Hop Butcher Holiday Train 4Pk

Hop Butcher Holiday Train 4Pk is a seasonal hazy IPA from Hop Butcher For The World in Illinois, sold in a 4-pack at 6.5% ABV. This limited-release New England-style IPA stands apart through its unconventional ingredient list — Citra and Amarillo hops layered with rooibos tea, ginger, cinnamon, almonds, pistachios, and orange peel — making it one of the more ambitious holiday seasonals in the Midwest craft scene.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Illinois, USA  |  Style: Hazy / New England IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World has built a devoted following in the Chicago-area craft beer community with a relentless rotation of hop-forward releases. Holiday Train is a seasonal expression that uses a hazy IPA base hopped with Citra and Amarillo — two varieties prized for their tropical citrus character — then layers in rooibos tea, ginger, cinnamon, almonds, pistachios, and orange peel during the brewing process. The result is a beer that functions as both a legitimate IPA and a holiday spice showcase, with the adjuncts woven into the hop profile rather than overwhelming it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Orange peel and ginger lead the nose, followed by the warm sweetness of cinnamon and a faint nuttiness from the almond and pistachio additions. Beneath the spice, Citra and Amarillo hops contribute familiar notes of tropical citrus and stone fruit.

Taste: The entry is soft and juicy, consistent with the hazy IPA style, delivering ripe citrus and a flash of ginger heat. At mid-palate, cinnamon warmth emerges alongside a smooth, rounded mouthfeel that drinkers attribute to the nut additions. Bitterness registers as moderate, providing enough backbone to keep the spiced elements in check.

Finish: A sweet, mildly spiced cinnamon note lingers alongside dried orange peel and a whisper of rooibos tea tannin. The finish is medium in length, clean, and surprisingly balanced for a beer carrying this many adjuncts.

How to Drink Holiday Train

Pour this one into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics open up; drinking it straight from the can mutes the spice complexity. While this is best enjoyed on its own as a standalone seasonal sipper, the ginger-cinnamon profile makes it a strong candidate for a beer cocktail shandy blended with fresh-squeezed orange juice, a spiced michelada using hot sauce and lime with the ginger playing off the heat, or a simple beer float paired with vanilla ice cream where the warm spices and creamy base create a holiday dessert drink.

Best For

• Holiday gatherings where you want a conversation-starting craft beer
• Gifting to a hazy IPA fan who appreciates adventurous seasonal releases
• Pairing alongside a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner spread
• Stocking a curated holiday beer tasting flight with other seasonal ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Holiday Train taste like? Holiday Train drinks like a juicy, soft hazy IPA with layered notes of orange peel, ginger, and cinnamon, backed by moderate hop bitterness and a smooth, nutty mouthfeel from the almond and pistachio additions.

How does Holiday Train compare to Southern Tier holiday beers? Southern Tier's seasonal spice offerings (such as 2XMAS) tend to lean heavily into malt-forward, amber ale territory with bold spice, while Holiday Train uses a hazy IPA base that keeps the citrus-hop character front and center with the spices playing a supporting role rather than dominating.

Is Holiday Train good for sipping on its own? Yes — despite its long ingredient list, Holiday Train is well-balanced at 6.5% ABV and drinks cleanly enough to enjoy as a standalone pour without feeling like a novelty beer.

Where is Holiday Train made? Holiday Train is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Illinois, a craft brewery known for its prolific rotation of hop-forward beers distributed primarily throughout the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Holiday Train? Roasted turkey or glazed ham mirrors the warm spice notes; sharp cheddar or aged gouda complements the nutty undertones; gingerbread cookies echo the ginger and cinnamon; citrus salads highlight the orange peel and Citra hop character; and roasted nuts bring out the almond and pistachio additions in the beer.

What sizes does Holiday Train come in? Holiday Train is sold as a 4-pack of cans, consistent with Hop Butcher For The World's standard packaging format for their rotating releases.

Is Holiday Train worth the price? Holiday Train positions as a premium seasonal craft release, and its unique ingredient combination — hazy IPA brewed with rooibos tea, nuts, and warm spices — delivers a distinctly different experience from most holiday beers, offering solid value for fans of creative, limited-run craft offerings.

Why Holiday Train?

Most holiday seasonal beers lean on dark malts, heavy spice, or high alcohol to signal the season. Holiday Train takes a different path entirely, building its holiday character on top of a hazy IPA chassis that keeps things drinkable and bright. The combination of Citra and Amarillo hops with rooibos tea, ginger, cinnamon, almonds, pistachios, and orange peel is genuinely uncommon — few breweries attempt this many adjuncts in a single IPA, and fewer still pull it off with the kind of balance that earns a 3.8 rating on Untappd across hundreds of reviews. For anyone tired of the same porter-and-stout holiday lineup, this is one of the more original seasonal releases coming out of Illinois.