Alter Hell Hazed Over 6Pk

Alter Hell Hazed Over 6Pk is a double dry-hopped hazy double IPA (2X IPA) from Alter Brewing Company in Downers Grove, Illinois, at 8.1% ABV in a six-pack of 12 oz cans. This bold New England-style DIPA stands out through its triple-hop combination of Sultana, Amarillo, and Mosaic, delivering wave after wave of tropical fruit intensity with a deceptively smooth body.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.1%  |  Origin: Downers Grove, Illinois  |  Style: Hazy Double IPA (2X IPA)  |  Brewery: Alter Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Alter Brewing Company operates out of Downers Grove, a western suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. Hell Hazed Over follows a double dry-hopping process, meaning hops are added at two separate stages—typically during active fermentation and again shortly before packaging—to maximize aromatic oils and tropical fruit character without layering on additional bitterness. The hop bill of Sultana, Amarillo, and Mosaic was selected for overlapping notes of stone fruit, citrus, and melon, creating a layered aromatic profile that defines the beer's identity within the New England DIPA tradition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe mango and pineapple lead immediately, followed by bright passionfruit and grapefruit peel. A soft, doughy wheat quality anchors the hop aromatics underneath.

Taste: The entry is juicy and full, with tangerine and mango dominating the front palate. Mid-palate, melon and passionfruit emerge alongside a creamy, almost pillowy mouthfeel that carries the 8.1% ABV without noticeable heat. Despite its heavy body, the bitterness remains restrained and well-integrated.

Finish: Relatively dry for the style, pulling back on residual sweetness and leaving a clean citrus-rind impression. A faint resinous hop note lingers alongside soft tropical echoes.

How to Drink Hell Hazed Over

Best served cold, around 40–45°F, in a tulip glass or standard pint to concentrate the aromatic hop oils. Given its full body and tropical character, it also works in hop-forward beer cocktails. A Beermosa pairs its mango and citrus notes naturally with fresh orange juice for a brunch-worthy drink. A Michelada with lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire plays the beer's fruit-forward juiciness against savory heat. A Hop Shandy—half Hell Hazed Over, half lemonade—tames the ABV while amplifying citrus brightness for a warm-weather session.

Best For

• IPA enthusiasts exploring the Illinois craft scene beyond Chicago-proper breweries
• Backyard barbecues and cookouts where a higher-ABV hazy IPA can anchor the beer lineup
• Gifting to a hazy IPA collector looking for lesser-known Midwest double IPAs
• Pairing nights centered around spicy or grilled foods that benefit from tropical hop contrast

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hell Hazed Over taste like? Hell Hazed Over delivers a juicy, tropical profile dominated by mango, passionfruit, and tangerine, wrapped in a smooth, creamy mouthfeel that finishes surprisingly dry for a hazy double IPA at 8.1% ABV.

How does Hell Hazed Over compare to Bell's Official Hazy IPA? Hell Hazed Over runs significantly higher in ABV at 8.1% versus Bell's Official at around 6.4%, resulting in a fuller body and more concentrated tropical fruit intensity. Both lean into the New England hazy tradition, but Hell Hazed Over's double dry-hopping with Sultana, Amarillo, and Mosaic gives it a more complex, layered hop aroma than Bell's single-IPA approach.

Is Hell Hazed Over good for sipping? Yes—its creamy mouthfeel and restrained bitterness make it approachable despite its double IPA strength, though the 8.1% ABV warrants a slower pace than a standard session hazy.

Where is Hell Hazed Over made? Hell Hazed Over is brewed by Alter Brewing Company in Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb located about 22 miles west of downtown Chicago in DuPage County.

What foods pair well with Hell Hazed Over? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's tropical hop character. Nashville hot chicken uses the creamy body to temper capsaicin heat. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the juicy fruit notes with tangy richness. Thai green curry finds balance between its coconut sweetness and the beer's citrus bitterness. Smoked pork shoulder benefits from the hop aromatics cutting through rendered fat.

What sizes does Hell Hazed Over come in? Hell Hazed Over is available in a six-pack of 12 oz cans.

Is Hell Hazed Over worth the price? Hell Hazed Over positions as a mid-range craft double IPA, and its double dry-hopped process and 8.1% ABV deliver complexity and intensity that compete well within the hazy DIPA tier—strong value for drinkers who want Midwest-brewed hop density without ultra-premium pricing.

Why Hell Hazed Over?

The double dry-hopping schedule with three complementary hop varieties—Sultana, Amarillo, and Mosaic—gives Hell Hazed Over a depth of aroma that single-hopped or single-dry-hopped hazies rarely achieve. At 8.1% ABV, it occupies genuine double IPA territory rather than drifting into the increasingly crowded "strong single IPA" space between 6% and 7%. The beer's ability to maintain a dry finish despite its heavy, creamy body demonstrates thoughtful recipe design from Alter Brewing, avoiding the cloying sweetness that undermines many hazy DIPAs. For anyone exploring Illinois craft beyond the state's headline breweries, this is a serious entry worth tracking down.