Hop Butcher Timber Chop 4Pk

Hop Butcher Timber Chop 4Pk is a hazy Double IPA brewed at 7.5% ABV, sold as a 4-pack of cans from Chicago's Hop Butcher For The World. This three-way collaboration between Hop Butcher, Great Notion Brewery, and Yakima Chief Hops features two experimental hop varieties alongside Oregon-grown Citra, earning a 4.2 out of 5 on Untappd from over 2,300 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Chicago's North Center neighborhood at 4257 N. Lincoln Avenue, where the brewery has built a devoted following for its rotating lineup of hop-forward releases. Timber Chop emerged from a collaboration with Portland-based Great Notion Brewery and Yakima Chief Hops, the Pacific Northwest hop supplier. The recipe layers two experimental varieties — HBC-630 and YCH 301 — over a base of Oregon-grown Citra hops on a hazy Double IPA platform, making it a showcase for cutting-edge hop development as much as a standalone beer.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with pronounced tropical fruit — mango and ripe citrus dominate — followed by a softer, juice-like sweetness. Despite its 7.5% ABV, reviewers consistently note very little alcohol presence on the nose, making the aroma remarkably inviting.

Taste: The palate entry is juicy and citrus-driven, with orange and mango hop character arriving immediately. Mid-palate, additional tropical notes emerge alongside the experimental hop varieties, adding complexity beyond the Citra backbone. The body is lighter than many Double IPAs at this strength, contributing to a smooth, drinkable texture that masks the alcohol content.

Finish: A measured bitterness rises on the back end, keeping the beer from veering into pure juice territory. A slight boozy warmth lingers alongside citrus pith, providing a clean but present close.

How to Drink Timber Chop

Pour Timber Chop into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass at around 40–45°F to let the experimental hop aromatics fully express themselves. This beer is built to drink fresh and unadorned — it rewards straightforward consumption rather than mixing. If you enjoy beer cocktails, try a Hop Shandy by combining it with fresh lemonade for a bright, citrus-amplified summer drink. A Michelada riff using Timber Chop, lime juice, and a light chili salt rim plays well against its tropical character. A simple Beermosa pairing it with fresh-squeezed orange juice echoes the beer's natural citrus profile.

Best For

• Sharing with friends who follow experimental hop releases and want to try HBC-630 and YCH 301
• IPA enthusiasts looking to explore a notable Chicago-Portland brewery collaboration
• Casual weekend sessions where a smooth, lower-body Double IPA suits warm-weather drinking
• Gifting to craft beer collectors who value limited collaboration releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Timber Chop taste like? Timber Chop delivers a juicy, fruit-forward profile led by orange citrus and mango hop flavors with additional tropical notes on the mid-palate. The body is smooth and lighter than many Double IPAs, with moderate bitterness and a touch of warmth on the finish.

How does Timber Chop compare to standard Hop Butcher releases? While Hop Butcher's solo releases typically spotlight well-known commercial hop varieties, Timber Chop distinguishes itself by featuring two experimental hops (HBC-630 and YCH 301) developed by Yakima Chief Hops. The collaboration with Great Notion Brewery also brings a Pacific Northwest influence to a Chicago-brewed beer, resulting in a slightly different flavor perspective than Hop Butcher's typical lineup.

Is Timber Chop good for sipping on its own? Timber Chop is best enjoyed fresh and on its own, poured into a proper glass to appreciate the experimental hop aromatics. Its smooth mouthfeel and restrained booziness make it approachable despite its Double IPA classification.

Where is Timber Chop made? Timber Chop is brewed at Hop Butcher For The World's facility at 4257 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It is a collaboration with Great Notion Brewery of Portland, Oregon, and Yakima Chief Hops, a major hop supplier based in Washington's Yakima Valley.

What foods pair well with Timber Chop? Spicy tacos al pastor complement the beer's tropical fruit character and let the citrus hops cut through richness. Grilled shrimp with mango salsa mirrors the mango notes in the hop profile. A sharp white cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the juicy sweetness. Thai green curry matches the beer's tropical aromatics while its carbonation cleanses the palate between bites. Fish and chips benefit from the hop bitterness balancing fried batter.

What sizes does Timber Chop come in? Timber Chop is available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating release schedule.

Is Timber Chop worth the price? Timber Chop positions as a premium craft Double IPA, with the three-way collaboration and experimental hop varieties adding genuine production value beyond a standard release. Its 4.2 Untappd rating from over 2,300 reviewers suggests strong consumer satisfaction within the hazy DIPA category.

Why Timber Chop?

The defining feature of Timber Chop is its access to experimental hop genetics that most breweries never touch — HBC-630 and YCH 301 are development-stage varieties from Yakima Chief Hops, and this collaboration provided a rare commercial platform for them. Pairing those experimental hops with proven Oregon-grown Citra creates a layered tropical and citrus profile grounded in a familiar hop backbone. The partnership between a Chicago haze specialist and a Portland brewery known for its own fruit-forward approach brings complementary expertise to a single can. For drinkers who track hop trends and collaboration releases, Timber Chop represents a snapshot of where American hop development is heading.