Monkish Smashed Patterns
No ratings yet — be the first to log it.
Tasting Notes
Smashed Patterns pours with the hazy, pillowy character typical of the house, and the aroma leans into ripe tropical fruit — mango, passionfruit, and a softer citrus note underneath. On the palate, the hop bitterness is deliberately low, letting juicy stone fruit and a faint coconut quality carry the mid-palate. The body is full and almost creamy from heavy dry-hopping and oat additions, a hallmark of Monkish's approach. The finish is soft and relatively brief, without the lingering resin you'd expect from a West Coast IPA.
About the Brewery
Monkish is based in Torrance, California and has built one of the most devoted followings in the Southern California hazy IPA scene since opening in 2012. They release small-batch NEIPAs with heavy frequency, often in 16oz can four-packs that sell out quickly through their taproom and occasional distro. Their lineup leans almost entirely into the hazy and juicy side of modern IPA, and they're widely regarded as one of the benchmark producers of the style on the West Coast.
Food Pairings
The soft bitterness and tropical fruit character here work well with spicy Thai curry, where the juicy hop profile counters the heat without fighting the aromatics. A Vietnamese banh mi pairs naturally because the pickled vegetables and fresh herbs echo the beer's bright, fruit-forward qualities. Mild, creamy cheeses like burrata let the hop oils shine without competition. Fish tacos with mango salsa amplify the tropical notes already present in the glass. Lightly spiced grilled shrimp rounds things out, keeping the protein lean so the beer stays in the foreground.
Style Guide
New England IPA — sometimes called hazy IPA — is defined by its intentionally cloudy appearance, low perceived bitterness, and pronounced juicy or tropical hop character, typically achieved through heavy dry-hopping and the use of adjuncts like oats or wheat in the grain bill. The style emerged from Vermont breweries in the early 2010s, most notably The Alchemist, before spreading nationally. What separates it from West Coast IPA is the near-absence of resinous or piney bitterness and the full, pillowy mouthfeel; where a West Coast IPA finishes dry and sharp, a NEIPA finishes soft and round.