Cascade Hops – Craft Beer Explorer

San Tan Brewing Co. (Chandler, AZ)

It’s the Pope! It’s Mother Theresa’s Ghost! No, it’s Supermonk Belgian IPA!

This fall seasonal, making its debut this year from San Tan Brewing Company, pours a medium golden color with coppery hues with a head that is almost cloud-like in appearance, nearly angelic one might say. This IPA has a strong, piney aroma with slight citrus notes underneath. A solid bitterness is at the forefront yet not overpowering, leading to flavors of orange peel and lemon zest and finishes with a peppery tingle on the tongue.

The base of German malt breadiness definitely sits on the sideline, as the hop presence is at the forefront of this IPA. For a Belgian IPA, I was expecting a little more yeast esters and the visuals of the pint to be a tad more hazy, as the package had suggested. Despite that, this brew is definitely enjoyable, leaving a lingering bitterness and oiliness on the tongue. Coming in at a stable 6.5% ABV. this is substantial enough to cause you to partake in monastic chanting, if over-indulgence were to take place.

San Tan Brewing Co. has been making great quality, craft beers since 2007 in the heart of the historic downtown district in Chandler, Arizona. I have tried almost every beer San Tan Brewing has to offer, and I definitely would suggest Supermonk IPA to any discerning hop-head. It meets all the requirements for a quality IPA, but is smooth enough for craft beer newcomers as well. I would gladly pick this up again as it was easy drinking, yet complex and anything but boring. Cheers!