Midwest Coast Elevator to Nowhere 4Pk

Midwest Coast Elevator to Nowhere 4Pk is a hazy New England IPA from Chicago's Midwest Coast Brewing Company, packaged in a four-pack of cans at approximately 6% ABV. Built on a grain bill featuring wheat and oats, then dry-hopped with Simcoe, El Dorado, and Idaho 7, this release has earned a solid 3.9 out of 5 on Untappd across over 1,000 ratings — a strong showing for a neighborhood brewery competing in Chicago's saturated hazy IPA scene.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~6%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: New England IPA  |  Brewery: Midwest Coast Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Midwest Coast Brewing Company operates out of Chicago, Illinois, producing a lineup that leans into modern American ale styles. Elevator to Nowhere takes its name from an actual elevator inside the brewery — installed during the original build by ARCO's project team, it famously goes nowhere. The beer itself is brewed with a wheat-and-oat grain bill designed to deliver the pillowy, haze-forward body expected of the New England IPA style, then loaded on the back end with generous amounts of Simcoe, El Dorado, and Idaho 7 hops to drive tropical and citrus aromatics without excessive bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lemon zest and soft wheat lead the nose, followed by mild dry grass and a faint tropical undercurrent from the hop blend. The overall impression is bright but restrained, letting citrus do most of the talking.

Taste: The entry is bright citrus — lemon and light tropical fruit — riding on a soft, medium-bodied mouthfeel that the wheat and oat base provide. Mid-palate, the wheat flour and grainy qualities emerge, grounding the hop character. Bitterness stays remarkably low for an IPA, making this a smooth, hop-flavored ride rather than a palate-wrecking bitter bomb.

Finish: The finish turns slightly grainy and dry, with lingering wheat and faint grassy notes. It wraps up clean, encouraging another sip without any harsh resinous bite.

How to Drink Elevator to Nowhere

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint to release the hop aromatics and appreciate the hazy, opaque golden-orange pour with its thick off-white head. Drink it fresh and cold — New England IPAs are at their best close to the packaging date. For cocktail-adjacent serves: use it in a Brass Monkey (beer with orange juice) where the citrus hop profile amplifies the fruit; try a Beer-a-Rita by rimming a glass with Tajín and blending with fresh lime, as the soft wheat body handles the acidity well; or build a Hop Shandy with sparkling lemonade, which plays directly into Elevator to Nowhere's natural lemon character.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to hazy IPAs without overwhelming bitterness
• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather sessions at moderate ABV
• Exploring Chicago's craft beer scene beyond the flagship breweries
• Pairing with casual food like tacos, burgers, or fried chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Elevator to Nowhere taste like? Elevator to Nowhere delivers bright lemon and soft tropical fruit on a pillowy wheat-and-oat body, finishing with mild grain and dry grass. Bitterness is deliberately restrained, making it a smooth and approachable hazy IPA.

How does Elevator to Nowhere compare to other Chicago hazy IPAs? In a blind tasting of 25 Chicagoland hazy IPAs — which included beers from Half Acre, Revolution, and Hubbard's Cave — Elevator to Nowhere held its own as a competitive local entry. Its lower ABV (~6%) and softer bitterness profile position it as more sessionable than many of Chicago's bigger, more aggressively hopped hazies.

Is Elevator to Nowhere good for beginners? Yes — the low bitterness, moderate 6% ABV, and juicy citrus-forward flavor make it an excellent entry point for anyone new to hazy IPAs or craft beer in general.

Where is Elevator to Nowhere made? Elevator to Nowhere is brewed by Midwest Coast Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery is a neighborhood operation producing modern American ales in the heart of the city.

What foods pair well with Elevator to Nowhere? Fish tacos work well, as the citrus hop character mirrors a squeeze of lime. Fried chicken benefits from the beer's soft carbonation and wheat body cutting through the richness. A margherita pizza pairs nicely with the subtle herbal and grassy notes. Spicy Thai noodles are cooled by the low bitterness and medium body. Grilled shrimp echoes the tropical and lemon notes in the hop profile.

What sizes does Elevator to Nowhere come in? Elevator to Nowhere is available in a four-pack of cans, the standard retail format for this release.

Is Elevator to Nowhere worth the price? Elevator to Nowhere positions as a mid-range craft IPA — competitive with other local Chicago four-packs. For drinkers who value a softer, more approachable hazy IPA over hop-bomb intensity, it delivers solid quality at its price tier.

Why Elevator to Nowhere?

In a city overflowing with hazy IPAs, Elevator to Nowhere carves out space by emphasizing drinkability over spectacle. The combination of Simcoe, El Dorado, and Idaho 7 hops creates a layered but never aggressive citrus-tropical profile, while the wheat-and-oat grain bill provides the creamy body the style demands without veering into heavy territory. With over 1,000 Untappd ratings averaging 3.9 out of 5, it has quietly built a loyal following among Chicago craft drinkers. The moderate ABV keeps it sessionable, and the quirky backstory behind the name — an actual elevator to nowhere inside the brewery — gives it the kind of authentic character that only comes from a hands-on neighborhood operation.