Brooklyn Monster Ale

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Brooklyn, New York USA

12 oz bottle into sniffer. Pours a rich amber red with a big barely off-white head, lighter and clearer than I would expect - it also had a thinner pour than expected for the abv. and the style. This stuff smells great: citrus juicyness, chewy malty sweetness, caramel, honey, apricots, and a trace of alcohol. Flavor isn’t as complex and exhibits a much stronger alcohol flavor (though still not too too bad for 10.8 abv.). The alcohol sort of outweighs everything with a sort of watery fruity backbone. It is very strange for a barley wine - the same goes for its feel on my palate. It is very very thin for its abv and its style - little to no carbonation and smooth. but alcohol warms and punches the stomach. Overall: this is a crazy unique brew that seems a bit out of balance, like it needs a lot more heavy malt and maybe some age; worth a try but I don’t think I could have more than 1 at a time. It did seem to get a bit more bearable as it warms. [RERATE] Im gonna leave the same score. Though it does seemed to have improved with a year on it flavor wise. It is not very hoppy and leaning towards the traditional English Barley Wine (and NOT American) style due to the lack of serious hop profile. It is good and easy going for the abv, but a bit thinner and less hoppy than I would like. Though still pretty good with a year on it. I will try another in a year or so.

Over the top, and yet under the bigtop...Malt and abv nose. I see, you tried to hide the virgin blood under the hops...ohhh so clever. Alcohol burn is uneven with the malt and hops mix. Low class, hyper beer production. My ass is already taking precautions for the crap this brew will put me through. Hour on a toilet alone. For shame...

Bottle courtsy of Ucusty, pours an attractive burnt caramel color with a moderate cream colored head. The nose is complex with malt, dried fruits and substantial hops. The flavor is similar with some bitterness from hops and a sweet caramel. It’s a bit sharp with a lingering burn.

12 ounce bottle from Total Wine. Pours a standard amber color with four centimeters of white head. Spotty lacing. Aromas include rich caramel, berries and other vinous fruits, toffee. Same flavors with prevalent alcohol and malts. Coppery, metallic aftertaste. Tastes better over time as the alcohol astringentness smooths over. Full-bodied with too much carbonation for the style. Decent barleywine.

Bottle bbe Sep 2009. Fruity, burnt and slightly sour edge. Dark amber-orange color with thin head. Some bitter cherries and candied orange peel. Medium body and slightly burnt sour flavor of oranges and malt. Alcoholic warmth.

Bottle shared with afire. Dark amber brown pour with small off white head. Another very berry wine and liquor like malty pallet pleaser. Blend of dark fruits, hops, grains and a well rounded sipper. Really not finding the citrus in this and the ABV was comfortably mellow.

33 cl bottle - Dark amber colored beer with a disappearing off white to yellow head. Aroma is very sweet malty with notes of ripe apple, dark rum, some brandy and some caramel. One of the best smelling beers I’ve had. Flavor is a little less sweet and fruity than the aroma, but with stronger hints of caramel. Cascade hops are quite apparent and whilst combined with the maltiness leaves you in a state of wanting more. Slight alcohol flavor hides behind the great maltiness. At the inexpensive price I regret not buying more. Extremely price worthy and greatly balanced Barley wine! Well done Brooklyn!

This is a very smooth barley wine. It pours an amber/ copper color with a small amount of head. Aroma is that of sweet sherry, alcohol and dark fruit. It warms as it goes down and the hops are just enough to let you know they’re there, but not overwhelming. The alcohol presence is noticeable. One of the better BW’s I’ve tried.