Monkish Sticker Shock
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Tasting Notes
Sticker Shock pours from a brewery known for dialing in hazy, West Coast-leaning double IPAs with a lot of attention to hop character. Expect a dense tropical and citrus aroma — think mango, tangerine, and a thread of dank pine underneath. The body is full but not syrupy, with bitterness that's present but kept in check by the fruit-forward malt base. The finish is dry enough to invite another sip without lingering heat, which is notable for the ABV.
About the Brewery
Monkish is based in Torrance, California, and has built a devoted following in the Southern California beer scene over the past decade-plus. They're particularly known for their heavily hopped IPAs and double IPAs, often released in small batches that generate significant demand. Their can releases routinely draw long lines, and they've earned a reputation for consistency and hop-forward creativity within the Los Angeles area craft scene.
Food Pairings
The bold tropical hop character here holds up well against spicy Thai curry, where the fruit notes mirror the dish's aromatics and the bitterness cuts through the fat in coconut milk. Grilled pineapple pork skewers work in a similar direction, letting the hop fruitiness echo the char and sweetness. A sharp aged cheddar provides enough salt and funk to push back against the bitterness without being overwhelmed. Carnitas tacos with fresh salsa verde bridge the beer's citrus notes with tomatillo and lime.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial IPA is essentially a bigger, more aggressive version of the standard American IPA — more hops, more malt to balance them, and an ABV typically ranging from 7.5% to 10% or higher. The style originated in the U.S. craft brewing scene in the 1990s and early 2000s as brewers pushed hop intensity further. Unlike its English counterpart, the American version prioritizes citrus, tropical, and resinous hop aromas over malt complexity, and modern examples often lean toward haze and softness rather than the sharp bitterness that defined earlier iterations.