On Friday 20th April, Northern Monk Brewery were invited to Northern Lights on Belfast's Ormeau Road for a tap take over event. I finished work slightly early so I decided to jump on a bus and make my way there. I arrived shortly after the advertised 1900 start time, and the bar was already reasonably busy, however I was able to secure a seat at the bar. The friendly staff greeted me, and explained to me that they had a selection of great beers on, as if I didnt already know!
My initial plan was for sure to have a pint or a half pint of each of the beers on offer, but when you look at the board, this was never going to happen, well not if I wanted to walk out at the end.
So, I asked for a recommended start place, as I couldn't see the board from where I was sitting, the bar maid (is that still "PC?" Bar Server person?) recommended the Vic Lemonade, which to give its full title (according to Untappd) Patrons Project 4.04 Victorian Lemonade IPA.What comes next are my reviews of the beers, in the order that I drank them, based on the notes that I made at the time... I haven't read them since so who knows what sense or otherwise I made.
So this was the first beer I've ever had from Northern Monk, I wasnt sure what to expect. When it was sat down in front of me, I was struck by the colour. I would describe it as a golden yellow colour, but Im not entirely sure if that does it justice. It was incredibly cloudy or hazy and looked like the new NEIPA craze thats doing the rounds at the moment, (embarrassingly i haven't managed to sample a NEIPA yet). There was little or no head in the glass. On the nose I got a subtle hint of lemon, but not much else. As soon as I had a taste, immediately struck by that bitter citrus lemon taste, reminding me of strong homemade old school lemonade, im not sure if any of you remember "Ben Shaws traditional lemonade?" Even at 6.5% the alcohol was very well balanced and hidden, could easily sink a few of these without realising. Would suggest this as a bit of a palate cleanser perhaps.Bombay Dazzler Wit 4.8%
Wit beer, not my go to, in fact I would probably avoid Wit unless there is literally nothing else on offer. However if I'm doing this, I'm doing it 100%. Judging from my notes, I tried to get this one out of the way as quick I could. Again this was a cloudy beer, but much lighter in colour than the Victorian Lemonade, a pale yellow colour. I got some subtle citrus fruit on the nose, and a having gone looking there was a sour note too. There was very little or no carbonation, and the overwhelming flavour was Banana, but as I got down the glass, I couldnt help but be reminded of ice tea.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Brown Ale 7%
So my notes state " Light brown colour, very light for a stout,.." so obviously its not a stout, but the colour was a very washy brown colour, almost like a chocolate milk shake or similar, although not as opaque as milkshake. It had a very sweet smell to it, and I struggled to find indiviual fragrances. I didnt get much "peanut," on the palate, and I found it almost sickeningly sweet.
Saesoner DDH Saison 7% ABV
A nice golden colour, and again very hazey (I'mm starting to think this is a Northern Monk characteristic). There was very little happening on the nose, but on the palate I got some tropical fruit, with a peppery undertone, there were some hop profile on the finish, and it finished dry.
Patrons Project 5.04 Three Peaks IPA 3.5%
Collaboration with Belfast's own Boundary Brewing. I've written like 3 lines on this one maximum so here goes, "Very pale in colour again very cloudy or hazy little or no head. On the nose very discrete citra hop flavours and green grass." I guess I didnt think enough of this to even tell myself what it tasted like. Moving on...
Opeth Communion Pale Ale 5.1% ABV
When I seen this one on the board, I was looking forward to it, there was only going to be this one to finish with. Pale golden colour and yet again a hazy look to it, the beer held its head for eternity (I'm thinking at this point alcohol was messing with my adjectives) and as I drank down, the lacing on the glass was akin to a white wash on the inside. On the nose I got soft fruits, that I couldnt quite nail down, but I suggested banana and over ripe pears. As I drank, mouthfeel was very creamy and there was a moderate level of carbonation. I felt that compared to other Northern Monk beers on the night, even the stronger ones, the alcohol wasnt as well balanced. I didnt get a huge amount on the palate, a light malt profile with a sharp bitterness and slight burn from the alcohol on the finish. It was by no means unpleasant but unspectacular, and the more i tried find flavours the less I could differentiate, again by this time alcohol was almost certainly clouding my palate.
Finally...
Black Forest Stranik Russian Stout 9% ABV
my notes start with "F**K. Right, I have to do this." Black as midnight with a milky chocolate head. The head expanded over the glass top which forced me to gulp the first two or three mouthfuls before I was fully ready. On the nose it was dark treacle. I found it hard to believe 9% was accurate, and there was a pronounced sweetness which drunk me decided meant the yeast probably could have went on for a few extra %points. The roasted barley followed by extreme sweetness masked some of the more fragile flavours. It would be very tempting to try and claim coffee, and when I looked at the glass half way down, it did have the look of one of those new "Nitro espresso" cold coffees that are all the rage these days, but the coffee flavours were missing totally, and the richness wasn't there.
So that was the end of my night. I had a couple of other beers while I sat at Northern Lights, and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of one of my favourite bars, perhaps in the near future I'll write something about Northern Lights in general.
On reflection, Lemonade was by far my favourite, and I had another one of these before i finished the night, and Peanut Butter Jelly, was the most disappointing. I wouldn't order Saesoner again, at 7% I just dont think it is worth the extra price. Communion was the most underwhelming, but I feel that perhaps I had built it up too much in my head.
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