Citra Mango Milkshake
Moonraker Brewing Co.

Consumed in May 2020. I am not a milkshake anything guy, much less an ipa. But Moonraker is the best out there, so I figured why not, maybe the old lady might like it since they aren't like normal ipas.

Pours a cloudy hazy appearance, color yellow/golden/amber, 1/3" head and surprisingly good retention. The aroma was mango for sure, seemed like vanilla and lactose from there. Hop nose is disappointing, doesn't really smell like hops, smells like sugary fruit.

Taste, eh, the mango carries a lot of the responsibility for this being worse along the lines of your standard garbage milkshake ipa. The lactose isn't too heavy handed, but its still one of those 100% of the times a detriment kind of things for me, its really just a question of how bad, and here it wasn't too bad. Reminds me a bit of some of Hop Valley's fruited ipas that aren't good either.

This review was performed by someone who doesn't like these kind of beers, so grain of salt ordered please.

Pours thick haze with frothy white head. Looks like a orange cream soda a bit.
Smell is orange and lactose. Some tang.
Flavor is very fake orange tang and vanilla and lactose. Sweet and aggressive. Not all too smooth for a milkshake. Split this beer I could only handle 8oz.

 

Pours a bright gold color that fades to straw the closer you get to the rim when put up to a light, medium- and a wonderful creamy white head that descends but doesn’t completely exit the scene. The nose is bursting with tropical flavors, vanilla, mango with the malt character whispering to let you know it’s there to balance this sucker, which the vanilla helps with as well. The flavor instantly reminded me of peaches and cream, the vanilla and mango are the star of the show and the lactose gives it a light pillowy body, with enough bitterness on the end to remind you this isn’t just straight juice. Not much on the finish except a slight pucker in the back of the throat.

 

Canned 4/4/19
L: pours deep orange color. Looks like juice. About a finger of a loosely packed cap that quickly dissipated. Minimal residual lacing.
S: just as advertised. Mango, vanilla and lactose all prevalent on the nose with hints of citrus. Vanilla and lactose dominate the aroma with mango undertones.
T: again, just as advertised. Mango, vanilla and milk sugar. The big three, all working in unison. Slight citrus flavor on the finish with cascades of milk sweetness and vanilla. This is without a doubt the most “Milkshakey” tasting one I’ve has yet.
F: medium in body, medium in weight. Not quite pillowy but it has a creamy, smooth and silky texture. Low to moderate carbonation, but it works here.
O: gotta admit, for the style, it’s damn good. I would drink again no doubt. It is rather sweet, and I think one can is as much as I would want, at least for the moment. I am very grateful to have tried. Cheers!

Sweet, orange-citrus, and mango vanilla nose on this one! Taste follows with sweet mango upfront and then a subtle citrus bitterness on the finish and swallow. As it warms, the mango takes on a slight herbal/floral/medicinal vibe. This has decent depth...I just wish it was a little creamier on the finish.

Plum crazy. This son of a gun beer is out of its mind like Edgar Allen Poe when he got rabies. Think of Dylan Thomas taking his last shot; Hemingway’s last thought before he blew his brains out... This beer is everything and more. Soft, hella soft mango and citrus with what I also think is a touch of vanilla.

Don’t pinch me, baby, because I am alive.

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Beer Nerd 12-oz. tulip
From: Bill and Chad
Price: N/A
Purchased: N/A; Received June 2, 2018
Consumed: June 9, 2018
Reviewed as: Milkshake IPA
Misc.: Unable to read canned on date

Got this from Bill at the Firestone Invitational. Not sure if it was Bill or Chad who bought it, but I was excited either way. Moonraker does some killer hazy IPAs. I’ve had three now, giving Yojo probably an underrated 4.15 (it’s 4.49 on Beer Advocate) back in 2015, Yojo 66 1/3 a 4.06 two months ago (April 2018) and
DOJO a 4.25 the night before I had this (June 8, 2018). Can called it as mango, Citra, vanilla beans and lactose. Kind of new to the milkshake IPAs, I believe this would be my second review and maybe third or fourth overall.

Poured a hazy pale color with 1-to-2 fingers of fizzy head. Could see some bubbles creeping up along the sides if the glass. Decent watery lacing. Good retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled Citra, real vanilla, vanilla milkshake, mango, pineapple and some coconut. Mango and Citra was much more pronounced from the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Taste was better than the nose. Excellent balance of mango and vanilla, backed by the Citra. Also guava, vanilla milkshake, pineapple, orange, tangerine, grapefruit and still that coconut (wishful?). (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long juicy finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Wow. Was surprised at how much I liked this. That mango and vanilla really worked together, finishing with the Citra. (Overall - 4.25)

4.19 | 93 | A-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had on-tap at Moonraker Brewing in Auburn, CA

Appearance - Served up in a nonic pint, murky and dull orange in color with a thin, broken layer of suds and and an even thinner ring around the edge of the glass. No lacing save a small handful of tiny spots.

Smell - Prominent mango with lesser citrus and a hint of pineapple.

Taste - Strong, fresh mango character that is as equally juicy as it is tangy. Lesser orange with hints of grapefruit and pineapple. Finishes much the same with the juicy sweetness and light tartness lingering long into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with slightly bitey carbonation. Slick texture with a smooth, easy finish.

Overall - My first ‘Milkshake’ IPA, and damn is it good. I’ll admit I don't know much about what separates these from the other hazy, hoppy brews but I'm eager to find out after this.