Hop Butcher Aspect of Aires 4Pk

Hop Butcher Aspect of Aries 4Pk is a hazy Double IPA from Chicago's Hop Butcher For The World brewery, clocking in at 8.0% ABV in a four-pack of 16 oz cans. This release carries a strong 4.12 average rating on Untappd across more than 1,300 reviews, placing it among the brewery's well-regarded rotating roster of imperial hazies.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double / Imperial New England IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World has built a reputation in Chicago's craft beer scene by dedicating roughly 85% of its production to Double IPAs at 8% ABV and above. What separates the brewery from peers churning out similar styles is its development of six distinct approaches to hazy beer construction, ensuring each release tastes meaningfully different from the last. Aspect of Aries features a hop bill of Enigma, Simcoe, and Riwaka — a combination that leans into Southern Hemisphere tropical character from the New Zealand-grown Riwaka alongside the resinous depth of Simcoe and the wine-like fruit notes of Australian-grown Enigma.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe mango and tropical fruit hit first, followed by dank, resinous hop character. A subtle stone-fruit sweetness from the Enigma hops rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is juicy and fruit-forward, with mango and mixed tropical flavors dominating the front palate. A creamy, pillowy mouthfeel carries through the mid-palate, keeping the beer dangerously drinkable for its 8% ABV. The dank hop quality emerges toward the back, adding complexity beyond the fruit.

Finish: A welcome bitterness arrives on the finish, grounding the sweetness and preventing the beer from feeling cloying. The tropical fruit impression lingers alongside a light resinous bite that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Aspect of Aries

Pour into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass at around 40–45°F to let the hop aromatics open up fully; drinking straight from the can mutes much of the nuance. This is best enjoyed fresh — hazies of this style lose hop vibrancy quickly, so drink within a few weeks of purchase. A classic IPA Shandy works well if you want to lighten the ABV with fresh lemonade on a hot day. For a beer cocktail riff, try a Michelada variation using Aspect of Aries in place of a lager — its tropical fruit character pairs surprisingly well with lime and hot sauce. A Beermosa with fresh mango juice amplifies the hop bill's natural tropical lean.

Best For

• Sharing at a backyard cookout with fellow hop-forward beer enthusiasts
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who tracks Hop Butcher's rotating releases
• Pairing alongside spicy tacos or Thai takeout on a Friday night
• Exploring the differences between Southern Hemisphere and American hop profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aspect of Aries taste like? Aspect of Aries delivers a juicy, tropical fruit profile led by mango and dank hop resin, carried by a creamy mouthfeel and balanced by a firm bitterness on the finish. It drinks easier than its 8.0% ABV suggests.

How does Aspect of Aries compare to Tree House Julius? Both are acclaimed hazy IPAs with tropical fruit-forward profiles, but Julius sits at a lower ABV (around 6.8%) and emphasizes bright citrus and orange notes, while Aspect of Aries runs hotter at 8.0% with a danker, more mango-driven character. Tree House and Hop Butcher are widely considered heavy hitters in the American hazy and Double IPA space.

Is Aspect of Aries good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the creamy body and layered tropical hop character make it a satisfying standalone pour, best enjoyed from a glass at just below refrigerator temperature to let the aromatics express fully.

Where is Aspect of Aries made? Aspect of Aries is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery focuses almost exclusively on hop-forward styles, with Double IPAs making up the vast majority of its output.

What foods pair well with Aspect of Aries? Spicy fish tacos work well, as the beer's tropical fruit echoes the citrus garnish while the bitterness cuts through the heat. Rich, fatty burgers benefit from the carbonation and hop bite. Thai green curry complements the mango notes. Sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese stands up to the beer's intensity. Mango sticky rice makes for an indulgent dessert pairing that mirrors the hop profile.

What sizes does Aspect of Aries come in? Aspect of Aries is available as a four-pack of 16 oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating Double IPA releases.

Is Aspect of Aries worth the price? Aspect of Aries positions as a premium craft Double IPA, priced in line with other top-tier hazy releases from respected independent breweries. The combination of specialty hop varieties like Riwaka and Enigma, a strong community rating, and Hop Butcher's focused brewing approach represents solid value within the imperial hazy IPA category.

Why Aspect of Aries?

Hop Butcher's commitment to brewing six distinct hazy beer formulations means each release isn't just a reshuffled hop bill — the base beer itself is engineered differently. Aspect of Aries takes advantage of that philosophy by pairing New Zealand Riwaka with Australian Enigma, a Southern Hemisphere duo that gives the beer a tropical character distinct from the Citra-and-Mosaic formulas that dominate the style. With a 4.12 Untappd rating across more than 1,300 reviews, this release has earned genuine credibility among a demanding audience of hazy IPA drinkers. For anyone tracking what Chicago's craft scene produces at its peak, this is a release worth grabbing fresh.