Phase Three Double Swells 4Pk

Phase Three Double Swells 4Pk is a hazy Imperial IPA (Double IPA) at 8% ABV, sold as a 4-pack of 16 oz cans. Brewed by Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, Illinois — a brewery recognized among Craft Beer & Brewing magazine readers' top 50 nationally — Double Swells distinguishes itself through a single-hop focus: double dry-hopped exclusively with Citra hops for striking aromatic clarity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois (Chicagoland)  |  Style: Hazy Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing was founded by Ben Rossi in Lake Zurich, a northwest suburb of Chicago, and has quickly become one of the Midwest's most sought-after hazy IPA producers. Double Swells is built on a grain bill of Pilsner malt, oats, and wheat, creating a pillowy base designed to support an aggressive hop load without harsh bitterness. The beer is double dry-hopped with 100% Citra hops and left unfiltered, preserving suspended proteins and hop oils that contribute to its dense haze and full-bodied texture — a single-variety approach that sets it apart from multi-hop DIPAs common across the category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe tropical fruit, citrus zest, and stone fruit rise immediately from the pour. Underneath, softer notes of pine resin and fresh-cut grass add depth to the aromatic profile.

Taste: The entry is juicy and lush, with mango, papaya, and tangerine flavors flooding the palate. At mid-palate, a gentle resinous bitterness emerges alongside hints of peach and grapefruit pith, balancing the fruit-forward intensity without turning sharp.

Finish: Moderately long with lingering citrus oil and a soft, rounded bitterness that avoids astringency. A faint honeydew sweetness trails off, making the next sip feel inevitable.

How to Drink Double Swells

Pour into a tulip glass or stemless IPA glass at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics fully open up; drinking straight from the can mutes the Citra-driven nose considerably. Double Swells is best enjoyed fresh and on its own, but it also works in beer-forward mixed drinks: a Citrus Radler with fresh grapefruit juice plays into the hop profile's natural citrus lean; a Michelada benefits from the beer's tropical body cutting through lime and hot sauce; and a Beer Margarita (cerveza-rita) gains extra juicy depth from the mango and papaya character of the base beer.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow hazy IPA enthusiasts during a weekend tasting session
• Pairing alongside grilled foods at a summer cookout
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who follows top-rated Midwest breweries
• Exploring single-hop Imperial IPAs to understand Citra's full aromatic range

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Double Swells taste like? Double Swells delivers an intensely juicy, tropical hop profile dominated by mango, tangerine, and stone fruit, balanced by a pillowy oat-and-wheat malt body and moderate, non-astringent bitterness.

How does Double Swells compare to Other Half Green City? Both are hazy Imperial IPAs from highly regarded breweries, but Double Swells leans into a softer, more juice-forward profile built on a single Citra hop bill. Other Half's Green City typically emphasizes a slightly more assertive hop bitterness and dank resinous character at a similar ABV range.

Is Double Swells good for sipping on its own? Yes — at 8% ABV with a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel and minimal harshness, Double Swells is built to be enjoyed on its own, ideally poured into a glass to appreciate the aromatic complexity.

Where is Double Swells made? Double Swells is brewed at Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago in the greater Chicagoland region of the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Double Swells? Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa complement the beer's tropical character; spicy Thai green curry contrasts the soft malt sweetness; a sharp white cheddar highlights the citrus hop notes; fish and chips benefit from the beer's moderate bitterness cutting through the fried coating; and fresh ceviche mirrors the lime-peel and citrus-oil qualities of the Citra hops.

What sizes does Double Swells come in? Double Swells is available as a 4-pack of 16 oz (pint) cans, the standard format for Phase Three's hazy IPA releases.

Is Double Swells worth the price? Double Swells positions as a premium craft Imperial IPA from a limited-distribution brewery with a strong national reputation, placing it in the upper tier of hazy DIPA pricing — justified by the single-hop double dry-hopping process, high-quality grain bill, and the brewery's overall standing in the craft beer community.

Why Double Swells?

In a crowded hazy DIPA landscape where multi-hop blends are the norm, Double Swells takes a focused approach: 100% Citra, double dry-hopped, on an unfiltered oat-and-wheat base. That single-variety commitment delivers an unusually coherent aromatic profile — tropical fruit, citrus oil, and stone fruit without the muddled complexity that can come from five- or six-hop bills. Phase Three's recognition among Craft Beer & Brewing magazine readers' top 50 breweries nationally speaks to the consistency behind the beer, not just the hype. For anyone serious about exploring what Citra hops can do at full volume in a soft-bodied Imperial IPA, Double Swells is one of the Midwest's most compelling answers.