Stevens Point Brewery – Stevens Point, WI

Malty, sweet, and smooth, with a velvety texture. This is the perfect after dinner beer. It boasts an arsenal of spices including clove, coriander, caramel and cinnamon. But it seems to hold them back in the beginning, if you don’t wait just a moment you can actually miss them. The flavor is delivered somewhat deceptively, with a hollow texture, minimal carbonation and a slightly flimsy head. But that flavor only starts small, and it’s more than a one-two punch. It starts crisp, then begins to evolve a mild sweetness. The orchestra starts just after that, with bananas and brown sugar in the background, fighting over who gets to play first chair violin. It can all feel like a bit of a mess, with a dozen different elements vying for your attention. If you give it that attention, you may get lost in the mix. But if you just let it happen, you may find the melody. And it may even speak to you.

It’s a level of complexity made possible by age and wisdom. Something we should expect from a 150 year-old brewery, and certainly worthy of the 1500 year-old monk from whom this beer takes its name.

Overall – 3.9 of 5

Eriq’s score – 3 of 5