2 Fools Hopped 4Pk

2 Fools Hopped 4Pk is a dry English-style hard cider hopped with Cascade and Amarillo hops, bottled at 6.9% ABV in a four-pack format. Produced by Naperville, Illinois-based 2 Fools Cider, this expression bridges the gap between craft beer and craft cider with a distinctly hop-forward, grapefruit-driven character built on single-varietal Michigan cider apples.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.9%  |  Origin: Naperville, Illinois, USA  |  Dry Hopped Hard Cider  |  Producer: 2 Fools Cider

Production & Heritage

2 Fools Cider was founded by Monte Summers and Jeremy Smith and opened its doors in December 2016 inside a small industrial complex on the north side of Naperville, Illinois. Summers studied the science of cider-making at Oregon State University before launching the venture, and the pair traveled through Michigan to source the ideal apples for their lineup. The Hopped expression uses a single-varietal Michigan cider apple as its base, fermented in a dry English style and then dosed with a blend of Cascade and Amarillo hops — two varieties prized for their citrus and floral aromatics. The founders set out specifically to create recipes that stand apart from mass-produced hard cider, favoring dryness and complexity over sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright grapefruit peel leads the nose, followed by subtle floral notes from the Amarillo hops and a clean apple backdrop. A light resinous quality ties the hop character together without overwhelming the fruit.

Taste: The entry is crisp and lean, with tart apple meeting a gentle citrus bitterness at the mid-palate. Cascade hops contribute a piney, grapefruit-like edge that balances against a faint underlying sweetness from the Michigan apple base. The overall impression is dry and refreshing, closer to a farmhouse cider than anything sugary.

Finish: The finish is dry and moderately short, with lingering grapefruit zest and a clean, slightly bitter fade. A whisper of tart apple rounds things out, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink 2 Fools Hopped

Best served cold — around 40–45°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to open up the hop aromatics. A Cider Shandy made by blending equal parts 2 Fools Hopped with fresh lemonade plays off the grapefruit notes for a warm-weather refresher. A Snakebite — half hopped cider, half pale lager — amplifies the hop character while softening the dryness. For a low-ABV spritz, combine with elderflower liqueur and a splash of sparkling water to create a Hopped Elderflower Fizz that highlights the floral side of the Amarillo hops.

Best For

• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the world of dry hard cider
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where sessionability matters
• Pairing with grilled foods at a backyard barbecue
• Building a tasting flight of hopped versus unhopped ciders

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 2 Fools Hopped taste like? It drinks like a dry, crisp hard cider layered with grapefruit and citrus bitterness from Cascade and Amarillo hops. The overall profile is tart, clean, and refreshing with very little residual sweetness.

How does 2 Fools Hopped compare to Blake's Hard Cider hopped offerings? Both use American hop varieties to bridge the gap between cider and craft beer, but 2 Fools Hopped leans drier and more English in style, built on a single-varietal Michigan apple base. Blake's hopped ciders tend to incorporate additional fruit flavors and a touch more sweetness.

Is 2 Fools Hopped good for craft beer fans exploring cider? Yes — the Cascade and Amarillo hop bill gives it a familiar IPA-like aroma and grapefruit bite that resonates with hop-forward beer drinkers, while the dry apple base introduces the appeal of craft cider.

Where is 2 Fools Hopped made? 2 Fools Hopped was produced by 2 Fools Cider in Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The apples were sourced from Michigan orchards selected by the founders.

What foods pair well with 2 Fools Hopped? Grilled chicken or pork benefits from the cider's acidity and hop bitterness cutting through char and fat. Sharp cheddar cheese echoes the tart apple notes. Fish tacos with citrus slaw mirror the grapefruit character. Spicy Thai dishes are tempered by the cider's dry, refreshing body. A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette complements the overall brightness.

What sizes does 2 Fools Hopped come in? The standard retail format is a four-pack of cans at 6.9% ABV.

Is 2 Fools Hopped worth the price? It positions in the craft hard cider tier, comparable to other small-batch, single-varietal hopped ciders. The Oregon State-trained cidermaking pedigree and Michigan-sourced apples support its standing above mass-market alternatives.

Why 2 Fools Hopped?

What separates this cider from the crowded hopped-cider field is its pedigree: co-founder Monte Summers brought formal cider science training from Oregon State University to a region better known for craft beer. The decision to use a single-varietal Michigan cider apple — rather than a commodity juice blend — gives the base a cleaner, more defined tartness that lets the Cascade and Amarillo hops express their full citrus and floral range. In a market saturated with sweet, fruit-flavored ciders, 2 Fools Hopped committed fully to dry English-style fermentation, producing a cider that earned respect from beer drinkers and cider purists alike.