Maplewood Variety 12Pk

Maplewood Variety 12Pk is a 12-can mixed pack from Chicago's Maplewood Brewery & Distillery featuring three flagship beers and a rotating limited release. The headliner, Son of Juice IPA, earned a 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing magazine and holds a 4.10 rating on BeerAdvocate, making this pack one of the stronger variety offerings from the Midwest craft scene.

Quick Facts: ABV Range: 4.5%–6.3%  |  Origin: Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Mixed Variety Pack  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery (est. 2014)

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery became the first operation in Illinois to house both brewing and distilling under one roof when it opened in Logan Square in 2014. The variety pack showcases the breadth of that brewing program: Son of Juice (6.3% ABV) is a hazy IPA brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe, and Nugget hops over a base of pilsner malt and oats; Lounge Lager (4.5% ABV) is a clean, approachable lager built on 6-Row barley, corn, and rice; and Charlatan (6.1% ABV) is an American pale ale dry-hopped with Citra, Centennial, and Simcoe. A fourth slot rotates with limited-release selections, giving repeat buyers something new each time.

Tasting Notes

Son of Juice IPA: The nose opens with ripe mango and passion fruit before drifting into white grapefruit and a subtle resinous pine note. On the palate, guava and sweet grapefruit lead into softer tones of blueberry and kiwi, with the oat-forward body lending a pillowy, low-bitterness mouthfeel. The finish trends gently bitter with whispers of black tea and currant that keep things balanced.

Lounge Lager: Light bready grain and a faint sweetness from the corn and rice adjuncts define this one. It drinks crisp and dry with minimal hop presence—clean and refreshing from start to finish.

Charlatan Pale Ale: Bright citrus peel and fresh grapefruit dominate the aroma, courtesy of the Citra and Simcoe hop combination. The malt backbone adds just enough biscuit-like sweetness to anchor the generous hop charge, finishing with a snappy, balanced bitterness.

How to Drink the Maplewood Variety Pack

Each beer in the pack has a distinct personality, so matching the serve to the style pays off. Son of Juice drinks best cold from the can or poured into a tulip glass to release its hop aromatics. Lounge Lager is a natural straight-from-the-cooler beer ideal for hot-weather sessions. Charlatan sits right in between—approachable enough for casual drinking but hop-forward enough to hold your attention alongside food. For a beer cocktail spin, try a Michelada with Lounge Lager for a clean base, a Radler-style mix with Charlatan and fresh lemonade, or a Shandy using Son of Juice blended with grapefruit soda to amplify the tropical character.

Best For

• Introducing friends to the Chicago craft beer scene with a single, well-rounded purchase
• Backyard cookouts or game-day gatherings where different palates need different styles
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who favors hazy IPAs and clean lagers alike
• Sampling Maplewood's range before committing to full six-packs of individual styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Son of Juice taste like? Son of Juice delivers a burst of tropical fruit—mango, passion fruit, and guava—backed by soft grapefruit and a low-bitterness, pillowy body from its oat and pilsner malt base. It earned a 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing and is widely regarded as one of the top hazy IPAs produced in the Midwest.

How does Son of Juice compare to Narrow Gauge hazy IPAs? Both breweries are frequently mentioned together in discussions of top Midwestern hazy IPAs, with Son of Juice leaning heavily into tropical fruit and soft mouthfeel while Narrow Gauge offerings tend to explore a wider range of hop profiles. Son of Juice's broad availability in a variety pack format gives it an accessibility edge over many Narrow Gauge releases.

Is the Maplewood Variety Pack good for beginners? Yes—the inclusion of Lounge Lager at 4.5% ABV provides an easy entry point, while Charlatan and Son of Juice introduce more hop-forward styles without overwhelming bitterness, making the pack a solid introduction to craft beer.

Where is the Maplewood Variety Pack made? All beers in the pack are brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, where the company has operated since 2014 as the first combined brewery-distillery in the state.

What foods pair well with the Maplewood Variety Pack? Son of Juice pairs well with fish tacos and spicy Thai dishes, where its tropical sweetness counters the heat. Lounge Lager matches classic cookout fare like burgers, grilled brats, and corn on the cob. Charlatan's citrus hop profile complements wood-fired pizza and roasted chicken with herbs.

What sizes does the Maplewood Variety Pack come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of cans, with three cans of each included style.

Is the Maplewood Variety Pack worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft variety pack, and the inclusion of Son of Juice—a highly rated hazy IPA that frequently appears on best-of lists—adds meaningful value beyond what many competing mixed packs deliver at a similar tier.

Why the Maplewood Variety Pack?

The anchor here is Son of Juice, a hazy IPA that has earned a 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing, a 4.10 on BeerAdvocate, and over 75,000 ratings on Untappd with a 4.0 average—numbers that put it in elite company for the style. The pack builds smartly around that flagship, pairing it with a no-frills adjunct lager and a citrus-driven pale ale to cover a wide flavor spectrum. The rotating fourth slot keeps things fresh for repeat purchases. And the fact that every beer comes from Illinois's first combined brewery-distillery operation gives the pack a story that most competitors in the cooler simply cannot match.