Midnight Monk

I had never heard of a Belgian black IPA before, but Terrapin's Midnight Monk immediately intrigued me. The beer pours a true midnight black with a small but creamy looking head. The nose is all hops. This was strange for my eyes and nose to be receiving such conflicting information, but it worked.

Over in flavor land, there's much happening. The Belgian yeast, the crispness of the hops, and the coffee notes from the malt all work together nicely. The beer has enough body to it to make me feel accomplished as I drink, but it isn't heavy.

This all makes for a great and complex beer. With so much happening, so many flavors playing off one another, you'll enjoy this beer to the bottom of your glass.

Wanna drive some beer drinkers crazy? Buy a few bottles of this and have a blind sampling and see if anyone gets close to what this beer is.

The latest in the Monster Beer Tour, Terrapin's Midnight Monk poured from the bottle into my pint glass a near black with just a hint of light viewable along the bottom edge. A finger-thick beige head shrank to a film and left sheets of lacing when I drank.

Considering how dark this is, I was certainly expecting some roasted aromas. Uh, nope, not here. I get a combination of Belgian yeast with a bit of hoppy citrus. Just smelling that combo is pleasurable to me.

Taste is Belgian yeast, some sugar, a little roasted malt (finally!), and grassy hops. I know I've mentioned hops in the smell and taste, but for an IPA I was expecting much stronger hops but am very grateful to find them as subtle as they are here.

Has enough body to keep you from drinking the bottle quickly, but doesn't force you into sipping at all.

I am very surprised and pleased with this. I thought it would be interesting, but I find it both interesting and enjoyable.