Ravinia Steep Ravine 6Pk

Ravinia Steep Ravine 6-Pack is a 6.4% ABV American IPA from Ravinia Brewing Company in Highland Park, Illinois, brewed with Citra and Chinook hops and flaked corn. Recognized in The Hop Review's top 10 beers at BeerHoptacular 2017, this throwback IPA distinguishes itself from the haze craze with a piney, citrus-driven profile balanced by a creamy malt backbone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.4%  |  Origin: Highland Park, Illinois  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Ravinia Brewing Company (now Steep Ravine Brewing Company)

Production & Heritage

Ravinia Brewing Company operates out of Highland Park, Illinois, on Chicago's affluent North Shore, and has since rebranded as Steep Ravine Brewing Company. Steep Ravine IPA employs a two-hop bill of Citra and Chinook, a pairing that leans into classic West Coast bitterness while nodding to modern tropical aromatics. The addition of flaked corn to the grain bill is the signature move here — it softens the aggressive piney bite of the Chinook hops and introduces a subtle creaminess that rounds out the body, placing this squarely in the "throwback IPA" camp rather than among today's juicy, hazy offerings.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Big spiced grapefruit leads, followed by floral citrus and resinous pine. A faint sweetness from the malt bill sits underneath, keeping the nose inviting rather than aggressive.

Taste: Orange and grapefruit hit first on the entry, giving way to a grassy, piney mid-palate driven by the Chinook component. The flaked corn provides a pleasantly creamy texture at the peak, with a hint of sweet malt balancing the hop bitterness in the back end.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering pine resin and dried citrus peel. The corn-derived smoothness prevents any astringent hop bite from overstaying its welcome.

How to Drink Steep Ravine

Steep Ravine drinks best cold, poured into a tulip glass or standard pint to let the citrus and pine aromatics open up. It stands on its own as a straightforward sipper, but its bold hop character and balanced body also make it a strong base for beer cocktails. A Citrus Shandy works well, as the grapefruit notes amplify fresh lemonade. A Michelada benefits from the pine and spice cutting through tomato and lime. A Beermosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice plays off the IPA's natural citrus aromatics.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where you want a hop-forward beer that won't overwhelm the food
• Introducing friends who love West Coast IPAs to a Midwest-brewed alternative
• Stocking a weekend cooler with a sessionable yet flavorful IPA at 6.4%
• Pairing with bold, spicy dishes that match the beer's assertive hop profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Steep Ravine taste like? Steep Ravine delivers bold orange and grapefruit flavors layered with grassy, piney hop bitterness and a creamy, slightly sweet malt finish courtesy of flaked corn in the grain bill. It reads as a classic American IPA with a smoother-than-expected body.

How does Steep Ravine compare to a standard West Coast IPA? While it shares the piney, resinous hop character typical of West Coast-style IPAs, Steep Ravine's use of flaked corn creates a creamier mouthfeel and mellower bitterness than drier West Coast benchmarks. At 6.4% ABV, it also sits slightly lower in alcohol than many aggressive West Coast expressions.

Is Steep Ravine good for IPA beginners? Its balanced profile and corn-softened body make it more approachable than many aggressively bitter IPAs, though the piney Chinook backbone still delivers genuine hop intensity that experienced IPA drinkers will appreciate.

Where is Steep Ravine made? Steep Ravine is brewed by Ravinia Brewing Company (now operating as Steep Ravine Brewing Company) in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb on Chicago's North Shore.

What foods pair well with Steep Ravine? Grilled burgers work well, as the hop bitterness cuts through fatty beef. Spicy Thai curry matches the citrus aromatics and piney bite. Sharp cheddar cheese contrasts the creamy malt body. Fish tacos with lime crema echo the beer's grapefruit and citrus notes. Pepperoni pizza pairs naturally, with the hops slicing through salt and grease.

What sizes does Steep Ravine come in? Steep Ravine is available in a standard 6-pack format from Ravinia Brewing Company.

Is Steep Ravine worth the price? Steep Ravine positions as a craft IPA from a small independent Illinois brewery, placing it in the standard craft 6-pack value tier. Its distinctive flaked corn grain bill and dual-hop recipe give it a point of difference that justifies the craft price point within the competitive American IPA category.

Why Steep Ravine?

In a market saturated with hazy, juice-bomb IPAs, Steep Ravine deliberately swims against the current. The flaked corn addition is its most defining production choice — a grain adjunct more commonly associated with American lagers repurposed here to tame Chinook's aggressive pine and create a body that feels fuller than its 6.4% ABV suggests. That BeerHoptacular 2017 top-10 nod from The Hop Review confirmed its standing in the competitive Chicago-area craft scene. For drinkers who want a classic, hop-forward IPA with genuine complexity rather than trendy turbidity, this North Shore brew delivers a focused, well-constructed package.