Hop Butcher Take the High Wave 4Pk

Hop Butcher Take the High Wave 4Pk is a hop-forward India Pale Ale from Chicago's Hop Butcher for The World, sold in a four-pack of cans. Brewed with a distinctive trio of Tangier, Mosaic, and Peacharine hops, this release has earned a 3.9 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 870 user reviews — a strong showing in a crowded IPA landscape.

Quick Facts: Style: India Pale Ale  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Hops: Tangier, Mosaic, Peacharine  |  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 a relentless rotation of limited-release IPAs. Take the High Wave leans on three carefully selected hop varieties — Tangier, Mosaic, and Peacharine — a combination designed to push tropical and stone-fruit character to the forefront. Like most Hop Butcher releases, this beer reflects the brewery's philosophy of small-batch, hop-centric brewing with minimal shelf time between canning and distribution.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe melon and passionfruit dominate the nose, supported by a secondary wave of citrus peel and soft tropical sweetness. The Mosaic hops lend their signature dank, fruity quality throughout.

Taste: The entry is juicy, with passionfruit and grapefruit arriving quickly and coating the palate. Mid-palate, melon flavors from the Tangier and Peacharine hops emerge, adding depth and a slightly stone-fruit sweetness. A measured bitterness builds toward the back, keeping the tropical notes from becoming one-dimensional.

Finish: Moderate in length with a dry, resinous bitterness that lingers alongside faint grapefruit pith. The sweetness fades cleanly, leaving a hop-forward impression that invites another sip.

How to Drink Take the High Wave

Pour cold into a tulip glass or standard pint glass to release the aromatic hop oils; drinking straight from the can mutes much of the tropical nose. Take the High Wave drinks well on its own, but the hop profile also lends itself to a few creative serves:

• IPA Shandy: Mix half-and-half with fresh lemonade — the passionfruit and grapefruit notes amplify the citrus base.
• Beer-a-Rita: Combine with lime juice and a salted rim for a hop-forward riff on the classic — the bitterness replaces the need for additional tequila bite.
• Hop Michelada: Pair with tomato juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire — the tropical hops add unexpected complexity to the savory mix.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow IPA enthusiasts during a weekend cookout
• Introducing hop-curious friends to Chicago's craft beer scene
• Adding variety to a curated beer tasting flight of hazy IPAs
• Pairing with bold, spicy dishes at a casual dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Take the High Wave taste like? Take the High Wave delivers a juicy blend of passionfruit, melon, and grapefruit flavors with a moderate bitter finish. The Mosaic, Tangier, and Peacharine hop combination gives it a distinctly tropical, fruit-forward profile.

How does Take the High Wave compare to other Hop Butcher IPAs? Hop Butcher releases a wide rotation of limited IPAs, and Take the High Wave distinguishes itself through its specific hop bill of Tangier, Mosaic, and Peacharine, which steers the flavor toward melon and stone fruit rather than the pure citrus or pine found in some of the brewery's other expressions.

Is Take the High Wave good for sipping on its own? Yes — poured into a glass at refrigerator temperature, it drinks well as a standalone beer, with enough hop complexity and balanced bitterness to keep things interesting across the full four-pack.

Where is Take the High Wave made? Take the High Wave is brewed by Hop Butcher for The World in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery has become one of the city's most sought-after IPA producers, known for frequent limited releases distributed primarily in the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Take the High Wave? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa match the tropical hop character. Spicy Thai green curry contrasts the bitterness with rich coconut heat. Sharp cheddar cheese mirrors the grapefruit acidity. Jerk chicken gains depth alongside the melon and passionfruit notes. Fish and chips benefit from the beer's dry, bitter finish cutting through the fried batter.

What sizes does Take the High Wave come in? Take the High Wave is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard release format for Hop Butcher for The World's rotating IPA lineup.

Is Take the High Wave worth the price? Take the High Wave positions in the premium craft IPA tier, consistent with other limited-rotation releases from respected independent breweries. Its strong Untappd rating of 3.9 out of 5 and distinctive hop bill support its standing as a competitive choice in a crowded field.

Why Take the High Wave?

What sets Take the High Wave apart is the deliberate pairing of Tangier and Peacharine hops alongside the well-known Mosaic variety — a combination that produces a melon-and-stone-fruit character not commonly found in the standard citrus-and-pine IPA playbook. Hop Butcher for The World has earned its reputation by treating each release as a standalone project rather than a permanent lineup fixture, and Take the High Wave reflects that approach. With a 3.9 Untappd rating built on hundreds of independent reviews, it has proven its appeal beyond local hype. For drinkers who track Chicago's craft beer scene or simply want a well-executed tropical IPA, this four-pack delivers a focused, flavorful experience.