Buckledown Bent & Suspenders 4Pk

BuckleDown Belt & Suspenders IPA 4-Pack is a 7.0% ABV American IPA from BuckleDown Brewing in Lyons, Illinois, sold in a four-pack format. Rated 86 ("Very Good") on BeerAdvocate, this hop-forward ale distinguishes itself with a notably balanced malt-to-hop profile that multiple reviewers describe as leaning toward an English IPA sensibility.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.0%  |  IBU: 65  |  Origin: Lyons, Illinois  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: BuckleDown Brewing

Production & Heritage

BuckleDown Brewing operates out of Lyons, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. Belt & Suspenders is built on a base of pale and biscuit malts, hopped with a four-variety combination of Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, and El Dorado. That hop bill delivers layered citrus and tropical fruit aromatics while the 65 IBU bitterness stays proportional to the malt backbone, avoiding the aggressive astringency that characterizes many West Coast–influenced IPAs at this strength. The beer was originally released as Belt & Suspenders and has undergone a reformulation that brought more pronounced floral and citrus notes compared to earlier batches.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lemon zest and grapefruit peel lead the nose, followed by ripe pineapple and a delicate honeydew melon sweetness. Underneath the fruit, honeysuckle and floral notes emerge alongside a faint biscuity grain character.

Taste: The entry is bright with lemon and grapefruit citrus, transitioning into juicy pineapple and tropical fruit at mid-palate. A pale honey malt sweetness and caramel-bread quality provide structure, keeping the hop bitterness measured rather than aggressive. The 65 IBU reads cleaner than the number suggests thanks to that balanced malt foundation.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering floral and piney hop resin that dries gradually. Residual honeysuckle and a light biscuit note round out the close.

How to Drink Belt & Suspenders

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint glass at 45–50°F to let the hop aromatics open fully; the floral and citrus layers reward a slightly cooler-than-room-temperature serve. A classic IPA & burger pairing works well here because the hop bitterness cuts through richness. Try it alongside fish tacos, where the citrus hop profile echoes a squeeze of lime. It also stands up nicely to Thai green curry — the malt sweetness tempers capsaicin heat while the tropical hop notes complement coconut and lemongrass.

Best For

• Chicago-area craft beer fans exploring local suburban breweries
• IPA drinkers looking for a balanced, malt-supported hop profile rather than a bitter bomb
• Backyard cookouts and grilling sessions where a 7% ABV beer holds up to bold food
• Introducing a hop-curious friend to American IPAs without overwhelming bitterness

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Belt & Suspenders taste like? Belt & Suspenders delivers bright lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple hop flavors over a pale honey and biscuit malt base, with noticeable floral and honeysuckle notes throughout. The 65 IBU bitterness is firm but well-integrated, giving it a balanced rather than aggressively bitter character.

How does Belt & Suspenders compare to a traditional English IPA? Multiple reviewers note that Belt & Suspenders leans toward an English IPA style with its prominent malt backbone of honey and biscuit flavors, lighter fruit character, and floral hop emphasis. However, its use of American hop varieties like Citra and Amarillo delivers more tropical and citrus punch than a classic English IPA would typically offer.

Is Belt & Suspenders good for IPA beginners? Yes — its balanced malt-to-hop ratio and measured bitterness make it more approachable than many 65-IBU IPAs. The honey malt sweetness softens the hop intensity, providing a gateway into the style without sacrificing complexity.

Where is Belt & Suspenders made? Belt & Suspenders is brewed by BuckleDown Brewing at 8700 47th Street in Lyons, Illinois, a suburb directly west of Chicago in Cook County.

What foods pair well with Belt & Suspenders? Grilled burgers or bratwurst benefit from the hop bitterness cutting through fat. Spicy Thai or Mexican dishes pair well because the malt sweetness counters heat. Sharp cheddar and aged gouda complement the caramel malt notes. Citrus-dressed salads or ceviche echo the beer's grapefruit and lemon hop character.

What sizes does Belt & Suspenders come in? Belt & Suspenders is available in a four-pack format, which is the standard offering from BuckleDown Brewing for this particular IPA.

Is Belt & Suspenders worth the price? Belt & Suspenders positions as a mid-range craft IPA, competitive with other four-pack offerings from independent regional breweries. Its BeerAdvocate score of 86 and strong community ratings on Untappd (3.8 out of 5 across more than 19,000 ratings) suggest solid value within the crowded American IPA category.

Why Belt & Suspenders?

In a market saturated with haze-forward and resin-heavy IPAs, Belt & Suspenders stands out by committing to balance. The four-hop combination of Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, and El Dorado produces genuinely layered aromatics — citrus, tropical fruit, and honeysuckle — without relying on a single dominant variety. Its BeerAdvocate score of 86 and consistent Untappd approval across more than 19,000 reviews indicate an IPA that delivers reliably rather than chasing trends. For drinkers who want hop character with structural malt support, this Lyons, Illinois brew earns its place as a dependable, well-constructed American IPA.