Anchorage Brewing Company
Bitter Monk Belgian Style Double IPA With Brettanomyces (Ale Aged In French Oak Chardonnay Barrels)
Belgian IPA
Alaska
9.0%
25.4oz, Single
$16.99
Pours a big, three plus finger head of loosely knit foam, bleached white, its airy nature causes it to sizzle off at a steady pace, at the same time the lacing is wispy and even fluffy but that lasts a good long time. The gauziness to the liquid teases out some deepening orange hues to the base yellow, not many bubbles, somewhat flat visual appearance. The nose has a fresh directness to it, white grapefruit energizing pear, apple, and peach fruit scents, only lightly herbal, salt and pepper, dried bread crust, has a sourness to it and cleaner than expected, zips in and zips out. Medium-bodied, the carbonation never quite catches so it stays soft and does not percolate as it might otherwise. Cinnamon, nutmeg sprinkled on top of pear, apricot, peach, pineapple fruit. The white grapefruit, lemon citrus by far the most aggressive element, and here the grassiness turned up a notch, contributes to its overall sourness. Floral, notes of quinine and saline. Becomes more dry through the finish, has earthiness but, again, of a clean nature, no real funk. Glides well and there’s no rough spots at all. About as quaffable as one might expect from such a brew.
4 out of 5