Hop Butcher Skrap Metal 4Pk

Hop Butcher Skrap Metal 4Pk is a hazy Double IPA from Chicago's Hop Butcher For The World brewery, coming in at 7.5% ABV in a 4-pack of 16oz cans. It earned a 94 score on BeerAdvocate across 100 ratings, placing it firmly among the brewery's most acclaimed releases and standing out for its use of the less common Ekuanot hop alongside Citra and El Dorado.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World  |  Hops: Ekuanot, Citra, El Dorado

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of 4257 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago and has built a devoted following around its rotating roster of hop-forward ales. The brewery's stated philosophy centers on showcasing unusual or hard-to-find hop varietals, and Skrap Metal delivers on that promise by leading with Ekuanot — a hop far less prevalent in the craft landscape than the ubiquitous Citra and El Dorado that round out the bill. The result is a Double IPA that leans into tropical complexity rather than single-note bitterness, brewed in the hazy, unfiltered style that defines the Hop Butcher lineup.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dank tropical fruit leads immediately, followed by waves of lime zest and sweet melon. A secondary layer of pineapple and ripe mango fills out the nose with juicy intensity.

Taste: The entry is soft and full-bodied, delivering a burst of mango and pineapple upfront. Mid-palate, grapefruit and orange citrus take over, adding tartness and structure. A thread of unripe melon and subtle green, vegetal character from the Ekuanot hop gives the beer a distinctive edge that separates it from more straightforward tropical DIPAs.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, citrus-forward fade anchored by lime. Bitterness is restrained and balanced, leaving the palate refreshed rather than coated.

How to Drink Skrap Metal

Pour cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint to open up the aromatic complexity — this beer rewards a proper pour rather than drinking straight from the can. For cocktail-curious drinkers: a Michelada built with Skrap Metal amplifies its citrus backbone with hot sauce and lime; a Beer Margarita (blending the DIPA with tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice over ice) creates a punchy summer drink; and a Shandy mixed half-and-half with fresh lemonade tames the ABV while highlighting the melon and pineapple notes.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow hop enthusiasts who appreciate rotating, limited-release IPAs
• Summer cookouts where a juicy, fruit-forward beer holds its own alongside grilled food
• Gifting to a craft beer fan exploring Chicago's brewery scene
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Ekuanot-driven DIPAs against more conventional hop bills

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Skrap Metal taste like? Skrap Metal delivers a tropical fruit-forward profile dominated by mango, pineapple, and grapefruit, balanced by lime zest and a distinctive melon note from the Ekuanot hop. It drinks hazy, juicy, and full-bodied with restrained bitterness.

How does Skrap Metal compare to Hop Butcher Unwind Your Mind? Both are hazy, hop-forward offerings from the same brewery, but Skrap Metal leans more heavily on tropical and citrus fruit character driven by Ekuanot, while Unwind Your Mind uses a different hop combination that shifts the flavor emphasis. Reviewers frequently compare the two, with Skrap Metal generally noted as more dank and melon-forward.

Is Skrap Metal good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — this is a beer built for thoughtful drinking, with enough aromatic complexity and layered fruit character to reward slow consumption from a proper glass.

Where is Skrap Metal made? Skrap Metal is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World at their facility at 4257 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery is a Chicago-based operation known for its rotating lineup of hop-driven ales.

What foods pair well with Skrap Metal? Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the beer's tropical profile; spicy Thai green curry contrasts the juicy sweetness with heat; grilled shrimp with citrus glaze complements the lime and grapefruit notes; sharp aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint; and carnitas with pickled onion balance the haze with acidity and richness.

What sizes does Skrap Metal come in? Skrap Metal is available as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, the standard format for Hop Butcher For The World's rotating releases.

Is Skrap Metal worth the price? Skrap Metal positions as a premium craft Double IPA from one of Chicago's most sought-after breweries, and its 94 BeerAdvocate score and 4.2 Untappd rating across nearly 10,000 check-ins suggest it consistently delivers at or above expectations for the category. For fans of hazy DIPAs, it represents strong value within the limited-release tier.

Why Skrap Metal?

What sets Skrap Metal apart in a crowded hazy DIPA field is the prominence of Ekuanot — a hop that remains underutilized across the broader craft landscape, contributing the beer's distinctive melon and dank vegetal undertones that most tropical IPAs lack. That 94 BeerAdvocate score reflects genuine consistency across a meaningful number of independent reviews, not hype. Hop Butcher's model of rotating, small-batch releases means Skrap Metal carries an inherent scarcity that rewards those who grab it when available. For drinkers who think they've tried every iteration of the hazy DIPA, this one makes a persuasive case for a second look at what an unconventional hop bill can accomplish.