Monkey Fist
Shipyard Brewing Company

12oz bottle in a pint glass.

A- Clear blood red color, thin head. Fat and spotty lacing. Lightly carbonated look.

S- Caramel malt aroma mostly. There's very little hop presence. Toasty, sweet.

T-Bready red ale, toasty. The flavor works, but not as an IPA. It's quite malty until the end, then there's some light hop flavor.

M- Sturdy malt body with light carbonation. A touch of hop bitterness in the lingering finish.

O- I like the beer's flavor, but I've had mild English IPAs with more hop bite than this. That's why my overall number is below the others.

 

Monkey Fist IPA by Shipyard receives high marks for its overall quality. Visually, it scores an impressive 4.75, with a striking appearance characterized by a clear amber hue and a frothy head. The aroma, rated at 4.25, offers a pleasant mix of citrus and pine notes, inviting and fresh. Its taste, with a score of 4, presents a well-balanced profile of hoppy bitterness and subtle malt sweetness. The mouthfeel is exceptional, earning a perfect 5 for its smooth and full-bodied texture. Overall, Monkey Fist IPA garners a solid 4.5, standing out as a well-crafted, highly enjoyable IPA.

Don't call it a comeback, the English IPA has been here for years. An original take on the hoppy, caramelized British style finds new home at Shipyard brewing showing that in the era of haze and fruity, everything old is new again.

Monkey Fist IPA pours with a ruddy amber hue and with a fine mesh haze. With a firm off-white cap building on the rim, the nose is a classic fruity scent of grapefruit, orange, botanical grasses and a hint of marmalade. Much of that malty sweet flavor makes its way onto the early palate with caramel, toast, graham cracker and granola.

As the malt sweetness lessens to a near honey floral and fruity flavor, the middle palate starts to favor the hops and its citrusy, stone fruit and light tropical presence. Trending bitter to overtake the fledgling malts, the late taste is firmly bitter with peppery pine, citrus peel and fresh grass clippings.

Medium bodied, firm yet brisk, the session falls solidly on the bitter side of bitter-sweet and with a drier track on malty-dry with a long and bitter linger of citrus, pine and grasses once more.

 

I am in the middle of my no-alcohol week, so even though I had a drink last night, I thought I’d reward myself with a beer. Had this at Hub Pub in Boston on tap. This was disappointing - I usually like the brewery, but this was an underwhelming IPA that I found a little thin and far too piny. Piney? Whatever. I guess it is like Chris Truskey, underwhelming and disappointing. As soon as I am done this, I am going back to my no-alcohol week for at least the next few days.

poured on tap at Sea Dog Brew Pub into a shaker glass
Clear orange amber color thin head, no lacing to speak of
Faint aroma of caramel, orange and hops
Mouthfeel is on the thin side slightly sticky to slightly dry finish. Medium carbonation
Overall it’s not a bad beer, kind of middle of the road

 

 

 

 

This is a great IPA. The monkey just hit me in the face with his fist. It pours into a nice golden glowing liquid with a frothy white foamy top. The froth doesn’t go away. This drinks a little hoppy so it’s not a fast crusher but it for sure is delicious. A good option if you want something hoppy.