Victory Golden Monkey

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Golden colour, huge white head. Sweetish aroma of white kandij sugar syrup, newmown grass, herbs and mild spices. Medium sweet and yeasty flavour, again with notes of white kandij sugar, also fairly distinct notes of black and white peppercorn, noticeable hops in the finish. Not a bad beer, but a bit too sugary.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

This is a canned tripel, isn’t that sacrilegious? Anyway, it pours a light honey gold with a medium sized rocky head. The head stays a while and laces well. The aroma is sweet grains, light citrus, light yeast, seasonal spices and honey. Mouthfeel is creamy and full bodied. This is a sweeter beer than a lot of Belgian tripels, yet still finishes with a bitter hop crush. A very good beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Can bought at Publix in Kissimmee, Florida. Pours a clean golden colour with a creamy warm cap that stays quite long, leaving some good creamy lacing. Aromas of well-blended banana notes with some light spices. Maybe some Belgian Ale yeast sweetness. The first taste I got though, was pretty rusty. As it goes, it does get better. Seems to be the hop that gives this bitter-leaf flavour. The yeast is there. Some wheat as well, creating a mild banana aftertaste. Not bad, but not a Tripel I would go back to. Unless I would like a less expensive one in the States.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Poured out a cloudy golden color with a thick white head. The aroma is of barley and malt with some spice. The mouthfeel is a little bitter especially for a Belgium style ale. The flavor was hard for me to enjoy because of the pronounced hops. I've tried this twice now and won't have it again. In my thinking the best way to drink this is to shake the bottom up real good. It increases the spice,sweetness and helps smooth out the hops.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

wow very heavy foamer, poured a nice golden orangeish color, nice head but disappeared quickly. Had a nice orange aroma with good carbonation, very drinkable but high abv wasn't hidden as well as i would have liked.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Funk nailed this one, he says, "Pour is gold with a bubbly white head. Aroma of sweet malt, banana and lemon. Banana dominates the taste along with some spice, yeast, and sweet malt. Reminds me more of an American wheat with a bite than a Belgian Tripel but pretty tasty nonetheless." Couldn't agree more except that I would add that the spice that I taste is nutmeg (think bananas foster) and the finish is a little too bitter and astringent. Props to Funk and cheers to Victory for a unique tripel.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Review #400- Would have preferred something a little better for my 400th, and was expecting a bit more since my first couple samples from Victory kinda exceeded expectations. But hey, it is what it is, and this is a decent Belgian-white/ Triple Ale hybrid... or whateva it is. This is getting confusing. Taste is slightly sour at first, not much malt...halfway disappointing in the beginning, but then the fruitiness and spices kick in with a tasty hop finish. So I guess in the end it all evens out. Smooth mouthfeel, almost an 8....just not quite. Aroma is ehhh. Don't think I would get again, but had fun and got a buzz......................... UPDATED 2/19/2012: This bottle said "Best by April, 2013". I bought this one about 9 months ago trying to age unti then. Just couldn't wait. Guessing this is aged about a year+ now, and seems to be PERFECT. Much better than I remember and updating from my original 3.4 rating. Now, I am ready to give another chance and buy a 4-pack to age another year :)

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Poured an opaque golden yellow (hence the name Golden Monkey) with a thick white head. Smelled and tasted wheat and banana!!?! Went down nice and smooth with an alcohol bite. Very good brew...I think I'll have another...be careful, at 9.5%ABV this one will sneak up on you.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Pour is gold with a bubbly white head. Aroma of sweet malt, banana and lemon. Banana dominates the taste along with some spice, yeast, and sweet malt. Reminds me more of an American wheat with a bite than a Belgian Tripel but pretty tasty nonetheless.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

At the outset, I should advise that Tripels aren't my favorite class of beer. That being said, I know what a good one should taste like and this American imitation pretty much hit the mark. The beer was citrusy and the color was a hazy orange. The aroma was citrus and complex. The flavor was pretty much on the mark. In fact, the only thing that kept me from giving the flavor an 8 was the alcohol - it wasn't hidden well enough. A true Belgian tripel never reveals the alcohol - not in taste anyhow. What happens after you stand up is a different kind of revelation all together. That being said, this is an overall solid beer from a solid brewery.