Maplewood Son of Shakey 4Pk

Maplewood Son of Shakey 4Pk is a 6.5% ABV vanilla-forward Milkshake IPA from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, sold in a four-pack of cans. Scoring a 91 on BeerAdvocate and carrying a 4.03 on Untappd across more than 9,100 ratings, Son of Shakey has established itself as one of the more reliable entries in the increasingly crowded milkshake IPA category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Milkshake IPA  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates out of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, running both brewing and distilling operations under one roof. Son of Shakey is built on a grain bill of wheat and oats with a generous addition of lactose, creating the thick, creamy body that defines the milkshake IPA style. The hop profile centers on Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo, and Citra — chosen for their tropical and citrus character — while a heavy dose of vanilla is added post-fermentation. Positioned as the streamlined expression within Maplewood's broader Mr. Shakey line, Son of Shakey strips away the rotating fruit additions of its siblings and leans entirely on vanilla and hop interplay for its identity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla cream and marshmallow lead immediately, followed by ripe tropical fruit — mango and pineapple — from the Mosaic and Citra hops. A soft lactose sweetness sits underneath without becoming cloying.

Taste: The entry is rich and pillowy, with vanilla and lactose coating the palate right away. Mid-palate brings pineapple-orange juice character and a candy-like mango sweetness. An underlying hop bitterness emerges to balance the sweetness, keeping the beer from tipping into dessert territory.

Finish: Smooth and medium in length, with vanilla lingering cleanly alongside a faint creamsicle quality. The bitterness recedes quickly, leaving a soft, drinkable impression that invites another sip.

How to Drink Son of Shakey

Son of Shakey drinks best cold — around 38–42°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the vanilla and tropical aromatics. Its thick body and sweetness also make it unexpectedly versatile in beer cocktails. A Beermosa works well here, where the vanilla and citrus hop character blends naturally with fresh orange juice. A Beer Float built with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream amplifies the milkshake quality to literal effect. For something more adventurous, a Michelada riff with mango hot sauce and lime plays off the tropical hop profile while the lactose body tempers the heat.

Best For

• Introducing hop-averse friends to craft IPA through a soft, dessert-like gateway
• Summer cookouts and backyard sessions where a creamy, easy-drinking beer stands out
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast exploring the milkshake IPA style
• Pairing with brunch — the vanilla and tropical notes complement morning and midday menus

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Son of Shakey taste like? Son of Shakey delivers a creamy, vanilla-dominant flavor profile with tropical fruit notes of pineapple and mango, balanced by moderate hop bitterness from Mosaic and Citra hops. The lactose and oat base gives it a thick, milkshake-like mouthfeel that finishes smooth and sweet.

How does Son of Shakey compare to other Mr. Shakey variants? Son of Shakey is the simplified, vanilla-only expression within Maplewood's Mr. Shakey line, which otherwise features rotating fruit additions like guava or pineapple in its other releases. This makes Son of Shakey a more consistent, year-round option that highlights the vanilla and hop character without competing fruit flavors.

Is Son of Shakey good for people new to IPAs? Yes — the heavy vanilla, lactose sweetness, and restrained bitterness make Son of Shakey one of the more approachable IPAs available, landing closer to a dessert beer than a traditional hop-bitter India Pale Ale.

Where is Son of Shakey made? Son of Shakey is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Maplewood operates as a combined brewery and distillery, producing both beer and spirits on-site.

What foods pair well with Son of Shakey? The creamy vanilla body pairs naturally with spicy Thai curry, where the lactose sweetness tempers heat. Grilled pineapple or fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop notes. Vanilla-frosted doughnuts or cheesecake lean into the dessert character. A brunch plate of chicken and waffles bridges the sweet-savory divide.

What sizes does Son of Shakey come in? Son of Shakey is primarily available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format offered by Maplewood Brewery & Distillery for this release.

Is Son of Shakey worth the price? Son of Shakey positions in the mid-range craft IPA tier, typical of specialty milkshake IPAs from established regional breweries. Its BeerAdvocate score of 91 and strong Untappd consensus suggest solid value relative to other beers in the style.

Why Son of Shakey?

What separates Son of Shakey from the flood of milkshake IPAs on the market is its deliberate simplicity. Where many breweries pile on fruit purées and adjuncts, Maplewood strips the recipe back to vanilla and hops, letting the interplay between post-fermentation vanilla addition and Mosaic and Citra do the heavy lifting. A 91 from BeerAdvocate and more than 9,100 Untappd ratings confirm that the approach resonates beyond local Chicago hype. For drinkers who want the creamy, thick body of a milkshake IPA without a fruit smoothie in a can, Son of Shakey delivers a focused, repeatable experience.