The Pious Monk Dunkel is in the glass

Even though Wednesday has been freed up by Impact Wrestling re-runs, I haven’t gotten to an extra beer article because I’m busy trying to figure out my Top 5 travel beers, Top 5 Beers in Cbus and Top 5 Beers I have had this year. I’m trying to figure out if they should be exclusive to each list. Until then, let’s review more beer I had much earlier this year.

Church Brew Works – Pious Monk Dunkel – I have a very religious theme going on for this post. The last beer is just in name only. This beer just so happens to be made at an old church in Pittsburgh, PA which my younger brother kindly brought to me. I don’t see this style too much even in these crafty days and multiple German inspired brewers. I did have it back in Germany though so it’s stuck with me as a good one. It is a dark style lager but not dark enough to be called a black lager. It is much lighter than that. The Monk allows you to taste the nuttiness of the roasted portion of malt. Honestly, it’s a beer I could see non-craft beer people liking this style of beer. It’s crisp and clean like those big names beers but it’s got some nice taste. The other reason it is similar to those beers is it’s low ABV at 5.5%. You won’t be pious after a night of drinking this beer which everyone should consider doing.

Church Brew Works – Pipe Organ Pale Ale – Pale ales are an American staple so no nostalgia from Germany for this one. They use three styles of unnamed hops and dry hop it which would make me think this would taste fairly bitter but it wasn’t. It has a balance that few pale ales have. The malt peeks out more than normal so there was a sweet component that isn’t normally in a pale ale. They don’t list an IBU so it’s hard to figure how much malt may go in. It’s another lighter beer so it may not be much of either ingredient. Another part of hops inclusion is a higher ABV. You’re not going to find that here with a 5.1% ABV. I might just be able to play a pipe organ even when drinking this beer. Distribution is mainly in the Pittsburgh area so if you’re going there, stop in and pray for some good beer. You’ll definitely get it.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Baltic Porter – My neighbors went to Cleveland and wondered into the Great Lakes Brewery. They kindly brought me back this beer back to me at a great expense. Part of that expense was given back to them in the form of a snazzy growler with a latch top. It helped to keep this fantastic “Pub Exclusive” good for the trip back from Cleveland. This porter has everything one might want. It’s got the roasty, toasty malt in in. It’s got a nice thickness to the beer itself. It’s got some decent head even after the trip. It has hops in it but 20 IBU isn’t going to do much in this level of roasted malt. What is somewhat high is the ABV which is sitting at 7.0%. It was noticeable because I drank this one rather quickly. It was so good, I wish Great Lakes would bottle this one on a regular basis. As usual, if you’d like to find their beer, look at this map of distribution.

Weyerbacher – Merry Monks – Since ambers are more hoppy than what I first experienced, I keep on trying to nail down a favorite style. Scottish Ales are in the mix. With this beverage, tripels are certainly looking like a good prospect too. I think you can stop at saying this flavor is complex but Weyerbacher goes on to note the spice (which I definitely did taste) along with banana & pear (which I didn’t taste). I don’t mind missing a note or two in a beer this fantastic. Tripels suit my love affair of malt by only have an IBU of 15. Tripels are also nice to have one beer and be tanked for a good long while afterwards. This one happens to come in at 9.3% ABV. Weyerbacher does suggest storing this beer in a cool room to let age, which I will have to do. I’m glad this beer doesn’t stay in the abbey any more. Find this beer if this fine company out of PA distributes in your area.