18th Street Here Comes the Reaper 4Pk

18th Street Here Comes the Reaper 4Pk is a 6.2% ABV India Pale Ale from 18th Street Brewery in Hammond, Indiana, sold in a four-pack of cans. Brewed with Mosaic and Chinook hops, this IPA has earned a strong 3.9 out of 5 on Untappd from over 13,000 ratings, largely on the strength of its unusual combination of intense hop flavor and near-zero perceived bitterness.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.2%  |  Origin: Hammond, Indiana, USA  |  Style: India Pale Ale  |  Brewery: 18th Street Brewery

Production & Heritage

18th Street Brewery operates out of Hammond, Indiana, in the heart of the Calumet Region just southeast of Chicago. The brewery has built a reputation for hop-forward and experimental ales that draw a loyal following across the Midwest and beyond. Here Comes the Reaper is brewed with a two-hop bill of Mosaic and Chinook — Mosaic contributing tropical fruit and berry aromatics, Chinook supplying a piney, grapefruit backbone — yet the finished beer drinks remarkably smooth, delivering full citrus hop character without the sharp bitterness that defines many traditional IPAs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opens with a soft, inviting wave of tropical hops — ripe mango and candied citrus peel lead into quieter notes of stone fruit and fig. There is no aggressive resinous punch, just clean aromatic intensity.

Taste: The entry is juicy and immediate, with orange, grapefruit, and lemon flavors arriving in quick succession. Mid-palate, sweet mango and apricot emerge alongside a gentle malt backbone that provides just enough structure to frame the hops. The overall impression is fruit-forward and rounded, with a citrus brightness that stays lively without turning sharp.

Finish: The finish is clean and surprisingly soft, with lingering lime zest and a whisper of fig sweetness. Bitterness is virtually absent, leaving a refreshing, drinkable close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Here Comes the Reaper

Best served cold — around 40–45°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate those Mosaic hop aromatics. As a beer, it stands on its own, but it also works in beer-based mixed drinks: a Michelada benefits from the citrus-forward profile, balancing well against tomato and lime; a Beer Margarita (beer floated over a classic margarita) gains tropical depth from the mango and apricot character; and a Shandy made with fresh lemonade pairs naturally with the grapefruit and lemon notes already present in the brew.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where you want a hop-forward beer without palate fatigue
• Introducing a friend who claims to dislike IPAs to the softer side of the style
• Pairing with spicy food — tacos, wings, or Thai takeout
• Bringing a well-regarded Midwest craft beer to a bottle share or gathering

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Here Comes the Reaper taste like? It delivers bold citrus and tropical fruit flavors — orange, grapefruit, mango, and apricot — supported by a light malt backbone and virtually no lingering bitterness, which is unusual for an IPA.

How does Here Comes the Reaper compare to other Midwest IPAs? Its near-zero bitterness and heavy tropical-citrus lean position it closer to the hazy or New England IPA end of the spectrum, even though it carries an IPA designation; many comparable Midwest IPAs from breweries like Three Floyds or Revolution tend to show more assertive bitterness at similar ABVs.

Is Here Comes the Reaper good for IPA beginners? Yes — the full hop flavor with almost no bitterness makes it one of the more approachable IPAs available, a genuine entry point for drinkers who find traditional IPAs too aggressive.

Where is Here Comes the Reaper made? It is brewed at 18th Street Brewery in Hammond, Indiana, located in the Calumet Region on the Illinois-Indiana border, just minutes from Chicago's South Side.

What foods pair well with Here Comes the Reaper? Fish tacos work well because the citrus hops echo a lime squeeze; grilled chicken or shrimp skewers complement the tropical fruit notes; spicy buffalo wings are tempered by the beer's soft body; a citrus-dressed arugula salad mirrors the grapefruit and lemon character; and sharp cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the mango sweetness.

What sizes does Here Comes the Reaper come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from 18th Street Brewery for this release.

Is Here Comes the Reaper worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft IPA — competitively placed against other single-brewery, small-batch IPAs from the Midwest — and its 3.9 Untappd rating across more than 13,000 reviews suggests consistent quality that justifies its craft price tier.

Why Here Comes the Reaper?

The defining trait of this beer is a paradox that actually works: intense hop flavor with almost no bitterness. The Mosaic and Chinook hop combination gives it a layered citrus-and-tropical profile that reads like a much more complex brew, yet the drinking experience stays clean and accessible. With over 13,000 Untappd ratings holding at 3.9, it has proven its consistency across batches — not a one-off sensation but a reliable go-to from a respected Indiana brewery. For anyone seeking a hop-forward IPA that won't punish the palate, Here Comes the Reaper fills that niche convincingly.