Weyerbacher Brewing Company, of my home state of Pennsylvania, generally has some good brews. I’ve tried a few in the past and have been pleased with them. Now, I have their Merry Monks’ Ale with me at 9.3% ABV. This is described by Weyerbacher as, “A Belgian style golden ale.” Categorized as a Tripel, I was interested to see how this compared to some others.

Using a 12 oz bottle, I poured it into my pint glass and almost overflowed it. My pour was gentle and I easily got a white, two-finger (or more) foamy head. The color was a nice golden yellow color, slightly hazy and had a constant rushing of carbonation throughout. The smell wasn’t bad. It consisted mainly of the typical yeasty smell you get in Tripel’s but I also picked up on some sweet citrus notes. I couldn’t tell exactly what flavor was in store for me, but I’d be getting something sweet.

The taste was – well, disappointing. It’s not bad, let me start by saying that. I really got a strong bite up front. Very bitter. As far as the actual flavor I tasted, it was a banana and clove. But, by far my least favorite part was the overwhelming heat I’m getting from this brew. The alcohol burn is way too strong. I mean, it almost feels like I’m drinking whiskey neat going down. I understand this clocks in at 9.3% ABV but I’ve seen other breweries do a far better job at masking that burn. This is pretty bad and hard to finish.

Aside from the heat on the swallow, the beer wasn’t bad. The flavor was good but if I wanted that much heat, I wouldn’t be drinking a beer. Not the best Tripel I’ve had, that is for sure. It seems to be hit-or-miss with Weyerbacher. If you like Tripel’s I’d say give it a shot, just for the sake of trying it but be careful of the burn. It will definitely hit you and hit you hard.

Overall: 6/10