Ingredient insight: Malt liquor, orange inspires No-Li’s latest brew

You may know a “Brass Monkey” to be a good ol’ fashioned 40 of malt liquor mixed with orange juice. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there … Well, No-Li Brewers Damon Scott and Carey Fristoe have taken this idea to a whole new level to bring the world a craft beer Brass Monkey – a strong ale brewed with orange peel for an explosion of citrus flavor.

“Malt liquor and orange juice gives you some sweet notes, a little tanginess and a creamy mouthfeel. We wanted to exaggerate and highlight all of those qualities in craft beer form,” Fristoe said, as he explained the reason behind the diverse malt bill and use of sweet and bitter orange peel.

Damon Scott added, “Seven pounds of orange peel are used in each batch – six pounds of sweet and a pound of bitter. We wanted to go big this year.”

That you did, gentlemen. That you did.

Veteran beer writer, Rick Bonino, sampled a freshly tapped keg at the No-Li Brewhouse pub and described Brass Monkey as having some “juicy sweetness in the middle, then [finishing] dry with some orange pith and hop bitterness. Only slightly boozy, it’s deceptively drinkable for its ABV.”

Brass Monkey is sure to be a bold, balanced, refreshing citrus summer brew. For more about No-Li Brewhouse, head over to the brewery’s website or dive into our story archives.