Hubbard's Cave Milk of the Murder Hornet 4Pk

Hubbard's Cave Milk of the Murder Hornet 4Pk is a double dry hopped milkshake Imperial IPA brewed at 8.5% ABV and sold in a four-pack format. Brewed in Niles, Illinois, this hazy IIPA distinguishes itself through a combination of Galaxy and Mosaic hops layered with lactose and vanilla beans, producing a dense, fruit-forward beer that leans heavily into the milkshake IPA tradition without abandoning hop bitterness entirely.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois, USA  |  Style: DDH Milkshake Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Hubbard's Cave

Production & Heritage

Hubbard's Cave operates out of Niles, Illinois, at 6343 Gross Point Road, and has built a following around aggressively hopped, adjunct-laden IPAs and stouts. Milk of the Murder Hornet is double dry hopped—meaning hops are added in two separate charges during fermentation or conditioning—using Galaxy hops prized for their tropical character alongside Mosaic hops known for berry and citrus contributions. The addition of lactose (milk sugar), which yeast cannot ferment, provides residual sweetness and body, while vanilla beans add an aromatic layer that nudges the beer into milkshake territory. Various fruit additions round out the recipe, contributing to the lush, juice-like quality drinkers have come to expect from this expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla and lactose sweetness arrive first, followed by ripe mango and a fruited milkshake quality. There is virtually no perceptible hop aroma on the nose—peach, orange, and strawberry notes dominate instead.

Taste: The entry is soft and sweet, with vanilla hitting the front palate before giving way to juicy mango, peach, and orange at mid-palate. Citrus undertones weave through the sweetness, and a pronounced bitterness emerges on the back end that cuts through the lactose and fruit, preventing the beer from becoming cloying. At 8.5% ABV, the alcohol is well-integrated and rarely announces itself.

Finish: Medium-long with a bitter citrus bite that balances the residual sweetness from the lactose. A faint vanilla warmth lingers alongside dry hop resin as the fruit character slowly fades.

How to Drink Milk of the Murder Hornet

Pour into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics open up; this beer rewards a slow, deliberate pour that builds a modest head. Drink it fresh—milkshake IPAs are built for immediacy, not cellaring. While cocktail mixing is uncommon with craft beer at this intensity, the tropical and vanilla profile makes it a compelling float base when paired with vanilla ice cream, a worthy shandy component blended with fresh mango juice, or an interesting beer-tail when shaken briefly with a splash of orange liqueur over ice.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow craft beer enthusiasts exploring the milkshake IPA style
• Pairing alongside a backyard barbecue spread with bold, spicy flavors
• Gifting to a hop-forward beer lover looking for something beyond standard hazy IPAs
• Weekend tasting sessions comparing milkshake IIPAs side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Milk of the Murder Hornet taste like? It leads with vanilla and ripe mango sweetness driven by lactose, then transitions into citrus and peach notes before a firm bitter finish cuts through to keep the beer balanced. The overall impression is of a fruited milkshake with enough hop bite to remind you it is still an Imperial IPA.

How does Milk of the Murder Hornet compare to Hop Butcher Blazed Orange Milkshake? Both are Illinois-brewed milkshake IPAs, but Milk of the Murder Hornet relies on Galaxy and Mosaic hops with vanilla beans for its tropical-vanilla backbone, while Hop Butcher's Blazed Orange Milkshake leans into a more explicitly orange-forward citrus profile. Hubbard's Cave tends to push the mango and peach spectrum harder, giving it a slightly more tropical overall character.

Is Milk of the Murder Hornet good for sipping on its own? Yes—at 8.5% ABV with substantial body from the lactose, it drinks like a standalone experience and rewards slow, attentive sipping from a proper glass. The complexity of the fruit, vanilla, and hop interplay gives it enough dimension to hold interest without food or accompaniment.

Where is Milk of the Murder Hornet made? It is brewed by Hubbard's Cave at their facility located at 6343 Gross Point Road in Niles, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago.

What foods pair well with Milk of the Murder Hornet? Spicy Thai curry benefits from the lactose sweetness cutting capsaicin heat. Grilled pork tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's tropical notes. Sharp cheddar or aged gouda provides a savory counterpoint to the vanilla and fruit. Coconut shrimp amplifies the tropical character, and a simple vanilla bean cheesecake mirrors the dessert-like qualities without overwhelming the palate.

What sizes does Milk of the Murder Hornet come in? It is primarily available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this expression.

Is Milk of the Murder Hornet worth the price? It positions as a premium craft offering within the milkshake Imperial IPA category, where adjunct-heavy recipes and double dry hopping drive production costs higher than standard IPAs. For drinkers who value the milkshake IPA style, the layered fruit, vanilla, and lactose complexity delivers at the level expected of this price tier.

Why Milk of the Murder Hornet?

What separates this beer from the crowded milkshake IPA field is the deliberate tension between indulgence and restraint. The double dry hopping with Galaxy and Mosaic delivers genuine tropical intensity—mango, peach, orange—while the lactose and vanilla push it toward dessert territory, yet a bitter citrus finish on the back end keeps it anchored as a beer rather than a smoothie. Hubbard's Cave has built its reputation on exactly this kind of tightrope walk, and Milk of the Murder Hornet remains one of their most recognizable expressions. At 8.5% ABV, it carries serious weight without tasting hot, making it a benchmark for what the milkshake Imperial IPA style can achieve when the recipe is dialed in.