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Shackmeister

Brooklyn Brewery
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🌍 United States · Pale Ale · One of 191 Pale Ales in hopIQ

Shackmeister was first brewed in 2008 for a single burger stand in Madison Square Park, and the beer has since followed that restaurant around the world. The pale ale pours copper and is hopped with Jester, Perle and Sorachi Ace. A slightly sweet malt base with light caramel, bread crust and a nutty touch carries the body, while the hops add floral notes, orange peel and grapefruit. A crisp hop edge brightens the end and leaves a clean, dry finish.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all Pale Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
orange
floral
hoppy
Malt character
nutty
caramel
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Shackmeister

◎ Appearance

Shackmeister presents a copper hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms with modest density and displays stable lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, creating a lively but not aggressive bead.

copperclearstable lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with floral and citrus notes from the Jester, Perle and Sorachi Ace hops, with orange peel and grapefruit prominent. A soft malt base carries light caramel and bread crust undertones, supporting rather than dominating the aromatic profile. The overall impression is balanced and inviting, without harsh herbaceousness.

floralcitrus peelbread crustcaramel malt

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and slightly sweet, with the malt backbone revealing caramel, bread crust and a gentle nutty quality. Mid-palate remains smooth and medium-bodied, allowing the hop character to emerge gradually with orange and grapefruit flavours. Bitterness builds steadily toward the finish, crisp but not aggressive, balancing the malt's residual sweetness.

balancedbread and nutcitrus hopmoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and clean, with a lingering hop edge that brightens without astringency. Aftertaste fades evenly, leaving no harsh tannins or cloying sweetness.

drycrisp finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Shackmeister

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Shackmeister

About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, crisp, citrusy character as Shackmeister will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →