Maplewood Super Son of Juice 4Pk

Maplewood Super Son of Juice 4Pk is a 10% ABV imperial New England-style hazy IPA from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, sold in a 4-pack of cans. This amped-up sibling of the beloved Son of Juice earned a 93/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing, and it hides its considerable strength behind a wall of tropical fruit.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial / Double Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates out of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, running both brewing and distilling operations under one roof. Super Son of Juice was born from a straightforward concept: take the original Son of Juice recipe and scale nearly everything up. The grain bill features Pilsner malt, malted oats, white wheat, and golden naked oats, while the hop bill layers Mosaic, Simcoe, and Nugget hops — all roughly doubled from the 6.3% ABV original to push this version to a full 10% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe mango and pineapple dominate the nose immediately, followed by waves of apricot, orange zest, and a subtle hint of mint. The tropical intensity is striking even before the first sip.

Taste: The entry is pure juice — tangerine, pineapple, and mango arrive with a soft, pillowy sweetness characteristic of the New England IPA style. At mid-palate, toasted malt emerges to provide structure, while bright hop resin keeps the sweetness from tipping into cloying territory. A gentle, woody bitterness rounds out the back end, and the 10% ABV stays remarkably well-concealed behind the fruit-forward character.

Finish: Medium-long with a slightly sticky, syrupy texture that clings to the palate. Lingering notes of stone fruit and soft pine fade gradually, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Super Son of Juice

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint glass at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics open fully; drinking straight from the can will muffle the expressive tropical nose. Given the imperial-strength ABV, this beer is best enjoyed on its own rather than as a session drink. For food-adjacent occasions, treat it like a standalone course — its sweetness and body pair naturally with sharp or spicy bites rather than needing a cocktail format.

Best For

• Sharing with friends who love bold, fruit-forward craft beer
• Gifting to a hazy IPA enthusiast looking for a higher-octane experience
• Pairing with a backyard cookout featuring spicy grilled wings or jerk chicken
• Winding down after a long week with a single, full-flavored pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Super Son of Juice taste like? Super Son of Juice delivers intense mango, pineapple, and tangerine flavors with a soft, pillowy mouthfeel and a toasted malt backbone that keeps the sweetness balanced. The 10% ABV is remarkably well-hidden behind the fruit-forward profile.

How does Super Son of Juice compare to the original Son of Juice? The original Son of Juice sits at 6.3% ABV and drinks as a lighter, more sessionable hazy IPA with the same tropical hop character. Super Son of Juice nearly doubles the malt and hop bill, resulting in a richer body, more intense fruit flavor, and significantly higher alcohol content at 10% ABV.

Is Super Son of Juice good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the imperial strength and dense tropical flavor profile make it ideal for slow, deliberate sipping rather than rapid session drinking. A single can delivers substantial flavor and warmth.

Where is Super Son of Juice made? Super Son of Juice is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Maplewood operates as a combined brewery and distillery, producing both craft beer and spirits.

What foods pair well with Super Son of Juice? Spicy jerk chicken or Thai green curry works well, as the beer's sweetness tempers the heat. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the soft, juicy body nicely. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop character. A rich coconut-based dessert like haupia complements the stone fruit and creamy mouthfeel.

What sizes does Super Son of Juice come in? Super Son of Juice is available in a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Super Son of Juice worth the price? Super Son of Juice positions in the premium tier for imperial hazy IPAs, and its 93-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing alongside strong community ratings on Untappd (4.1 out of 5 from over 3,200 reviews) suggest it delivers on its price point within the double IPA category.

Why Super Son of Juice?

What separates this beer from the crowded imperial hazy IPA field is Maplewood's decision to simply amplify a recipe that already worked. Rather than chasing a new hop combination or experimental adjunct, the brewery doubled down — literally — on the Mosaic, Simcoe, and Nugget hop bill and the oat-heavy grain base that made the original Son of Juice a Chicago staple. The result is a 10% ABV beer that drinks deceptively smooth, validated by a 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing. For drinkers who already love the original and want a bigger, bolder version without losing the core identity, this is the definitive upgrade.