Church Street Brimstone 6Pk

Church Street Brimstone 6Pk is a dry-hopped West Coast-style American IPA with 80 IBUs, brewed by Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois. This six-pack showcases a hop-forward profile built on vibrant citrus and resinous pine, distinguished by a brewing process rooted in traditional German decoction mashing — a labor-intensive technique rarely applied to American IPAs.

Quick Facts: IBU: 80  |  Style: American IPA (West Coast)  |  Origin: Itasca, Illinois  |  Brewery: Church Street Brewing Company  |  Format: 6-Pack

Production & Heritage

Church Street Brewing Company operates a 30-barrel brewing system in Itasca, a western suburb of Chicago. What separates Brimstone from the broader field of West Coast IPAs is the brewery's commitment to German decoction mashing — a time-intensive process that involves removing a portion of the mash, boiling it separately, and returning it to the main vessel to build deeper malt complexity. The result is a more structured malt backbone than most hop-forward IPAs deliver, giving Brimstone a foundation that supports rather than surrenders to its aggressive dry-hopping regimen.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tangerine and grapefruit citrus dominate the nose immediately, followed by supporting floral tones and a layer of resinous pine. The hop aromatics are assertive but clean, consistent with a well-executed West Coast dry-hop.

Taste: The entry delivers a wave of citric hop bitterness — grapefruit, papaya, pineapple, and mango arrive in quick succession, layered over a firm pine resin core. Mid-palate, caramel malt sweetness emerges to counterbalance the 80 IBUs, lending body and preventing the bitterness from becoming one-dimensional. The hop-malt interplay holds steady through the peak, with tropical fruit and sticky pine sharing equal space.

Finish: Long and decisively bitter, with grapefruit pith and pine lingering well after each sip. The caramel malt fades first, leaving a dry, resinous close that invites the next drink.

How to Drink Brimstone

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint at around 45°F to let the hop aromatics open fully; drinking straight from the can will mute much of the citrus and floral complexity. Brimstone works in a Hop Shandy — mixed with fresh lemonade, the citrus hops amplify the tartness for warm-weather drinking. It also performs well in an IPA Michelada, where the pine bitterness complements lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire. For something unconventional, try it in a Beer-a-Rita style serve over ice with a salted rim, where the 80 IBUs cut through salt and citrus cleanly.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where hop-forward beer matches charred and smoky foods
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to a textbook West Coast IPA
• Bringing a six-pack to a gathering of hop enthusiasts
• Pairing alongside bold, spicy, or richly flavored meals

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Brimstone taste like? Brimstone is a hop-forward West Coast IPA dominated by grapefruit, pine, and tropical fruit notes like papaya and mango, balanced by a caramel malt sweetness that keeps the 80 IBUs in check. The finish is long, dry, and resinous.

How does Brimstone compare to AleSmith IPA? Both are West Coast-style IPAs with assertive hop bitterness and citrus-pine profiles, though Brimstone's use of German decoction mashing gives it a slightly richer malt body than the leaner, more purely hop-driven AleSmith IPA. AleSmith IPA sits at 7.25% ABV and tends toward a more traditional bitter finish, while Brimstone leans into tropical fruit alongside its citrus character.

Is Brimstone good for IPA beginners? At 80 IBUs, Brimstone sits on the more aggressive end of the IPA spectrum, so drinkers new to the style may find the bitterness intense. However, the caramel malt backbone provides enough sweetness to ease the transition for someone ready to explore West Coast hops.

Where is Brimstone made? Brimstone is brewed at Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, a suburb located roughly 25 miles west of downtown Chicago. The brewery operates a 30-barrel system and focuses on traditional brewing methods.

What foods pair well with Brimstone? Spicy buffalo wings work well, as the hop bitterness cuts through heat and fat. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar complement the caramel malt sweetness. Fish tacos with citrus slaw mirror the beer's grapefruit and tropical notes. Aged Gouda or pepper jack cheese stand up to the assertive bitterness. Carnitas or pulled pork with a tangy vinegar-based sauce echo the pine and citrus finish.

What sizes does Brimstone come in? Brimstone is available in a six-pack format; individual can or bottle sizes follow standard craft beer packaging.

Is Brimstone worth the price? Brimstone positions as a solid mid-range craft IPA, and the use of decoction mashing — a more expensive and time-consuming brewing process — adds genuine production value that many competing six-packs at similar price points do not offer.

Why Brimstone?

The defining edge here is the decoction mash. Most American IPA brewers skip this step entirely because it adds hours to the brew day with no guarantee casual drinkers will notice the difference — but in Brimstone, the result is a malt structure that actually holds its ground against 80 IBUs of dry-hopped bitterness. That balance is what separates a well-built West Coast IPA from one that simply bludgeons you with hops. With over 5,900 ratings on Untappd and a score of 80 on BeerAdvocate, Brimstone has earned consistent recognition from the craft beer community as a reliable, well-executed expression of the style. For drinkers who want a six-pack that delivers genuine hop intensity without abandoning malt complexity, this is a strong pick from a brewery that takes traditional technique seriously.