Four+ Monkshine

Bottle best before May 23, 2008. I don’t like to post ratings of beers that are past their recommended date stamp, but I actually liked this one and found little to no negative signs of age. The pour is hazy copper with a receding white head. The aroma is light, but solidly estery with hints of banana, coriander, lemon zest, and a pleasing dryness. The palate is slightly spritzy which melds well with the fruity sweetness. A typical banana and clove flavor profile hits my tongue, but it is appropriate and well done. The finish brings out that dryness I picked up in the aroma. I’m not sure exactly how to describe it, but it rounds out everything well. I also detect hints of green apples and black tea. This is a decent attempt by a small American brewer from Utah to replicate a basic Belgian style. I have no real problems with the brew and I feel that while it isn’t exceptional, it’s certainly underrated. Yeah, I don’t understand such a low score for this one.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with douglas88 (thanks!). Bottle labeled bottled on 11/12/07. Poured a medium and hazy golden color with a large sized head. Aromas of banana fruitiness, honey, spices, and yeast. Tastes of bananans, honey, and some citrus.

Bottle from State Line. Pours copper with nose of caramel malt, hops, mild funk and spicy yeast. Tastes rock sugary malty, with hops, funk, and yeasty spicy notes.

Rather basic Belgian with, as they say, banana and honey flavors. No new ground broken here, but this one might have a little more depth than the typical American attempt at the style.

Well aged bottle, best by date of 7-21-05. Pours a dark hazy gold with fair eggshell head and great lacing. Banana nose. Typical belgian yeast shows up in the flavor. Subtle hop finish. Quite enjoyable and suprising.