Brooklyn Monster Ale
Tis the season for warming imperial stouts and barleywines. At least, in my basement it is. There’s nothing like relaxing after a long day and a big meal than sitting back with a tasty, yet potent brew to close out the day.
That is, of course, unless said barleywine is a bit too young. Well, then it’s almost a chore to finish the bottle without letting the higher ABV melt your insides. Brooklyn’s Monster Ale isn’t quite that bad, but it is a pretty raw brew when consumed fresh from the brewery.
Appearance
Monster Ale pours a light amber in color with an orangish hue. The small head had a brief existence, fading to nothing.
Aroma
Up front, this brew has a strong alcohol and malt backbone with a subtle caramel sweetness. There’s a small bit of hops late in the nose along with a light fruit presence.
Taste
The taste of this one is rather subdued for something labeled as a monster. The alcohol (10.8% ABV), however, is huge. I’ve had bigger ABV beers without this much of an alcohol stamp on my throat. It’s definitely warming to say the least. Outside of the alcohol, the malt is the primary taste followed by a decent hop bitterness that shows up in the finish. There’s also a bit of a peppery note, but that may have been due to the higher ABV.
Overall
I’m not trashing this beer from Brooklyn. I just think this one needs to sit in the basement for a good while to mellow some of its harsher edges. At only a couple of months old, Monster Ale is a bit too young to enjoy to its fullest. I will definitely have to wait this one out.
Rating: 3/5