Hopewell Aerial Double IPA 4Pk

Hopewell Aerial Double IPA 4Pk is a 7.7% ABV Double IPA from Chicago's Hopewell Brewing Co., sold in a four-pack of cans. Built on a blend of American and New Zealand hop varietals, Aerial delivers a dank, resinous bitterness layered with bright citrus character that sets it apart from single-origin hop DIPAs.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.7%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hopewell Brewing Co., Logan Square

Production & Heritage

Hopewell Brewing Co. operates out of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, where the team brews and packages all of their beer at their Milwaukee Avenue brewery. Aerial is hopped with a blend of American and New Zealand varietals — a deliberate choice that bridges the dank, piney aggression associated with American hops and the tropical, fruit-forward qualities that New Zealand cultivars contribute. The result is a Double IPA that reads as both familiar and slightly off-axis, with enough complexity to reward close attention.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dank resin leads, followed by waves of grapefruit peel and fresh pine. A secondary layer of tropical citrus emerges as the beer warms slightly in the glass.

Taste: The entry is assertively bitter with immediate grapefruit and citrus rind. Mid-palate, orange fruit and a sticky pine resin quality build, balanced by enough malt backbone to keep the bitterness from becoming one-dimensional. The hop bitterness peaks cleanly without harsh astringency.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering pine and citrus rind dryness. The dank, herbal quality persists, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Aerial

Aerial drinks best cold from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the aromatic hop oils. For cocktail-curious drinkers, try it in a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade to tame the bitterness while amplifying the citrus; a Michelada variation where the pine and grapefruit notes play well against lime, hot sauce, and tomato; or a Beer-a-rita blended with lime juice and a salted rim, where the hop intensity holds up against the added acidity.

Best For

• Hop-forward beer enthusiasts exploring Chicago's craft scene
• Summer cookouts where a bold, bitter beer cuts through rich grilled meats
• Gifting to a friend who gravitates toward West Coast-style Double IPAs
• Side-by-side tastings comparing American vs. New Zealand hop character

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aerial Double IPA taste like? Aerial is dank and assertively bitter, with dominant flavors of grapefruit, citrus rind, orange, and pine resin supported by a balanced malt base.

How does Aerial compare to Hopewell's As If Double IPA? Both are Double IPAs from Hopewell, but As If leans West Coast in style with Simcoe, Chinook, Columbus, and Mosaic hops, while Aerial incorporates New Zealand varietals alongside American hops for a slightly more tropical and exotic hop profile.

Is Aerial good for sipping on its own? Yes — at 7.7% ABV it is strong enough to sip deliberately but not so heavy that it overwhelms, making it well-suited for slow enjoyment from a proper glass.

Where is Aerial made? Aerial is brewed and packaged entirely at Hopewell Brewing Co.'s brewery on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, Illinois.

What foods pair well with Aerial? Spicy Thai dishes like green papaya salad complement the citrus hops; charred burgers with sharp cheddar match the resinous bitterness; fish tacos with lime crema echo the grapefruit notes; aged Gruyère contrasts the hop intensity with nutty sweetness; and Nashville-style hot chicken finds balance against Aerial's bold pine character.

What sizes does Aerial come in? Aerial is available in a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this expression.

Is Aerial worth the price? Aerial positions as a craft Double IPA from an independent Chicago brewery, placing it in the mid-range craft tier — a fair value for a well-constructed DIPA with a distinctive international hop blend.

Why Aerial?

The international hop blend is the defining move here. Where many American Double IPAs rely exclusively on domestic cultivars, Aerial's incorporation of New Zealand varietals introduces a subtle tropical dimension that keeps the beer from falling into the familiar dank-and-done template. Brewed entirely in-house at Hopewell's Logan Square facility, it reflects a brewery with tight control over its process and a willingness to push beyond convention. For drinkers who appreciate bold bitterness but want something beyond a straightforward West Coast DIPA, Aerial carves out a distinct lane in a crowded category.