Marstons monks habit. ??? Anyone got a recipie

[Paddy1989]

Hi all a friend has asked me if I can find a recipie for marstons monks habit because he remembers it as a good pint any ideas.??? Cheers. Paddy.

[seymour]

Not to get your hopes up, no I don't.

BUT, here's everything I know, in case it helps with your quest:

Marston's Monk's Habit appears to have been 5.5% ABV, a somewhat limited offering "Brewer's Favourite" in the mid-late 1990s, a golden, table-strength Belgian Singel akin to the lower-strength "monk's beers" made at the Trappist monastery breweries (but rarely distributed except to very nearby cafes.) Chimay Dorée/Refter (probably 6-row Pilsener, Caramel Malt, Wheat flour), Orval Petit (which is their normal wort: 3 Pale Malts, 2 Caramel Malts, sugar, but then added to a fermentor half-filled with water), Westmalle Extra (which is 100% pilsner malt), etc.

It's pretty clear it was not the same thing as Marston's Merrie Monk, a fuller-bodied, bready, brown ale which most people believe is simply Pedigree + caramel syrup, which of course has nothing to do with monks.

So, if you just want a cool Belgian Singel/Monk's beer along those lines, click here for this delicious recipe:
Lefse Blond Ale from a monastery in Minnesota, USA of all places.
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 20

You may've gathered Belgian Singel is one of my favorite styles. Here's one more good one:
Schlafly Singel
ABV: 5.1%
IBU: 32
GRAINS: Pale, Dingemans Cara-8 Malt, Wheat, Wheat Malt
HOPS: Marynka for bittering, Lublin for aroma (modern Polish hops with Saaz background)
YEAST: blend of Belgian Trappist strains

[Paddy1989]

Cheers for your response and time dude those recipies may have given me some more awesome recipes to try thanks again man. Paddy.

[seymour]

Cheers to you too. I bet that Lefse Blond Ale will be similar to, but vastly better than the one your friend remembers. Have fun blowing his mind!

[seymour]

So Paddy, did you and/or your friend end up brewing something along these lines?

[Paddy1989]

Hi Seymour na diddnt bother in the end jus brewed a courage directors clone instead and gonna try my first simple lager in the next couple of weeks. Can't keep up with the drinking haha. Paddy.

[seymour]

Gotcha. I can relate.