Monk in the Trunk Organic Amber Ale

Brewed by Orlando Brewing
Style: Amber Ale
Orlando, Florida USA

Name: Monk in a Trunk
Date: 11/17/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear copper, wispy off white head, streaks of drippy lace, sweet candy malt aroma with nice fruity esters and light spicyness, sweet caramel malt flavor, lots of bready character, fruity esters come in to add to the sweetness and then are enhanced by the sweetness, touch of spicyness add complexity rather than balance, a hint of tart citrus, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

Bright amber. Thick caramel head. Fairly nondescript aroma. Creamy body, light caramel. Not much else.

on tap-pours a white head with bubbles and gold color. Aroma is yeast, rock candy, light malt. Taste is yeast, rock candy, light malt, some clove and banana, faint flat hops. Mild carbonation.

Draft... Clear amber ale with a small, fizzy, white head. Vinous, fruity aroma with addtional notes of caramel and steamed grain. Nice little malt bomb, this one... sweet flavor with lots of crystal/caramel malts. Full-bodied and oily with fizzy carbonation. Sweet, then dry finish. Sort of complex for an amber as I found a few fruity esters in the nose and flavor. Oh, I hadn’t read the commercial description until just now. I guess the Belgian yeast would have something to do with this brew’s complexity... complex for an amber ale, that is.

Clear transparent amber bronze pour has a smallish white coating of head. Has a semisweet caramel malty nose with a touch of graininess and earthy hops. Starts with average fullness and some light toasty caramel and biscuity maltiness with a touch of semi-tart fruits before a drier toasted grainy finish. Pretty drinkable, but could use a fuller flavor.

Draft sample at brewhouse. Poured a clear copper color with a minimal fizzy white head that was mostly lasting and had good lacing. Moderate toasted malty citrus aroma. Medium body with slick texture. Medium bittersweet flavor with a light to medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. This beer met my expectations for an organic brew.

Bottle served in Duval snifter: Clean amber hue with a fading frothy head and minimal lacing. The aroma has notes of crystal caramelized and biscuity malts, herbal and earthy esters, slight apricot and peach, beernuts, and some butterscotch. The taste is pretty much a hybrid of your paint by numbers Amber Ale and a mild Belgian Ale. Sweet and fruity with some diacetyl notes. Herbal, nutty and slightly spicy finish does help with some semblance of balance. The mouth feel is just there, a tad thin and chalky with a hint of metallic notes. It is what it is, just your average brew.

On tap at Orlando Brewing. Pours a translucent golden amber with a creamy white lacing head. Aroma of butterscotch, caramel, something a little funky, Belgian yeast, tobacco and mixed citrus. Flavor of Belgian yeast, mixed citrus, spicy notes, Cheerios, some banana and lemon.