Hop Butcher Maxwell & Coney Hit the Road 4Pk

Hop Butcher Maxwell & Coney Hit the Road 4Pk is a hazy Double New England-Style India Pale Ale brewed in Chicago at 7.75% ABV, sold as a four-pack of 16 oz cans. This collaboration between Hop Butcher For The World and Wandering Monster Brewing layers four distinct hop varieties — Mosaic, Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Maui Nelson — into a juicy, tropical package that earned a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd from nearly 2,000 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.75%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double New England IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of 4257 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, where the brewery has built a devoted following through a relentless schedule of limited hazy IPA releases. Maxwell & Coney Hit the Road was brewed in collaboration with Wandering Monster Brewing, combining Hop Butcher's expertise in soft, pillowy Double IPAs with a hop bill designed to maximize tropical fruit expression. The four-hop blend pairs the stone fruit and berry character of Mosaic and Citra with the white grape and gooseberry punch of Nelson Sauvin and its newer descendant, Maui Nelson. Label artwork for this release was created by artist Dan Grzeca.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: White grape juice leads the nose, followed quickly by ripe mango and fresh-squeezed orange. A subtle grassy undertone from the Nelson Sauvin and Maui Nelson hops adds complexity beneath the fruit-forward top notes.

Taste: The entry is lush with pineapple and mango, giving way to a mid-palate of white grape and candied lime that keeps things from veering into one-dimensional sweetness. A zesty lemon brightness emerges alongside melon notes before a measured bitter hop bite anchors the back end. The medium body and creamy mouthfeel carry the flavors without heaviness.

Finish: Soft and crisp with medium carbonation, the finish wraps up cleanly rather than lingering with harsh bitterness. Faint pineapple and citrus rind echo for a few seconds before fading.

How to Drink Hit the Road

Drink this one fresh and cold — hazy Double IPAs lose their aromatic intensity over time, so don't cellar it. Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint to let the aromatics open up. While Double IPAs are best enjoyed on their own rather than in cocktails, Hit the Road works well in a Hop Shandy blended with fresh lemonade on hot days, a Michelada where the tropical hop character plays against tomato and lime, or a Beermosa paired with mango or guava juice for a brunch serve that leans into the beer's fruit-forward personality.

Best For

• Hazy IPA fans exploring Chicago's limited-release craft scene
• Sharing with friends during a backyard cookout or tasting session
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who values brewery collaborations
• Pairing alongside a weekend taco spread or fish fry

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hit the Road taste like? Hit the Road delivers a juicy wave of pineapple, mango, and white grape with candied lime and a zesty lemon edge, balanced by a moderate bitter hop finish. The mouthfeel is creamy and medium-bodied with soft carbonation.

How does Hit the Road compare to other Hop Butcher Double IPAs? While Hop Butcher releases dozens of hazy Double IPAs each year, Hit the Road stands apart through its collaboration with Wandering Monster Brewing and its use of both Nelson Sauvin and Maui Nelson hops, which push white grape and gooseberry notes further forward than many of the brewery's Mosaic-Citra-centric releases.

Is Hit the Road good for sipping on its own? Yes — at 7.75% ABV, it sits in a drinkable range for a Double IPA and rewards slow sipping from a proper glass, where the layered tropical and grape-forward hop character can fully express itself.

Where is Hit the Road made? Hit the Road is brewed at Hop Butcher For The World's facility at 4257 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago, Illinois, in the city's North Center neighborhood.

What foods pair well with Hit the Road? Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the beer's tropical hop profile. Grilled shrimp with lime butter echoes the citrus notes. A creamy goat cheese or burrata salad contrasts the hop bitterness. Spicy Thai green curry benefits from the beer's fruity sweetness as a counterbalance. Lemon-herb grilled chicken keeps pace with the zesty, herbal undertones.

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

Is Hit the Road worth the price? Hit the Road positions as a premium limited-release Double IPA from one of Chicago's most sought-after haze breweries, and the collaboration element with Wandering Monster Brewing adds collectibility. For fans of the style, the quality of the hop bill and execution justify its place in the upper tier of craft four-pack pricing.

Why Hit the Road?

The defining feature here is the four-hop combination: pairing the proven tropical foundation of Mosaic and Citra with both Nelson Sauvin and its newer descendant Maui Nelson creates a white grape and gooseberry dimension that most hazy Double IPAs simply don't have. The collaboration with Wandering Monster Brewing adds a layer of intent beyond Hop Butcher's already prolific solo output. With an 86 on BeerAdvocate and a 4.1 on Untappd across nearly 2,000 ratings, Hit the Road has been validated by a broad base of craft drinkers. It's a focused, well-executed release that rewards anyone who appreciates what New Zealand-derived hops bring to the New England IPA framework.