Firestone Walker Brewing Company Stickee Monkee 2017 Vintage #4 Abt / Quadrupel at 12.5% ABV | 26 IBU (US$11.75 at Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Jun-2017, reviewed 9-Jul-2019)
Appearance: clear ruby brown with one finger of fluffy light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coconut, oak, vanilla, molasses, tobacco, hints of stone and dark dried fruits. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, low bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate-soft carbonation, slightly sticky warming lingering mild bitter finish. (5/5)
I know that beer styles in general tend to be a bit fuzzy, and “Quads” have a particularly wide range of possible characteristics, but one could just as easily have called this an American Strong, or a BSDA, or who knows what else. What matters here is that it’s got a lovely rich aroma that turns into an even better dessert-like flavour that is nonetheless not excessively sweet. Not quite as stickee as one might expect given the name, in fact, but still a bit so. There’s a distinct warming in the finish, but nowhere near as emphatic as the firmly-into-double-digit-territory ABV might suggest, and it stays smooth from the first sip to the final finish. Considering how good this is, I’m super excited that the next one on my rotation is the vintage from the previous year, with another full year of cellaring under its belt! (18/20)
9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
2 replies on “Firestone Walker Brewing Company Stickee Monkee 2017 Vintage #4 – Abt / Quadrupel at 12.5% ABV | 26 IBU”
That’s one I’ve been looking for….
Sounds like a winter sipper.
Certainly could be, but the funny thing is despite the high ABV it drinks pretty easily. Truly a beer for all seasons! 🙂