Hop Butcher I Want the Beef 4Pk

Hop Butcher I Want the Beef 4Pk is a hazy Double India Pale Ale brewed in Chicago, Illinois, clocking in at 8.0% ABV and sold as a four-pack. This DIPA stands apart thanks to its four-hop blend of Citra, El Dorado, Belma, and Simcoe — a combination that delivers heavy tropical fruit character layered over a piney backbone, earning a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd from over 2,000 reviewers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher for the World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher for the World operates brewing facilities on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago and in Bedford Park, Illinois. The brewery has produced over 250 different beers, self-distributing them fresh — often just hours or days after canning — to preserve peak hop aroma and flavor. I Want the Beef reportedly originated as a mashup concept drawing from two existing Hop Butcher releases, combining their hop profiles into a single expression built around Citra, El Dorado, Belma, and Simcoe hops. The Lincoln Avenue location serves as a pilot brewery where smaller-batch recipes are tested before wider retail distribution, making limited releases like this one part of the brewery's rapid-fire creative pipeline.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Orange and mango dominate the initial nose, followed by waves of ripe pineapple. The hop combination creates a lush, tropical fruit basket impression without heavy resinous bite up front.

Taste: The entry is soft and juicy, leading with mango and tangerine that coat the palate. At mid-palate, guava and grapefruit emerge, adding citric acidity and depth. The Simcoe contribution becomes more apparent toward the back, introducing a grounding piney quality that balances the fruit-forward profile.

Finish: Medium-bodied with medium carbonation, I Want the Beef wraps up with a big, crisp finish that belies its soft mouthfeel. Lingering citrus and a trace of pine resin keep the palate engaged without veering into bitterness.

How to Drink I Want the Beef

Pour into a tulip glass or stemmed IPA glass at 40–45°F to open up the hop aromatics. This DIPA is built for drinking fresh and is best consumed straight from the can or glass without additional ingredients. If you enjoy beer cocktails, a Michelada variation works with the tropical citrus notes complementing lime and hot sauce; a Beer-mosa pairs the mango and orange character with fresh-squeezed juice for a brunch serve; and a Hop Shandy with lemonade tames the 8% ABV while amplifying the grapefruit tones.

Best For

• Sharing with friends during a weekend cookout or tailgate
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who follows limited Hop Butcher releases
• Pairing alongside spicy grilled foods where hop bitterness cuts through richness
• Exploring the hazy DIPA category from one of Chicago's most prolific breweries

Frequently Asked Questions

What does I Want the Beef taste like? I Want the Beef delivers bold tropical fruit flavors — mango, tangerine, guava, and grapefruit — balanced by a piney hop finish. The mouthfeel is soft and medium-bodied with a surprisingly crisp, clean ending for a Double IPA at 8% ABV.

How does I Want the Beef compare to Hop Butcher I Want to Believe? I Want to Believe shares Citra, El Dorado, and Belma hops with I Want the Beef but omits Simcoe and sits at a slightly lower 7.5% ABV. The addition of Simcoe in I Want the Beef introduces more pine resin character and a fuller body, making it the bolder of the two expressions.

Is I Want the Beef good for hop-forward beer fans? Absolutely — its four-hop combination and hazy Double IPA format deliver the intense tropical fruit and resinous character that hop enthusiasts seek. The 8% ABV adds weight without making the beer feel boozy or heavy.

Where is I Want the Beef made? I Want the Beef is brewed by Hop Butcher for the World in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery operates two facilities — one on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago and one in Bedford Park — and self-distributes its beers to ensure freshness.

What foods pair well with I Want the Beef? Spicy pulled pork tacos work well, as the citrus hops cut through the richness and heat. Grilled burgers complement the beer's bold, meaty name and its piney backbone. Thai green curry pairs naturally with the mango and tropical fruit notes. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese stands up to the hop intensity without being overwhelmed. Mango salsa with chips echoes the beer's dominant fruit character.

What sizes does I Want the Beef come in? I Want the Beef is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for Hop Butcher's Double IPA releases.

Is I Want the Beef worth the price? I Want the Beef positions as a premium craft Double IPA from a highly regarded Chicago brewery known for freshness and limited-run variety. Its strong Untappd rating of 4.1 from over 2,000 reviewers and its four-hop blend place it competitively within the hazy DIPA category.

Why I Want the Beef?

What separates this release from the crowded hazy DIPA field is the specific interplay of Citra, El Dorado, Belma, and Simcoe — a four-hop combination that bridges tropical juice-bomb character with enough pine and resin to keep things grounded. Hop Butcher's commitment to self-distribution means this beer hits shelves remarkably fresh, a critical factor for hop-driven styles where aromatics deteriorate rapidly. With over 250 different beers produced, the brewery's willingness to experiment is well established, and I Want the Beef represents one of its more successful mashup concepts. For drinkers who value freshness, bold hop flavor, and the creative restlessness that defines Chicago's craft scene, this DIPA earns its place in the rotation.