Flexing their creative muscles, Cheeky Monkey have dropped a trio of beers that range from the tried and tested to the downright outrageous.
The tried and tested comes in the return of the South West stalwarts' famed Imperial Monk American red IPA, landing at a sizeable 7 percent ABV and boasting an equally large helping of specialty malts that yield robust notes of toffee and well-toasted bread. Hop additions are well-equipped to counter said rich sweetness: sticky pine, grassiness and citrus all show up and add further complexity as well as a dominant, astringent and lasting bitterness.
Simmering things is Huzza Wouie, the latest in their popular Surf Break series and named after the equally popular Gracetown surf spot. It might only weigh in at 3.3 percent ABV but boasts a flavour profile abundant in fresh cut grass, light citrus and grape skin, paired well with a gentle bitterness. Finishing light and clean, Huzza Wouie makes for an entirely quaffable offering.
Which brings us to the ridiculous: a strawberry and raspberry cupcake beer that comes across as both sweet and sour and which, as the name suggests, features the addition of cupcakes. Added in the boil, any cupcake like character is mostly void – instead a rich and thick strawberry purée profile, reminiscent of strawberry gelato or "frogurt", is prominent with a touch of vanilla and biscuit perhaps present behind the fruit. The dense, murky guava pour is striking, while the lasting residual sweetness of what they reckon is "by far our dumbest beer yet" aims to tempt you back with each sip.
Jono Outred
Published April 11, 2022 2022-04-11 00:00:00
