Hop Butcher Soar 4Pk

Hop Butcher Soar 4-Pack is a 4.75% ABV Mexican style lager brewed by Hop Butcher for the World in Darien, Illinois. What separates Soar from standard Mexican lagers is a deliberate hop-forward approach using New Zealand and European hop varieties — including Wakatu, Tettnanger, HORT-9909, and Wai-iti — that lend the beer a floral, fruity complexity uncommon in the style. It earned an 8.25/10 from Two Beer Dudes and strong marks on BeerAdvocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.75%  |  Origin: Darien, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Mexican Style Lager  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher for the World

Brewery & Production

Hop Butcher for the World operates out of Darien, a western suburb of Chicago, and has built a devoted following for hop-centric styles ranging from hazy IPAs to pale ales. Soar represents the brewery's interpretation of the Mexican lager — a style traditionally defined by clean malt character and minimal hop expression. By featuring Wakatu and Wai-iti hops from New Zealand alongside the classic German Tettnanger variety and the experimental HORT-9909, Hop Butcher infuses the lager with more aromatic and flavor complexity than the style typically allows, while keeping the body light and the ABV sessionable at 4.75%.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet cereal grain and fresh cracker lead the nose, followed by a subtle apricot fruitiness contributed by the New Zealand hop bill. A light yeast character rounds out the aromatics without dominating.

Taste: The palate opens with gentle bitterness that quickly integrates into a smooth, cereal-forward midsection. The hop presence is more pronounced than a conventional Mexican lager — fruity and slightly herbal — but it never overwhelms the clean malt backbone. A faint stone-fruit sweetness, reminiscent of apricot, threads through the mid-palate.

Finish: Crisp and dry with a quick, refreshing close. A trace of hop bitterness lingers just long enough to invite the next sip without any harsh or astringent aftertaste.

How to Drink Soar

Soar drinks best ice cold, straight from the can or poured into a pilsner glass to catch its aromatics. At 4.75% ABV, it is built for extended sessions in warm weather. A Michelada works well here — the hop complexity adds dimension against tomato juice, lime, and hot sauce. A Shandy pairing with fresh lemonade amplifies the apricot notes for a low-ABV afternoon drink. For a simple twist, a Chelada with just lime juice and salt lets Soar's hop character stay in the foreground.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and summer grilling sessions where sessionability matters
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to a hop-forward take on a familiar style
• Pairing with tacos, ceviche, and lighter Mexican fare
• Stocking as a crushable, everyday fridge beer for warm months

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Soar taste like? Soar delivers sweet cereal and cracker malt up front with a subtle apricot fruitiness and more hop bitterness than a typical Mexican lager, finishing crisp and clean.

How does Soar compare to Pacifico Clara? Pacifico Clara is a traditional Mexican lager with a straightforward, malt-driven profile and minimal hop character. Soar uses four hop varieties — including New Zealand Wakatu and Wai-iti — to deliver noticeably more aromatic complexity and gentle bitterness while maintaining a similar light body and refreshing drinkability.

Is Soar good for craft beer beginners? Absolutely — the 4.75% ABV and familiar lager framework make it highly approachable, while the hop character gives it enough personality to feel like a step up from mass-produced Mexican lagers.

Where is Soar made? Soar is brewed by Hop Butcher for the World in Darien, Illinois, a suburb located roughly 25 miles west of downtown Chicago.

What foods pair well with Soar? Fish tacos complement the beer's crisp finish and subtle apricot hop notes. Grilled shrimp with lime works well against the clean malt and gentle bitterness. Elote (Mexican street corn) mirrors the cereal sweetness. A simple ceviche highlights the beer's refreshing qualities, and lighter cheeses like queso fresco create a smooth textural contrast.

What sizes does Soar come in? Soar is available in a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher for the World's beer releases.

Is Soar worth the price? Soar positions as a craft alternative to mass-produced Mexican lagers, and its use of specialty hops from New Zealand and Germany justifies a modest premium over imported grocery-store options — particularly for drinkers seeking more flavor from the style.

Why Soar?

Hop Butcher for the World has earned its reputation on hop-driven beers, and Soar demonstrates that expertise applied with restraint. The combination of Wakatu, Tettnanger, HORT-9909, and Wai-iti hops gives this Mexican lager a layered aromatic profile — apricot, herbal, floral — that most examples in the category simply do not attempt. At 4.75% ABV, it remains as sessionable as any traditional Mexican lager while rewarding more attentive drinking. For anyone who enjoys the ease of a crisp lager but wants genuine craft complexity behind it, Soar fills that gap convincingly.