The Legend of Ken Allen: The Hairy Houdini

At Cheeky Monkey, we love a good story behind a beer. And this one might be one of the greatest escape stories ever told, starring an orangutan named Ken Allen, also known as The Hairy Houdini.

Back in the 1980s at the San Diego Zoo, Ken Allen became an unlikely celebrity. Not because he was loud or aggressive, quite the opposite. Ken was known for being calm, clever, and incredibly cheeky. But what really made him famous was his remarkable ability to escape his enclosure… again and again.

Despite the zoo’s best efforts to keep him contained, Ken kept finding ways out. He’d quietly climb out of his habitat and wander the zoo grounds like a relaxed tourist, sometimes even checking out the other animals along the way. Visitors would occasionally spot him strolling about, completely unbothered, while zoo staff scrambled to figure out how he did it.

Ken’s adventures weren’t always entirely diplomatic either. Sometimes he’d wander over to visit another orangutan named Clyde… just to throw rocks at him. So yeah, he probably wasn’t living by the whole “apes together strong” motto. But we don’t judge, and we’re sure Ken had his reasons.

The zoo tried everything to keep him in: redesigning enclosures, adding barriers, and even consulting engineers. But Ken’s curiosity and problem-solving skills kept him one step ahead. Eventually, the zoo had to make major changes to finally outsmart their most determined escape artist.

Ken Allen became a cult hero. T-shirts were printed. Fans showed up just to see the legendary orangutan who refused to stay put. In a way, he represented something we can all relate to, a bit of curiosity, a bit of cheekyness, and the irresistible urge to explore beyond the fence.

So when we decided to brew a beer in honour of Ken Allen, it only made sense to celebrate that same spirit.

This brew is our tribute to curiosity, cleverness, and a little bit of rule-breaking. Because sometimes the best stories (and the best beers) come from thinking outside the enclosure.

Here’s to Ken Allen, the Hairy Houdini.
May your cheeky spirit always find a way out.

Cheers!