Monkless Belgian Ales Dubbel or Nothing

Belgian-Style Dubbel Ale

7.2% ABV 23 IBU's
Beer Advocate - 3.79/5
Untappd - 3.78/5


26B. Belgian Dubbel

A deep reddish-copper, moderately strong, malty, complex Trappist ale with rich malty flavors, dark or dried fruit esters, and light alcohol blended together in a malty presentation that still finishes fairly dry.

Purchased at Market of Choice

Believe it or not, but this is the first time I've had anything from Monkless. Many people in the know (beer snobs, which I include myself now) have recommended them to me countless times. I would see a bottle of their brew and get distracted by a barrel aged brew every time. Can you blame me? I mean, really, can you? But finally! A Monkless brew to review. On to it then.

Aroma: It has a mild spicy floral with hint of citrus in the aroma to my nose, which, admittedly, deceives me this time of the year. Too many flowery things growing outside. The missus says there is the tiniest hint of coffee but I didn't detect it myself.    7

Appearance:  A nice darker amber color but is not a clean beer with a little haze. It has a good head at least an inch thick (probably thicker) that slowly dissipates. Decent amount of lacing.  7

Flavor: Nice malty backbone. Has a bit of raisin (where the hell did I get citrus from?) and some caramel character. Finishes off with some toast. Well rounded flavors. The bottle does say hints of chocolate but I call shenanigans on that.   8

Mouthfeel: A nice dry finish with the right amount of carbonation for the style. Leaves me wanting more on each sip...I like that.  8

Overall: Well, the beer snobs were not wrong, Monkless makes a solid Dubbel. It doesn't blow you away by any means but I don't think that is what they are going for. It is a nice, consistent brew trying to adhere to the style guidelines... to which Monkless did an impressive job. I would drink this anytime, anywhere.  7.5

Matt's mark: 3.75/5

Cascade Brewing Primordial Noir

Bourbon Barrl Aged Imperial Red Ale
with Cherries and Spices (NW Sour)

10.5% ABV
Beer Advocate - 4.1/5
Untappd - 4.2/5

28B. Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer

American Wild Ales are beers that are introduced to "wild" yeast or bacteria, such as Brettanomyces, Pediococcus, or Lactobacillus. This introduction may occur from oak barrels that have been previously inoculated, pitching into the beer, or gained from various "sour mash" techniques. Regardless of the method, these yeast and/or bacteria leave a mark that should be noticeable to strong, and often contribute a sour and/or funky, wild note. Mixed-fermentation examples will display a range of aromatics, rather than a single dominant character.

Purchased at Market of Choice

I had been eyeing this particular brew for awhile now. I mean, what's not to like about the appearance and description? A blending of Imperial Red Ales that have been aged in Bourbon Barrels and Wine Barrels sounds delicious to me. The fact it has Cherries and Spices makes it even better. On top of all that, it's a sour?!? Yes please! Not to forget the ABV coming in at 10.5%. All the makings for an unforgettable brew. Now on to the review!

Aroma: I definitely detect the cherry. It has a nice sourness to the smell (some sours remind me of vomit, this does not). Small trace of bourbon in the back with a mingling of spices (so says the missus, I didn't detect spices).   8

Appearance: A nice deep mahogany with very little head. Has decent lacing. Beautiful, almost brings a tear to my eye. Not really, but still.   8

Flavor: Wow! The complexity is astounding. Has a nice sourness leading off that ventures into a complex co-mingling of a savory red wine (reminds of Marachel Foch), cherry and a subtle touch of bourbon. The spices are there but not coming through a whole lot. 9

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation and feels like drinking a fine wine. I expected as much. 8

Overall: The missus scrunches here nose..."smells savory" she says. Takes a drink, "bleh! No wonder! It's a sour!" Let's just say sours are not her favorite. But I like them...I like them a lot. Especially this one. Cascade does a masterful job of creating a complex brew for your enjoyment. If you like sours, I highly recommend this one. The complexities will delight the senses that makes the price of the brew (about $13) well worth it.  8.25

Matt's mark: 4.13/5

Cetacea Saison with Szechuan Peppercorns by Yachats Brewing

6.6% ABV
Beer Advocate score - n/a
Untappd score 3.88/5

25B. Saison

Most commonly, a pale, refreshing, highly-attenuated, moderately-bitter, moderate-strength Belgian ale with a very dry finish. Typically highly carbonated, and using non-barley cereal grains and optional spices for complexity, as complements the expressive yeast character that is fruity, spicy, and not overly phenolic. Less common variations include both lower-alcohol and higher-alcohol products, as well as darker versions with additional malt character.

Found at the Market of Choice

I had been eyeing this particular brew for about a month now. I just love the label...and also Saison's of course. I haven't had a Yachats Brewing beer for a couple or three years because I don't get out to the coast much and they can be fairly spendy on the shelf. This time though, the label won me over...and of course, it being a Saison. I also thought it was a pretty cool name (named after a diverse group of of aquatic mammals)...and also the fact that it's a Saison. On to the review!

Aroma:  A spicy floral on the nose with a decent malt back bone. Smooths out to a nice touch of sweet citrus on the back end.  7.75

Appearance:  Has a nice harvest gold color with a thick inch head that leaves medium lacing as it dissipates. A little hazy.  7.5

Flavor:  The missus says it's goaty and barnyardy. It does have an aroma reminiscent of a farm (it is a farmhouse ale after all), but I didn't detect any goat though. More of a straw with sweet citrus and a subtle (and I mean subtle) bite of the peppercorn. Definitely interesting.  7.75

Mouthfeel:  Dry, crisp and easy drinking. Not as highly carbonated as I thought it was going to be but not off putting at all.  8

Overall:  A solid offering from Yachats Brewing. I found it to be an interesting addition to the Saison family. The brew marked off all the check marks for a Saison but it might be awhile until I purchase another one of these though. Kinda a steep price to pay for a pint of beer at $10 a bottle.  7.75

Matt's mark: 3.88/5

Irish-ish Coffee Stout by Eviltwin Brewing

Brewed for Eviltwin Brewing by Dorchester Brewing Company

Shot taken before hell broke loose

10.3% ABV 58 IBU
Beer Advocate score - 4.19/5
 Untappd score 4.04/5

20C. Imperial Stout

An intensely-flavored, big, dark ale with a wide range of flavor balances and regional interpretations. Roasty-burnt malt with deep dark or dried fruit flavors, and a warming, bittersweet finish. Despite the intense flavors, the components need to meld together to create a complex, harmonious beer, not a hot mess.

Found at The Bier Stein

The ruler is 18 inches

Wow! What a week! This review is coming at you a few days late...it's not my fault, I swear! The weekend started off innocently enough. Had a nice lunch at my favorite watering hole (The Brewstation) which had a tap take over the night before from Caldera Brewing (had a nice Raspberry Sour called Mother Pucker). After which, I went home and started my home-brew, a gruit ale called a Kvasir (mainly a wheat beer with honey, lingonberry, cranberry, meadowsweet and yarrow). Cleaned up and then relaxed with the missus. Next day, all hell broke loose. It started with a few small snowflakes on Sunday at 11:30am. It didn't stop until 7:00pm the next day. In the meantime, the yeast got a little vigorous and caused a blowout in my fermenter, which hasn't happened to me in 4 years. It was a harbinger of things to come. To summarize, we lost power sometime during the night and woke up to about 15 inches of snow! On the valley floor! Unheard of in these parts. Thank God for the wood stove, hot water (natural gas is the only way to go), a good book and alcohol or we would have been in for much more of a disaster. We didn't get power back until late Tuesday and the Internet was down until early Friday. So here we are, now on to the review!

Aroma: Has a lot going on with it. An herbaceous vanilla up front with a peppery Poblano smell. I rechecked the label, no mention of peppers. It finished off with a toasted malt character and coffee off in the distance.   9

Appearance: Deep coffee color with half inch cream head. Poured a tiny bit syrupy.  8

Flavor: An explosion of flavors! First off, didn't taste any Poblano (made sense). What I did taste were toasted malts, vanilla, nutmeg and coffee with the slightest of hints of chocolate on the back end.  9

Mouthfeel:  Nice medium bodied brew with a touch of creaminess from the lactose used. Not syrupy.  8

Overall: I have always wanted to try an Eviltwin Brewing beer. This did not disappoint. The aroma of the brew alone was quite an experience. Not sure if my sniffer was broken but I still swear I detected pepper. Whatever the case, Irish-ish Coffee Stout has everything you look for in an Imperial Coffee Stout plus probably a little more than what you payed for. Highly recommend.   8.5

Matt's mark: 4.25/5

IPA NO.5 by Ground Breaker Brewing + Gastropub

100% Gluten-Free Craft Beer
Crafted in a Dedicated Gluten-Free Brewery

70 IBU 6% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 3.7/5
Untappd score 3.4/5

21A. American IPA

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale, showcasing modern American or New World hop varieties. The balance is hopforward, with a clean fermentation profile, dryish finish, and clean, supporting malt allowing a creative range of hop character to shine through.

Found at Safeway

I once had a gluten free beer back in the day when Omission started hitting the market. I don't recall if I liked it or not...definitely not a good sign. So, I decided to try another one. The description makes it sound interesting with the use of Sorghum, Lentils and Chestnuts. Can't say I have never had a beer made using chestnuts. Or lentils. Anywho, on to the review!


Aroma: A sweet pineapple citrus aroma with an aggressive nose full of sharp hop backing it up. Smells like an IPA.  7

Appearance: Love the color. It's a little bit past a copper color, almost a red ale. A nominal head but does have decent lacing. Beautiful looking beer.  9

Flavor: Unique. I have never tasted anything like it. Hop forward with a citrus cutting through it. This gives way to a flavor I can't pin down. It's trying to simulate a malty backbone but just doesn't quite get there.  6

Mouthfeel: Crisp and the right level of carbonation. Nicely rounds out the beer.   7

Overall: Considering this is my second/first attempt at a gluten free beer, I really didn't know what to expect. Ground Breaker does a decent job of hitting all the IPA categories except for one. The malt flavor just doesn't taste like malt to me but it has its own uniqueness. It's not a bad flavor, just different...and different is good...especially in a beer. IPA NO.5 is a solid offering if gluten free is your thing or if you want a different tasting IPA. Let's face it, a lot of IPA's taste the same. 7.25

Matt's mark: 3.63/5

Weapon of Mass Seduction Chocolate Oyster Stout by Gigantic Brewing Company

7.5% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 4.04/5
Untappd score 3.9/5

20B. American Stout

A fairly strong, highly roasted, bitter, hoppy dark stout. Has the body and dark flavors typical of stouts with a more aggressive American hop character and bitterness.

Found at Safeway/Albertson's

I found a beer that I have never had in the last place I suspected it would be...at a Safeway in small town Oregon. To top it all off, it is Valentine's Day themed! I didn't really think about it, just kinda happened that way. I mean, Weapon of Mass Seduction Chocolate Oyster Stout definitely screams Valentine's Day right? Right? Or maybe I am imagining things...anyway, on to the review.

Aroma: So, the aroma was chocolate, with a touch of chocolate and then chocolate on the back end. I did detect a little bit of a faint ocean smell underlying it all...no, not really. I just smelled chocolate. Which, don't get me wrong, is not a bad thing. I just thought there would be more.  7.5

Appearance: Looks decadent. Deep, dark chocolate roasty color with a nice thick, lightly colored chocolate head. Looks as if it might actually be chocolate. 9

Flavor: Yep, just what I thought. Bitter chocolate up front which smooths out a bit with mild sweetness. Has a nice touch of brine tingling on the back of the tongue. Also, just so you know, it doesn't taste like an oyster... and that is a good thing. 9.5

Mouthfeel: A really nice creamy texture from oatmeal with the right amount of carbonation. Left me wanting to drink more despite the richness of the flavor.  9.25

Overall: I really didn't know what to expect from this brew. In my opinion, it's quite exotic. I mean, Gigantic didn't use just oyster shells, real oysters were used. Well, they hit it out of the park with this one. I don't know if it is an aphrodisiac or anything for Valentine's night, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. At the very least, you will love this brew if you like chocolate and/or stouts...of which I love both. This weapon does pair well with chocolate (I know, shocker right?) and I paired mine with a Bourbon Cask Aged Unroasted Dark Chocolate bar from Raaka that I found at my local chocolatier, Sanity Chocolate. If you're in Portland, I recommend going straight to the source of the chocolate that seduces in the brew, Woodblock Chocolate. And if you are ever in Cottage Grove, check out Sanity Chocolate as they have fantastic chocolate. There, I think I have covered all the shout outs. 8.75

Matt's mark: 4.4/5

King Kitty Red Ale by Coalition Brewing Co.

60 IBU 5.75% ABV

Beer Advocate score - 3.42/5
Untappd score 3.5/5

22B. American Strong Ale

A strong, full-flavored American ale that challenges and rewards the palate with full malty and hoppy flavors and substantial bitterness. The flavors are bold but complementary, and are stronger and richer than average strength pale and amber American ales.

Found at Market of Choice

Sometimes you just feel a pull to a certain brew. I liked the name of this one and I had never had anything from Coalition Brewing before (when the beer is from Portland, which has the most breweries per capita in the US, it's easy to miss a few). I couldn't resist the pull so it made its way home with me. I guess life could be worse.

On to the review!

Aroma: A spicy (not hot, more herbal) floral bouquet from the hops at first whiff that gives way to a waft of sweet malt.   7

Appearance: The picture doesn't do it justice but there is a nice redness to the brew. The coloring is somewhere between an Irish Red and Scotch Ale. Has a nice, thick foamy head that lasts for quite a while.  7.6

Flavor: Nice hop bite on first sip, bordering on harsh but not there yet. Just loaded with a spicy (again with the distinction of herbal) bitterness. This gives way to a super malty backbone that balances it out. A nice biscuit flavor that's not overly sweet.  7.3

Mouthfeel: Crisp but not dry. The medium body allows the malt to linger a little. Nice carbonation level.  7

Overall:  This is a solid offering from Coalition Brewing Co. out of Portland, Oregon. It is not an overly complicated beer, which I like in my red ales. The aroma of the beer was nicely done for the style of a NW Red Ale. It's a nice sipper on a warm (and when I say warm, it just means the sun is out and it's bordering 50 degrees) winter afternoon. We don't get many of those here in Oregon. Usually it's a dreary mid 40's with rain coming in buckets. So, I had to take full advantage of it. 7.2

Matt's mark: 3.61/5