Hubbard's Cave Hopsurd 4Pk

Hubbard's Cave Hopsurd 4Pk is a 7.5% ABV hazy Imperial IPA brewed with Mosaic and Warrior hops, sold as a four-pack of 16 oz cans. This beer earned first place in BeerAdvocate's 2015 Chicago IPA ranking under its original Une Année label, and it continues to draw strong reviews with a 3.92 rating on Untappd from over 6,500 check-ins.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  IBU: 100  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial / Double New England IPA  |  Brewery: Hubbard's Cave (Une Année)

Production & Heritage

Hopsurd originated as a flagship release from Une Année Brewery in Niles, Illinois, a brewery known primarily for Belgian-inspired ales. As the brewery expanded its American-style portfolio, Hopsurd migrated to the Hubbard's Cave label — Une Année's dedicated brand for hop-forward and experimental American beers. The brew uses a combination of Mosaic and Warrior hops, with Mosaic supplying the tropical fruit aromatics and Warrior contributing a firm bittering backbone. Despite listing 100 IBUs on paper, the hazy, New England–influenced grain bill and generous late-hopping technique keep perceived bitterness remarkably low, letting fruit character dominate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tropical berry and ripe peach hit first, followed by waves of papaya and a subtle citrus undercurrent. The nose is juicy and inviting, with very little malt presence breaking through the hop aromatics.

Taste: The entry is soft and pillowy, immediately delivering peach, guava, and mango in a smooth, almost creamy texture. At mid-palate, tangerine and grapefruit add a bright citrus edge, while melon and papaya round things out. The malt backbone stays restrained — just enough body to support the hop load without any sweetness competing for attention.

Finish: Medium in length with a gentle, resinous fade and lingering notes of tropical fruit. Bitterness is barely perceptible despite the high IBU count, leaving a clean, dry close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Hopsurd

Pour cold — around 40–45°F — into a tulip or stemless IPA glass to amplify those volatile hop aromatics. Hopsurd is best consumed fresh; hazy IPAs lose their aromatic punch with age, so drink it as close to the canning date as possible. A classic IPA and burger pairing works well here, as the citrus cuts through rich, fatty beef. For a creative twist, try it alongside fish tacos with mango salsa, where the beer's tropical character mirrors the dish, or pair it with spicy Thai curry to let the smooth malt body temper the heat.

Best For

• Hazy IPA enthusiasts exploring the Chicago craft beer scene
• Sharing a four-pack at a backyard cookout with hop-loving friends
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who appreciates award-winning regional IPAs
• Pairing nights with bold, spicy, or grilled foods

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hopsurd taste like? Hopsurd delivers a juicy, tropical-fruit-forward flavor profile dominated by peach, papaya, mango, and citrus, supported by a soft, smooth malt backbone that keeps bitterness remarkably low for an Imperial IPA rated at 100 IBUs.

How does Hopsurd compare to Revolution Anti-Hero / DDH Revolution Hero? Both are prominent Chicago-area Imperial IPAs, and reviewers note similar tropical aromas between the two. Hopsurd leans further into the hazy, New England style with a softer mouthfeel and less perceived bitterness, while Revolution's Hero lineup tends to be slightly more West Coast–influenced with sharper hop bite.

Is Hopsurd good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the low perceived bitterness and lush fruit character make it very approachable straight from the can or poured into a glass, even for drinkers who typically find Imperial IPAs too aggressive.

Where is Hopsurd made? Hopsurd is brewed by Hubbard's Cave, the American-style brand of Une Année Brewery, located in Niles, Illinois, a suburb just northwest of Chicago.

What foods pair well with Hopsurd? Grilled burgers or bratwurst match the beer's body and let citrus notes cut through fat. Spicy Thai green curry benefits from the smooth malt cushion. Fish tacos with tropical salsa echo the peach-mango hop character. Sharp cheddar or aged Gouda create a satisfying contrast with the fruit-forward hops. Fried chicken pairs naturally, as the carbonation and hop oils cleanse the palate between bites.

What sizes does Hopsurd come in? Hopsurd is commonly available in four-packs of 16 oz cans, which is the standard format for Hubbard's Cave's hop-forward releases.

Is Hopsurd worth the price? Hopsurd positions as a mid-to-upper-tier craft Imperial IPA — competitively placed among other premium hazy four-packs from respected regional breweries. Its award history and consistently strong community ratings suggest solid value within the category.

Why Hopsurd?

Hopsurd earned its reputation the hard way — winning BeerAdvocate's Chicago IPA battle in 2015 against stiff local competition before the hazy IPA trend fully exploded. Its transition from the Une Année label to Hubbard's Cave preserved the original recipe while placing it under a brand dedicated entirely to American hop-driven styles. The Mosaic and Warrior hop combination delivers a layered tropical profile that punches well above what many Imperial IPAs achieve, and the contradiction between a 100-IBU specification and an almost bitterness-free drinking experience speaks to careful recipe engineering. For anyone serious about hazy IPAs from the Midwest, Hopsurd remains one of the benchmarks out of the Chicago area.