Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA 4Pk

Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA 4Pk is a 10.0% ABV hop-heavy triple IPA from Niles, Illinois, sold in a four-pack of cans. Brewed with a staggering 7 pounds of hops per barrel — well beyond the typical ceiling for even the most aggressive Imperial IPAs — this release has earned a strong 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd from over 8,200 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10.0%  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Triple IPA  |  Brewery: Hubbard's Cave (Une Année Brewery)

Production & Heritage

Hubbard's Cave operates as a specialty label under Une Année Brewery, originally founded in Chicago and now based in Niles, Illinois. The Triple IPA is dry-hopped with a rotating blend of American and New Zealand varieties; current batches feature Mosaic, Eldorado, Eureka, Centennial, and Chinook hops. The defining production detail is the hop load: 7 pounds of hops per barrel, compared to the roughly 5 pounds that most Imperial IPAs max out at. That extra intensity drives the beer's dense tropical and citrus character without veering into harsh bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh orange rind and ripe mango lead, followed by waves of grapefruit peel and a subtle resinous pine. A sweet, almost candy-like tropical undercurrent emerges as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is immediately juicy — mango sorbet, kiwi, and tangelo — before the mid-palate shifts to syrupy pineapple and white grape. A melon sweetness builds toward the peak, balanced by citrus bitterness from the grapefruit and papaya notes. Despite the 10% ABV, the mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth, with little alcohol heat on the palate.

Finish: Medium-long and resinous, with lingering pine and a melon-citrus echo. The sweetness recedes cleanly, leaving a dry, pleasantly bitter close.

How to Drink Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at 45–50°F to let the aromatics open fully; this beer rewards attentive sipping rather than rushed drinking. A Citrus Shandy blending a few ounces with fresh lemonade tames the ABV while amplifying the citrus blast. A Hoppy Michelada — combining it with lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice — works because the tropical hops complement the savory-spicy backbone. For dessert applications, try a Triple IPA Float with vanilla ice cream, where the mango and pineapple notes play off the cream beautifully.

Best For

• Sharing with hopheads who think double IPAs aren't enough
• Pairing alongside a summer cookout spread of grilled meats and spicy sides
• Adding variety to a craft beer tasting flight focused on high-ABV styles
• Gifting to a friend exploring boundary-pushing American IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA taste like? It leads with bold tropical fruit — mango, pineapple, and kiwi — followed by citrus peel bitterness and a resinous pine backbone. Despite hitting 10% ABV, the alcohol is remarkably well-hidden beneath the dense hop character.

How does Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA compare to a typical Imperial IPA? Most Imperial IPAs use around 5 pounds of hops per barrel, while Hubbard's Cave loads 7 pounds per barrel, resulting in a noticeably denser and more aromatic hop profile. The higher ABV (10% vs. the 7–9% range common in Imperial IPAs) also adds body and sweetness that balances the extra bitterness.

Is Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA good for sipping neat? Yes — its smooth mouthfeel and hidden alcohol make it an excellent sipper poured cold into a tulip glass. The complexity of the hop bill rewards slow drinking, as new fruit and pine notes reveal themselves over time.

Where is Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA made? It is brewed at Une Année Brewery in Niles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Hubbard's Cave is a specialty label under the Une Année umbrella, focused on hop-forward and experimental styles.

What foods pair well with Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA? Spicy Thai green curry, where the tropical hops mirror the lemongrass and lime flavors. Grilled chorizo, whose smoky fat is cut by the citrus bitterness. Sharp aged cheddar, which stands up to the beer's intensity. Fish tacos with mango salsa, echoing the fruit-forward profile. Rich carrot cake, whose sweetness pairs naturally with the beer's mango and melon notes.

What sizes does Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA worth the price? It positions as a premium craft offering within the triple IPA category, and the 7-pounds-per-barrel hop load represents a significant raw ingredient investment that justifies the price point. For hop enthusiasts seeking intensity beyond a standard DIPA, it delivers strong value.

Why Hubbard's Cave Triple IPA?

The 7-pound-per-barrel hop rate is the headline number, and it translates directly to the glass — this is one of the most aggressively hopped triple IPAs available from a Midwest brewery. The rotating hop bill keeps repeat batches interesting, with current versions featuring the Mosaic-Eldorado-Eureka combination that leans hard into tropical fruit. Over 8,200 Untappd ratings averaging 4.1 out of 5 confirm consistent quality across batches. For drinkers who find double IPAs predictable, this beer represents a genuine step up in complexity and intensity without sacrificing drinkability.