Marz Gay IPA 4Pk

Marz Gay IPA 4Pk is a 7.4% ABV double dry-hopped India Pale Ale with lactose, sold in a four-pack from Chicago's Marz Community Brewing Co. Originally brewed in celebration of Pride Month, this release earned a 4.0 out of 5 rating on Untappd across nearly 4,000 reviews, establishing it as one of the brewery's most popular year-round offerings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.4%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double Dry-Hopped IPA with Lactose  |  Brewery: Marz Community Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Marz Community Brewing Co. operates out of its Bridgeport neighborhood facility at 3630 S. Iron St. in Chicago. Gay IPA is double dry-hopped with a trio of Strata, El Dorado, and Citra hops—a combination chosen to maximize tropical and citrus aromatics without relying on a single dominant varietal. The addition of lactose during the brewing process lends a subtle residual sweetness and fuller body, distinguishing it from conventional DDH IPAs and pushing it closer to the milkshake IPA category while retaining a firm hop backbone.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe apricot and papaya arrive first, followed by layers of mango, tangerine, and a brighter lemon-lime citrus top note. The nose is intensely fruity without significant malt presence.

Taste: The entry is soft and lush, delivering pineapple, grapefruit, and melon across the front palate. Mid-palate, nectarine and orange notes build alongside the lactose-driven sweetness, which rounds out the hop oils rather than masking them. A decisive wave of hop bitterness asserts itself toward the peak, balancing the fruit-forward profile.

Finish: Moderately long with grapefruit peel, resinous pine, and a faintly dank, grassy character. The lingering sweetness from the lactose keeps the close smooth rather than astringent.

How to Drink Gay IPA

Gay IPA drinks best straight from a chilled tulip glass or shaker pint at 40–45°F, where the aromatic hops can fully express themselves. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Hop Shandy, blended with fresh lemonade to amplify its citrus character; in a Beergarita, where the tropical hop oils complement lime and a salted rim; or in a Beermosa, paired with mango or guava juice for a brunch serve that echoes the beer's natural fruit notes.

Best For

• Bringing to a summer cookout or Pride celebration
• Introducing a friend to hazy, fruit-forward IPA styles
• Pairing with spicy food where the lactose sweetness provides relief
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Chicago-brewed independents

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gay IPA taste like? Gay IPA leads with intense tropical fruit—pineapple, mango, and papaya—layered over citrus notes of grapefruit and tangerine, finishing with a resinous hop bitterness. The lactose addition gives it a slightly creamy, smooth sweetness that softens the overall profile.

How does Gay IPA compare to Revolution Anti-Hero IPA? Anti-Hero is a more traditional American IPA with a pronounced piney, bitter backbone and a drier finish, while Gay IPA uses lactose and a double dry-hop process that yields a softer, sweeter body with heavier tropical fruit character. At 7.4% ABV, Gay IPA also runs slightly higher in alcohol than Anti-Hero's 6.5%.

Is Gay IPA good for beginners? Yes—the lactose tempers hop bitterness and adds a gentle sweetness, making it one of the more approachable DDH IPAs for drinkers who find aggressively bitter IPAs off-putting. That said, its 7.4% ABV carries more weight than a session ale, so pacing matters.

Where is Gay IPA made? Gay IPA is brewed at Marz Community Brewing Co. in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, at 3630 S. Iron St. The brewery is an independent Chicago craft operation.

What foods pair well with Gay IPA? Thai green curry, where the lactose sweetness tempers chili heat; fish tacos with mango salsa, echoing the beer's tropical notes; a sharp aged cheddar, which contrasts the creaminess; grilled pineapple skewers, mirroring the dominant fruit character; and buffalo wings, where the carbonation and bitterness cut through richness.

What sizes does Gay IPA come in? Gay IPA is commonly sold in four-packs of cans, which is the standard retail format from Marz Community Brewing for this release.

Is Gay IPA worth the price? Gay IPA positions in the mid-range craft IPA tier, consistent with other double dry-hopped, lactose-inclusive IPAs from independent regional breweries. Its 4.0/5 Untappd rating across thousands of reviews suggests strong value relative to comparable DDH offerings.

Why Gay IPA?

The double dry-hop regimen using three distinct hop varieties—Strata, El Dorado, and Citra—produces a layered aromatic complexity that single-hop IPAs cannot replicate. The lactose addition is the defining production choice: it shifts the texture from thin and sharp to rounded and inviting without tipping into milkshake-IPA territory. With a 4.0/5 Untappd rating across nearly 4,000 reviews, Gay IPA has proven its durability well beyond its Pride Month origins, standing as one of Marz Community Brewing's flagship releases. For drinkers who want tropical intensity with a soft landing, few Chicago-brewed IPAs hit the mark this precisely.