Spencer Monks' Reserve Ale

Fragrant, robust, and full bodied, this classic Trappist Quadrupel is mahogany in color and crowned with a dense, tan, frothy head. Its malt-forward flavor profile yields to a warm finish.

3.8

266 reviews

Spencer, United States

Community reviews

3.6 Draft to taster at Pies & Pints in Noblesville. Pours a turbid/yeasty brown with light beige head that steadily dissipates into lacing. Smells malty with notes of dark fruit and Belgian esters. Tastes like it smells, but more yeast-forward. Mouthfeel is medium full-bodied and mildly but pleasantly tart. A good example of the style.

3.8 11.2oz bottle from Arrow - Mason, best before 8/20/24. Dark fruit, toasty, spicy, burnt sugars, plum, light touch of vanilla. Medium to bigger body, soft moderate carbonation. Fully, with a lightly dry finish. Moderate-plus sweet taste, light to moderate bitter, little touch of the alcohol warmth. Nice, satisfying quad. Excellent when together with my sandwich. Fun excuse to use the La Trappe goblet to celebrate review #11,111

3.5 11.2 oz. bottle, pours a deep dark brown / near-black with a medium tan head. Aroma dark dried fruits, molasses, and toasted nuts — and also more roasted than a typical quad. Flavour is not exactly convincing — there’s sweet dark dried fruits, burnt molasses, and some candi sugar. The Belgian yeast isn’t expressed all that well, and it’s on the sweeter side. Not like an authentic Belgian quad, but a solid enough sweet strong ale.

3.9 Bottle poured into a chalice. Ruby black with a thick beige head. Aroma is dark fruits, merlot grapes, Belgian yeast. Initial taste is slightly hoppy, sweet grapes, caramel, figs. Fades to pepper, grapes. Carbonation is a bit active. Smooth, full body. Nice to have a solid Trappist brew in the states! 7-5-8-4-15

3.8 Loads of dates, some spice, sourdough bread, pretty high carb. Light body, not really sweet or syrupy at all. Very good, but not quite up to the Trappist standard imho.

3.8 Aromas a frutos secos y pan Aspecto caoba y cobrizo espuma persistente En boca cuerpo medio caramelo ácido y ligeramente torrefacto final seco suave

3.8 4 pack at home. Dark pour. Nose is dried fruits and toffee. Taste of some caramel, fig, red wine, dates and molasses. Thinner bodied than expected. Some booze.

4.6 Bottle from Norm's Beer and Wine in Vienna, VA Aroma: caramel, dark fruit Appearance: dark brown with a tan head Taste: medium sweetness, medium bitterness Mouthfeel: average carbonation, creamy feel, medium body, long finish Delicious

3.7 12 ounce bottle bought locally. A seriously dark pour. Taste has some dried fruit and plum. Slight sour finish. Slight but it's there. Maybe a little lacking in depth. Ok.

3.7 Pours brown with a compact head that dissipates quickly but leaves ample lacing; stewed plums, figs, and fruitcake on the nose; rich, complex palate with a warming, dry finish.

2.4 bottle. Clear reddish brown color. foamy tan head. Bready aroma, low fruit, low sweetness. Flavor is bready, low sweetness. Dry and dusty.

4.0 Birra dal colore tonaca di frate, non filtrata. Aromi e sapori sono di malto, caramello, prugna, uva sultanina, pane di segale. Il finale è secco e mediamente amaro.

4.3 Bottle poured a clear reddish brown with a small lasting tan head. Aromas of toffee, fig, spice and earthiness. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of toffee, spice, dried fruit and earthiness with a smooth dry lingering spiced dried fruit finish.

4.3 Pours murky brown with lively head. Trad belg quad bouquet is inviting. Trad belg quad flavours of caramel, malt, vanilla. But what is that twist? Cant pinpoint but it is positive. Nice

4.0 Pours clear dark brown color with tan head. Aromas of dark fruit. Raisin and plum flavors with some candi sugar. Full body with moderate carbonation.

4.4 Pours translucent mahogany with a thick and frothy buff head. Aroma delivers roast malt, syrupy, smoky, caramel and subtle fruity notes. Flavor gives smoky roast malt, syrup, dark fruit and caramel tones. Texture provides firm body and lively fizz. How 'bout them monks!

4.0 Light brown pour. Thick foam. Sweet flavor of vanilla and not too boozy. Nice balance and a palate of vanilla

3.9 Candi, pronounced fig, plum nose. Maroonish-brown, thick tan head, great retention and lacing. Candi, plum, date, horehound. Dry and bitter nut and twig finish. Medium to full body, easy carbonation.

3.4 Bottle, WW. Dark brown with a small beige head. Plum, caramel, raspberry nose. Caramel, dark fruit, chocolate. Boozy.

4.1 Opaque brown with a good and lasting off white head. Good lacing. Aroma: Malts: Caramel, toast, Licorice. Also a good hoppy contribution, red berries. Mouth: Great fruity balance of sweet and and bitter. Some delicate burnt notes. Smooth texture. Full body

4.3 12oz bottle. Really nice stuff, quite true to style. Caramel, red fruit, chocolate. Full bodied but quite drinkable for the ABV. Great mouthfeel. All around excellent.

3.8 Deep brown pour, foamy brown head. Aroma of Belgian yeast, winter spices, prune, slight roast and berry. Taste follows, heavily of overripe fruit.

4.1 33 cl. bb 03/04/24. Deep mahogany brew with a billowing foam that slowly settles to a creamy, half inch head. Aroma of toffee, clove bread, citrus zest and a bit of chocolate. Tastes of a smooth blend of the same mix. Medium-plus body has smooth, mid-level carbonation. Nice balance with a dryish finish and well-hidden abv.

2.9 A:liquirizia,caffè,mou G:acido,amaro,aff,caffè

3.6 Dark brown beer with a lasting beige head. Taste is very spicy, some dark fruit, some chocolate, candy sugar, roasty bitter finish.

4.5 Quadruple de abadia elaborada por monjes trapenses americanos. Marron muy oscuro. Poca espuma que permanece. Explosión alucinante de sabor complejo. Dulce. Malta, caramelo, fruta (ciruela...). Retrogusto dulce con ligero toque amargo. Esconde muy bien el alcohol. Una quad de categoría sin nada que envidiar a sus hermanas belgas. Excelente.

3.4 Pour is a dark brown with a foamy tan head. Aroma is dark roasted malt some dark fruit and a herbal spicy hop Flavor is brown sugar sweetness with some molasses and and alcohol. Lots of carbonation and lots of alcohol. While good I was expecting this to be a bit better. The bottle said that was good until 2024 but as of right now it's a bit hot and boozy.

4.0 (Bottle, 0.33 l - BB 12.03.2023, at Juova, 20210521) The beer poured nearly black. Its head was medium sized and lightly brown. Aroma had toasted malts, Belgian style yeast, chocolate and fruitiness. Palate was full bodied and dryish with medium carbonation. Flavours were toasted malts, fruitiness, Belgian style yeast, spiciness, lightly ash and medium bitterness. Aftertaste had toasted malts, Belgian style yeast, spiciness and bitterness. A pleasant and balanced toasty brew with Belgian twist.

3.8 Slovakia tasting May 2021. Brown color with beige head. Aroma of dark malt, coffee, candy. Taste, chocolate, dark malt, cocoa, candied sugar, spices, phenolic.

3.6 Bottle at a tasting with the RB boys. Med body, med-high carbonation. Dried fruits, raisins, also spicy, clove, peppery. Med-high warming alcohol, slightly sharp. Good, but not great.