Around The Bend Villainous 4Pk

Around The Bend Villainous 4Pk is a four-yeast American IPA from Chicago's Around the Bend Beer Co., sold in a 4-pack at 7.0% ABV. What distinguishes this IPA from the crowded craft field is its unconventional fermentation — two British ale yeast strains and two West Coast strains work in tandem to create a hybrid profile that opens juicy and finishes dry. Villainous earned an 88 score on BeerAdvocate and holds a 3.7 out of 5 rating across more than 7,100 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Around the Bend Beer Co.

Production & Heritage

Around the Bend Beer Co. operates out of Chicago, Illinois, with a brewing philosophy rooted in bold experimentation. Villainous is hopped with a trio of Centennial, Simcoe, and Mosaic — varieties prized for their citrus, pine, and tropical aromatics. The defining production choice is the use of four distinct yeast strains in a single fermentation: two British strains contribute ester-driven fruit character and body, while two West Coast strains promote a cleaner, drier attenuation. The result is what the brewery describes as a "Super-IPA strain" — a beer that behaves like a New England IPA on the front end and shifts to West Coast dryness on the back.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Strong sweet citrus greets the nose first, followed by dank tropical fruit and a layer of resinous pine. Passionfruit and grapefruit dominate as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is immediately juicy, with ripe grapefruit and passionfruit pushing forward alongside subtle notes of apple, clover honey, and pear. Mid-palate, the British yeast character rounds the body before the West Coast strains take over, pulling the sweetness back toward a firm, resinous bitterness.

Finish: Off-dry and moderately long, with dank hop resin lingering alongside a faint herbal bitterness. The finish is clean enough to invite the next sip without cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Villainous

Pour Villainous into a tulip glass or standard pint at around 45°F to let the hop aromatics fully express. The beer drinks well on its own, but its hybrid character also makes it a strong base in beer cocktails. A Michelada benefits from Villainous's citrus-forward juiciness and dry finish cutting through the tomato and lime. A Hop Shandy — equal parts Villainous and fresh lemonade — plays off the grapefruit and passionfruit notes without becoming overly sweet. A Hop Drop 'n Roll (IPA layered with a shot of citrus vodka over ice) pairs naturally with the tropical hop profile and amplifies its resinous kick.

Best For

• IPA enthusiasts looking for a bridge between New England and West Coast styles
• Backyard cookouts and grilling sessions where hop-forward beer holds up to bold food
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to experimental fermentation techniques
• Stocking a curated beer fridge with something genuinely different from single-yeast IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Villainous taste like? Villainous opens with juicy grapefruit and passionfruit sweetness before shifting to a dank, resinous bitterness with an off-dry finish. Subtle mid-palate notes of apple, clover honey, and pear add complexity between the fruity entry and dry close.

How does Villainous compare to a traditional West Coast IPA? A standard West Coast IPA relies on a single clean-fermenting yeast for maximum dryness and hop bitterness throughout, while Villainous uses two British strains alongside two West Coast strains to front-load juicy fruit character before drying out. The result is a fuller body and more tropical fruit presence on the palate than most straight West Coast IPAs.

Is Villainous good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the evolving palate from juicy to dry makes it engaging to drink without food, especially when poured into a proper glass at cellar temperature to maximize aroma.

Where is Villainous made? Villainous is brewed by Around the Bend Beer Co. in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery is known for experimental approaches to classic American craft beer styles.

What foods pair well with Villainous? Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar match the beer's bitterness and fruit notes. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop character. Spicy Thai green curry is tempered by the juicy mouthfeel, while a simple charcuterie board with aged gouda and dried apricots complements the off-dry finish. Buffalo wings also work well, as the resinous hops cut through the richness of the sauce.

What sizes does Villainous come in? Villainous is commonly available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Around the Bend Beer Co.

Is Villainous worth the price? Villainous positions itself in the mid-range craft IPA tier, and the four-yeast fermentation process adds genuine production complexity that distinguishes it from single-strain competitors at a similar price point.

Why Villainous?

The four-yeast fermentation is not a marketing gimmick — it fundamentally shapes the beer's flavor arc, creating a juicy-to-dry transition that single-strain IPAs simply cannot replicate. The hop bill of Centennial, Simcoe, and Mosaic is well-proven in the IPA world, but the British ale yeasts pull unexpected ester-driven fruit notes from those same hops, adding a layer of complexity typically absent from American IPAs at this ABV. With an 88 on BeerAdvocate and consistent consumer ratings above 3.7 on Untappd, Villainous has earned a quiet but firm reputation among hop-forward drinkers who want more nuance than the average IPA delivers. For anyone tired of choosing sides in the hazy-versus-West-Coast debate, this beer refuses to pick one — and is better for it.