Brass Monkey Speak No Evil Belgian IPA

Brewed by Brass Monkey Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Kokomo, Indiana USA

Sample at 2008 Indy Microbrewers Fest - Aroma is yeasty sweet bread, lemon, banana and Euro hops. Pours cloudy brown gold with a nice head. Flavor matches aroma with a bit of spice. palate is tart and crisp. Tasty brew.

Draft: Poured at the brewpub...dark copper in color with a two-finger cream head. Nose hits with notes of sweet bready malts, caramel, belgian yeast, some mild banana and clove along with floral hops. Flavors consist of a sweet, candied sugar beginning and melds into a wonderful, light and crisp middle and finish consisting of floral hops, piney hops and some lemongrass notes. Wonderful brew.

Indiana Microbrewers Festival: Hazy amber with a very good head and lace. The aroma has notes of Belgian yeast and sugar, earthy and floral, grassy and apple esters. The taste was fruity and sugary up front followed by a bitter back end for balance. The mouth feel is sharp and yet lush. Very good brew and another one from the brewery to seek out.

Perhaps the highlight of the Indiana Brewer’s Guild Summer Festival, particularly enjoyable because it was so unexpected. I walked by their stand as I had never heard of the brewer and was intrigued by their Green Tea Pale Ale, their Imperial Stout, and this beer. All were very good, but this was the standout. It apparently won a silver medal for the IN competition behind Dreadnaught. On to the beer, a beautiful dark orange copper hue reveal notes of grapefruit and spice on the nose, leading into candied sugar, dried cherry, grass, and more citrus. Finish is hoppy and long. Both the beer and the brewer are worth seeking out.