Thunder Monkey
MAP Brewing Co.

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – The beer is served a super hazy yellowish-orange color with a one finger head of white foam. The head has a good level of retention fading over time to leave a decent sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell –The aroma of the brew is strongest of wheat smell mixed with lots of banana and some other aromas of coriander and clove. Along with these smells comes yeast aromas and a bit of orange and grass.

Taste-The taste begins with drier then I was anticipating from the nose, with a wheaty and yeasty taste predominating upfront. Along with these flavors comes some clove and coriander which grow stronger as the taste advances. With the spice also comes some fruity flavors of banana and orange, with these sweeter tastes remaining rather mild to the end, but bringing in a bit more balance to the rather dry taste that is upfront. In the end, with some grassy and hay flavors also joining the tongue, one is left with a rather smooth, slightly drier, but nicely balanced hefe taste that lingers on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the slightly thicker and chewier side for a brew of 5.4 % abv with a carbonation level that is slightly lower. I think I would have liked a little more carbonation to accentuate the lighter sweeter fruit flavors a bit more, but even said, the feel was fairly good as the chewiness of the brew was rather nice for the wheat and yeasty tastes that were the bulk of the taste..

Overall – Upon first sip I was not really a huge fan, but after a few more sips it really grew on me. The beer was a rather nice, slightly more dry, but still flavorful hefe.