Deep Concentration
Monkish Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Typical Monkish IPA that suffers from some initial canning shock, then improves over the course of the next two weeks. Had all four cans at various junctures post-release, and each seemed to improve a bit from the last.

Deep Concentration poured a completely opaque yellowish, with minimal head. Initial aroma was entirely tropical and citrus that really smacked you right in the face. The taste was pure juice; a mix of orange, pineapple and others, that finished with a dry, hoppy resin (in a good way).

Mouthfeel was balanced between the carbonation and perceived thickness of it at first. Overall, another quality effort in this department by Monkish.

 

 

Canned 1/5/17. Consumed 1/15/17.

A: Beer comes in a medium gold color with about a half finger of tightly packed head comprised of tiny bubbles. Full-on haze with this one.... looks thick and juice-like in the glass. Somewhat poor head retention, as the small foam that was there dissipates quickly to just a thin ring around the edge of the glass.

S: Pineapple, mango, stone fruit, and pear stand out to me. There's a big musty, kinda wet earth quality to this one that works well with the fruit notes, esp the stone fruit. It's a little weedy and cat pee-esque, but along with the stone fruit, it kinda reminds me of overripe peach or apricot skins.

T: Pineapple, mango, tangerine, apricot, pear, and just a little strawberry. So much fruit throughout, but it has this potent dankness that reminds you that you're getting these flavors from hops. Similar to the nose, there's a big musty quality to the flavor on this, somewhat reminiscent of wet, fleshy fruit skins. The finish on this is wonderful, so smoothie-esque. There's a vanilla-like sweetness from the malts that really comes out, and it's complemented by a bouquet of all the tropical fruit flavors that appeared on the taste. Absolutely delicious.

M: Slicker than some of their other DIPAs, this one is a little undercarbonated, IMO. It has a killer weight on the palate, thick and almost creamy for the style. Light carbonation adds to the juice-like feel of this, which, to some, could be seen as a positive. But a bit more bubbles would give it that full, mouth-coating quality that breweries like Tree House nail so perfectly. All that being said, the thickness, along with a perfect bitter vs. sweet balance, make for an overall awesome mouthfeel.

O: Definitely one of the best Monkish beers I've had. They said this is their most heavily hopped brew, and I totally get that... It's intense, with overwhelming amounts of what I can only describe as "dank fruit" flavors and aromas. The mouthfeel is a bit slick, but it contributes to the extraordinary 'juiciness' of this beer. At only 10 days post-canning, this is tasting great. But I imagine it will be incredible in another week... Only time will tell!