Review: Victory Brewing Company White Monkey

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Beer: White Monkey
Style: Tripel
ABV: 9.5%
Character: Golden Monkey Belgian-Style Tripel aged in White Wine Barrels
Metal Connection: NILE – Serpent Headed Mask

BeerMetalDude Rating: 4/5

Ah yes, Victory Brewing Company, a brewery that has yet to fail me. I found out that Victory took their Golden Monkey Tripel and let it sit in white wine barrels for three months before bottling it up and calling this brew, White Monkey. When i saw that this beer had arrived in San Antonio, I was eager to try it. I ventured over to Big Hops Growler Station, where they also sell bottles, and I picked up White Monkey and other bottles as well. I could not wait to pop this one open. I waited about a week to open, and trust me, I couldn’t wait any longer. Some of the best tasting beers are barrel aged beers, but I have never had a white wine barrel aged beer before.

Poured into a tulip style glass, White Monkey poured a dark, thick golden color with a two finger width off white head that receded to a thin layer rather quickly.

There is a very sweet smell to this beer. I can definitely pick up the aroma of the white wine barrels. There is a subtle trace of oak, and grapes which of course make me think of the wine barrels. There is a pear scent present as well. Very pleasing aroma, overall.

Taste of this beer was to my liking, for sure. I anticipated the taste so much, that the first drink, gave me chills. As I said before, I am a huge fan of beers aged in barrels. First thing that hits your taste buds is the taste of the barrel. There is a wood-like punch to this. This is quickly followed by a strong alcohol flavor, so there is a bite to this beer for sure. There is that sweetness again coming though, just like the aroma. This is a very inviting beer, just begging you to drink more of it!

As for the ease to drinking this beer, it will be a bit on the fence for some. There is a medium body, low carbonation, smooth mouth feel, but then there is that alcohol flavor bite that hits you in the back end, leaving a spicy alcohol aftertaste. Some find that alcohol aftertaste uneasy to drink, so it becomes more of a sipping beer. Well not this guy. I found the mouth feel pleasant, and the aftertaste surprisingly good as well, so I had no problem taking good sized gulps of this beer.

I find myself pleased with yet another Victory Beer, and I know there will be more to come. I hope this one is available for all of you to try this one. If not, just go get a bottle of Golden Monkey and imagine it being Barrel aged! haha! What better way to celebrate a delicious beer tan with a song that is one of my favorites by the band, NILE. Of course, this is an older song, and I could have picked something more recent to show off their newest album, but I really l do love this song, and I wanted it to be connected to this awesome beer.