#merrymonks

My East Coast tour has come to a close. With that, my last two.

Pennsylvania isn't technically considered the East Coast, but it's close enough. I love Weyerbacher Brewing Company - they have great beers and a pretty interesting history so I decided to include "Merry Monks" in my East Coast lineup. It's a - wait for it - Belgian-style Tripel. Featuring a pilsner malt combined with an Abbey yeast strain, the flavor combines "notes of spice, banana, and pear" for a moderate finish. The cool thing about "Merry Monks" is that it is "bottle conditioned which imparts a special effervescence to the beer and a creamier carbonation." This allows the beer to age very well since ongoing fermentation will change the character in time. I've read about keeping a beer cellar to age beer, but have yet to/physically cannot try it yet. Obviously I loved this beer - I'm clearly obsessed with Belgian-style ales - but I enjoy tasting the differences among them. This one was a little sweeter and heavier than other Belgian-style beers - especially with the notes of banana and pear. I can definitely see how this would age well. Plus, it's 9.3% ABV, so there's that too. I could go on, but you'll have to just try it yourself.  

The last and final stop of my East Coast tour ends right where I started: in Maine. Shipyard Brewing Company is quite a well-known brewery - their pumpkin beer "Shipyard Pumpkinhead" is a pretty popular fall beer. "Blue Fin Stout" is a classic Irish stout - full-bodied and smooth. According to the brewery, “the majestic, migratory Blue Fin Tuna return to coast of Maine every summer. Like its namesake, this beer is big bodied and a great catch any time of the year.” Although it's not summer - no where near to be exact - I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable beer on a cold Sunday. Easily drinkable at 4.7% ABV, I imagine drinking it lake-side or on a boat in late summer - a lovely image during these cruel winter months.  

And with that, my East Coast trip has ended. Time for a new one. Stay tuned!