Hop Butcher Best Buds 4Pk

Hop Butcher Best Buds 4Pk is a hazy Double IPA brewed at 8.0% ABV, sold as a 4-pack from Chicago's Hop Butcher for the World. A collaboration with Oklahoma's American Solera brewery, this release layers tropical hop character over a dense, juice-like body and carries a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,800 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double India Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher for the World  |  Collaboration: American Solera

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher for the World has built a devoted following in the Chicago craft scene by releasing a relentless rotation of hop-forward beers, many in limited batches. Best Buds pairs their house approach with American Solera, a Tulsa-based brewery recognized for experimental techniques and barrel-aged programs. The hop bill combines Simcoe, Motueka, and Simcoe Hyperboost — the latter a concentrated lupulin product derived from Simcoe that amplifies resinous and tropical characteristics without adding harsh vegetal bitterness. The result is a thick, opaque pour that drinks far more smoothly than its 8.0% ABV suggests.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pineapple leads, followed by mango pulp and a burst of fresh-squeezed orange juice. Beneath the fruit sits a layer of sticky pine resin and a faint dank, herbal undertone from the Simcoe base.

Taste: The entry is sweet and decidedly tropical, with juicy mango and pineapple dominating. Mid-palate, a peppery hop bite begins to emerge, balanced by soft malt sweetness and a pillowy mouthfeel. The body is remarkably thick — closer to fruit juice than conventional beer — and hides the alcohol with impressive restraint.

Finish: The sweetness recedes into a dank, resinous close with lingering peppery and green hop bitterness. The finish is medium-long with a dry, slightly grippy texture that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Best Buds

Pour cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouth IPA glass to let the aromatics open up; the haze and hop oils benefit from a little headroom. This DIPA is best enjoyed fresh and on its own to appreciate the hop interplay, though it does have some versatility. A Michelada riff works here — the tropical fruit notes complement hot sauce and lime. A Beer-garita (frozen margarita topped with DIPA) lets the mango and pineapple character amplify citrus. A simple Shandy with fresh lemonade tempers the ABV while stretching the tropical profile across a longer session.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow hop enthusiasts at a weekend cookout
• Exploring a limited-release collaboration between two respected craft breweries
• Pairing alongside spicy tacos or rich barbecue
• Adding variety to a curated craft beer tasting lineup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Best Buds taste like? Best Buds delivers a wave of tropical fruit — pineapple, mango, and orange — up front, transitioning into a peppery, dank hop bitterness on the finish. The mouthfeel is thick and hazy, almost juice-like, with the 8.0% ABV well-hidden beneath the flavor.

How does Best Buds compare to other Hop Butcher Double IPAs? Hop Butcher rotates DIPA recipes frequently, and Best Buds stands out as a collaboration release with American Solera rather than a solo house brew. The use of Simcoe Hyperboost concentrated lupulin alongside standard Simcoe and Motueka hops gives it a more pronounced resinous and dank backbone than many of their fruit-forward solo releases.

Is Best Buds good for sipping on its own? Yes — the dense tropical hop profile and creamy mouthfeel make it highly enjoyable poured cold into a glass. Its 8.0% ABV and rich body reward slow, attentive drinking rather than rapid consumption.

Where is Best Buds made? Best Buds is brewed by Hop Butcher for the World in Chicago, Illinois, in collaboration with American Solera, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hop Butcher operates out of Chicago and distributes primarily throughout the greater Illinois market.

What foods pair well with Best Buds? Spicy fish tacos match the tropical fruit notes while the hop bitterness cuts through the heat. Pulled pork with a tangy vinegar-based sauce balances the beer's sweetness. Thai green curry echoes the herbal, dank side of the hops. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the soft, juicy body. Grilled pineapple skewers reinforce the beer's dominant fruit character.

What sizes does Best Buds come in? Best Buds is sold as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard release format for Hop Butcher's rotating lineup.

Is Best Buds worth the price? Best Buds positions in the premium tier typical of limited-release hazy DIPAs from respected craft breweries. The collaboration pedigree, specialty lupulin hop additions, and consistently strong community ratings support its value within the category.

Why Best Buds?

The defining edge of Best Buds is its hop bill: Simcoe Hyperboost — a concentrated lupulin derivative — amplifies Simcoe's signature resinous and tropical punch without the astringency that conventional heavy-handed hopping can introduce. Pairing Hop Butcher's proven haze expertise with American Solera's experimental instincts yields a DIPA that balances sticky-sweet tropical fruit with a genuinely dank, peppery backbone. With a 4.1 out of 5 Untappd rating from over 1,800 drinkers, Best Buds has earned credibility beyond hype. For anyone drawn to opaque, juice-bomb DIPAs that still deliver hop complexity on the finish, this collaboration delivers on both fronts.