Victory Brewing Company Golden Monkey
What the brewers say
“This golden Belgian-style ale glows with goodness. The richness of imported malts and Belgian yeast are tempered by a sparkling approach and light body. It has considerable depth of character with abundant herbal, fruity notes.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Coriander, pickled ginger, and very lemony—lemoncello—even a bit minty. Toasty caramel malt, too. Light fruity Belgian esters like pears and other tree fruits, but the spicy yeast notes that you’d expect in a tripel aren’t really there.”
Flavor: “Sweet toasted-caramel malt, big sour lemon-drop candy, moderate medicinal phenol, and assertive alcohol character without being hot, followed by a long finish that fades into a pleasant back-of-the-tongue bitterness. A bit heavy, but not unpleasantly so.”
Overall: “This could be a unique (and potentially innovative) beer, but it lacks a few of the keynotes of a Belgian tripel that make them enjoyable to drink, such as a dry finish and spicy yeast notes. Additionally, the malt presence is just a bit too sweet.”
