644. SanTan Brewing – Supermonk Belgian IPA

Posted By kkozlen on Dec 28, 2013 | 0 comments

It’s been another nice day relaxing at home over the holiday break. I’ve done almost nothing today, except watch TV, and catch up on a few beer reviews. Writing about beer makes me thirsty, so I reached into the fridge and grab this can that was sent to me by SanTan. The can says, “SuperMonk is a naturally hazy, Belgian style IPA. Notes of citrus and orange peel dominate the aroma. Upon first sip, happy bitterness dances with peppery notes, then gives way to orange and fruit. Very drinkable, light on the pallet. Ideal for craft beer lovers and ‘hopheads’ alike. Enjoy!”

Location: Poured the 12oz can into a snifter glass at my home in Bloomington, IL.

Numbers: 6.5% ABV, 70 IBU, 5 SRM, 16 Plato (1.065) OG, ~170 Calories

Numbers: Malt: Pale, White Wheat, Munich, Vienna; Hops: Cascade, Columbus; Yeast: Proprietary California Ale and Trappist Ale Yeast blend.

Appearance & Aroma: It’s Amber in color, and slightly hazy. It had a foamy whitehead that fell to a thin layer on the top after a minute or so. It also has a nice citrusy hop aroma.

Taste & Feel: The body is light in the mouth feel is somewhat crisp. There’s a light caramel flavor up front, but a citrusy hop bitterness quickly kicks in overtaking it. The citrusy hop flavors are joined by some pine and resin hop flavors and bitterness in the background. The finish is pretty dry, with a good dose of citrusy hop flavor and a slightly sharp bitterness, with some Belgian spiciness in the background. The citrusy hop bitterness lasts for a minute or so in the aftertaste.

Food Pairing: This beer has a good amount of citrusy hop flavor and bitterness, with some spicy undertones. I think these flavors would go good with a steak or a burger with pepperjack cheese.

Overall Impression: A good Belgian IPA is a difficult balance between hop flavor, bitterness, and Belgian spiciness. This beer does a nice job of balancing them, but highlighting the hops. I enjoyed the hop flavor and bitterness, even though it was a little bit sharp in the finish. Overall, this was one of the better Belgian IPAs I’ve had, and I’d recommend it, especially if you like citrusy, West-Coast style IPAs.

My Rating: