Monk's Blood - 21st Amendment Brewery

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

By the time I tasted this, my palate was pretty much wrecked by the terrible Iron Fist Spice of Life, but I still got a pretty good impression from this one. Served in a ball-stem goblet, a hazy, dark, reddish-brown color with a small off-white head. Aroma of bready malts, caramel, soft fruits and spice. Taste was a bit muted at first, but fleshed out a bit mid-palate onward. Caramel and candi-like sugars, bready, cinnamon and spice, and more of the soft, indistinct fruit I got on the nose, hints of cola and some phenol. Medium-bodied, fairly chewy, some alcohol warmth. Overall pretty decent, but I don't see myself having more than one glass in a session before moving on to something else.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 11:58:48 | More by Rifugium

mptorpey

Delaware

4.53/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A great rich brown almost rasin with a nice smooth white head.

S: A rich spice and rasin or fig jam. Cinnimum is quite also perdominate.

T: A very complex beer with lots of jam and spice. Jig is quite up frount and finishes with loads of spice like cumin and cinnimum. Very rich and dence. As it warms the ABV is hightned.

M: Very rich dnece long finish. Smooth with a some what sweentenss in the end.

O: A great beer but a little hard to drink more that one because it has such a richness and complexiness to it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 04:53:57 | More by mptorpey

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Very dark amber, with a thin white head. Lasts decently well and leaves lots of lacing.
S- The aroma is very nice, with emphasis on sweetness with a touch of sugary notes. There is also a fair bit of very sweet chocolate. Ever so slightly yeasty.
T- Sweet, with toasted bread, sugary candy, and a fair amount of cocoa in there. A bit of yeastyness comes through in the back of the tongue.
M- Decently full body, with medium-high carb. Definitely has a sipping texture.
O- Overall a tasty beer and one of the better made examples of an American-made Belgian style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 00:52:50 | More by jsprain1

jbakajust1

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz pour into a Tear Drop snifter @ Bier Stein

A - Pours a deep garnet w/ ruby highlights, semi clear, fluffy 1 finger beige head that slow fades to a thick cap and leaves decent lacing.

S - Smells of caramel and toffee, chocolate, metal/blood, raisins & cherries, spicy phenols, floral, and sweet breads, yeasty, alcohol.

T - Tastes of chocolate, raisins & plums, caramel, biscuits, alcohol tastes of spices and rose water, floral, cloves & cinnamon.

M - Smooth, medium body, light semi dry finish w/ lingering spice and alcohol. Fizzy carbonation.

O - Very good Belgian. Impressed; I haven't enjoyed a 21 A beer I've had yet til now. Deep, rich, drinkable, complex. Metal/blood aroma is slightly off putting, but fades quick.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 22:40:54 | More by jbakajust1

nickd717

California

3.13/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Review dated 3/30/2009.

On tap at 21st Amendment during SF Beer Week. Not bad, but really didn’t do it for me overall. Dark blood-like red color with a small off-white head. Aroma of sweet malt, dark fruits, sugar, and yeast. Flavor was similar - really fruity with sweet and sour notes as well as some roastiness. Complex for sure, but I don’t think it came together all that well. Fairly full palate. Not too drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 18:51:29 | More by nickd717

avaldivia

California

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Reddish brown with a head that was about 2 fingers wide.

S: Fruity, bit of an oak scent. Smells boozy, definitely made my nostrils flare a bit but in a way I liked.

T: Boom! Starts of with a fruity spicy kick that then goes a bit malty and finishes off with a bite. I really enjoyed the boozy kick to this beer. It was noticeable but not overpowering.

M: Nice medium body. Good carbonation.

O: one I always pick up as soon as it is released. Very enjoyable and a good beer to have every now and then.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 07:50:03 | More by avaldivia

BeerAmbassador

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer pours a hazy walnut brown with a small off white head.

Cinnamon and vanilla dominate the nose with some fruity deep malt.

Flavor is slightly sweet with the vanilla and cinnamon and even a bit of the figs on the back end. Very creamy mouthfeel.

I have had this beer a couple of times now, at the brewery and at home out of the can. I found that it is actually a nice beer to pair a cigar with as well.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 06:32:35 | More by BeerAmbassador

Snow81

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Heavy amber with a thick haze

Head: Nice frosty dark tan head

Smell: Heavy sweet malt, coriander is there with some heat

Taste: Get some heat right off the bat that turns into a rich malty layer with a subtle bitter hop

Weight: Light body with a high to medium carbonation

Finish: Bit of a dry on the end with a rich maltyness and back notes of a subtle bitter hop. Very sticky on the lips

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 06:01:31 | More by Snow81

BigB415

California

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark red with huge head. Smells of plums and cinnamon. Taste of plums, all this plum makes the beer very sweet. First taste I get alcohol then it subsides to the sweetness and sourness but I think the sour is very nice it's not overwhelming. Overall I really like it, the sweet, fruit, and sour notes really give it a nice kick and add a nice depth to the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 04:38:06 | More by BigB415

OrangeAmps

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in fall river, MA. poured into a large goblet. Very nice!

Pours a deep red/brown amalgam with a frothy white head. Beautiful looking beer, and in the goblet it was in it looked especially nice. The smells i was getting from this beer were great: banana, yeast, spices, dark fuits, and slight alcohol.

The taste was incredible at first. Halfway through the goblet, i began to dislike it, first a bit, and then pretty intensely. I dont know why, to be honest. But this beer definitely gets less appealing once you get deep into the glass. And its not the temperature or anything, because it didnt have time to cool very rapidly. Its just a very rich and robust beer that takes a lot to get through.

And for the style, i much prefer Gulden Draak. Its infinitely more drinkable.

still, a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2011 16:54:46 | More by OrangeAmps

glid02

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a hazy brown color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sweet caramel malts with moderate amounts of vanilla and sugar-coated dark fruits. Also present are hints of brown sugar and lighter hints of molasses.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though more nuanced. Robust caramel malt flavors with hints of toastiness and nuttiness kick things off. Joining in shortly thereafter are solid amounts of brown sugar and booze-soaked raisins. Near the end of the sip mild amounts of vanilla come into play - sweeter and somewhat resembling extract more so than vanilla in other beers I've had - before fading out into a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with decent carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass without a problem however I'm not sure about another.

Overall I wasn't a big fan of this beer - there was a lot going on and the levels of each flavor didn't seem to be as they should be. Far from a bad beer but one not worth seeking.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 23:08:05 | More by glid02

bnmir

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark reddish brown and nearly opaque, when held to strong light the beer is moderately cloudy.
A thin head dissapates quickly leaving only light traces on the glass. The aroma is reminiscent of dark fruits. Carbonation is medium high and the beer has noticeable body, but would not be considered thick or heavy.
Initial sweetness gives way to dark raisin and spiciness with nice depth of flavors. Lightly bittered, the finish is slight alcohol heat, oak tannin, and spices linger on the palate.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 00:39:54 | More by bnmir

ccrida

Oregon

2.1/5  rDev -44.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On draught at the Collins Pub, served in a small chalice, Monk's Blood is dark ruby with a small off-white head that leaves very light nice lace.

Smell is rich, sweet, dates and prune. Some is off, what is the FG of this, like 1.040??

Taste is similar, too sweet though for my taste in the style, and lacking esters. The alcohol creeps out a bit too much.

Mouthfeel is semi-dry, medium bodied, lacking digestibility.

Drinkability is on the lower side style wise. I knew I'd had this before and didn't like it, and am wondering why I bothered again. Fail.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2011 02:47:27 | More by ccrida

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish to deep amber color with a light tan head. In the aroma, Belgian candy sugar, dark fruits, especially raisin and fig. In the taste, raisin, figs, dark fruit, and a perfect hint of alcohol. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry dark fruit and alcohol aftertaste. Nice dark fruit and alcohol presence, easy to drink, and quite tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 19:38:37 | More by OWSLEY069

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.03/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Monk's Blood on tap at The Pony Bar, Hell's Kitchen, NY.

Appearance: Served in an eight-ounce glass, comes with a faint head that dissipates quickly, leaving a white mantle and bubbles around the glass. Auburn/reddish/fox-tail color, hazy and dark like a polluted estuary.

Smell: Carrot cake, walnut, dry fruit. Muddled, not much going on. Raisin puree.

Taste: Glue right away, some dark fruits, banana. Sweet, like baby food, ripe apricots and grapes. Also reminds of a dry-fruit mix, or when you pick all the dry fruit out of a granola mix and eat it.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, flavor and carbonation. Sweet, nutty. Almost feels like an energy drink, "slightly chilled and lightly carbonated".

Drinkability: Alright. Wouldn't want to drink again, but not too boozy or bothersome. Just unremarkable, boring and ultimately forgettable. You can do so much better in this style! Blah.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 08:21:12 | More by DoubleSimcoe

brew3crew

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at whole Foods in norwood, Cincinnati

A-medium brown in color with a nice amount of head that retains though out.
S-dried fruit with roasted malts
T-alot like it smells with some cherries and nice roastiness to it
M-medium bdoy and very smooth
D-very drinkable and my taste was gone in no time. Very drinkable especially considering abv...

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 22:10:15 | More by brew3crew

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Less than fingers worth of creamy light tan colored head quickly dissipates leaving only a hazy lacing... A shiny glossed medium brown color... Random carbonation throughout some of which latches to the sides of the glass...

S - Tobacco... Brown Sugar... Raisins... Faint hints of coffee...

T - The dominate flavor on the palette is that of tobacco... Raisins... Also present are some muted brown sugar, caramel, toffee, bubblegum and fig...

M - Medium to full bodied... Sharp biting carbonation... Sturdy... Absent of any of the depth or complexity that I expect in the style... A bit harsh... A bit chalky...

D - A respectable enough offering, but average at best both in terms of the brewery and the style... 21st Amendment and the Belgian Strong Dark Ale style both have much more to offer... I would drink again in a pinch but would neither recommend or invest in a sixer...

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 00:41:29 | More by philbe311

esv

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served on tap from a jockey box in a coffee shop. Surprisingly, the ice was set to the side in the cooler and beer was served at a near perfect temp.

A) Opaquish brown, nearly no head. Falling to a white ring. Looks like very little carbonation.

S) Try as I might, the odds were against me smelling this beer. 16oz of beer in a 16oz glass. Even after drinking and I had a bowl, the coffee shop had burnt some beans in the roaster and I couldn't get it out of my nose. I thought I picked-up some fruit but who the hell knows. It seems to have a smallish nose.

T) Bubble-gum everywhere. Spicy perfume and alcohol permeates the experience. Sickening sweet, bitter finish. Definately improves as it warms. More raisins, less candy and stickier.

M) Medium-full mouthfeel, more carbonation than it looks. Cloying flavors that stick to the mouth. Not as sticky sweet as you might think.

BJCP says high carbonation. I didn't get that.
D) Is it suppose to be, is it relevant? ... but yeah, it's kind of down there for me. I'd love to have another Brother Thelonius to compare; that's the only other belgian dark strong ale I think I have had and I can't remember it but I gave it high ratings.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 23:10:53 | More by esv

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep mahogany with ruby red hihglights and a big soft, fluffy off-white head. Excellent retention that leaves beautiful sheets of sticky froth on the glass after each sip. Buttery smooth, thick syrupy feel. Lazy, light carbonation as the carbonation fights through this heavier bodied strong ale. Intense dark fruit aromas and flavors, figs and raisins. Aromas are mostly sweet with a bit of tartness masking the higher ABV. Intense seetness and flowery hoppy finish nicely hide the alcohol. Enjoyed this thoroughly. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2011 18:21:38 | More by IronLover

jhughes23

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on Tap into Belgium Glass

A: Dark Semi-Cloudy Red....aka Monks Blood. Definitely attracted attention from other bar patrons around me.

S: Raisony, Cherry, Malty...none very overpowering though

T: Raisons and Cherry, Alcohol, Malty.

M: Definitely an alcohol feel, Carbonation, but easier to drink than you would think

Better than I was expecting. Big Heavy Sweet Beer. In no way a Session beer. But it is a Fun beer to have when it's around.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 02:22:50 | More by jhughes23

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at ChurchKey in Washington, DC. Poured into a snifter glass. Beer was served up near room temperature which is the norm for ChurchKey. Pours a cloudy, muddy dark red brown color. Small tan head but fizzles quick, but retains nice lacing throughout the session. Malty aroma, sweet dark malts, some dried fruits. The flavor starts off quite sweet and malty. Not sugary as such, but a bit sweet. Moderately balanced by a roasted maltiness and some warming alcohol. Dried fruits picking up in the flavor as well, along with a bit of Belgian yeast in the finish. There is also a tart fruit note in the finish, almost like a good kriek, albeit much more subtle. Medium bodied and decent carbonation throughout. Quite guaffable indeed.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 14:08:23 | More by CuriousMonk

fastsrt

New York

3.48/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce pour at blind tiger

A: dim lighting, but real dark amber

S: spicy, malts, belgan yeast.

T: Christmas ale like Spice Ginger figs nutmeg cinnomon

M: mild carbonation, sweet

D: good I had this one on draft and have a can in my fridge, I don't think I would drink this beer again, it is good but not stand out, tastes like something I have had before

sat down with a can and found it Has a very perfumy taste to it

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2011 01:13:41 | More by fastsrt

metter98

New York

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very dark red with a little bit of head
S: You can smell a bit of hops
T: It tastes like a strong beer with some sweetness and a bit of hops in the aftertaste
M: It goes down smooth and definitely tastes like a strong beer
D: This is a beer to sip and enjoy

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2010 16:30:10 | More by metter98

Katahdin

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very rich, garnet red color which easily makes one think of the beer's name right away. A joyous bouquet of fruits such as grapes and plums mixes with spices and earthy aromas of malt. Very inviting in the mouth as the tartiness of the fruits combines with the malt to balance out perfectly. An aftertaste of plums and chocolate or maybe cocoa beans keeps the bigness of the alcohol well hidden. Goes down very easily with a crisp, fruity, slightly tangy finish. Very enjoyable!!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2010 21:06:25 | More by Katahdin

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

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

Scary name...Monk's Blood...the hop profile is more subtle...dark Belgian candy sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and figs.
Dark ruby red pour, leaving a beige head..Aroma is very sweet, hints of candy and figs, rich fig aftertaste. Rich, full-flavour brew with a hoppy mouthfeel, but the aftertaste is sweet figs!!!
How Healthy!!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 02:16:13 | More by thequeen711