Monkey See Monkey Do
Craftsman Brewing Co.

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Craftsman Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 15.16%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
9
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 10, 2014
Added:
Dec 02, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.25 by zestar from California

Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by ste5venla from California

Aug 17, 2012
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Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

4.09/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Lucky Baldwin's Trappiste Pub & Cafe in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a slightly murky honey orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Tiny dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and some honey aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink but I think it smells better than it tastes.
Jul 04, 2012
 
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Looks like Monkey See is back this year. On tap at Local Habit, which is one of the few places in San Diego which frequently has Craftsman beers.

Amber color in the tall tulip with a tinge of orange. Citrus aroma with lots of flowery hops. Light on the foam but enough carbonation on the tongue. Tangy flavor and seriously hoppy, but missing the harsh bitterness so beloved in our part of the world.

More winey mouthfeel than many IPAs. Some fruit, like pomegranate tartness and seeds bitterness, with some lime rind. Interesting hops with a taste of black currant and a touch of pepper. For an 8% beer it's not so malty or rich. Bitter and strong, but quite drinkable. It has a restrained sort of flavor with a dark fruitiness that is not the usual piney hop blast. Thanks to the brewmaster for another interesting beer.
Apr 23, 2012
Photo of snikki
Reviewed by snikki from California

4.97/5  rDev +32.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I'll admit to being a bit of a Craftsman fanatic. I count Triple White Sage as one my favorite beers ever, and Aurora Borealis is a white whale for me. Only had it once.

One thing the guy (it's a one man operation) does not care for is IPA. But his "Monkey See Monkey Do" is his final cave-in to pressure to make one.

This caught me off-guard at Father's Office. What was that BANANA tap handle? I was surprised to learn: Craftsman. They usually have carved wooden handles. Even more shocked to learn it was a DOUBLE IPA. What in the...

To be honest I was a little afraid - some of Craftsman's experiments can be a bit out there.

Tried this and...wow. It had that fresh but bitter taste one associates with Sculpin or Pliny, but subtler. Contrary to other people, I did not get an overpowering malt taste, which to me is the downfall of many an IPA. Dare I say this tasted kind of similar to Younger? (Which I've only had twice, so...)

I liked this so much I stopped here every day after work until the keg was gone. (About four days sadly.)

Note: A week or two later, I had this again at Surly Goat. It tasted completely different. Flatter, heavier, maltier. All the delicious hop character was gone. Like a different beer. Not sure what was up. Maybe it had just aged too much.

Surprised to see at Surly Goat it listed as 11.5 percent! If that is true, it's shocking. It tastes more like 7. I had two pints at Father's Office, and should have been totally sloshed if it were 11.5. If it really is 11.5, it is a masterpiece of alcohol masking.

Hope he brings this back. It was just a delicious beer.
Dec 14, 2010
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Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.33/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: The pour a pretty dark amber-orange color for a double IPA, this is something that usually worries me.

S: Not what I was looking for in this one. Lots of sweet, caramel maltiness. There's a decent enough fruit character, but still quite a bit of brown sugar and malt character.

T: This is supposed to be an IPA/DIPA? Very sweet with plenty of caramel malts, brown sugar, and toffee. I don't really get much, if any, hop bitterness or even any other hop traits such as citrus or floral notes.

M: The body is medium to full with a medium level of carbonation.

D: This was sort of like a middle of the road barleywine more than a Double IPA. Really malty and not much hop character to speak of.
Dec 08, 2010
Photo of beagle75
Reviewed by beagle75 from Iowa

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served on draft into a shaker pint glass at Beachwood BBQ.

A: Hazy, dark orange-golden color with over one finger of dense white foam head. Lacing is inconsistent, but with occasional continuous sheeting.

S: Very fragrant pine and citrus hops stand out initially, effectively masking other smells that may be present. Over time these qualities fade, revealing a faint marine brininess--a blend of smells that resist dissection into their component parts.

T: Begins off-dry, multi-layered and complex with spicy, floral, and orange citrus hop aromatics, robust toasted grain, and fresh foliage of herbaceous green plants. This beer has a quality of rye grain early in the flavor. Flavors turn less appealing in the middle, consisting of astringent fennel and alcohol while retaining vegetal flavors and rising bitterness. The finish peaks with moderate bitterness of a grapefruit peel quality, ending on a clean note.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, sticky on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D: This beer is a pungent IPA that requires the palate to become acclimated to its sensory qualities before it can be fully enjoyed. Such enjoyment is greatest in the seconds after a quaff, with the palate awash in diverse intense flavors. It is remarkable at moments, but is held back by the flavors present in the middle. The Craftsman website provided no information on this beer, but the abv appears to be around 7%.
Dec 02, 2010
Monkey See Monkey Do from Craftsman Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 3.76 out of 5 with 9 ratings