Illuminated Proper Glassware Is An Empty Head 4Pk

Illuminated Proper Glassware Is An Empty Head 4Pk is a double dry-hopped Double IPA from Chicago's Illuminated Brew Works, packaged as a 4-pack at 8% ABV. This aggressive hop-forward ale stands out for its five-hop blend and a hefty dry-hop rate of four pounds per barrel, earning a solid 4 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 750 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double Dry Hopped Double IPA  |  Brewery: Illuminated Brew Works

Production & Heritage

Illuminated Brew Works operates out of 6186 N Northwest Hwy in Chicago, Illinois, producing small-batch, hop-intensive ales. Proper Glassware Is An Empty Head undergoes a double dry-hopping process at a rate of four pounds per barrel — a substantial dosing that saturates the beer with hop oils and aromatics. The hop bill combines five varieties — Citra, Mosaic, Waimea, Sabro, and Vic's Secret — blending New World tropical and citrus hops with less common Southern Hemisphere cultivars to create a layered, complex profile uncommon in the style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The five-hop blend delivers an initial wave of tropical fruit and citrus peel, followed by undercurrents of coconut and stone fruit contributed by the Sabro and Vic's Secret hops. A subtle resinous quality ties the aromatics together.

Taste: The palate opens deceptively smooth for 8% ABV before giving way to a dry, robust mid-palate. Drinkers report unexpected cocoa bean and coffee flavors from the malt backbone, with hop bitterness lurking beneath — a profile that has surprised many who expect a purely tropical juice bomb. The interplay between roasty malt depth and five-hop complexity sets this apart from more one-dimensional DIPAs.

Finish: The finish is notably dry, almost austere, with lingering bitterness and faint dark chocolate. Hop resin and a gentle warmth from the 8% ABV carry through to a clean, assertive close.

How to Drink Empty Head

Pour into a tulip glass or stemmed IPA glass at 45–50°F to fully release the aromatics from all five hop varieties. This is a beer designed for deliberate, unhurried drinking — the complexity rewards slow sipping. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try it in a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade to tame the dryness, a Michelada where the cocoa and coffee malt notes play well against tomato and lime, or a Beer-a-Rita blending it with fresh citrus juice to amplify the Citra and Mosaic tropical character.

Best For

• Sharing with hop-obsessed friends who chase heavy dry-hop rates
• Side-by-side tastings comparing DDH techniques across breweries
• Pairing dinners where bold, dry bitterness can stand up to rich food
• Introducing adventurous drinkers to the complexity of multi-hop DIPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Empty Head taste like? It delivers a surprisingly dry and robust profile with cocoa bean and coffee malt flavors underscored by layered hop bitterness from the five-variety blend of Citra, Mosaic, Waimea, Sabro, and Vic's Secret. The overall impression is more savory and roasty than the typical juicy DIPA.

How does Empty Head compare to DDH Pliny the Elder? Both are dry-hopped at roughly four pounds per barrel, but Empty Head uses a broader five-hop blend including tropical Sabro and Vic's Secret, while DDH Pliny the Elder from Russian River leans on classic West Coast hop character with a cleaner, more bitter finish. Empty Head's cocoa and coffee malt notes give it a darker, more unexpected personality compared to Pliny's crisp hop purity.

Is Empty Head good for sipping neat? Yes — poured cold into proper glassware, it rewards slow sipping as the aromatics evolve with warming; the 8% ABV provides enough weight to stand on its own without feeling thin.

Where is Empty Head made? It is brewed by Illuminated Brew Works at their facility on North Northwest Highway in Chicago, Illinois, a brewery known for hop-intensive small-batch releases.

What foods pair well with Empty Head? Grilled chorizo or spicy sausage benefits from the dry bitterness cutting through fat. Aged sharp cheddar mirrors the cocoa and coffee malt depth. Blackened fish tacos complement the tropical hop aromatics. Dark chocolate brownies echo the roasty malt backbone. Thai green curry finds balance against the beer's assertive hop bitterness.

What sizes does Empty Head come in? It is available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release from Illuminated Brew Works.

Is Empty Head worth the price? It positions as a premium craft DIPA with a specialized five-hop bill and heavy four-pound-per-barrel dry-hop dosing, placing it in line with other high-end double dry-hopped releases; the complexity and hop intensity deliver strong value for dedicated IPA drinkers.

Why Empty Head?

The defining feature of this beer is its five-hop dry-hop blend dosed at four pounds per barrel — a combination that produces a far more layered and texturally complex DIPA than single- or dual-hop versions common in the market. The unexpected cocoa and coffee malt character adds a dimension that most DDH DIPAs simply do not possess, giving it a distinctive identity within a crowded style. With a 4 out of 5 Untappd rating from over 750 reviews, it has earned consistent approval from a broad cross-section of craft drinkers. For anyone seeking a DIPA that challenges expectations rather than simply delivering another tropical juice bomb, Proper Glassware Is An Empty Head makes a compelling case.