Sip with us Saturday: Review of Brother Thelonious
Categories: American Beer, Sip With Us Saturday, beer reviews
Written By: beer_scientist
As previously mentioned, North Coast makes some pretty good beers. I’ve enjoyed their Pranqster (Belgian Golden), Old Rasputin (Imperial Stout), le Merle (Saison Ale), Old Number 38 (stout) and Red Seal. It’s been some time since I’ve had Brother Thelonious, the name a reference to Jazz Pianist Thelonious Monk (which explains the piano on the label). I really do like the design of this bottle, but what about the beer?
The beer is a Belgian Abbey Ale style of beer, which is why the alcohol is higher than your normal 5% ABV beer. The beer has a beautiful body, a deep red-brown with a very light brown head. I think that the head may have still been around this morning if I’d left it all night; that’s how stable it was. You could have poured as much creamy foamed head as you wanted, and it would have sat.
On the nose, there were some definite vinous (wine-like) qualities. Specifically, there was a quality of grapiness. Sweet, sugary malts, sugar, and alcohol notes were more than plentiful on the nose. There was also a touch of yeast (normal for many Belgians) and some hops (not so normal for many Abbey Ales).
Much of the nose came through upon sipping the beer. The wine notes as well as the sweet body were certainly noticeable on Brother Thelonious. Of course, all the typical Belgian Abbey ales factors were present: candy sugar quality, richer maltiness, and full mouthfeel. The one thing that was different than many abbeys was the hop and bitter factors of the beer. I noted a nice bittering finish and more hops than average (for the style). Like all of the North Coast’s beers that I’ve had, it was a pleasure to drink. I’m curious to see what Nate thought about the hops.
One more note: last time I had this beer, it is was a single 750 ml bottle, while this time it was a twelve ouncer. I remember liking it more in the bigger bottle. I don’t know if the conditioning was different or what, but it is better in the bigger bottle. It’s good either way, but if you get a choice, go bigger.
Mike’s Rating:
Overall Satisfaction: 
Among other Abbey Ales: 
Among other Begian beers
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I drank this one corked.
I agree…the grape/wine quality was pronounced.
I’ll have to try it in a twelve ounce to see if there is a difference, but while I picked up on the hop/bitter finish, the sweet malt flavor stuck with me more at the end.
I thought it was a great beer overall.
I am glad you mentioned the bottle art. I enjoy it when a brewery puts time and thought into the aesthetics–it builds my anticipation for what’s inside, and this one was exceptional. But, a gross beer in a beautiful bottle is a let down, so it ought to be done with care!
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March 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Your last statement is true. It is always done with care. On the one side it is to tell you that there is something great inside. On the other side, it tells you the same thing but deceptively.
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