Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.88/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Cooper's Tavern and at Mason Lounge. I can't stop drinking this stuff, and every time I order something else, I regret not having ordered the Monk's. I guess I'm even more a sour fan than I thought; used to think I was a malt guy, period). The aroma isn't great, smells like vinegar, actually. But I could drink ten of these in a row. Any other favorites I have -- Founders Imperial Stout, Southern Tier Jahva, Mikkeller Black Hole, Tyranena Dirty Old Man -- I can only drink two or three before feeling "up to here" (holding open hand at mid-throat). I can and want to drink as many of these sours as possible.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2012 07:52:31 | More by martyl1000

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lightly chilled 11.2 oz. bottle poured into a shaker pint, as per the recommendation on the box. No discernable bottling date.

Look- Big, big head on this. 3/4 of the glass is filled with tight beige foam, looks like a root beer float, really. Crystal clear ruby-brown. Nice lacing.

Smell- Sweet, cidery, powdery, candylike. Pears, caramel, vanilla and lemon extract, some straw. Good malt backdrop, feels centered. Very appealing, if on the sweet side.

Taste- Cidery, pears, strong dose of wood comes out in the middle. Perhaps there's a hint of hops towards the end, but it's basically indistinguishable from the light oxidation. Vanilla again, sweet, almost candy/soda feel. Clean, almost no aftertaste, although sourness builds a bit as the glass empties. Very champagne-like.

Mouthfeel- Crisp, light to medium body. Not particularly dry, but quite clean. I feared it would be over-carbonated, but it's actually got a fairly soft edge, smooth on the tongue, a bit prickly on the swallow. Drinks like a cider, very refreshing. A bit acidic by the end, but it disappeared quickly- I wouldn't mind having a few of these.

Overall- Perhaps it's the 100+ degree heat today, but man, this really hit the spot. I have fairly mixed feelings about sours, but this one I thoroughly enjoyed. Crisp, easy drinking, definitely on the sweet side, puckery but not overly so. Feels more like an everyday beer, which I haven't seen in sours before. Not very complex, but what's there is spot on. A good lemonade replacement, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:11:20 | More by Lawl3ss

rodkin

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark reddish brown, with about 2 fingers of light tan head. Reduces slowly, but a bit remains.

Smell is some dark fruit, mostly some cherry. Some tart acidity, slight funk. Nice, but kind of one dimensional.

Taste is some acidity upfront, A bit of the dark fruit, a little funk. Maybe a bit of citrus or oak. Kind of acidic, but not super sour. Slight wine taste. Nice, nothing special.

Okay mouthfeel. A bit thicker and less dry than I'd like. Decent carb.

Alright sour, tasty enough. Good value at $3.50 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 04:33:03 | More by rodkin

KajII

North Carolina

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

[Best served in a Tulip glass]

The pour was a murky dark reddish brown with a large (2-3 finger) light brown rocky head that receded down to a thin cap, which did create some excellent sheeting of lacing.

The aroma was of a funky horse blanket Belgian yeast and a dark bread malt with notes of dark fruit (black cherries, plums and grapes) and a mild red wine.

The taste was sweet and a tad tart with a big dose of dark fruit throughout and a strong winey sour yeast presence towards the end. The flavor lasted an average duration after the swallow with a fruity sour wine finish.

Mouthfeel was light in body and semi-dry in texture with a good strong carbonation.

Overall a very satisfying Wild Ale with just enough fruitiness, which allowed for a robust fruity beginning and a slight wine finish...

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 18:25:42 | More by KajII

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

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

330mL bottle -no date

appears a dark brown with ruby highlights. off-white head. decent head retention. aroma is bready, belgian yeast, a little funkiness.

taste is a little bit tart. slightly sour aftertaste, but not overpowering. medium thickness, smooth mild carbonation.

overall - drinks nice. the sourness is restrained.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 03:41:43 | More by jmdrpi

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First go with a sour, so here goes nothing...

A- Pours a deep, deep amber hue with a 1 finger head. Head is very bubbly and active. Good lacing and retention.

S- Well, sour it is. Very acidic on the nose. Slight fruit tones. Lemon and lime like scents with the acidity, minus the refreshing citrus part. Slight hints of some malts.

T- Light and fruity, with only hints of the sour flavors that were on the nose. Darker fruits are up front, with some grapes and maybe some tart cherries and raspberries. Very much like a semi-dry champagne.

M- Very carbonated. Drinks easily, but somewhat harsh on the palate. Could drink a few, but your tongue would be worn out.

O- This a a good starter sour. I thought I'd hate this from the smell, but it is pretty good. Easily drinkable and a good gateway into a very expensive style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 02:45:15 | More by boilermakerbrew

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 11.2 oz. bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown with some tints of amber/ruby red. Moderate amount of bubbles and a huge five finger off white head that slowly recedes into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a good amount of lace.

Smell: Bready malts, yeast, and wheat grains up front giving a Maibock like aroma. Fruits are very noticeable but don't stand out strongly or smell overly sour/tart. Good hints of cherries and Brett along with hints of strawberry, fig, and apple. Also some subtle hints of wood. No noticeable hops.

Taste: Like the smell, but sourness and tartness is noticeable higher in the taste. A fairly tart and sour blend of cherries, Brett, fig, apple, and strawberry rhubarb. A little bit of wood. Solid backing of malts and wheat grains adding some bready sweetness. Somewhat funky with some Belgian yeast. Tastes pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Creamy and fairly juicy. Sourness bites the tongue but isn't over the top. Finishes sweet.

Overall: A pretty solid sour. Has some nice tart fruit elements and remains fairly light and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 06:24:44 | More by MattyG85

quirkzoo

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful beer, dark brown with ruby highlights and 1 finger of off white head that last and lasts.

Smell is very nice, a very "clean" brett character, lots of earth and wood but not the super funky notes. Just a hint of tartness on the nose.

The taste was good but I knocked it down slightly from the aroma because it wasn't as intense. The same clean oakiness with a mild tart character.

Very drinkable, a bit on the lighter side, but that lends to increased drinkability.

OVerall, really nice. Not terribly complex but a really solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 17:16:58 | More by quirkzoo

TubaManJack

Illinois

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

It's tulip time.

Appearance
Limited head which quickly disappates overlies a mahogany body with very little carbonation present.

Smell
Limited to a bit of bing cherries. There isn't any noticible malt comming through.

Taste
A lot of sour cherry twang as it spreads across your mouth. I have to say this but its similar to a cherry welshers sparking juice minus the carbonation. The sourness was pretty one dimensional and showed only bits of malt backbone. I didn't get the same vinger base that others mentioned.

Overall I am fairly new to the style and mixed on this one in particular. I would try to par this with food. Mine eventually joined a hot pretzel with spicy mustard for a doughy spice kick which I highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 04:24:46 | More by TubaManJack

JHarris1717

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a really nice summer sipping beer. Peter Kate and I all got this and liked it. Smells great. Good sour, would try again . Went well with burger and chips at TJ's. I would also try other sours to compare but it is definitely not my usual preference.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 10:35:24 | More by JHarris1717

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: 3/4" tan coloured head over deep mahogany liquid.

S: Sour funk and yeast.

T: Yeast, sour funk, rich bready malt, cherries, figs, pears and a sweet finish.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of carbonation.

O: A very easy drinker, one of the better Flanders Oud Bruins I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 04:20:25 | More by DaftCaskBC

MadScientist

New York

4.58/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a deep reddish brown with excellent clarity. The light tan head has lingers for a very long time.

The aroma is nice and fruity and malty with a light sour aroma. There are aromas of dark cherries and figs along with a brighter almost rhubarb like aroma. A mild sherry like character as well

There a lot going on in this with a fruit and malt flavors dominating followed by some spicy phenols all the while with a light sourness throughout ending in a dry finish. The flavors are again dark cherry and fig with a malt flavors of orange and a touch of treacle. Theres a light sherry like flavor in there and a little bit of hops bitterness. Overall it has a really nice balance of sweet and sour flavors but not with the intensity in some other sour styles.

It has a medium-full body with low carbonation. It's also very soft on the palate and almost cream. There is a slight touch of slickness but no diacetyl and no astringency.

Overall this is an amazing, lightly soured beer that is very refreshing. A the elements of the flavor and aroma are in a very satisfying balance, a world class example of the the Oud Bruin style. I'm definitely picking about a two more four packs of this and letting some age in my cellar.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:52:10 | More by MadScientist

Glibber

Idaho

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

One of my first venture into sours, and for $2 a bottle at the co-op, I couldn't resist.
I was suprised at the 2" mocha colored head, and while the head did disipate, the glass was certainly laced. I dark copper colored beer, with some red when held to the light. On the nose I was able to detect some dark fruits, however they were light. I enjoyed the taste and mouthfeel more as the beer warmed up. Not as sour as I thought it was going to be and a drank easily. This was an enjoyable beer

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 01:13:32 | More by Glibber

ryanonline

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

looks like a nice brownish red flemish ale, lots of tan head and decent lacing. sort of opaque but just barely has some clarity to it.

smells light and sour, no hop presence and light on the sweet malts. maybe a slight bready yeast aroma.

the tast is rather off putting. It has virtually no real sour elements and is still very light on hops and malt, I practically taste nothing. Very odd.

the mouthfeel is thin and watery with a dry finish and a bit of foamy yet non aggressive carbonation.

drinkability is fairly high, due to the light nature, but it is not very tasty and, as such, i wouldn't want more than one.

overall, this beer sets you up to expect good things, but it kind of lets you down.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 23:40:04 | More by ryanonline

imasloth

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Based on other reviews I look to be in the minority here but ...

A- Dark brown with red tint when head to light. Thin almond-coloured head with notable lacing.

S- Sweet malt with slight sourness.

T- Some sourness but not much else. A bit of malt in aftertaste.

M- Light-bodied with a dry, alcohol feel in afterfeel.

O- As my brother said, meh. Not the best of the Belgian brews or even sours by far.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 15:22:43 | More by imasloth

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a deep amber tone, sits a chestnut color with ruby tones evident when held to light. foamy finger, finger and a half beige head, middling retention; head lapse into a thin cap... very nice lacing.

nose is a pretty nice bouquet consisting mostly of malts, sour/tartness, and a fruity sweetness. flavor hits me with a little more sourness than i was anticipating based on the aroma, but not an overly, mouth-pucking sour... interesting balance between the sweet and sour. defintely has some tang to it; sour cherries. enjoyable and even a bit refreshing, though nothing transcendent.

medium-bodied mouthfeel with healthy carbonation. drinks easily. not the best sour you'll ever encounter but approachable and relatively tasty.

originally reviewed: 02-08-2011

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 22:33:40 | More by BostonHops

threeviews

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviews vary quite a bit for this beer, so I do not know what to expect...poured from a 11.2oz bottle (no bottled on date), slightly below cellar temperature into a Duvel tulip glass.

A- Pours a with a deep, red/mahagony with a 2-1/2-finger, kahki colored head possessing moderate retention

S- Mild fruity notes: cherry, (red) apple and pear along with some hints of lactic acid. As the head subsides, a more geuze-like, barnyard funk is apparent. However, the overwhelming (and tart) apple cider vinegar aroma present in Rodenbach's Grand Cru or Lindeman's Cuvee Renee is not present.

T- Not at all that I was expecting (and pleasantly surprised)...mild apple cider vinegar sourness up front followed by some geuze-like funk and then a bit of chocolate/cherry sweetness on the back end. Really nice..

M- Copius, yet smooth carbonation gives this brew an effervescence that makes it refreshing. Couple that with a semi-dry finish and it makes Monk's Cafe a highly drinkable brew.

O- Not my favorite sour, but (as others have mentioned) a great entry into the style and certainly worth trying. I would like to say this might be the perfect amalgam between a geuze and sour, as it possesses traits of both.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 23:48:40 | More by threeviews

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A- With a very aggressive pour it pours a very dark amber almost brown with tons of fluffy light tan colored head that takes it's time leaving.

S- There is a noticeable "funk" factor about this beer. It is slightly fruity. Hard to pick out what fruits. Some sort of berry sweetness. Maybe some tart cherry candy.

T- WOW! Not at all what I expected. Very fruity, like fruit punch fruity, but with a nice sourness. Very interesting.

M- The carbonation in this one dances on the tongue as soon as it enters the mouth, but then quickly dances away. Turning into an easy drinker with it's light body.

O- Very surprised with this one. The taste does not follow the nose very well, there were many hidden flavors inside the beer that are not present on the nose. Overall, they got a good one here.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 02:32:20 | More by rfbenavi80

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

11.2 oz bottle, no bottle date. Poured this into a Lost Abbey tulip.

A: Pours a very clear blood reddish amber color. Three fingers of off white, fluffy head. Nice carbonation for sure. During the sip it leaves a good amount of lacing.

S: Hard to smell through the thick head, but initially...not as funky and tart as I was expecting. There is some mild horse blanket and dark cherry but don't get tons.

T: Very surprised by how not sour it is. I get some mild tart cherry up front. And then a little oak hint. But there really isn't any super tart or balsamic character to this one. No where close to a Rodenbach or Red Poppy or others highly ranked.

M: It's fairly light bodied. Very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 14:36:12 | More by inlimbo77

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Found this in a random bottle shop in Muncie. Score for me.

A: A near-perfect looking beer. The head is rocky, thick, and foamy, spanning a good one-third of the glass – and it takes a solid five minutes for it to settle. Retention is a full inch of pure tan silk, so airy it looks like smoke laying over the body. Webs of lacing everywhere. The beer itself is a dark ruby red; a lovely color.

S: Overall character in this nose is grainy and sour, like a lemony wheat husk. Big lactic acid hits with a dose of raspberry, vanilla bean, and dry, vinous grape; it’s fruit-heavy, but definitely all about the sours. These aromas paint the picture of a sweet red wine, mixed with some earthy yeast notes of coriander, pine wood, and pie crust.

T: More of the same: sour and grainy. This time, there’s an upfront kick of grape juice and sour cherry candy over a bed of apple skin, young wheat, and sweet banana bread butteriness. When they say sweet and sour on the label, they’re dead on: it’s a good mix of full-bodied sweets and the lightening effects of tart flavor. It’s not an intensely flavorful palate, but it does provide a nice flavor. Barnyard funk just barely peeks out toward the finish, drying out the fruits for a chalky, iced tea aftertaste.

M: Thin, yet smooth and refreshing. A bit of carbonation comes with the wateriness, though not much.

O: What we seem to have here is a good introduction to the world of Flanders ales; sour, but not much, with a sweet undertone throughout. A good beer for a heavy dinner or just simple quaffing.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 22:19:41 | More by BarryMFBurton

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Super bubble head. Color is dark reddish brown.
S: Smells a little sour with a lot of grape. Smells a lot like a young wine.
T: The sour really hits you right away and the first thing I thought was this is going to linger around and taste gross. But as soon as the sour really set in it was gone being replaced with some spicy and malt. Some cinnamon in there maybe.
M: Again really great here. The beer sits with a medium body and like I said the sourness dissipates quickly leaving a sweet aftertaste.

Overall a very nice beer. Certainly unique and drinkable. Probably not a beer for everyone since it is a little weird but I quite like it. The combination of all the aspects works very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 16:00:57 | More by Jamesthebrit

thydarkprevails

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On draft. Clear ruby amber with a inch thick white head and nice lacing. Aroma is raspberry, and sour fruit. Taste is more raspberry, sour fruit, and light citrus. Thin mouthfeel. Nice sour. Not the strongest example of the style, but it was put together well and is very sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2012 04:31:00 | More by thydarkprevails

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a not that sour and way overpriced bottle in my opinion. at nearly 5 bucks for a shortie, i expected a bit more. pours a molasses looking redish brown color with an active off white head thats nice and thick. smells like tart fruit, not brett or anything like that. notes of oak as well as mild spice on the nose. flavor is sour cherries, brown sugar, and funky yeast. things are balanced well, but this is a pretty tame version of a flemish sour ale. not puckery or tangy at all, just a hint of vinegar as it goes down. feel is nice, bright bubbles and a medium body made to feel quite airy by the carbonation. overall a well made beer, but i prefer my sours with a bit more punch, especially for the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 17:39:19 | More by StonedTrippin

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a tulip- pours a very dark ruby color (similar to Coke but darker) with 1.5 finger tan head. Great retention, good lacing.

Smell is kinda tart- a little fruity (grapefruit maybe), definitely very wild yeasty.

Taste is exceptional- well balanced tartness but very full flavored. I taste a little cherry, definitely lots of wild yeast (tart, earthy flavors). Great level of tartness- shows off the flavor while being mild enough for newcomers.

Mouthfeel is excellent- medium body with moderate to full carbonation. Definitely a great example of Oud Bruin. Had it on tap but enjoyed this from the bottle more.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:10:34 | More by Hopdaemon39

minnesotaryan

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Monk's Cafe Sour Flemish Ale

750 poured into a New Belgium Snifter

Pours a deep brown with hues of maroon and red at the edge, a nice one finger cream head presides over it. There is some wet lacing on the sides.

Smells of grapes, black cherries and lactic sourness.

Sour fruit, pear, cherry, various tart berries, ranging from strawberries, raspberry to a slight hint of blueberry in the back. Definitely getting some malt, which ranges from subtle hints of chocolate and caramel, to an underlying grainyness that persists through each sip.

Light body, good carbonation and a nice dry finish.

Overall this is not bad, it would be good for a person not accustomed to sour beers. It has some nice things going on for it, but for the price I would probably seek out other beers in the same style.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 04:59:36 | More by minnesotaryan