Brooklyn Monster Ale

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

2008 vintage poured into a snifter. Pours an extraordinarily clear dark amber with a small off-white head that recedes slowly with lots of bubbles feeding the rocky underside of a hefty collar. The aroma is fairly one dimensional with tons of caramelized sugar and caramel malt sweetness dominating the nose. There are hints of dark fruits and the alcohol is definitely noticeable with a slight burn in the nostrils. The taste is more of the same with a strong toffee and caramel malt sweetness hitting up front with a faint fruit presence coming through in the background. There is a slight smoky, burnt malt character that lingers in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied but with a low, soft carbonation that leads to a fairly slick feel. There’s not a ton of complexity to this barleywine, but it’s a very good sipper, very much a sweet and sugary-malt driven. Smooth.

Pleasant aroma and nice appearance. Not as complex as some of the better barley wines, but enjoyable. A slight metallic aftertaste takes a little bit away from this beer.

Bottled. Beautiful amber with a darker orange at top. Aroma is like a darker red wine with floral and grassy hops. Flavor is more maltier with caramel but also balanced with bigger hops. Very soft for a barley wine. ALSO, clean, focused finish and balanced.

12 oz bottle. Aptly named, this is a Monster!! Pours copper in colour, with little head. Big sweet aroma, and even stronger flavour, where the alcohol bursts through.

3rd August 2008. Very sweet start, some hints of bubblegum. Saccahrine sweet malt leading to a dry dry finish. A touch of tobacco and a little alcohol warmth. Very drinkable.

2007 bottle. Beautiful brownish color. The foam was not large and went down quickly. After around 10 minutes, there was no foam left at all. The aroma was significantly malty, fairly sweet one. Syrup, raisins, dried fruit. Syrup, malt, raisins, so what was in the aroma was also in taste. Body was medium. I felt a bit of the alcohol. Aftertaste contained some marzipan. A good beer!

12oz bottle 2007 vintage. Fairly subdued nose for a barley wine, hints of caramel but not much else. Didn’t get the sherry at all. Pours a chestnut brown with little head that dissipates to a small ring in the glass very quickly. Palate is slightly sweet with notes of butterscotch and treacle. Some hop punch at the end, lingers nicely but not as complex as others. Alcohol is very well hidden. Pleasing but not a knockout.

[2505-20090930] Bottle. Bitter lemon rinds and mild spruce resin aroma. Clear, dark red amber body with a quick foamy yellow head. Boozy malt grains flavour has a long sweet malt finish. Medium-full body. Quite boozy, a big beer, but has nice balance.
(Vintage 2008; from Premier Gourmet)