Liquid Love Monarch IPA 4Pk

Liquid Love Monarch IPA 4Pk is a West Coast-inspired India Pale Ale from Wheeling, Illinois, sold as a four-pack and clocking in at a robust 9.6% ABV. At nearly double-IPA strength, Monarch IPA distinguishes itself through a triple dry-hop combination of Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial hops and an intentional design as a complement to spice-forward cuisine.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.6%  |  Origin: Wheeling, Illinois, USA  |  Style: West Coast-Inspired IPA  |  Brewery: Liquid Love Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Liquid Love Brewing Co. is a Chicagoland brewing project based in Wheeling, Illinois, built around the ethos of making beer with heart. Monarch IPA draws from the West Coast IPA tradition — emphasizing hop bitterness, clarity, and a dry, clean finish rather than the haze and juiciness common in East Coast or New England styles. The dry-hopping regimen uses three classic American hop varieties: Amarillo for citrus and floral aromatics, Simcoe for piney resinous depth, and Centennial for balanced bittering. The result is a crisp, assertive IPA that hits well above its weight class at 9.6% ABV while maintaining drinkability.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Floral hop character leads, followed by ripe citrus peel and a resinous pine backbone. A subtle fruity sweetness from the Amarillo hops rounds out the nose without veering into tropical territory.

Taste: The entry is clean and malt-restrained, letting hop bitterness take center stage by mid-palate. Citrus and pine flavors dominate, with a firm but controlled bittering that stays true to West Coast form. The 9.6% ABV is well-integrated, contributing a slight warmth without obvious boozy sweetness.

Finish: Dry and lingering with resinous pine and a faint floral echo. The finish is notably clean for a beer at this ABV, which is central to its effectiveness alongside rich or spicy food.

How to Drink Monarch IPA

Monarch IPA is best served cold — around 45–50°F — in a tulip or standard pint glass that allows the hop aromatics to concentrate. Its dry finish and high bitterness were specifically designed to cut through rich, spicy dishes, making it a natural match for Indian curries. For a shandy-style serve, mix half Monarch IPA with lemonade to tame the ABV while keeping the citrus-pine hop character intact. It also works in a Hop Drop cocktail, pairing an ounce of gin with a top of Monarch IPA for a botanical-meets-hop combination. A Michelada riff — built with hot sauce, lime, and Monarch IPA — plays the beer's dry bitterness against chili heat for an intense savory serve.

Best For

• Pairing with Indian curries, Thai dishes, or any cuisine where you want hops to slice through lingering spice
• Sharing among hop-forward beer enthusiasts who appreciate classic American varieties at elevated strength
• Bringing to a backyard barbecue or cookout where bold-flavored grilled meats call for an equally bold beer
• Exploring the Chicagoland craft beer scene beyond the well-known downtown breweries

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Monarch IPA taste like? Monarch IPA delivers a crisp, hop-driven profile dominated by citrus peel, pine resin, and floral notes, with a dry, clean finish that belies its 9.6% ABV.

How does Monarch IPA compare to Stone IPA? Both are rooted in the West Coast IPA tradition with an emphasis on pine and citrus hops over haze and juice, but Monarch IPA runs significantly higher in ABV at 9.6% versus Stone IPA's 6.9%, placing it closer to double IPA territory in terms of strength and body.

Is Monarch IPA good for pairing with food? Monarch IPA was specifically designed to pair with Indian curries and other spice-forward dishes; its high bitterness and dry finish cut through lingering heat and richness in a way that lower-ABV IPAs often cannot.

Where is Monarch IPA made? Monarch IPA is brewed by Liquid Love Brewing Co. in Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago in the broader Chicagoland area.

What foods pair well with Monarch IPA? Indian curries such as tikka masala or vindaloo are the flagship pairing, as the brewery designed the beer for this purpose. Grilled lamb chops benefit from the hop bitterness cutting through fatty richness. Thai green curry gains balance from the beer's dry finish. Aged cheddar or pepper jack cheese amplifies the resinous hop notes. Spice-rubbed smoked brisket finds a natural counterpoint in the pine and citrus character.

What sizes does Monarch IPA come in? Monarch IPA is sold as a four-pack; individual can or bottle size has not been independently verified beyond the four-pack format.

Is Monarch IPA worth the price? Monarch IPA positions as a small-batch craft IPA from an independent Chicagoland brewery, and its 9.6% ABV delivers considerable strength per serving compared to standard-strength IPAs, placing it in the premium craft tier where quality ingredients and limited distribution justify the ask.

Why Monarch IPA?

What separates Monarch IPA from the crowded IPA field is its unapologetic commitment to the West Coast blueprint at an ABV that borders on imperial territory. The Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial hop trio is a proven combination that delivers citrus, pine, and floral complexity without chasing the haze trend. The beer's origin story — brewed specifically to stand up to the heat and complexity of Indian cuisine — gives it a purposeful identity that most IPAs lack. For drinkers who want a clean, bitter, hop-forward IPA with real strength behind it, Monarch earns its name as the flagship of Liquid Love Brewing Co.'s lineup.