Revolution Anti-Hero 12Pk

Revolution Anti-Hero IPA 12-Pack is a West Coast-style IPA from Chicago's Revolution Brewing, packaged as a 12-pack of 12 oz cans at 6.7% ABV. Rated 91 (Outstanding) on BeerAdvocate, Anti-Hero has become one of the most recognized IPAs in the Midwest and a flagship for the brewery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.7%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: West Coast IPA  |  Brewery: Revolution Brewing

Production & Heritage

Revolution Brewing opened as a brewpub on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago in 2010, with a dedicated production brewery following in 2012. Anti-Hero is built on a malt bill of Pale Ale, Red Wheat, Munich, and Golden Oats, then aggressively hopped with Warrior, Chinook, Centennial, and Amarillo varieties. Post-fermentation dry-hopping and an English ale yeast strain give the beer its signature combination of bold American hop character with a rounder, slightly more expressive fermentation profile than a typical West Coast IPA.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense grapefruit rind and pine resin dominate the nose immediately, followed by dank, pungent floral and tropical undertones. A subtle grainy sweetness sits underneath without competing with the hops.

Taste: The first sip brings a wave of citrus — grapefruit, lemon candy, and orange marmalade — layered over crackery, toasted malt. Mid-palate, pine and passion fruit emerge alongside a gentle caramel and honey sweetness from the Golden Oats and Munich malt. The bitterness is assertive but clean, never harsh.

Finish: Bright and crisp, with lingering pine resin and grapefruit pith that keep the palate engaged. The malt fades quickly, leaving a dry, resinous close that invites another sip.

How to Drink Anti-Hero

Anti-Hero drinks best cold — around 45°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to amplify its aromatic intensity. For cocktail-adjacent applications, it works well in a Beer-garita (inverted into a frozen lime margarita for a hoppy, citrus-forward twist), a Michelada (where its grapefruit notes complement tomato, lime, and hot sauce), or a Hop Shandy (mixed with fresh lemonade to soften the bitterness for warm-weather sessions).

Best For

• Stocking a home fridge for everyday IPA drinking
• Bringing to a backyard cookout or tailgate as a crowd-pleasing hoppy option
• Gifting a craft beer fan who gravitates toward bold, West Coast-style hops
• Pairing with grilled meats, spicy food, or casual weeknight dinners

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anti-Hero taste like? Anti-Hero delivers bold grapefruit, pine, and lemon candy up front, backed by crackery malt and a touch of caramel sweetness, finishing dry and resinous with lasting citrus bitterness.

How does Anti-Hero compare to Lagunitas IPA? Both are classic West Coast-style IPAs, but Anti-Hero runs slightly higher in ABV at 6.7% versus Lagunitas IPA's 6.2%, and its use of an English ale yeast strain gives it a marginally rounder body. Anti-Hero also leans more heavily into grapefruit and pine from its Amarillo and Chinook hops, while Lagunitas tends toward a broader, more herbaceous bitterness.

Is Anti-Hero good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its balanced malt backbone and layered hop profile make it a satisfying standalone pour, especially when served cold in a proper glass to open up the aromatics.

Where is Anti-Hero made? Anti-Hero is brewed at Revolution Brewing's production facility in Chicago, Illinois. Revolution was founded in 2010 as a brewpub and expanded to a full production brewery in 2012.

What foods pair well with Anti-Hero? Grilled burgers or bratwursts benefit from the beer's cutting bitterness. Spicy Thai or Mexican dishes find balance against its citrus sweetness. Sharp cheddar or aged gouda match the malt's toasty character. Fish tacos with a lime crema echo the grapefruit notes, and pepperoni pizza pairs naturally with its resinous, palate-cleansing finish.

What sizes does Anti-Hero come in? Anti-Hero IPA is commonly available in 6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz cans, as well as single cans depending on regional availability.

Is Anti-Hero worth the price? Anti-Hero positions as a premium everyday IPA — more complex than most mass-market options but priced within reach for regular rotation. Its 91-point BeerAdvocate rating and over 223,000 Untappd ratings reflect strong quality at the price tier.

Why Anti-Hero?

Anti-Hero earned its reputation the hard way — as a Chicago brewpub IPA that outgrew its neighborhood. The 91 BeerAdvocate score places it among the better-regarded West Coast IPAs in national distribution. Its malt bill — particularly the inclusion of Red Wheat and Golden Oats — gives it a textural dimension many West Coast IPAs lack, while the four-hop combination and aggressive dry-hopping deliver hop intensity without one-dimensional bitterness. For drinkers who want a reliably bold, well-constructed IPA by the case, Anti-Hero remains one of the Midwest's strongest entries in the style.