18th Street Sex and Candy 4Pk

18th Street Sex and Candy 4Pk is a hop-forward American IPA brewed at 7.5% ABV by 18th Street Brewery in Hammond, Indiana, sold in a four-pack format. Scoring 89 on BeerAdvocate across 222 ratings and holding a 3.8 on Untappd with over 28,000 check-ins, this IPA has built a loyal following for its citrus-driven hop character and balanced malt backbone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Hammond, Indiana  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: 18th Street Brewery  |  Hops: Chinook & Cascade

Production & Heritage

18th Street Brewery was founded in Gary, Indiana, where it originally operated on a small 10-barrel open fermentation system. The brewery later expanded to Hammond, which now houses its main production, packaging, and barrel-aging program. Sex and Candy is built on a straightforward American IPA blueprint, relying on Chinook hops for its resinous, piney backbone and Cascade hops for bright citrus and floral aromatics. The result is a deep golden, lightly hazy pour that channels classic West Coast IPA sensibilities through a Midwest lens.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Abundant citrus and hop oils hit first, followed by undertones of tropical fruit and a faintly sweet, bready malt note. The nose is inviting without being aggressive.

Taste: The entry is fruity and subtly sweet, with ripe citrus giving way to earthy, resinous hop flavors at the mid-palate. A firm bitterness rises through the center but stays controlled, balanced by dark, bready malt that provides structure and weight. The interplay between citrus-forward and earthy hop characteristics gives the beer a notable complexity for the style.

Finish: Pungent hop bitterness arrives cleanly but does not overstay, fading without harsh astringency. A lingering trace of grapefruit pith and toasted grain rounds out each sip.

How to Drink Sex and Candy

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint glass at around 45°F to let the hop aromatics open fully; drinking straight from the can will mute the citrus nose. Sex and Candy also holds its own in hop-friendly mixed drinks. A Hop Shandy — blending the IPA with fresh lemonade — plays off the beer's existing citrus character. A Michelada built with this IPA adds a bitter, hoppy edge to the classic tomato-lime base. For something simple, a Beermosa using fresh-squeezed orange juice pairs naturally with the Cascade hop citrus notes.

Best For

• Stocking a cookout cooler with a hop-forward crowd-pleaser
• Introducing a friend to craft IPAs without going to hop extremes
• Pairing with grilled meats and spicy foods at a backyard gathering
• Supporting an independent Indiana craft brewery

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sex and Candy taste like? Sex and Candy delivers a balanced blend of citrus fruit, earthy hop resin, and bready malt sweetness, with a firm but clean bitterness that fades quickly rather than lingering on the palate.

How does Sex and Candy compare to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Both beers feature Cascade hops prominently, but Sex and Candy runs higher in ABV at 7.5% versus Sierra Nevada Pale Ale's 5.6%, delivering a fuller body and more assertive hop punch. Sierra Nevada leans more toward a traditional pale ale malt-hop balance, while Sex and Candy pushes further into IPA territory with added Chinook hops for resinous depth.

Is Sex and Candy good for IPA beginners? At 7.5% ABV it carries moderate strength, and its bitterness is present but does not overwhelm, making it a reasonable entry point for drinkers curious about American IPAs without diving into double IPA intensity.

Where is Sex and Candy made? Sex and Candy is brewed at 18th Street Brewery's Hammond, Indiana facility, which serves as the brewery's main production and packaging hub. The brewery originated in Gary, Indiana, where it was recognized by RateBeer as the best new brewery in Indiana in 2013.

What foods pair well with Sex and Candy? Grilled burgers or bratwursts work well, as the hop bitterness cuts through rich, fatty meat. Spicy tacos or buffalo wings benefit from the beer's citrus aromatics. Aged cheddar or pepper jack cheese provides a savory counterpoint, and fish tacos with lime crema echo the Cascade hop citrus notes.

What sizes does Sex and Candy come in? Sex and Candy is available as a four-pack, which is the standard retail format for this beer.

Is Sex and Candy worth the price? Sex and Candy positions as a mid-range craft IPA that delivers solid complexity and drinkability for the style. Its BeerAdvocate score of 89 and strong Untappd following suggest it over-delivers relative to many IPAs in the same price tier.

Why Sex and Candy?

What separates this IPA from the crowded field is the deliberate pairing of Chinook and Cascade — two heritage American hop varieties that provide both backbone and brightness without relying on trendy, haze-forward techniques. The 89-point BeerAdvocate score and nearly 28,500 Untappd ratings confirm that this is not a flash-in-the-pan release but a consistently well-received staple from a brewery that earned statewide recognition almost from launch. At 7.5% ABV, it sits in a sweet spot: strong enough to reward slow sipping, moderate enough to enjoy across a full four-pack session. For drinkers seeking a classically structured American IPA from an independent Midwest brewery, Sex and Candy delivers honest, repeatable quality.