21st Amendment Brewery » Monk's Blood (Belgian Strong Ale)
ABV: 8.3% | IBUs: 34 | Rating: 9.2
Time to talk about a couple 21st Amendment seasonals. This brewery consistently issues some of the best artwork in the industry - boxes & cans alike. Monk's Blood is no exception, with a detailed yarn of the founders as rebellious monks. Humorous and worth a read, but the beer itself is no joke (ouch...).
The real story finds Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan traveling to Belgium, inspired by monks hardy, fasting beers, resulting in a stellar brew packed with candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and figs all aged in oak.
This hefty brew rolls out with a big, fruity Belgian noise. Notes of fig are present, but they're not particularly sticky. Earthy aromas sneak in as well beside sweet hay, dried fruit - especially cherries, and a hint of vanilla; all augmenting a lively brown body of beer with fluffy brown head perched on top.
Past the eyes and nose, this one is a real treat for the palate. Lively carbonation and a medium-light body leads this one easy down at first, followed by a wave of spices, oak, and sweet vanilla flavors.
Dynamic, complex, and aromatic in it's flavors, this strong Belgian-style has wispy flips of sweet candied sugar and fig harboring deeper tones of earth, mild booze, and wonderful blooming esters.
Overall, Monk's Blood is a damn good beer and fully recommended.
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