North Coast Brother Thelonious (pack of 4) (35.5cl, 9.4%)

A Belgian-style abbey ale brewed at 9.4% ABV and sold as a four-pack of 12 oz bottles. North Coast Brewing Company, founded in 1988 in Fort Bragg, California, brews it in tribute to jazz legend Thelonious Monk, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. It is built on a Pilsner malt base layered with CaraMunich, Biscuit Malt, Belgian Aromatic, Special B and Chocolate malt, with Belgian Dark Candi Syrup, Belgian Amber Candi Syrup and brown sugar from cane. Belgian yeast drives fermentation and hop bitterness is restrained at 32 IBUs. The aroma shows dark dried fruit, toasted caramel, cherry sweetness, biscuit-like malt and faint Belgian yeast spice. The palate is rich and nectar-sweet with prune, raisin, cherry, candied nut and toasted malt. The finish is warming and moderately long, with toasted caramel, sweet fruity character, gentle alcohol warmth and a hint of chocolate malt.