Maplewood Sidewalk Surfer 4Pk

Maplewood Sidewalk Surfer 4Pk is a West Coast-style Double IPA from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, packaged as a four-pack and clocking in at 8% ABV. It earned a 94/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, placing it among the most critically acclaimed DIPAs coming out of the Midwest.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: West Coast DIPA  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates out of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, running both brewing and distilling operations under one roof. Sidewalk Surfer is built on a grain bill of Pilsner malt, White Wheat, Carapils, and Light Munich, giving it a clean, supportive base that lets the hops take center stage. The hop bill features hand-selected Strata, Mosaic, Citra, and Warrior varieties — a combination that leans heavily into tropical and stone fruit character while Strata contributes a distinctive dank, earthy undercurrent uncommon in many West Coast DIPAs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a burst of lemon and grapefruit before giving way to ripe peach, melon, and floral hop notes. A resinous, piney quality threads through the fruit, signaling its West Coast DNA.

Taste: The first sip delivers bright citrus and juicy peach that expand into red berry and stone fruit across the mid-palate. Strata hops introduce a dank earthiness that anchors the tropical sweetness, keeping the beer from tipping into juice-bomb territory. The Pilsner and White Wheat base provides a medium body with clean, appropriate carbonation that lifts each flavor.

Finish: The finish is moderately long, with resinous pine and grapefruit pith lingering alongside a subtle bitterness. A dry, clean close invites another sip without any cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Sidewalk Surfer

Serve cold — around 45°F — in a tulip glass or standard pint to let the aromatic hop oils open up fully. This DIPA is built to drink fresh and on its own, so reach for it straight from the can or poured into a glass to appreciate the full nose. For a beer cocktail approach, try a Michelada riff where the tropical hop character plays against lime and hot sauce; a Shandy with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice to amplify the citrus notes; or a Beermosa with peach nectar, leaning into the beer's natural stone fruit profile.

Best For

• Hop-forward beer fans exploring top-rated Midwest DIPAs
• Backyard cookouts and grill sessions where bold flavor matches smoky food
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who values critically acclaimed small-batch releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing West Coast vs. hazy IPA styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sidewalk Surfer taste like? Sidewalk Surfer delivers a tropical, citrus-driven flavor profile dominated by peach, grapefruit, and red berry, balanced by a dank, resinous earthiness from Strata hops. It is medium-bodied with a dry, clean finish that belies its 8% ABV.

How does Sidewalk Surfer compare to other West Coast DIPAs? Unlike many West Coast DIPAs that lean purely into pine and grapefruit bitterness, Sidewalk Surfer layers in pronounced stone fruit and tropical notes from its Mosaic and Citra hops while Strata adds a funky, earthy dimension. Its 94-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine places it in elite company within the style.

Is Sidewalk Surfer good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — this DIPA is designed to showcase its hop complexity and drinks best fresh, poured cold into a tulip glass to release its layered aromatics.

Where is Sidewalk Surfer made? Sidewalk Surfer is brewed by Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Maplewood operates as a combined brewery and distillery in the city.

What foods pair well with Sidewalk Surfer? Spicy tacos al pastor, where the hop bitterness cuts through rich, seasoned pork; grilled shrimp with mango salsa, complementing the beer's tropical side; sharp cheddar or pepper jack cheese, which stands up to the bold hop character; and smoked chicken wings with a citrus glaze that echoes the grapefruit and peach notes.

What sizes does Sidewalk Surfer come in? Sidewalk Surfer is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Sidewalk Surfer worth the price? Sidewalk Surfer positions as a premium craft DIPA, and its 94-point critical score, hand-selected hop bill, and clean execution justify its place at the upper end of the four-pack DIPA market.

Why Sidewalk Surfer?

A 94/100 rating from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine is not handed out lightly, and Sidewalk Surfer earns it through a thoughtfully constructed hop bill that balances tropical exuberance with old-school West Coast resin and bitterness. The inclusion of Strata hops — still a relatively uncommon variety in many DIPA recipes — gives it a dank, layered complexity that separates it from the crowd. Built on a precise malt backbone of Pilsner, White Wheat, Carapils, and Light Munich, the beer stays clean and drinkable at 8% ABV without masking the hop work. For anyone seeking a critically acclaimed, Chicago-brewed DIPA that respects West Coast tradition while pushing its flavor boundaries, Sidewalk Surfer delivers.