Maplewood Mr. Shakey 4Pk

Maplewood Mr. Shakey 4Pk is a 7.5% ABV Milkshake IPA from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, sold as a four-pack of cans. Craft Beer & Brewing awarded it a 96 overall score, praising its fruit ripeness balanced by vanilla and lactose — a standout endorsement in a crowded milkshake IPA field.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Milkshake IPA  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates out of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood at 2717 N Maplewood Ave. Mr. Shakey is built on a base of lactose and oats, giving the beer its trademark thick, full body. Hundreds of pounds of fruit puree and whole vanilla beans go into each batch, and a heavy dry-hop charge of tropical-forward hop varieties layers additional aromatics on top of the fruit. The result lands closer to a drinkable smoothie than a conventional IPA.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe strawberry dominates immediately, followed by a wave of sweet vanilla reminiscent of an actual strawberry milkshake. Underneath, a faint earthy hop note adds just enough complexity to remind you this is still a beer.

Taste: The entry is moderately sweet with bright, rich strawberry fruit at the forefront. Mid-palate, vanilla and lactose sweetness fill out the body, while a subtle hop bitterness arrives to prevent the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. The overall impression is lush, sugary, and fruit-forward, with enough balance to stay drinkable through the glass.

Finish: Surprisingly dry for a beer this rich, letting the fruit fade gracefully rather than cloying. Creamy residual texture lingers alongside a whisper of vanilla.

How to Drink Mr. Shakey

Pour cold into a wide-mouthed glass — a tulip or stemless wine glass works well — to let the fruit aromatics bloom. This beer drinks best fresh and on its own, without additional dilution. For a Beer Float, add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to amplify the milkshake character. It also works blended into a Beer Smoothie with frozen strawberries and a splash of cream for a dessert-style serve. For a Shandy riff, mix half-and-half with fresh lemonade to cut the sweetness with citrus acidity.

Best For

• Converting hop-averse friends to craft beer through approachable fruit sweetness
• Summer cookouts and backyard sessions where refreshment matters
• Dessert course substitution at a casual dinner gathering
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who collects limited milkshake IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mr. Shakey taste like? Mr. Shakey tastes like a drinkable strawberry milkshake — sweet, creamy, and loaded with ripe fruit flavor balanced by vanilla and just enough hop bitterness to keep it grounded as a beer.

How does Mr. Shakey compare to Tired Hands Milkshake IPA? Tired Hands is widely credited as one of the original innovators of the milkshake IPA style, and its strawberry version is considered a world-class benchmark. Mr. Shakey holds its own with a 96-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing and leans into an even thicker, smoothie-like body thanks to its massive fruit puree additions and oat bill.

Is Mr. Shakey good for beginners? Yes — its pronounced fruit sweetness and low perceived bitterness make it one of the most approachable IPAs available, landing closer to a fruit smoothie than a traditional hop-bitter ale.

Where is Mr. Shakey made? Mr. Shakey is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, at 2717 N Maplewood Ave.

What foods pair well with Mr. Shakey? Strawberry shortcake mirrors the beer's fruit and vanilla profile. Tangy goat cheese provides a sharp counterpoint to the lactose sweetness. Grilled pork with a fruit glaze bridges the savory-sweet divide. Lemon bars add citrus acidity that cuts through the creamy body. Coconut-based desserts like haupia complement the tropical hop undertones.

What sizes does Mr. Shakey come in? Mr. Shakey is commonly available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Mr. Shakey worth the price? Mr. Shakey positions as a premium craft offering within the milkshake IPA category, justified by its heavy fruit puree and vanilla bean additions, its 96-point Craft Beer & Brewing rating, and Maplewood's reputation in the Chicago craft scene.

Why Mr. Shakey?

A 96-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing places Mr. Shakey among the top-rated milkshake IPAs currently available. What separates it from the pack is sheer ingredient volume — hundreds of pounds of fruit puree and whole vanilla beans per batch create a density and fruit intensity that most competitors in the style simply don't match. Maplewood's decision to finish with a heavy tropical dry-hop charge adds aromatic dimension without letting hop bitterness overtake the fruit. For anyone serious about the milkshake IPA category, this is a Chicago-brewed benchmark that delivers on the style's promise of a dessert-like, full-bodied, fruit-saturated beer experience.