January Beer of the Month: Monk's Habit

A nice quiet spell of New Years Day was well spent, sitting on the back deck, drinking Steam Brewing's test run of bottled "Monk's Habit" (more commonly seen, on tap, at the Cock and Bull pubs). It has become a regular feature of January and Febuary evenings...

My notes (also posted at www.ratebeer.com):
Tasted 01/01/2005. 330ml bottle from Steam Brewing, via mail. 7%.
Red-brown, a little murky, slightly woody appearnace, with hints of green (at a certain angle, in a certain light). Light-tan, very lacey, disappearing head. Big caramel hit on the nose, as I pour, that is overtaken by grassy, resinous, woody, sea water, aniseed and a touch of chlorine. Complex, at the least. Toffee comes in later. Flavour is a dry astringent toffee, that suggests kettle caramelisation, with a very bitter middle that is balanced by some subtle caramel sweetness and a peppery spiciness. Finish is toffee and pine. Medium weight, soft carbonation, saliva inducing bitterness. Full on. More of an American IPA, I think, than trappist. A touch more sweetness, on the nose and in the mouth, would benefit this one but it’s a very well-made beer. 3.7/5.
Re-rate 26/01/2005 - Tried again, warmer, delicious, more malt balance in both the aroma and the flavour, lost that chlorine-like sharpness that I was getting when colder. Way too drinkable for 7%. Upped from 3.7 to 4.1/5.

Other notables beers (marks out of 5, in brackets) from a very high-quality beer month in January:

• Epic Pale Ale (4)
• Erdinger Pikantus (3.9)
• Pink Elephant Mammoth (3.9)
• Limburg Czechmate Pilsner (3.8)
• Hoegaarden Julius (3.8)

All notes at yalnikim on ratbeer.