Phase Three Balloon Barrage 4Pk

Phase Three Balloon Barrage 4Pk is a double dry-hopped hazy double IPA from Phase Three Brewing Company, packaged as a four-pack at 7.7% ABV. Rated 4.1 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 830 ratings, Balloon Barrage has earned a loyal following among haze enthusiasts for its dense, fruit-saturated hop profile and pillowy mouthfeel.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.7%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and has built a reputation as one of the Midwest's most sought-after producers of hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. Balloon Barrage is a double dry-hopped hazy double IPA — a style Phase Three has described as one of their favorite recipes to produce. The double dry-hopping process delivers amplified hop aromatics and a viscous, almost chewy body that distinguishes it from single dry-hopped offerings. The brewery is known for pushing heavy dry-hop saturation, resulting in beers with exceptional density and layered tropical character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with an immediate wave of ripe stone fruit and tropical bubble gum. Deeper inhalation reveals mixed berry notes and a bright, resinous citrus quality that signals the generous hop load.

Taste: On the palate, bold flavors of fresh-picked berries arrive first, followed by a mid-palate surge of juicy grapefruit and tropical fruit. The mouthfeel is thick and pillowy, carrying the hop oils across the tongue with a soft, almost creamy texture that avoids harsh bitterness.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with lingering stone fruit sweetness and a subtle resinous hop bite. A gentle berry character fades slowly, leaving a clean but flavor-saturated impression.

How to Drink Balloon Barrage

Pour Balloon Barrage into a tulip glass or stemmed IPA glass at around 40–45°F to fully release its aromatic complexity. This beer is best enjoyed fresh and unadorned — the double dry-hopping delivers maximum impact when consumed within weeks of canning. A small citrus wedge is unnecessary here; the hop profile already provides abundant grapefruit and tropical citrus character on its own.

Best For

• Sharing with friends who chase limited-release hazy IPAs
• Bringing to a craft beer tasting alongside other top-tier Midwest hazies
• Gifting a haze enthusiast who follows the Illinois craft beer scene
• Pairing with a weekend cookout featuring grilled or smoked meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Balloon Barrage taste like? Balloon Barrage delivers bold flavors of ripe mixed berries, juicy grapefruit, and stone fruit, carried by a thick, pillowy mouthfeel with minimal bitterness. The double dry-hopping gives it a saturated, almost dessert-like tropical fruit intensity.

How does Balloon Barrage compare to Hop Butcher for the World hazy IPAs? Both are elite Illinois-brewed hazy IPAs, but Balloon Barrage tends toward a denser, more viscous mouthfeel with heavier dry-hop saturation. Hop Butcher's hazy offerings generally lean slightly more crisp and bright with a drier finish by comparison.

Is Balloon Barrage good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the thick mouthfeel, low perceived bitterness, and layered fruit character make it a satisfying standalone pour. It rewards slow drinking from a proper glass where the aromatics can fully develop.

Where is Balloon Barrage made? Balloon Barrage is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. Phase Three has become one of the most recognized craft breweries in the Midwest for hazy IPAs and pastry stouts.

What foods pair well with Balloon Barrage? Grilled chicken or fish tacos with mango salsa complement the tropical hop profile. Soft, creamy cheeses like burrata or fresh mozzarella work well against the beer's body. Spicy Thai dishes benefit from the fruit-forward sweetness, and stone-fruit desserts like peach cobbler echo the beer's aromatic notes.

What sizes does Balloon Barrage come in? Balloon Barrage is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Phase Three's IPA releases.

Is Balloon Barrage worth the price? Balloon Barrage positions in the premium tier for craft hazy double IPAs, consistent with limited-distribution, double dry-hopped releases from highly regarded independent breweries. The hop saturation and production quality justify its placement among top-shelf craft offerings.

Why Balloon Barrage?

Balloon Barrage stands out in a crowded hazy IPA field because of Phase Three's commitment to heavy dry-hop saturation and dense, viscous body — hallmarks that have made the brewery a destination name in Midwest craft beer. The double dry-hopping process extracts maximum aromatic oil from the hops, delivering an intensity of stone fruit, berry, and grapefruit that single-hopped versions simply cannot match. With a 4.1 rating on Untappd from over 830 reviews, it has proven itself as a consistent crowd favorite rather than a one-off experiment. For drinkers who want a fruit-forward, texturally rich hazy DIPA from one of Illinois' most respected breweries, Balloon Barrage delivers exactly that.