full of raisin, toffee and carmel. Very tasty.
M: Nice alcohol warmth as well as the taste lingers long on the tongue.
O: A pleasant, slightly above average sample of one of my favorite styles.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 03:31:20 | More by ajcarp