Abbey Monks Ale

Brewed by Sierra Blanca Brewing Co
Style: Belgian Ale
Moriarty, New Mexico USA

Clear amber body with a uniform sudsy white head. Aroma of warm yeasty esters, including cooked banana notes, plus cinnamon spice and cookie malts. Flavor is medium sweet with toasty malt qualities, a light hop profile, and fruity yeast signatures. Definitely has some potential as a respectable session beer.

Thanks Todd for sharing this bottled version. The beer pours to a hazy orange body with a creamy white head. The aroma is heavy with Saaz hops, corn silage, and it really piques my interest. The flavor is Saaz hops and silage with some strawberries. Very unique and quite nice. The palate is sweet and moderately full bodied and leaves a nice lingering spiciness. The bottle was listed as being from Abbey Beverage Co. from Pecos, NM.

Frequently I visit Santa Fe and enjoy excellent dinner at Café San Estevan. Last time I discovered there a superb ale brewed by Benedictine monks called Monks’ Ale”. Very sophisticated finish and aroma. Highly recommended.

Pn tap at Obrien’s in ABQ. Pours a med. clear amber with a lasting white head. Aroma is estery, solvent, and oxidized. Body is med. Flavor is really biscuity and oxidized with some sulphur characteristics. Similar to Fat Tire but not as clean.

On draft at Falling Rock Taphouse, Denver. Came in it’s own stylish glass. Very little head, with no retention. Very nice red-brown color with good clarity. Aroma a little underwhelming. Very soft mouthfeel. Delicate flavor of roasted malts, apple, just a hint of cinammon. Very little traditional yeast character, but a good mildly hoppy finish.

On tap at Falling Rock. (Ratman and I must’ve just missed each other.) It looked good, nice amber color, good head, clear in a cool Monks’ Ale tuip glass. Was described to me by my server as a dubble, now I read it was a Belgian Pale Ale, a style I am not very familiar with. As a dubbel, I basically thought it was OK, but "watered down". A little spice, a little carmel sweetness. OK. I probably wouldn’t order it again.

On tap @ Falling Rock poured a clear copper with a small off white head. Aroma was carmel, fruity and a hint of spice. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, lightly fruity and a hint of spice with a slightly astringent, dry finish. A very drinkable beer!