Hop Butcher Poppy Seed Bun 4Pk

Hop Butcher Poppy Seed Bun 4Pk is a 6.0% ABV American Pale Ale from Hop Butcher For The World, brewed exclusively with New Zealand Riwaka hops and sold as a four-pack. Scoring 90/100 on BeerAdvocate, this single-hop release stands out in the brewery's rotating lineup as a rare showcase for Riwaka's distinctive Southern Hemisphere character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: American Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Chicago, Illinois, and has built a devoted following through an aggressive rotation of hop-forward releases. Poppy Seed Bun is built on a base of 2 Row and Caramel malts, providing a lightly sweet, bready foundation that lets the hops take center stage. The defining production choice here is the use of 100% Hop Revolution Riwaka hops — a single-hop approach that isolates the unique terroir of this New Zealand varietal rather than blending multiple hop varieties as most American Pale Ales do.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe pink grapefruit and candied orange, followed by lychee and a distinct floral quality. Underneath, there is a Southern Hemisphere earthy funk that many reviewers liken to the scent of a freshly baked poppy seed bun — the bread crust and honey sweetness of the malt rounding out the hop aromatics.

Taste: The entry is fruit-forward with ruby red grapefruit flesh and tangerine, sliding into sweeter lemon and orange slice candy flavors at mid-palate. As it develops, tropical notes of mango, papaya, and peach emerge, balanced by a lightly caramelized grain backbone and gentle herbal bitterness from the Riwaka hops. The malt contributes just enough honey and bread crust sweetness to prevent the citrus from turning sharp.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering grapefruit and orange pith, accented by earthy pine and a subtle floral fade. The 6.0% ABV keeps the finish clean and sessionable, with no residual heaviness.

How to Drink Poppy Seed Bun

Pour cold into a tulip glass or shaker pint to open up the Riwaka aromatics; this beer rewards a slower pace and moderate chill rather than ice-cold consumption. For mixed drinks, Poppy Seed Bun's citrus-forward profile works well in a Pale Ale Shandy with fresh lemonade to amplify its grapefruit and lemon notes, a Michelada where its earthy funk complements tomato juice and hot sauce, or a Beer Margarita (beerita) where its tropical fruit character layers naturally with lime and tequila.

Best For

• Hop enthusiasts exploring single-hop releases and New Zealand varietals
• Sharing among friends during a craft beer tasting flight focused on pale ales
• Pairing with a weekend cookout or grilled seafood dinner
• Gifting to a Hop Butcher collector who tracks the brewery's rotating releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Poppy Seed Bun taste like? Poppy Seed Bun leads with ripe pink grapefruit, candied orange, and lychee, supported by a bready, lightly caramelized malt body. Earthy, herbal, and floral notes from the Riwaka hops give it a distinctive Southern Hemisphere character that sets it apart from typical American Pale Ales.

How does Poppy Seed Bun compare to Hop Butcher Grid? Grid uses a Citra and Mosaic hop blend that tends toward stone fruit and dank, resinous flavors, while Poppy Seed Bun relies on 100% Riwaka for a more citrus-dominant, earthy, and floral profile. Both share the same brewery's clean malt platform, but Poppy Seed Bun's single-hop approach delivers a more focused and geographically distinct hop expression.

Is Poppy Seed Bun good for sipping on its own? Yes — at 6.0% ABV with a well-balanced malt backbone and layered citrus and tropical fruit flavors, it drinks easily on its own and rewards attention without demanding a high tolerance for bitterness or alcohol heat.

Where is Poppy Seed Bun made? Poppy Seed Bun is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Chicago, Illinois. The Riwaka hops used in this beer are grown in New Zealand and supplied by Hop Revolution.

What foods pair well with Poppy Seed Bun? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos complement the citrus and tropical fruit notes. A soft, creamy cheese like burrata lets the hop aromatics shine. Thai green papaya salad mirrors the beer's grapefruit and herbal character. Roasted chicken with lemon and herbs echoes the malt's bready sweetness. Lightly spiced pork banh mi works well against the earthy funk of the Riwaka hops.

What sizes does Poppy Seed Bun come in? Poppy Seed Bun is available as a four-pack of cans, consistent with Hop Butcher For The World's standard packaging for their rotating releases.

Is Poppy Seed Bun worth the price? Poppy Seed Bun positions in the mid-premium tier typical of Chicago craft four-packs, and its 90/100 BeerAdvocate score alongside the use of 100% New Zealand Riwaka hops — a less common and harder-to-source varietal — provides genuine value for drinkers seeking something beyond standard domestic hop profiles.

Why Poppy Seed Bun?

The single biggest differentiator here is the 100% Riwaka hop bill. Where most American Pale Ales blend two or more hop varieties, Poppy Seed Bun isolates Riwaka to let its unique terroir — earthy funk, tropical fruit, and bright citrus — speak without interference. The result scored 90/100 on BeerAdvocate and earned a 4.0 on Untappd, signaling strong approval from both critic-adjacent raters and casual drinkers. For anyone building a vocabulary around individual hop profiles or simply looking for a Chicago-brewed pale ale with genuine personality, this is one of the more distinctive entries in Hop Butcher's rotating catalog.