Maplewood The Sound 4Pk

Maplewood The Sound 4Pk is a West Coast-style IPA from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, sold in a 4-pack at 6.5% ABV. Brewed with Simcoe, Centennial, and Chinook hops, it earned an 87 on BeerAdvocate and holds a 3.8 out of 5 on Untappd across nearly 4,000 ratings — solid marks for a regional West Coast IPA in a city dominated by hazy styles.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: West Coast IPA  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery was founded in 2014 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, operating a 10BBL brewhouse alongside a 250L Kothe hybrid still — the first establishment in Illinois to house both brewing and distilling operations under one roof. The Sound showcases a straightforward West Coast approach: malt and hops both sourced from the West Coast, with a trio of classic American hop varieties — Simcoe for its piney backbone, Centennial for floral citrus, and Chinook for resinous bitterness. The result is a beer that leans into clarity and hop-forward intensity rather than the juicy, hazy profile that dominates much of the Chicago craft scene.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pineapple and lemon rind lead the nose, followed by a layer of pine resin. The hop character is direct and aromatic without veering into dank or grassy territory.

Taste: The entry is smooth and approachable with a bright, citrusy quality across the front palate. Mid-palate, the malt provides just enough structure to support the hop load before Chinook-driven bitterness asserts itself. The overall impression is clean and defined — a deliberate contrast to softer, haze-forward IPAs.

Finish: Pine and resin linger with moderate bitterness that dries the palate without turning harsh. The finish is medium in length, encouraging the next sip rather than demanding a palate reset.

How to Drink The Sound

Pour cold into a pint glass or tulip to open up the hop aromatics; this beer benefits from a proper glass rather than drinking straight from the can. Its crisp bitterness and citrus character also make it a surprisingly effective base for beer cocktails:

• Michelada: The Sound's pine and citrus cut through hot sauce and lime for a sharper, more hop-forward take on the classic.
• IPA Shandy: A half-and-half pour with fresh lemonade tempers the bitterness and amplifies the lemon-rind aromatics already present.
• Hop Drop 'n Roll (Beer + Shot): Pair a pour of The Sound alongside a shot of Maplewood's own whiskey — a nod to the brewery-distillery's dual identity.

Best For

• West Coast IPA fans looking for a clean, bitter alternative to Chicago's hazy IPA scene
• Backyard grilling sessions where bright hop bitterness pairs naturally with charred meats
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the differences between West Coast and New England IPA styles
• Building a tasting flight alongside Maplewood's hazy and barrel-aged offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Sound taste like? The Sound delivers a bright, citrusy hop profile driven by pineapple and lemon rind flavors, backed by pine resin and a firm, clean bitterness on the finish.

How does The Sound compare to Maplewood Son of Juice? Son of Juice is Maplewood's flagship hazy IPA — soft, juicy, and low on bitterness — while The Sound takes the opposite approach with clear, assertive West Coast-style hop bitterness and a drier finish. Choosing between them comes down to whether you prefer a pillowy mouthfeel or a crisp, resinous bite.

Is The Sound good for hopheads? At 6.5% ABV with a pronounced Simcoe, Centennial, and Chinook hop bill, The Sound delivers serious hop character without being a palate wrecker, making it a reliable session choice for dedicated hop fans.

Where is The Sound made? The Sound is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery operates out of the city's Logan Square neighborhood, where it has produced beer and spirits since 2014.

What foods pair well with The Sound? Grilled burgers benefit from the beer's bitterness cutting through fat; fish tacos with lime crema echo its citrus aromatics; sharp cheddar amplifies the malt backbone; spicy Thai dishes are tempered by the carbonation and hop oils; and pepperoni pizza finds a classic match in the resinous pine notes.

What sizes does The Sound come in? The Sound is commonly available in a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.

Is The Sound worth the price? The Sound positions as a mid-range craft IPA from a well-regarded independent Chicago brewery, and its BeerAdvocate score of 87 reflects consistent quality that competes comfortably with comparably priced regional and national West Coast IPAs.

Why The Sound?

In a Chicago beer market saturated with hazy, juice-bomb IPAs, The Sound is a deliberate throwback to the West Coast tradition — bright, bitter, and unapologetically clear. The Simcoe, Centennial, and Chinook hop combination is a time-tested trio that Maplewood executes with restraint and precision, keeping the ABV at a sessionable 6.5%. The fact that it comes from Illinois's first combined brewery-distillery adds genuine provenance, and the 87-point BeerAdvocate score confirms it delivers beyond novelty. For drinkers who want their IPA to taste like an IPA — pine, citrus, bitterness, done — The Sound is one of Chicago's most straightforward and rewarding options.