Panela is a sweetener obtained from sugar cane juice. The liquid is squeezed out of the freshly cut sugar cane and then cooked at a high temperature. During this process, the water contained evaporates and leaves behind a concentrated, viscous mass that is poured into molds and dried. Panela is used to sweeten hot drinks, but it is also used for cooking and baking.
Or for brewing.
The Munich Brew Mafia team took this exquisite raw material and used it to brew a Belgian-inspired quadrupel. Traditionally, the Quadrupel is made with brown or rock sugar; the resourceful Munich brewers used Panela for their version. In addition to this exotic ingredient, the beer called Gray Monk contains two types of malt, which provide a grippy texture and the necessary stability for the whopping 12.5% alcohol content.
MBM’s Gray Monk flows into the glass the color of freshly brewed coffee and is crowned with a hand’s breadth of hazelnut brown foam. A seductive mixture of chocolate, creamy caramel and spicy yeast rises to the nose. The flavor profile is very similar and consists of toffee, strong yeast, delicately melting chocolate, soft grain and warm spices. The alcohol content is cleverly integrated into the play of aromas and contributes a fiery warmth that spreads through body and soul after the first sip.
Munich Brew Mafia
