Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy 4Pk

Pipeworks Blood Orange Guppy 4Pk is a session IPA brewed with honey and blood orange, packaged as a four-pack at 4.6% ABV. Scoring 86/100 on BeerAdvocate, this entry in Pipeworks' fruit-forward Guppy series stands out for its restrained sweetness and drinkable body — a lighter counterpart to the brewery's bigger Fish Series IPAs.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.6%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Session IPA  |  Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Pipeworks Brewing Co. operates out of 1675 N. Western Ave in Chicago, Illinois, and has built a reputation for inventive, small-batch beers across a wide stylistic range. Blood Orange Guppy belongs to the brewery's Guppy series — a lineup of session IPAs brewed with honey and fruit, designed as the lower-ABV siblings of Pipeworks' full-strength Fish Series IPAs. The addition of honey provides a subtle fermentable sweetness that the brewers carefully balance against the blood orange and hop bitterness, keeping the beer from tipping into cloying territory while still letting the fruit character lead.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Blood orange dominates the nose, backed by layers of caramel and toffee. A resinous hop character rounds things out, giving the aroma an earthy anchor beneath the citrus.

Taste: Sweet orange arrives on the entry, transitioning into toasted caramel at mid-palate. A piney hop bitterness emerges and takes turns with the sweetness, while the blood orange flavor builds steadily from the middle of each sip toward the end.

Finish: The finish is moderately dry, with lingering pine resin and a fading citrus sweetness. The low ABV keeps everything clean and encourages another sip without palate fatigue.

How to Drink Blood Orange Guppy

Serve cold, ideally around 40–45°F, in a tulip glass or straight from the can for casual drinking. A Shandy variation works well — top a half-pour with lemonade to amplify the citrus character on warm days. It also serves as a compelling base for a Beer-mosa, where the blood orange notes complement fresh orange juice at brunch. For a more adventurous route, try a Michelada build with tomato juice and hot sauce, where the session body and citrus pull keep the drink light and refreshing.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and daytime drinking sessions where low ABV is essential
• Introducing hop-averse friends to India Pale Ales through a fruit-forward gateway
• Building a craft beer variety pack with a citrus session option
• Pairing alongside grilled foods where a lighter, fruit-accented beer won't overpower the meal

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Blood Orange Guppy taste like? Blood Orange Guppy delivers sweet orange and toasted caramel flavors balanced by a piney hop bitterness, with the blood orange character building from mid-palate to the finish. The honey addition rounds out the body without making the beer overly sweet.

How does Blood Orange Guppy compare to Ballast Point Mango Even Keel? Both are citrus-fruit session IPAs in a similar ABV range, but Blood Orange Guppy leans toward a caramel-and-pine backbone while Mango Even Keel emphasizes tropical mango character. Pipeworks' use of honey as a fermentable adds a subtle textural sweetness that distinguishes it from Ballast Point's cleaner, more hop-driven approach.

Is Blood Orange Guppy good for beginners? Yes — the 4.6% ABV and fruit-forward profile make it one of the more approachable IPAs on the market. The blood orange and honey temper the hop bitterness that often puts newer craft beer drinkers off the style.

Where is Blood Orange Guppy made? Blood Orange Guppy is brewed by Pipeworks Brewing Co. at their facility on North Western Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery is known for creative, often limited-run beers produced in the heart of Chicago's craft beer scene.

What foods pair well with Blood Orange Guppy? Grilled shrimp tacos benefit from the citrus echo; sharp cheddar contrasts the malty caramel notes; Thai green curry finds balance against the fruit and hop bitterness; a simple arugula and goat cheese salad with citrus vinaigrette mirrors the beer's orange character; and barbecue chicken plays off the toasted caramel undertones.

What sizes does Blood Orange Guppy come in? Blood Orange Guppy is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Blood Orange Guppy worth the price? Blood Orange Guppy positions as an accessible, everyday session IPA within Pipeworks' lineup. Its 86/100 BeerAdvocate score and solid 3.7 rating across more than 8,000 Untappd check-ins suggest consistent quality that delivers fair value in the session IPA category.

Why Blood Orange Guppy?

The Guppy series represents Pipeworks' deliberate effort to bring their creative brewing approach down to session strength without sacrificing character — and Blood Orange Guppy is among the most popular expressions in that lineup. The combination of honey as a fermentable with real blood orange keeps sweetness in check while delivering genuine fruit flavor, a balancing act that many fruit-adjunct session IPAs fail to achieve. An 86/100 on BeerAdvocate and over 8,000 Untappd ratings confirm that this isn't just a novelty release but a repeatable, well-regarded beer. For drinkers seeking a flavorful, low-ABV IPA that doesn't sacrifice complexity for drinkability, this four-pack earns its spot in a crowded session category.