Beer Review: North Coast Brother Thelonious

North Coast Brewing’s Brother Thelonious is one of those beers I always have seen but never got; was it worth it?

We all have those beers we see and want to get, but always grab something else instead; I recently decided that I was going to start grabbing these types of beers. The first one up was Brother Thelonious from North Coast Brewing Company.

Brewery: North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer: Brother Thelonious
ABV: 9.4%
IBU: 27
Style: Belgian Style Strong Dark

Brewery Description:
“With all the interest in Belgian ales and in the monasteries that brew them, it’s time to remind the world that here in the U.S. we have a Monk of our own. Jazz legend Thelonious Monk is the inspiration for North Coast Brewing’s Belgian-style Abbey Ale. With an ABV of over 9%, this strong dark ale is rich and robust. Available in a handsome 750 ml bottle with crown and capsule ﬁnish or 12 oz. 4-Packs. The label features the Jazz master himself, a portrait by California artist Eric Grbich.

“Brother Thelonious is produced under a licensing agreement with the Thelonious Monk Estate. North Coast Brewing is proud to make a donation from the sale of every bottle and keg of Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale to the Jazz education programs of the Monterey Jazz Festival.”

Came in a 4-pack of 12 oz bottles. Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear caramel brown, almost copper color. There was a thin layer, maybe a quarter finger’s worth, of light brown, dark creamy head that disapated quickly. There was little lacing left on the glass.

Smell: Cherry is the primary smell along with malt; there are hints of spice and sweet berries. You also get some of the yeast, with a clove/banana scent.

Taste: The cherry taste matches the smell, along with the bready malt. There are hints of dark chocolate, giving it a slightly bitter finish. You also get very slight taste of cloves, molasses, vanilla, and spices.

Mouthfeel: It’s well carbonated and a full mouthfeel. It’s thick, but not in that hazy IPA sense. It also hides the 9%+ alcohol pretty well.

Overall: It’s a well rounded beer; solid smell and taste that leaves you full after 2. This feels like a fall/winter beer due to the taste and mouthfeel. There are aspects of the beer that reminds me of wine.

Rating: I give it a 3.5 out of 5; it’s a good beer and a style I don’t try often. BeerAdvocate drinkers gave it a score of 86, while Untappd drinkers rated it 3.87.