Zig-Zag-Zig
Monkish Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Canned on 6/30/20; consumed on 7/24/20

Pours a turbid golden straw body capped with multiple fingers of dense, white foam; good head retention yields a fluffy finger of cap, an expansive collar climbing up the walls of the glass, and a moderate array of webby, soapy lacing.

Aroma opens with hints of pineapple and passionfruit, with further depth added with notes of peach and nectarine skins; wisps of sweet earth and incense meet wet dirt over the middle, while grassy, tropical rinds become increasingly prominent toward the close for a more raw, herbally hoppy impression.

Taste offers ripe lychee against wet dirt and dank grass upfront, detailed with spiced mango peel and hints of fresh pineapple over the mid-palate; lingering lime peel is steady on the back end as subtle papaya grazes the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a balancing, moderate carbonation; steadily resinous, and phasing towards a building juicy texture against a delicate hop acidity integrated seamlessly past the mid-palate; a very mild, concentrated bittering appears with a controlled, grit through the finish; an almost calculated design of the ideal NEIPA texture, with near-perfect engagement of the palate.

While the hop notes in this one don't always harmonize to the fullest extent, the structure of this beer shows an effortless execution that begs a more intense flavor/ aromatic profile to follow; ultimately, a spectacular overall foundation laid for an incredibly sturdy, well-attenuated NEIPA highlighting its more mildly expressive characteristics.