Monkeynaut IPA - Straight To Ale

MasterSki

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to the d0b for the share. Served in a FoBAB taster pint.

A - A finger-plus of creamy foam slowly settles to a cap, leaving minimal lace - nice retention. Transparent amber body with tiny bubbles visible.

S - Fairly malt-forward, with sugary and crackery notes balanced by herbs and grapefruit rind. A hint of brown sugar flavor in there as well. Definitely an East Coast IPA.

T - Taste has quite a bit of lemony citrus, as well as mild pine and herbal notes. Some sugar cookie malts balance things out before giving way to fairly high bitterness in the finish. Again, quite East Coast in terms of balance and alpha acids.

M - Smooth, creamy, medium body, with some resinous residual hop oils, and a dry, toasty finish. Pleasant moderate carbonation.

D - Solid IPA, and quite impressive for Alabama.

Serving type: can

05-25-2012 18:45:54 | More by MasterSki

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a really clear orange/amber, a bit of a head but not a huge one, nothing too exciting.

Smells of orange, citrus zest, maybe some lime. Moderate sweetness on the nose and pretty hoppy, smells like a really good IPA

Taste is a bit different, orange and lime again but considerably stronger bitterness, hints of grapefruit.

Very solid IPA, I hope Straight to Ale starts to distribute cans/bottles to Knoxville.

7.5/10

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2013 00:41:27 | More by AlexFields

dizzyballer

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huntsville airport. The Grille at Four Points.

Four points for the beer too.

Great nose. Nice bitterness. Almost coppery. Well balanced.

Not much head, but I don't know who to blame for that. Served in a nice glass.

Not a tremendously handsome waitstaff. But friendly enough.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 21:13:33 | More by dizzyballer

NODAK

Tennessee

4.48/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The aroma initially seems quite citric, but there's certainly a good candied malt sweetness there as well. It's sort of a tug of war between the two.

Pours a nice red color in my tall glass, darker than most IPA's are usually expected to be. Head is pretty nice and fluffy, and lacing is ample.

Initially, the citric hops that were perceptible in the nose are present and lead the beer off....but then there's quite a sweet, candied fruit sweetness that takes over. I definitely don't associate this taste with caramel or toffee....it's definitely fruit and just sweet. It's different for an IPA and I do enjoy it for a change up. The finish has a bit of astringent, citrus peel bitterness that ends the beer and lingers a bit afterwards.

This was really easy going down and due to the qualities listed above, it seems a bit different than most IPAs, which is a style where beers sometimes really do seem alike. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: growler

08-05-2012 01:28:58 | More by NODAK

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a golden orange color with good carbonation leaving a nice white cap

S: Plenty of citrus and flowers with a big blend of bread and caramel.

T: Caramel malt and breadiness hosts citrus notes with a light pine needle, light booze and hop bite to remind you it is an IPA. The finish is moderatley bitter but sweet, sticky and syrupy like extract

M: Nice, balanced,a little to sweet, what seems to be faded hops, caramel and orange zest sit on the palate

O: Clean it up and balance it out a bit

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2012 12:22:06 | More by barleywinefiend

brentk56

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives with a modest head laying on top of the clear amber liquid; streaks of lace are left behind

Smell: Caramel and herbal, pney hops; a little spicy

Taste: The malt lays down a caramel backbone, with the resinous, piney hops building through mid-palate; nicely balanced into the finish with a leafy, spicy character

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A bit more like a hoppy amber than an IPA but still quite good

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 13:42:59 | More by brentk56

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber brew with foamy head. 4.0

Pine and resinous citrus. Toffee malts. Pretty dank. 4.0

Moderately bitter. Orange, pine, and grapefruit. Toffee malts make for great balance. 4.0

Smooth, yet brushy. Excellent feel. 4.5

Tasty sample I had from my buddy's growler. An oily hop wonder without all of the extra sweetness or bitterness.

Serving type: growler

06-14-2012 03:29:57 | More by thecheapies

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the J. Clyde. From notes. Reviewed 9 June 2011. Listed as 7.3%.

A: Clearish, orange, no head. Pretty.

S: Orange peel, citrus juice, resiny hops.

T: Really nice. Well-balanced. Fruity (lots of grapefruit) with perfectly balanced piney hops. The maintaste is sweetish (from both fruit and malt). The aftertaste is bitterly hoppy, but not dry.

M: Robust, lightly carbonated, and good -- there's nothing to criticize.

O: Good American IPA. Strong, drinkable, and pleasurable. Recommended. Would drink again.

EDIT 25 January 2013: Poured from a 12 ounce can into a tulip glass (thanks to xxcarpxx!). Might be a little old.

No real change, except that this iteration is less hoppy and more sweet. Creamy with fruit and a lightly bitter aftertaste. I still really like it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2011 15:11:45 | More by AgentMunky

bushwhacker

Alabama

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This enjoyable brew 'appeared' to me in the form of draught with a color of slightly orange-hued amber (slightly color blind). White foamy twoF head with good lacing. It had a delicious typical citrusy piney heavy hoppy smell that made my mouth water. I enjoyed the balanced ingredients of this brew with a very good mouthfeel and aftertaste. I liked this brew very much and would recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2011 00:03:08 | More by bushwhacker

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a ghetto growler purchased from Highland package Store in Birmingham. Pours a slightly hazy orange amber with a swirly head. Very nice citrusy aromas with some floral notes as well and some leafy hops near the end. A touch of pine rounds it out. The tangerine, orange, and lemon notes play nicely with the sweet malt here. Just lovely. Very smooth in the mouth with similar notes as found in the nose, but slightly more muted here. Still very nice citrus and a good leafy bitterness on the finish. Very smooth with a creamy note, and good clean, pure flavors. Another solid Alabama IPA- maybe this is a trend.

Serving type: growler

07-25-2011 00:14:59 | More by Georgiabeer

dnrobert24

Alabama

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the J Clyde, this was my first full pint of monkeynaut after sampling it at the Magic City Brewfest. All in all, thiis about the perfect ipa. Amber to orange and clear with a fluffy head, the aromas of this baby are five star. Orange, grapefruit, with a bouqet of flowers--there is a lot going on. Body and mouthfeel are spot on. I tasted no alcohol poking through, unlike a lot of ipa's I have had recently. The bitter is balanced by the sweet and it goes down so smooth. The malts seem there mostly there as a supporting cast to the real star: the hops. Definitely worth seeking out if you are a hophead.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2011 05:46:51 | More by dnrobert24

kaips1

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Growler into a pint glass, brought straight from Alabama. Thanks Walter

A-a nice rich amber, good head, some lacing that turned into a small bubble ring
S-a slight bready smell,some citrus(makes me think of citra hop)
Slight sweetness and then tart
T- close to the same as the smell, there is a slight tangyness in the middle of the drink, it's a good thing
M- it's moderately lively not as much bite and tingle I was expecting, a clean wet finish
O/d- overall I really like this, it's not the craziest ipa but it's more than just decent, drinkability, I can see myself finishing this growler, this is a tasty beer and one I really like

Serving type: growler

05-06-2011 02:59:29 | More by kaips1

Meerkey

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, shiny bronze. Lots of thick heads, trails of lacing.

S: Very tart- grapefruit and hops. Not much there but I like it -clean and pleasant.

T: Bready malts, hope and citrus.

M: Refreshing and lingers nicely.

D: Very tasty, I'd have another. Not as bitter and citrusy and I would have expected from the smell.

Serving type: growler

01-18-2011 21:49:25 | More by Meerkey

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the J. Clyde into a shaker pint.

A: Clear amber body, a shade darker than medium; practically no head, but the whisp of off-white bubbles sticks around throughout. Not a great pour, but not an ugly beer.

S: Pungent piney hops dominate, backed up by some toasty malt. Decent.

T: Pine and grapefruit hops lead things off, followed by some nicely understated caramel malt. Cleanly bitter finish, with a touch of chalky yeast. Enjoyable.

M: Smooth medium body with ample, fairly lively carbonation.

D: Fairly clean and balanced. Not quite juicy enough to make me thirsty for more, but definitely not a struggle to finish.

Notes: This one was recommended to me by the bartender after he informed me that the Good People Pale Ale had kicked. While I don't think that this beer was up to the same standard as the one I wanted, it was a tasty brew nonetheless. It's great to see more quality beers coming out of Alabama.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2011 19:51:53 | More by woosterbill

SteveLyman

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

To begin,

A small half inch silvery white head, with a decent lacing throughout. When looking at my glass,there is a golden orange sunset color.

The smell is of a typical American IPA, grapefruit and lemon citrus aroma. The kicker at the end is the strong pine notes.

The taste is much the same as the smell. Grapefruit taste at the very beginning, but ends in a fresh evergreen pine.

The is a great beer if you are looking for a refreshing taste on a Friday night.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2010 04:20:43 | More by SteveLyman

kkipple

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanx to Unclejedi for this one, drunk 8.21.2010 in Buford, GA at the Meat Meet.

A. Pours a reddish walnut, with a spotty, inconsistent head, speckles of lace. Still in the glass, but it *was* from a growler...

S. Fairly standard pale-ish ale, (Cascade, Centennial?) with some decent hop character, but not West Coast at all.. more reserved and leaves room for the sweet biscuity malt. More like an Imperial APA here, but not bad.

T. Big red malt character, lots of Cascade, bitters carry on from the start to finish, sort of "standard", short and clean finish, sweet in all the good places... does not take any chances, nor does it really stick around as interesting, but is quite solid and has no off flavors. A good start, to me, but this can be made better.

M / D. Fine carbonation, even via growler, mouthfeel is medium-ish, feels bigger than it actually is... still, not hard to put back.

Monkeynaut is a fine beer, but as a flagship sort of thing, really needs to (imo) find its own character and stake a claim. It's rather pedestrian, and while there are no real flaws, it doesn't stick in your head and make you think "This is Alabama beer." Given that this is a less than year old outfit, these issues could be easily addressed. I look forward to seeing what Straight to Ale does in the future!

Serving type: growler

08-22-2010 04:18:15 | More by kkipple

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Growler obtained from unclejedi out of the blue. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" beige head over the clear coppery amber brew. Head recedes at an average pace, with lots of sticky lacing. Aroma is fruity pine.

Taste is sweet upfront, start to see the pine from very early, which carries through to the close, with some fruitiness apparent in the middle and ramping down towards the close. Mouthfeel is quite smooth, and drinkability is very nice as well. An all-around good brew, glad o have the pleasure to visit this part of Alabama.

Serving type: growler

08-15-2010 00:29:00 | More by ppoitras

ncfranklin

Alabama

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Nook in Huntsville, Al

A : A murky brown/hint of red with a solid finger cream head. Reasonable amount of lacing.

S : Piney & cirtrusy hop notes, small level of caramel maltiness underneath.

T : Upfront with the piney hops hitting hard, but quickly balanced by a smooth level of malt. None of the light citrus note from the smell, but not lacking in a robust flavor. A smooth finish with a long hop aftertaste.

M : A nice medium-body with a creamy feel. Leaves a very nice cleanness to the mouth afterward, with a small tingly touch. Not hugely carbonated, just enough to give texture.

D : Very well balanced makes it extremely drinkable. This is a standout IPA from a new brewery. Coming back from a west coast IPA binge to find this reputable brew is a real treat.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2010 20:35:16 | More by ncfranklin

BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The last of my three 'bama beers from my friend's vacation. Thanks again Jen!

A. Pours a thick copper with a very small head that leaves small flecks of residual lacing.

S. I didn't detect a whole lot in the nose. Some floral hop character as well as caramel malt as it warms.

T. Raw hop bitterness upfront - tastes like a slightly subdued version of very fresh hop buds. There is a slight sweetness that mellows out the bitterness. As it warms, the sweetness shines through more. A bit of burnt orange peel as well.

M. Thick and creamy with a medium level of carbonation.

D. An IPA that isn't over the top and develops as it warms. While I wouldn't drink most IPAs all night, I could put a couple of these back happily.

Serving type: growler

07-09-2010 03:28:20 | More by BeerAndBourbon

Freethyhops

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

from notes at The Nook's sneak preview.

a- dark amber, barleywine like color with a beige head. fairly heavy lacing.

s- piney resinous hops. apparent caramel, a little breadiness. a hint of grapefruit is about all I get from the citrus spectrum.

t- like the nose, the caramel malts are plentiful and add a substantial malt backbone to a heavy dose of hoppiness. it's mostly piney with a little grapefruit/citrus. the bitterness is fairly heavy but not overdone. the finish is bready and bitter. reminds me of a Maharaja, Hopsecutioner like profile. good company IMO.

m- full bodied for an IPA, sticky and well carbonated.

d- goes down easy with no "extreme" flavors to slow you down. it feels a little on the heavier side for an IPA which might hinder your drinking rate after a couple of these.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2010 22:45:23 | More by Freethyhops

abar22

Alabama

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer release event notes...

Dark and cloudy with a solid creamy white head.

Hoppy nose. Grapefruit, orange peel, and pine.

Taste mirrors nose. Grapefruit, orange peel with a splash of lemon and a piney bitter finish. Great beer for a first run.

Solid body and carbonation.

Better than most IPAs and this was its maiden voyage.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2010 19:14:55 | More by abar22