{"title":"Metal Monkey Brewing","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"metal-monkey-bikini-bottom-4pk","title":"Metal Monkey Bikini Bottom 4Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMetal Monkey Bikini Bottom 4Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a pineapple gose-style beer sold in a four-pack at approximately 4.4% ABV from Romeoville, Illinois. Brewed with over 175 pounds of pineapple juice, Himalayan salt, and coriander, this sessionable sour stands out for its bold tropical character rooted in the traditional German gose framework.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: ~4.4%  |  Origin: Romeoville, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Pineapple Gose  |  Brewery: Metal Monkey Brewing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMetal Monkey Brewing operated out of 515 Anderson Drive in Romeoville, Illinois, producing small-batch craft beers with a focus on creativity and bold flavor profiles. Note that the brewery has since closed its doors. Bikini Bottom followed the classic gose blueprint — a German-style wheat beer fermented with coriander and salt — then pushed it into tropical territory by adding over 175 pounds of pineapple juice to the batch. The use of Himalayan pink salt rather than standard sea salt gave the brew a subtler mineral salinity, allowing the pineapple to remain the dominant voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zesty citrus leads the nose, followed by ripe pineapple and a faint floral quality. A whisper of wheat rounds out the aromatics, keeping things approachable rather than aggressively sour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is tangy and tart, immediately registering bright pineapple and grapefruit. Mid-palate, a mild salinity emerges alongside subtle wheat and coriander spice. The sourness stays restrained — more refreshing than puckering — with the pineapple juice lending a natural sweetness that balances the tart backbone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light and airy with lingering tartness and a dry, slightly mineral close. Carbonation is vigorous and effervescent, amplifying the crisp, clean exit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Bikini Bottom\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest served well-chilled, poured into a tulip glass or Willi Becher to concentrate the tropical aromatics. This gose is built for warm-weather drinking straight from the can as well. A \u003cstrong\u003eGose Shandy\u003c\/strong\u003e — mixing half Bikini Bottom with lemonade — amplifies the citrus and makes an easy poolside serve. A \u003cstrong\u003eSour Michelada\u003c\/strong\u003e works here because the existing salt and tartness align naturally with lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice. For a lighter riff, try a \u003cstrong\u003eTropical Radler\u003c\/strong\u003e, combining Bikini Bottom with mango or guava nectar to layer additional fruit depth against the gose's salt-sour base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackyard cookouts and summer gatherings where a low-ABV, high-flavor option is needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroducing sour-curious drinkers to the gose style without overwhelming tartness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing alongside spicy food where the salt and fruit cut through heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollecting limited remaining stock from a now-closed Illinois craft brewery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Bikini Bottom taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bikini Bottom is a tart, mildly salty wheat beer dominated by bright pineapple and grapefruit flavors with a crisp, effervescent finish. The sourness is restrained and balanced by natural fruit sweetness from the pineapple juice addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Bikini Bottom compare to 5ive Cities Bikini Bottom Pineapple Wheat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both share a pineapple-forward profile and the Bikini Bottom name, but Metal Monkey's version is a gose brewed with Himalayan salt and coriander, giving it a distinctly tart and saline character. The 5ive Cities expression is a pineapple wheat beer, which typically leans sweeter and lacks the sour-salt dimension of a gose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Bikini Bottom good for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its low ABV (approximately 4.4%) and approachable tartness make it an excellent gateway into sour beer styles without the intense acidity of lambics or Flanders reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Bikini Bottom made?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bikini Bottom was brewed by Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago. The brewery has since ceased operations, making remaining stock limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Bikini Bottom?\u003c\/strong\u003e Fish tacos work well, as the salt and citrus echo the beer's own profile. Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes benefit from the gose's cooling acidity. Fresh ceviche mirrors the bright, tart pineapple notes. Grilled shrimp with a citrus glaze complements the tropical fruit character. Light, tangy goat cheese balances the effervescence and salinity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Bikini Bottom come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bikini Bottom is available as a 4-pack of cans; no other verified packaging formats have been documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Bikini Bottom worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bikini Bottom positions in the standard craft beer tier, comparable to other single-brewery gose releases. Given that Metal Monkey Brewing is no longer in operation, any remaining inventory carries added scarcity value for collectors and fans of the brewery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Bikini Bottom?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat separated this gose from the crowded field of fruit-sour hybrids was the sheer volume of real pineapple juice in the recipe — over 175 pounds per batch — rather than relying on extracts or flavorings. That commitment to fruit-forward authenticity, paired with Himalayan salt and coriander, produced a beer that read as genuinely tropical rather than artificially flavored. With Metal Monkey Brewing now closed, Bikini Bottom also represents a piece of Illinois craft brewing history that cannot be replicated. For drinkers who value sessionable ABV, bright acidity, and real-ingredient brewing, this pineapple gose delivers on all counts.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Metal Monkey Brewing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838209192105,"sku":"28191","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"metal-monkey-furious-george-4pk","title":"Metal Monkey Furious George 4Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMetal Monkey Furious George 4Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a 5.6% ABV American Pale Ale brewed exclusively with Amarillo hops, sold in a four-pack format. Produced by Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville, Illinois, this single-hop pale ale earned an 83\/100 on BeerAdvocate and carries a 3.6 out of 5 rating across more than 2,100 reviews on Untappd — a solid showing for a small-batch Illinois craft beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 5.6%  |  IBU: 32  |  Origin: Romeoville, Illinois  |  Style: American Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Metal Monkey Brewing\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMetal Monkey Brewing operated out of Romeoville, a suburb southwest of Chicago in Will County, Illinois. Furious George was built around a single-hop concept: the entire hop bill relies on Amarillo, a variety prized for its intense grapefruit, orange, and stone fruit character. At 32 IBUs, the bitterness stays moderate, allowing the Amarillo aromatics and a supportive malt backbone to share the spotlight rather than pushing the beer into aggressive IPA territory. Note that the brewery closed its taproom in August 2023, making remaining inventory increasingly limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ripe grapefruit and orange peel lead, followed by subtle mango and earthy pine resin. A bready, caramelized grain sweetness sits beneath the hops, grounding the nose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is bright with citrus — grapefruit dominates, supported by orange and light stone fruit. Mid-palate, a caramel malt backbone and bread-crust sweetness balance the hop-forward character. Bitterness builds gently toward the finish without becoming harsh.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry and moderately bitter, with pithy grapefruit and earthy pine lingering. Medium body and moderate carbonation keep it clean and refreshing on the close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Furious George\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePour into a shaker pint or tulip glass at around 45°F to let the Amarillo aromatics open fully. Straight from the can works well for casual drinking, though glassware rewards the nose. \u003cstrong\u003eShandy twist:\u003c\/strong\u003e mix half-and-half with lemonade for a citrus-amplified summer refresher. \u003cstrong\u003eMichelada:\u003c\/strong\u003e the grapefruit character pairs naturally with lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice. \u003cstrong\u003ePale Ale Radler:\u003c\/strong\u003e blend with grapefruit soda to lean into the citrus profile for a low-ABV session drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackyard cookouts where a hop-forward but approachable beer fits the bill\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroducing craft beer drinkers to single-hop pale ales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollecting limited remaining stock from a closed Illinois microbrewery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing with grilled foods that benefit from citrus-forward bitterness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Furious George taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Furious George delivers bold grapefruit and orange citrus up front, backed by caramelized malt and bready sweetness, finishing dry with earthy pine bitterness. It drinks clean and moderately bitter at 32 IBUs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Furious George compare to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale?\u003c\/strong\u003e Sierra Nevada Pale Ale uses Cascade hops and finishes with a more floral, piney character, while Furious George relies exclusively on Amarillo for a more pronounced grapefruit and tropical fruit profile. Both sit at similar ABV ranges, but Furious George reads as slightly more citrus-forward and fruit-driven.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Furious George good for craft beer beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — at 5.6% ABV and a moderate 32 IBUs, it sits in an approachable range that showcases hop flavor without overwhelming bitterness, making it a solid gateway into single-hop pale ales.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Furious George made?\u003c\/strong\u003e Furious George was brewed by Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville, Illinois, a suburb in Will County about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The brewery closed its taproom in August 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Furious George?\u003c\/strong\u003e Grilled chicken or fish tacos benefit from the citrus hop character cutting through richness. Spicy Thai noodle dishes find balance against the malt sweetness. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese contrasts the grapefruit bitterness. Barbecue pork ribs with a tangy sauce mirror the beer's caramel backbone. A simple arugula salad with citrus vinaigrette echoes the orange and grapefruit notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Furious George come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Furious George is commonly sold in four-pack can format; individual can size is typically 16 oz, consistent with craft brewery packaging conventions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Furious George worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e Furious George positioned as a craft-priced American Pale Ale from a small independent brewery, placing it in the mid-range value tier for Illinois craft beer. With the brewery now closed, remaining stock carries added scarcity value for collectors and fans of the brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Furious George?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe single-hop Amarillo concept gives Furious George a focused, unmistakable citrus identity that many multi-hop pale ales lack. With an 83\/100 BeerAdvocate score and over 2,100 Untappd ratings, it earned consistent community approval during its production run. The closure of Metal Monkey Brewing's taproom in 2023 means this beer is no longer being produced, adding genuine scarcity to whatever inventory remains. For drinkers who value a clean, citrus-driven pale ale with a specific sense of place in the Chicago-area craft scene, Furious George stands as a distinctive example of what a small Illinois brewery could do with a single hop variety.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Metal Monkey Brewing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838209519785,"sku":"33563","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/metal-monkey-brewing.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}