Beer Review: Trillium/Monkish/Side Project/SARA Shello West Coast IPA
This is the heavy-hitter collaboration beer geeks dream about. Shello! is a 7% West Coast IPA that unites four titans of the industry: Trillium (MA), Monkish (CA), Side Project (MO), and Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (SARA, CA).
While most of these breweries are famous for haze or wild ales, this collaboration leans into the “Modern West Coast” resurgence, prioritizing clarity and snap over juice and thickness.
Tasting Notes
The Pour
Shello! pours a luminous golden-amber with a stark white, frothy head. Unlike the turbid “hop soup” often associated with Trillium or Monkish, this shows the crystalline clarity expected of the style.
Aroma
The nose is an immediate collision of two distinct hop worlds. You get the classic Simcoe pine and dank earthiness, immediately brightened by the “white wine” and tropical punch of Nelson Sauvin. It smells like a damp Pacific Northwest forest layered with crushed gooseberries and passionfruit.
Palate
The palate follows the nose, adding a layer of sophisticated bitterness that distinguishes it from a standard IPA.
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- Primary Flavors: Bright grapefruit zest and white grape skin lead the way. There is a specific “diesel” dankness from the Nelson hops that provides a savory counterpoint to the fruit.
- The Mid-Palate: You’ll find notes of starfruit, under-ripe mango, and a hint of floral honey.
Finish
The Finish: This is where the West Coast identity shines. It finishes bone-dry with a firm, resinous bitterness that cleanses the tongue. There is no lingering malt sweetness or “hop burn.”
Shello! manages to capture the best of all four contributors. It has the hop-forward intensity of Monkish, the clean execution of Trillium, the dry “rustic” drinkability of SARA, and the meticulous balance one expects from a Side Project endeavor.
Brewer’s Tip: Drink this as fresh as possible. Nelson Sauvin is a volatile hop variety, and those delicate tropical/vinous notes are the first to fade.
Available at SF Tequila Shop
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