Alter Hopular Kid 6Pk

Alter Hopular Kid 6Pk is a fruit-forward American IPA from Alter Brewing Company in Downers Grove, Illinois, packaged as a 6-pack at 6.5% ABV. Built on five sought-after hop varieties and fermented with a fruit-forward ale strain, this IPA has earned an 87 score on BeerAdvocate across 42 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  IBU: 55  |  Origin: Downers Grove, Illinois  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Alter Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Alter Brewing Company operates out of Downers Grove, Illinois, at 2300 Wisconsin Avenue. Hopular Kid uses a five-hop bill of Centennial, Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Mosaic — hops added during both the boil and fermentation to maximize aromatic impact. The beer is fermented with a fruit-forward ale strain specifically chosen to complement and amplify the tropical character of the hop selection, resulting in a beer where yeast and hops work in tandem rather than in competition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Flowery, tropical hop aromas lead immediately, giving way to ripe mango and pineapple. A light papaya undertone rounds out the nose alongside subtle citrus peel.

Taste: The entry is soft and juicy with sweet tropical fruit — mango and pineapple dominate the front palate. Mid-palate, lemony citrus sharpens the profile and the 55 IBUs provide measured bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. The fruit-forward ale strain reinforces the ripe-fruit quality without adding cloying weight.

Finish: Clean and moderate in length with a gentle papaya aftertaste and lingering floral hop character. The bitterness recedes quickly, leaving a dry, easy-drinking close.

How to Drink Hopular Kid

Hopular Kid drinks best cold, between 40–45°F, poured into a tulip or standard pint glass to open up the hop aromatics. It is approachable enough for casual, straight-from-the-can drinking on a warm afternoon. For a shandy-style twist, blend it with fresh lemonade to lean into the citrus notes. It also works well as a base in a Michelada, where the tropical fruit character pairs naturally with lime juice and hot sauce. A beer-tail riff using Hopular Kid, fresh grapefruit juice, and a splash of agave creates a low-ABV alternative to a Paloma.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and summer grilling sessions
• Introducing hop-curious drinkers to American IPA without overwhelming bitterness
• Bringing a locally brewed Illinois craft option to a beer share or tasting night
• Pairing with spicy or tropical-influenced dishes at dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hopular Kid taste like? Hopular Kid delivers juicy tropical fruit flavors — primarily mango, pineapple, and lemony citrus — supported by a clean, moderate bitterness at 55 IBUs. The fruit-forward ale strain adds a sweet, ripe-fruit quality that keeps the beer balanced and easy to drink.

How does Hopular Kid compare to Bell's Two Hearted Ale? Both beers use Centennial hops, but Hopular Kid adds Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Mosaic to push the profile toward tropical and stone fruit, while Two Hearted focuses on a single-hop Centennial character that is more piney and floral. Hopular Kid's fruit-forward yeast strain also creates a juicier overall impression compared to Two Hearted's cleaner, more traditionally bitter finish.

Is Hopular Kid good for IPA beginners? Yes — at 55 IBUs and 6.5% ABV, it sits at a moderate level of bitterness for the style, and the tropical fruit sweetness makes it more inviting than aggressively bitter West Coast IPAs. The clean finish avoids lingering hop harshness.

Where is Hopular Kid made? Hopular Kid is brewed by Alter Brewing Company at 2300 Wisconsin Avenue in Downers Grove, Illinois. The brewery is located in the western suburbs of Chicago in DuPage County.

What foods pair well with Hopular Kid? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's tropical hop character. Thai green curry's lemongrass and coconut complement the citrus and fruit notes. A cheeseburger with pepper jack provides richness that the hop bitterness cuts through cleanly. Fish and chips benefit from the citrus lift, and a fresh ceviche mirrors the beer's bright, juicy profile.

What sizes does Hopular Kid come in? Hopular Kid is available as a 6-pack, which is the standard retail format from Alter Brewing.

Is Hopular Kid worth the price? Hopular Kid positions as a craft-priced American IPA from an independent Illinois brewery. The five-hop recipe and specialized fruit-forward yeast strain deliver complexity that competes with nationally distributed IPAs in the same price tier, making it strong value for drinkers who prioritize local craft and tropical hop character.

Why Hopular Kid?

The defining move here is the combination of five premium hop varieties — Centennial, Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Mosaic — with a deliberately chosen fruit-forward ale strain. That dual approach, hops layered in both the boil and the fermenter plus a yeast that amplifies tropical character, gives Hopular Kid a juicier, more cohesive fruit profile than single-hop or conventionally fermented IPAs in its class. Its 87 BeerAdvocate score and over 10,000 Untappd ratings confirm consistent drinker approval. For anyone seeking a hop-saturated but balanced IPA out of the Illinois craft scene, Hopular Kid delivers a specific, well-executed vision.