Monkey Butt
Middleton Brewing

Poured from a small growler into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours medium, slightly coppery, golden amber with a quarter finger white head that dissipates to a thick film with nice lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus hops, orange and tangerine and a hint of tropical fruit. Flavor follows, with caramel malt, citrus hops, tangerine, orange and a little tropical fruit. Sturdy citrus rind bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. A pleasant very orange focused IPA; the beer board in the taproom stated it was a tangerine IPA; I asked if it had tangerine added to the brew and the server guessed it might. Regardless, it has the clearest tangerine notes of any recent IPA I've had as well as orange juice and vague tropical fruit. It actually is a simple, but winning flavor for me. The is a bit of astringency to the orange rind finish, but since it had good bitterness, I was happy. Not that complex, but despite its incongruous name, quite drinkable and refreshing.

Had mine randalled through tangerine rinds. It added some citrus notes to be expected and the base beer is drinkable with more weight than most of their standard taps. Today's was also listed at 7% ABV.

I had this beer on-tap in a mason jar at the brewery.

Appearance: medium orange hue with plenty of haze and a finger of frothy ivory foam. Quite attractive.

Smell: tangy and lightly sweet with a slightly fruity hop character. Nondescript, but not bad.

Taste: piney and slightly fruity with a definite diacetyl presence. A bit messy, but not terrible.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent carbonation and creaminess.

Overall: not a bad beer, but not particularly inspiring.