Brother Thelonious – North Coast Brewing Company

I acquired a bottle of Brother Thelonious, a Belgian strong ale from North Coast Brewing Company at a local bottle shop. Brother Thelonious pours a ruby-brown color that settles to a cloudy body clarity and a medium carbonation.  The head is average, light brown in color and fizzy in appearance.  The aroma that I pick up is malt presence with dark cherry tones that are a prelude to what is to come from this abbey ale.  Upon my first sip, I am greeted with dark cherry, raisin, apricot and cinnamon notes that hit you at once, then become individually perceived.  On the finish, I get a slight red wine, plum flavors and a warming alcohol presence. Brother Thelonious is a nice medium bodied brew that is a very good representation of a Belgian strong ale. ABV = 9.4%