Old Irving Hokum 4Pk

Old Irving Hokum 4Pk is a dry-hopped hoppy lager from Old Irving Brewing Co. in Chicago, Illinois, sold as a four-pack of cans. Brewed with a distinctive Lutra Kveik yeast strain and dry-hopped with Citra and Amarillo, Hokum has earned a solid 3.9 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 740 ratings — a strong showing for a craft lager that blurs the line between clean lager crispness and hop-forward intensity.

Quick Facts: Style: Hoppy Lager  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Brewery: Old Irving Brewing Co.  |  Format: 4-Pack Cans

Production & Heritage

Old Irving Brewing Co. operates out of Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood and has collected medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer for various releases across its lineup. Hokum is built on a high-quality Pilsner malt base and fermented with Omega Yeast's Lutra Kveik — a pseudo-lager strain that ferments cleanly at warmer temperatures while still delivering the crisp, neutral character associated with traditional lager yeast. The beer is hopped with Citra and Amarillo during the boil and again in the dry-hop stage, then cold-conditioned to produce a bright, hop-forward lager with a snappy, clean finish.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tropical citrus and stone fruit rise immediately from the glass, courtesy of the Citra and Amarillo dry-hop charge. Underneath, a clean Pilsner malt sweetness keeps the nose grounded and balanced.

Taste: The entry is crisp and grain-forward with light bready Pilsner malt, quickly followed by a wave of grapefruit, tangerine, and ripe apricot from the hop profile. Mid-palate, the Kveik-fermented base stays remarkably clean, allowing the hop flavors to carry the beer without any residual yeast-driven funk. A moderate bitterness builds toward the finish without overwhelming the malt structure.

Finish: Dry and brisk, with lingering citrus pith and a faint herbal bitterness. The lager-like crispness encourages another sip quickly.

How to Drink Hokum

Hokum drinks best ice-cold straight from the can or poured into a Pilsner glass to capture the aromatic dry-hop character. Its clean bitterness and dry finish also make it a surprisingly versatile ingredient in beer cocktails. A Michelada benefits from Hokum's citrus hop profile playing off lime juice and hot sauce. A Beer Shandy made with fresh lemonade amplifies the tropical notes while cutting the bitterness. A Hop Drop 'n Roll — equal parts hoppy lager and grapefruit juice — leans into the Citra-driven citrus character for a refreshing warm-weather drink.

Best For

• Introducing hop-curious lager drinkers to craft beer
• Backyard cookouts and casual outdoor gatherings
• Pairing with grilled foods and spicy cuisine
• Stocking a fridge for a Chicago craft beer tasting night

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hokum taste like? Hokum delivers bright tropical citrus and stone fruit hop flavors over a clean, crisp Pilsner malt base with a dry, moderately bitter finish. It drinks like a lager but carries hop intensity closer to a pale ale.

How does Hokum compare to a traditional India Pale Lager? Most IPLs use conventional lager yeast and longer cold-fermentation cycles, while Hokum employs Omega's Lutra Kveik to achieve a similar clean profile with a distinct fermentation character. The result is comparable crispness with a slightly different mouthfeel and a pronounced Citra-Amarillo hop signature.

Is Hokum good for people who usually drink macro lagers? Yes — the Pilsner malt backbone and clean fermentation profile provide familiar lager drinkability, while the Citra and Amarillo dry-hop adds hop character that is flavorful without being aggressively bitter.

Where is Hokum made? Hokum is brewed by Old Irving Brewing Co. in the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The brewery produces a rotating lineup of lagers, ales, and barrel-aged beers from its Chicago taproom and production facility.

What foods pair well with Hokum? Grilled chicken or fish tacos complement the citrus hop notes. Spicy Thai green curry benefits from the beer's dry, palate-cleansing finish. A classic cheeseburger with sharp cheddar matches well against the moderate bitterness. Light ceviche mirrors the bright tropical character, and salted pretzels provide a simple contrast to the hop-forward profile.

What sizes does Hokum come in? Hokum is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Old Irving Brewing.

Is Hokum worth the price? Hokum positions as a craft microbrewery offering in the approachable tier — competitive with other small-batch hoppy lagers from independent Chicago breweries. The Kveik yeast approach and quality hop selection deliver character that justifies the craft price point.

Why Hokum?

Hokum's defining move is its use of Omega's Lutra Kveik as a pseudo-lager yeast — a technique that gives the beer lager-clean fermentation character without requiring the extended cold-conditioning time of traditional lager strains. This allows Old Irving to deliver a hop-forward beer with genuine lager crispness, bridging a gap that most breweries address with either a standard IPL or a pale ale. The Citra and Amarillo combination is well-chosen for the style, providing tropical aromatics without pushing the bitterness beyond what lager drinkers expect. Backed by a brewery that has earned recognition at GABF and World Beer Cup for its broader portfolio, Hokum reflects a team that understands both classic technique and modern craft innovation.