Hopewell Ride or Die 4Pk

Hopewell Ride or Die 4Pk is a 5.5% ABV American Pale Ale brewed in Chicago by Hopewell Brewing Co., sold in a four-pack of cans. This is the brewery's self-described flagship beer — a daily-drinker pale ale that earned an 87 on BeerAdvocate and holds a 3.7 out of 5 rating across more than 8,500 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: American Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Hopewell Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Hopewell Brewing Co. operates out of its brewery on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. All Ride or Die is brewed and packaged on-site. The beer is built on a soft, restrained malt base designed to let American hop character — citrus and pine in particular — take center stage. At 5.5% ABV, it sits squarely in sessionable territory, with enough structure to hold up as a standalone pale ale rather than tipping into light lager anonymity. As Hopewell's flagship expression, Ride or Die was designed from the start to be a fridge staple, the kind of beer intended for daily consumption rather than special occasions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright grapefruit peel and pine resin hit first, followed by a subtle undercurrent of bread crust and light caramel malt sweetness. The hop presence is forward but clean, never veering into aggressive dankness.

Taste: The entry is citrus-driven, with juicy grapefruit leading into a soft, bready malt mid-palate that provides just enough body to round things out. A quick, well-calibrated bitterness arrives toward the finish, slicing through the malt and keeping the beer from leaning sweet. The balance between citrus brightness and pine is well-managed throughout.

Finish: Dry and clean, with lingering citrus zest and pine resin trailing off at moderate length. The bitterness fades gradually without coating the palate, encouraging the next sip.

How to Drink Ride or Die

Ride or Die is best served cold from the can or poured into a standard pint glass. It does not need fussing over — this is a drink-it-straight beer. That said, it works well as a base in a few beer-forward mixed drinks. A Pale Ale Shandy made with fresh lemonade plays off the existing citrus character. A Radler using grapefruit soda doubles down on the beer's natural grapefruit notes. And a simple Beer-a-Rita with lime juice and a salt rim turns Ride or Die into a surprisingly convincing warm-weather cocktail, since the moderate bitterness pairs naturally with acid and salt.

Best For

• Stocking the fridge for weekend cookouts and casual hosting
• Introducing someone to American craft pale ales without overwhelming hop intensity
• A reliable after-work beer that doesn't demand your full attention
• Supporting an independent Chicago brewery with a four-pack gift

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ride or Die taste like? Ride or Die leads with bright grapefruit and pine hop flavors over a soft, bready malt base, finishing dry with moderate bitterness and lingering citrus zest.

How does Ride or Die compare to Half Acre Daisy Cutter? Both are flagship Chicago pale ales, but Daisy Cutter runs slightly lower at 5.2% ABV and tends to lean more aggressively hoppy and resinous. Ride or Die is the softer, more approachable of the two, with a gentler malt body and less assertive bitterness.

Is Ride or Die good for beginners? Yes — at 5.5% ABV with balanced bitterness and approachable citrus-forward flavors, Ride or Die is an excellent entry point into American pale ales without the intensity of an IPA.

Where is Ride or Die made? Ride or Die is brewed and packaged entirely at Hopewell Brewing Co.'s facility on Milwaukee Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

What foods pair well with Ride or Die? Grilled chicken or burgers match the beer's moderate body and citrus bite. Fish tacos with lime crema complement the grapefruit character. Sharp cheddar brings out the malt sweetness. A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette echoes the dry, zesty finish. Spicy Thai noodles also work well, as the carbonation and bitterness cut through heat and richness.

What sizes does Ride or Die come in? Ride or Die is available in a four-pack of cans, which is its standard retail format; it may also be found on draft at select locations in the Chicago area.

Is Ride or Die worth the price? Ride or Die positions as a mid-range craft pale ale — priced in line with other independent Chicago brewery four-packs and offering flagship-level consistency, an 87 BeerAdvocate score, and genuine session-friendly drinkability at 5.5% ABV.

Why Ride or Die?

In a craft beer landscape flooded with haze-bomb IPAs and pastry stouts competing for attention, Ride or Die makes a quieter argument: that a well-made pale ale still has a place at the center of someone's beer rotation. Its 87 BeerAdvocate score and more than 8,500 Untappd reviews confirm that a wide audience agrees. Brewed entirely on-site at Hopewell's Milwaukee Avenue brewery, this is a beer with a short supply chain and a clear identity — bright, balanced, and built for repetition. For anyone looking for a dependable, locally brewed American Pale Ale that does exactly what it sets out to do, Ride or Die earns its flagship billing.