Hop Butcher Tree Flat 4Pk

Hop Butcher Tree Flat 4Pk is a 6.75% ABV clear India Pale Ale from Chicago's Hop Butcher for the World, sold in a four-pack of 16oz cans. In a craft landscape saturated with hazy IPAs, Tree Flat takes a deliberate step in the opposite direction—delivering bold, expressive hop character through a brilliantly clear pour built on Simcoe, Amarillo, and Idaho 7 hops.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.75%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Clear IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher for the World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher for the World operates out of its brewery at 4257 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. The brewery built its reputation on intensely hopped, haze-forward IPAs that routinely sell out within hours of release. Tree Flat breaks from that mold by stripping away the haze entirely, allowing the trio of Simcoe, Amarillo, and Idaho 7 hops to express themselves against a clean, restrained malt backbone rather than through the protein-heavy suspension typical of the brewery's core lineup. The result is a clear IPA that foregrounds hop oils and aromatics without relying on turbidity for mouthfeel or perceived juiciness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Zesty grapefruit peel leads, followed by sticky pine resin and a softer layer of ripe mango. The aromatics are bright and immediate, signaling the hop-forward intent before the first sip.

Taste: The entry is crisp and clean, with citrus—primarily grapefruit and tangerine—arriving first on the palate. At mid-palate, resinous pine from the Simcoe asserts itself alongside a subtle tropical sweetness contributed by the Idaho 7. The malt stays lean and supportive throughout, never competing with the hops for attention.

Finish: Dry, snappy, and decisively bitter without harshness. A lingering echo of pine and grapefruit zest keeps the palate engaged, while the clean fermentation profile ensures each sip resets cleanly.

How to Drink Tree Flat

Pour into a clean pint glass or Willi Becher at around 40–45°F to let the hop aromatics open fully while preserving the beer's characteristic crispness. Tree Flat is built for drinking straight, but it also holds its own in beer-forward mixed drinks. A Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade plays off Tree Flat's grapefruit character nicely. A Michelada benefits from the dry, bitter backbone cutting through the tomato and lime. A Beermosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice leans into the tropical and citrus notes already present in the hop bill.

Best For

• IPA drinkers who want bold hop flavor without the haze
• Backyard cookouts where a crisp, sessionable-strength beer shines
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who already knows Hop Butcher's hazy releases
• Exploring the clear IPA style alongside a flight of hazy and West Coast IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tree Flat taste like? Tree Flat delivers forward citrus and pine hop flavors over a lean, clean malt base, finishing dry and bitter with lingering grapefruit zest. It reads as bright and resinous rather than juicy or sweet.

How does Tree Flat compare to Bell's Two Hearted Ale? Both are clear, American-hopped IPAs, but Tree Flat uses a three-hop blend (Simcoe, Amarillo, Idaho 7) for a more layered tropical-citrus-pine profile, while Two Hearted is built entirely around Centennial hops with a more singular floral-citrus character. Tree Flat also finishes drier, whereas Two Hearted carries slightly more residual malt sweetness.

Is Tree Flat good for someone who prefers clear IPAs over hazy ones? Tree Flat is specifically brewed as a clear IPA, making it an ideal pick for drinkers who appreciate hop intensity but prefer a transparent pour with a drier, crisper mouthfeel than haze-heavy styles provide.

Where is Tree Flat made? Tree Flat is brewed by Hop Butcher for the World at their brewery on North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Distribution is primarily regional, concentrated in the greater Chicago area and parts of the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Tree Flat? Grilled chicken or fish tacos with citrus slaw mirror the beer's grapefruit notes. Spicy Thai green curry benefits from the dry, bitter finish cutting through richness. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the hop bitterness with savory depth. Pepperoni pizza works well, as the carbonation and bitterness cleanse the palate between bites of fatty, salty toppings.

What sizes does Tree Flat come in? Tree Flat is available as a four-pack of 16oz cans, which is the standard packaging format for Hop Butcher for the World's rotating IPA releases.

Is Tree Flat worth the price? Tree Flat positions in the premium craft IPA tier, consistent with Hop Butcher's rotating single-batch releases that typically command a modest premium over widely distributed IPAs. The limited-availability model and distinctive clear IPA approach provide solid value for hop-focused drinkers seeking something outside the hazy mainstream.

Why Tree Flat?

Hop Butcher for the World earned its following by pushing the boundaries of hazy, juice-bomb IPAs—so when the brewery deliberately releases a crystal-clear IPA, it signals intention rather than accident. Tree Flat demonstrates that the same meticulous hop sourcing and blending the brewery applies to its hazy releases translates just as effectively without the haze. The Simcoe, Amarillo, and Idaho 7 combination produces a hop profile that is complex without being chaotic, and the dry finish at 6.75% ABV keeps the beer in a range that rewards repeated pours. For drinkers ready to move past the assumption that all great modern IPAs must be opaque, Tree Flat makes a compelling argument for clarity.