Pipeworks NvU Vs the Cryo 4Pk

Pipeworks NvU Vs the Cryo 4Pk is a cryo-hopped Double IPA from Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois, at 8.0% ABV. This expression reimagines the brewery's flagship Ninja vs Unicorn DIPA by deploying Cryo Hops — pellets processed with liquid nitrogen to isolate concentrated lupulin oils and resins — resulting in amplified hop aroma and intensified flavor without excessive vegetal bitterness.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA (Cryo-Hopped)  |  Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Pipeworks Brewing Company launched in Chicago in 2012, quickly earning a reputation for boundary-pushing hop-forward beers and inventive stouts. NvU Vs the Cryo takes the base recipe of Ninja vs Unicorn — the brewery's beloved Double IPA — and substitutes standard hop additions with Cryo Hops. These hops are frozen using liquid nitrogen before the lupulin glands, which contain essential oils and alpha acids, are mechanically separated from the leaf material. The result is a more concentrated, aromatic hop character that delivers massive tropical and resinous notes while keeping harsh astringency in check.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Immediately dank and resinous, with waves of ripe pineapple and fresh grapefruit peel rising through a sticky, piney hop base. A subtle undercurrent of toasted caramel adds malt depth beneath the hop intensity.

Taste: The entry is juicy, with pineapple and spicy-sweet grapefruit leading the charge. At mid-palate, pine resin and dank hop bitterness assert themselves, balanced by a medium-to-full body that carries a noticeable but not overwhelming booziness at 8% ABV. The interplay between tropical fruit sweetness and bitter, resinous hops gives it a layered, aggressive profile.

Finish: Long and bitter, with lingering pine sap, grapefruit pith, and a dry resinous coating. The dank hop character stays present well after each sip, rewarding those who appreciate a bold, unapologetic DIPA.

How to Drink NvU Vs the Cryo

Pour into a tulip glass or IPA glass at 42–48°F to let the cryo hop aromatics fully express themselves; drinking straight from the can mutes much of the complex nose. This is a beer best enjoyed fresh and on its own, but it also holds its ground in hop-forward beer cocktails. A Hop Shandy — blended with fresh lemonade — tames the bitterness while amplifying the citrus notes. A Michelada built with NvU Vs the Cryo brings its grapefruit and pine character into a savory, spiced framework. A Beermosa pairing with fresh pineapple juice plays directly into the tropical hop profile.

Best For

• Hop enthusiasts seeking an intensely aromatic Double IPA experience
• Sharing at a backyard cookout with fellow craft beer fans
• Introducing someone to the impact of cryo hop technology
• Building a tasting flight comparing classic and cryo-hopped DIPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NvU Vs the Cryo taste like? NvU Vs the Cryo delivers a bold combination of pineapple, grapefruit, and pine resin backed by dank, bitter hoppiness and a medium-to-full malt body. It is unapologetically hop-forward with a boozy warmth from its 8% ABV.

How does NvU Vs the Cryo compare to the original Ninja vs Unicorn? Both share the same Double IPA DNA from Pipeworks, but NvU Vs the Cryo uses Cryo Hops — liquid-nitrogen-processed pellets with concentrated lupulin — to amplify tropical and resinous aromatics beyond what the standard version achieves. The Cryo edition generally reads as more intensely aromatic and smoother in bitterness, while the original leans into a more traditional West Coast-style hop bite.

Is NvU Vs the Cryo good for hop lovers? Absolutely — this beer is engineered for maximum hop impact, using cryo hop technology that concentrates essential oils and resins for an intensified aromatic and flavor experience. It is best appreciated by drinkers who already enjoy aggressively hopped Double IPAs.

Where is NvU Vs the Cryo made? NvU Vs the Cryo is brewed by Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Pipeworks has operated out of Chicago since its founding in 2012 and is known nationally for its creative, hop-driven ales and barrel-aged stouts.

What foods pair well with NvU Vs the Cryo? Spicy chicken wings complement the beer's pine and citrus bitterness with contrasting heat. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar match its robust body. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop notes. Aged Gouda provides a nutty, caramelized counterpoint to the dank hoppiness. Thai green curry creates a dynamic pairing where the beer's grapefruit and resin cut through rich coconut and chili flavors.

What sizes does NvU Vs the Cryo come in? NvU Vs the Cryo is commonly available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format offered by Pipeworks for this expression.

Is NvU Vs the Cryo worth the price? NvU Vs the Cryo positions as a premium craft Double IPA, priced in line with other specialty cryo-hopped or single-batch DIPAs from respected independent breweries. The concentrated hop technology and 8% ABV deliver intensity and complexity that justify its place in the upper tier of the craft DIPA category.

Why NvU Vs the Cryo?

The defining differentiator here is the cryo hop process — liquid-nitrogen freezing that isolates the most flavorful and aromatic compounds in the hop cone, stripping away the plant matter that can contribute harsh, grassy bitterness. This gives NvU Vs the Cryo a cleaner, more saturated hop expression than most conventionally hopped Double IPAs at this ABV. Pipeworks built its national reputation on exactly this kind of ambitious, technique-driven brewing, and this expression represents the Ninja vs Unicorn recipe pushed to its aromatic ceiling. For drinkers who want to taste the difference that hop processing technology makes, this is one of the most direct and rewarding demonstrations available in a 4-pack format.