Monk's Blood - 21st Amendment Brewery

BB1313

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz can poured into a standard pint glass. Pours a nice hazy brown, slightly transparent with an off-white head and nice lacing. The aromas are really nice, and get even better as it warms up. Smells sweet with candied sugars and dark fruits w/ some cherries in the mix. The taste is somewhat off, IMO. I'm picking up on the oak and vanilla, not really picking up on the cinnamon and spices. Finishes pretty bitter. Mouthfeel is okay, pretty carbonated; medium-bodied. Drinkability is average, since the flavors aren't that interesting, I started milking it. The pleasant aromas kept me going. Once again, there was also an unpleasant bitterness.

Not a bad beer at all, but if you're seeking a Belgian fix, why settle for this?

Serving type: can

03-08-2011 02:12:38 | More by BB1313

Reswald

Alaska

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Monk's Blood is a Belgian-style dark ale, brewed with dark candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and dried dark figs; it's aged on oak chips to add in some woody flavors as well. I'd say it's roughly in the style of a dubbel, though its 8.3% ABV pushes it toward being a Belgian Dark Strong Ale, like the Chimay Grande Reserve or Rochefort 10. It pours a deep, rich brown, with a rocky tan head. The aroma speaks of the spices and the figs, perhaps with a touch of alcohol. On the tongue, it is gratifyingly complex, with the dark figs very evident. Perhaps a little too evident, as they make the beer seem a bit too sweet. The Amarillo hops give it a few citrusy notes, something you don't really expect for this style, but not unpleasant. It finishes slightly thin, but it is still delicious and very drinkable.

Serving type: can

02-10-2010 21:40:14 | More by Reswald

flagmantho

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz can into a tulip.

Appearance: hazy dark, chocolatey brown with a finger of thick tan head. Looks good to me.

Smell: a little sweet and malty but I get a lot of the old band-aid aroma which, while it doesn't really offend me, doesn't seem like it would be on purpose. Underneath that is a little woodiness which is nice, but overall I'm not terribly impressed.

Taste: flavor is more complex than the aroma, but sadly it also includes the band-aids (though it is a much smaller percentage of the flavor profile). Woodiness also remains, but this is nice. There is a little fruitiness present which consists of a little plum and perhaps a little cherry. Overall, not too bad, but not great.

Mouthfeel: sticky with a medium body. Carbonation seems a little low to me, at least for the style, so there is not as much creaminess as I like. Not bad, not great.

Drinkability: this beer just doesn't come together for me. It's far from bad, but it has a few problems for which its redeeming qualities fail to compensate. I won't seek it out again, at least not this year, but I won't outright knock it, either.

Serving type: can

03-04-2010 02:31:59 | More by flagmantho

jwhawkins81

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Aroma - Sweet malts and a definite spice note on the nose.

Appearance - Beer was dark with a light brown head that thinned pretty quickly.

Taste - Spice with a sweetness with level of dry tones. Kind of a heavier tripel without the bright spice tones more muted spice similar to a Christmas beer. Overall the flavor profile was smooth.

Notes - While smooth the beer wasn't highly drinkable.

Serving type: can

04-25-2010 13:25:24 | More by jwhawkins81

Kenny411

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Can poured into a glass. The pour is very dark and cloudy with a reddish hint. The taste is very smooth i was able to pick up the oak and the vanilla but i wasn't about to pick up cinnamon. Slightly sweet and good taste with a lingering aftertaste. Very drinkable for 8.3%.

Serving type: can

02-25-2011 00:11:33 | More by Kenny411

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Lets see how age has done this ting (well 3 months at least).

Pour is a very murky brown, with hues of purple. Really hope real Monk's blood doesnt look like this (I kid, I kid). Initial thick white head fades to a small ring.

Very complex and sweet smell. Dark Belgian I think so. Sweetened figs for sure, vanilla, strong yeast, and even a bit of cherries. Overall, it smells sweet.

The taste is no where near sweet. Very light and almost watery, but the yeast is peppery and spicy (I dont like it here). It smells so complex and fruity, but it honestly tastes dry and yeasty. not a great combination in my book. I get some underlying sweetness and accent flavors, but I want more. Its just dry and spicy up front, and finishes the same.

As it warms, it gets more smooth oak and vanilla flavors, and picks up a good hint of the dried fruits. I like it more warmer and decanted, honestly.

It leaves a slightly sweet feeling on the tongue (which is a bit better than the actual taste), but the dry oak doesnt work with the dry yeast.

Seems like an overly yeasty jumbled mess to me.

Serving type: can

06-04-2012 21:54:54 | More by VncentLIFE

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had at stubs.

Poured into a goblet.

Pours hardly and head. No retention or lace. Color is a deep brown, call it black.

Aroma: Cherries, raisins, dark malts, chocolate. Decent, but nothing special.

Taste: Lots of dark fruits mixed in with a metallic taste. Some chocolate and toffee. Nothing impressing.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat smooth, a little crisp. Medium bodied with a low amount of carbonation. Ends a little sticky with malt aftertaste flavors.

Overall, this beer was unimpressive. Nothing I want to have again. I don't think they should have let cold spring brew this beer, as I think it could have turned out so much better.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2009 02:11:04 | More by mothman

jgasparine

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Note: this beer was served very cold on draught, and I allowed it to warm considerably before imbibing.

A- Poured from the tap with a thin khaki colored head, which quickly receded to a haze layer and a collar. The body was a bright reddish mahogany color with no visible carbonation. Pretty to look at, but incomparable to other Belgian Quads I have seen.

S- Smells like Fruit Loops cereal drizzled with a Belgian Dark Strong Ale... the fruitiness on the nose is perceived akin to the synthetic fruitiness of Fruit Loops, and it also exhibits the excessive sugary aromas of the cereal as well. I actually like Fruit Loops in my cereal bowl, but I'm not sure what to make of it in my beer glass... not sure how to mark this one, even as an "American Twist" on the Belgian style... we'll call it average to be fair.

T- Interesting. The flavors on the palate are very bold: caramel malt, the aforementioned synthetic fruit and sugariness... which finishes with a faint alcohol burn. I like having some maltiness here, and it doesn't taste 'bad' per-say, so I suppose we'll give it a half a mark above average.

M- A nice medium-large body... somewhat oily in texture with a wonderfully delicate soft carbonation. Could use a bit more backbone, but the carbonation characteristics were indeed impressive.

D- Again, I'm torn on how to rate this in terms of drinkability. It isn't 'bad' per-say... but it isn't great either... and it certainly doesn't adhere to the description of a traditional Belgian Quad... average drinkability score to be fair.

Note: I would recommend that everyone try this at least once.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 15:32:06 | More by jgasparine

ajfa531

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I wish I had this beer when I was reading The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.

Can poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

Pours a dark, hazy brown with almost a finger's worth of foam. The head is an off-white color. There IS retention, but, expected a bigger head. Maybe a little darker than off-white. Holding the glass up to a light, the dark orange, slight red colors come out. There is still a noticeable haze. Blood is a good descriptor. Fine bubbles than stick to the glass.

The biggest aroma are dark sugars and spiciness. The can says cinnamon, but, it's more of a Big Red/Golgschlager hot cinnamon. It could be the slight booze in the nose. Slight oak notes. The latter two come out most in the second pour after warming up. It's nice.

Sweet flavor. Dark sugars. Yeast spiciness. The vanilla is subtle after I swallow. It comes out with hot cinnamon. I'm getting a lot of belgo yeast flavor. (I don't think I decanted very well. Is this possible with a can?) However, this is not the worst thin in the word. I enjoy the flavor.

I feel that the yeast suspended in the beer adds to the mouthfeel. Medium body. The beer sticks to the glass and it sticks to my mouth and tongue. The lingering flavors are pleasant, so, this is a good thing.

A solid beer. I don't pick up Belgian-styles to often, so, I'm glad this one was nice. I wouldn't have multiples of this in one night, but, I'd look for a single every now and then.

Serving type: can

03-07-2011 05:50:07 | More by ajfa531

gamwich

Hawaii

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the cool looking can into a St Bernardus goblet. A cafe au lait colored head dissipates quickly. The color is a striking reddish-brown, appropriate given the name. Minimal lacing. The nose is sweet, with some bready yeast and cinnamon. The flavor is mostly sweet malts and some booze. There are hints of other things, but these are fleeting. The finish is fairly dry.

Not a bad beer, but certainly not a great BSDA.

Serving type: can

05-12-2011 02:56:26 | More by gamwich

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

From can to Bruges hybrid glass on 3/16/11
*From notes

A: The crimson hue is nice, but the simple one finger head isn't. With a beer like this, I expect a really big, mammoth head and killer lacing. Not so much - this one dissipates quickly and hardly leaves anything behind.

S: Cinnamon sticks and cane sugar. It comes off a bit like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. After the inital bouquet, slight prunes and hard candied sugar persist.

T: Fruity complexity hit the buds first. It's also slightly yeasty on the fore to mid, with a surprising and tasty pinch of vanilla extract and sun dried fruit on the finish. The alcohol is also present throughout, and the aftertaste reminds me a bit of nutrasweet.

M: Signifigantly overcabred for the style. You've got to keep in mind that a lot of brews within the Belgian Strong Dark category will be bottle conditioned. With a canned beer like Monk's Blood, it's simply not possible. This comes off thin, flabby and brash.

O: 21st Ammendment's Monk's Blood is not half bad. I can honestly say that it's one of only two beers they make that I didn't want to drainpour. This is a reasonably good option in a pinch, but something I wouldn't reach for with better options at hand.

I should note that as this warmed, I picked up quite a bit of rubbing alcohol on the palate.

Serving type: can

03-19-2011 18:52:50 | More by Rhettroactive

mntlover

Tennessee

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a murky amber brown with a two finger tan head that falls to a cap with some lace.

Aroma is dark fruity malts some cherry hints with light spice. Overall seems little subdued for the style.

Taste is brown sugary malt with some dark fruits and spicy alcohol notes and light vanilla hints. Not really bad but then again not very complex or exciting either.

Mouthfeel is good medium body with descent level of carbonation.

Overall eh worth a try, I know I have been wanting to try it, but wont be trying it again.

Serving type: can

07-20-2011 02:11:08 | More by mntlover

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can poured into a chalice

The beer pours a deep reddish brown with a thin off-white head. Head falls to form a powdered sugar coating with some dots of lace inside the glass.

The aroma is of caramelized malt, figs, dates, brown sugar, cherries and cocoa powder. A little shallow.

Brown sugar, plums, cherries, dates, figs, caramel and some cocoa powder in the finish. Pretty much follows the nose. The finish is dry and slightly sugary. Not a bad take on the style, but its missing something I can't quite put my finger on.

Medium body, carbonation seemed to be tuned up a little too much. Some mild warming comes out over time.

This is a nice take on the style. A good BSDA, but nothing more. A good intro to the style.

Serving type: can

12-02-2011 14:41:04 | More by ColForbinBC

oberon

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the can a deep ruby tinged chesnut brown with a large light tannish colored head atop.Aromas of spiced cherries,brown sugar and malt loaf,maybe a bit much on the spiced cherries wich come into play even more on the palate.Dark fruit wich mainly means cherries and phenolic yeasty spice dominat the flavors with cakey brown sugar-like notes underneath,sweetish alcohol rounds out the finish.It's not horrible but there are many more complex and not so sweet versions of the style.

Serving type: can

03-26-2012 23:35:54 | More by oberon

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nearly clear ruby red dark brown color with a fluffy off white head that leaves pretty good lacing.

Nose is alot of candi sugar like sweetness and slight spice.

ugh. akwardly thin, the spice profile is a mess, and the vanilla is nearly non-existent. The base beer doesn't seem that great either, pretty boring.

Mouthfeel is about right at first, but dies off kind of thin on the finish. Slightly overcarbonated, but ok.

Drinkability would be alright if it tasted better, but as it is it still drinks pretty well for 8.5%

Overall, a boring beer to be honest. It isn't great, it isn't terrible, just messy and kind of blah. Give it a try. Cool to see a belgian style in a can at least, hopefully someone out will can a nice belgian IPA soon! Ok beer, try it when you get the time/boredom.

Serving type: can

12-27-2009 05:23:58 | More by AKBelgianBeast

Offa

California

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Deep, slightly reddish brown, it has a slowly shrinking small tan head with hint of orange.

Aroma is pineapple, toasted grain, dry wood, hints of fig and sawdust.

Taste is alcoholic up front but this soon mellows, with wood, stewed fruits, dried cherries, hints of dried fig skin (only the skin - not the whole fig), lightly sweet up front with lingering light woody bitterness from finish through the aftertaste, but all is quite subdued and not firm, the elements generally fleeting traces that soon go. It still stays a bit alcoholic and the character noted above soon is muddled and more bland and subdued. It is good but not great, the character ultimately rather bland and simple, losing interest yet staying rather heavy for what you get. Feel is pretty good, but again this beer is heavy for the character.

I'll add that I find this unusual since I generally find 21st Amdt beers to be very good, often exceeding expectations.

Overall, this is decent but very unimpressive, a heavy beer with little character and less complexity to warrant such heaviness.

Serving type: can

09-21-2010 21:12:41 | More by Offa

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep reddish color like a grapefruit or almost a clear tomoto juice with a obe finger off white head whiches gives way to some lace. The aroma is very inviting big vanilla and cinnomon notes with hints of oak and spices. The taste had a big vanilla and cinnomon taste over top of the caramel malt backbone, but there was a metallic taste in the end to the after taste that was a little off. The mouthfeel was creamy and enjoyable. Over all it would be hard to have more than one or two there was a nice start to the flavor but it faultered toward the end.

Serving type: can

03-20-2011 13:52:30 | More by goblue3509

CampusCrew

Florida

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

appearance: deep dark brown, lackig had retention

smell: cinnamon and belgian yeast, banana, borwn sugar

taste: carmelized malt, brown sugar, cinnanmon, lots of banana, but belgian yeast flavor taked over the beer. oak aging is lost or not present, awful sweet and weird finish

mouthfeel: medium bodied, good carbonation, not over done

drinkability: It's a interesting and pretty good beer, but it's not great by any means. figuring all the additives of flavor... it should be more complex and have better balance.

Serving type: can

04-09-2011 00:41:43 | More by CampusCrew

negroobserver

New York

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance.. dark brown color. Pours with about a half inch of fluffy cream colored head. Visible yeast and residue in glass. Probably not filtered.

Smell... Strong fruity and banana notes.

Taste... tastes a bit malty. A little sweet with slight sourness in the middle. Moderate bitter finish

Mouthfeel... The beer has nice density or depth. Not too light or watery. Slight sting on the tongue because of the alcohol.

Overall... A nice enjoyable beer, but there is nothing spectacular about the beer.

Serving type: can

11-19-2011 20:32:26 | More by negroobserver

SuperSpy

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer is a very reddish brown with an almost pinkish head. Appropriately named.

Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon and a bit of apple make up the aroma. The aroma is exactly what the beer advertises itself to be.

This flavor is all over the place. Plenty of earthy hops to start but it's quickly overpowered by cinnamon and incredibly boozy cherries. The aftertaste is still full of alcohol and cherries, along with figs and an earthy hop dryness. Again, this is what the beer advertises itself to be, but the flavors don't seem to blend as well as they could and seem to be battling each other for dominance.

This is worth drinking once or twice but it tastes like some of the fruit needs to be tamed down a bit. I think I'll let a can or two age a few months and give it another try.

Serving type: can

03-19-2012 23:52:37 | More by SuperSpy

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the 21st can. Color is a rich brown, reddish tints, but mostly dark.

Smell is murky, jammy, figs, some notes of cinammon.

Taste is a complicated blend of spices and fruits. The alcohol is noted and warms. Can get a bit punchy as the beer warms - this also brings out some woodiness. I read there is vanilla, but that is buried in the swirling dark fruit.

Overally pretty good - the latter half of the beer was a bit tough for me.

Serving type: can

04-25-2012 00:54:31 | More by KTCamm

tastymug

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

I like 21st Amendment brewery and have enjoyed most of their beers that I have sampled, this is one of their top contenders in my book.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, deep mahogany color with a frothy head. Fair amount of sediment that appears after poured. Thin line of retention while drinking and minimal lacing.

Smell: Malty and sweet. Dark fruits like figs or raisins.

Taste: Sweet, very malty, caramel, light on the oak flavor, a little fruity.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied, carbonated and crisp.

Overall: I liked this beer immediately upon trying it and would definitely drink again. The high alcohol content adds a kick, but the flavor is not compromised, and I find it a nice unique flavor that is enjoyable.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 19:10:52 | More by tastymug

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Moe's in Lee, MA. Pours a dark brown, almost black, with a small white head that disappears almost immediately. Smell is decent, dark fruits. Taste is interesting, grapes, sour apple, rum, raisins. Quite the strange tasting brew, couldn't really decide whether I enjoyed it or not. Alcohol definitely shows through towards the end, carbonation was low but overall mouthfeel felt a bit flat. It's interesting, I'll give it that, but I probably wouldn't get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2009 01:52:06 | More by Chico1985

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smells of dark fruits and spices. Taste is like it smells, dark fruit and spices, some notes of alcohol. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has average drinkability. Overall this is a good quality beer.

Serving type: can

02-26-2010 13:41:30 | More by tone77

organicbrewer

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Dark ruby with a small tan head. Fairly clear.

S-prunes and raisins. Light cinnamon. No hop aroma. A bit light.

T-Cherry cola. Nice caramel sweetness. Very low hop bitterness. Some fig. I don't get any of the spices listed on the can but sometimes that's the point. Medium bitterness, keeps things balanced.

M-Oak only apparant in the slight astringent mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation, could use a bit more imho.

D-Nice beer. I think this is more like a big dubbel than a dark strong. This beer would open up with more carbonation. It would kick up the aroma and flavor a bit and make it seem drier. All and all a nice beer.

Serving type: can

04-21-2010 22:33:04 | More by organicbrewer