Roaring Table The Far Out Cool Pool 4Pk

Roaring Table The Far Out Cool Pool 4Pk is a California-style pilsner collaboration with Hop Butcher for the World, packaged as a 4-pack at 5.4% ABV. This India Pale Lager bridges old-world European pilsner tradition with the tropical hop punch of modern American craft brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.4%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois  |  Style: California-Style Pilsner / India Pale Lager  |  Brewery: Roaring Table Brewing Company (collab with Hop Butcher for the World)

Production & Heritage

Roaring Table Brewing Company operates a 10-barrel brewhouse in Lake Zurich, Illinois, producing small batches by hand. The Far Out Cool Pool was developed in collaboration with Chicago-based Hop Butcher for the World, combining Mittelfrüh — a classic German noble hop — with Citra and Nectaron, two varieties prized for their tropical and stone fruit intensity. The result is a modern take on a hoppy, crushable lager that incorporates elements borrowed from West Coast IPAs, Cold IPAs, and noble European pilsners.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with wood and a gentle old-world earthiness from the Mittelfrüh hops before giving way to tropical fruit and a distinct touch of peach. Citra and Nectaron push forward with bright, inviting fruitiness that keeps the aroma lively.

Taste: Entry is defined by a crisp malt backbone delivering cracker and hay notes. At mid-palate, the hop character expands into melon, white grape, peach, and light citrus. The balance stays tilted toward drinkability rather than bitterness, keeping the lager foundation front and center.

Finish: The finish is dry and clean, with bright carbonation that scrubs the palate. Lingering traces of melon and soft grain fade quickly, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink The Far Out Cool Pool

This beer drinks best cold — straight from the can or poured into a pilsner glass to appreciate the crystal-clear pale golden straw color. Its light body and dry finish make it an ideal warm-weather lager. It also works as a base for a Michelada, where the cracker malt and citrus hop notes complement tomato and lime. Try it alongside a Shandy build with fresh lemonade to amplify the peach and melon character. A Beer-a-Rita riff with grapefruit juice and a salted rim plays well off the Citra hop citrus.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and poolside sessions where a flavorful but crushable lager is essential
• Introducing IPA drinkers to the hop-forward lager category
• Pairing with grilled seafood or light summer fare
• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate small-batch collaborations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Far Out Cool Pool taste like? It delivers a crisp cracker and hay malt base layered with melon, white grape, peach, and light citrus hop flavors. The body is light and the finish is dry, making it highly sessionable at 5.4% ABV.

How does The Far Out Cool Pool compare to Firestone Walker Pivo Pils? Both are hop-forward pilsner-style lagers, but The Far Out Cool Pool leans more tropical thanks to its Citra and Nectaron hops, while Pivo Pils showcases a more herbal, floral German Pils character from Saphir hops. The Far Out Cool Pool also sits slightly higher in ABV and draws influence from California-style and Cold IPA brewing approaches.

Is The Far Out Cool Pool good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its balance of noble hop earthiness and modern tropical fruit makes it rewarding to drink straight, especially well-chilled on a warm day.

Where is The Far Out Cool Pool made? It is brewed at Roaring Table Brewing Company's 10-barrel brewhouse in Lake Zurich, Illinois, in collaboration with Hop Butcher for the World, a Chicago-based brewery.

What foods pair well with The Far Out Cool Pool? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos complement the melon and citrus hop notes. A simple arugula salad with goat cheese mirrors the beer's dry, crisp finish. Lighter charcuterie boards with mild cheeses and crackers echo the cracker malt backbone. Fresh ceviche works particularly well, as the beer's bright carbonation and peach notes enhance citrus-marinated seafood.

What sizes does The Far Out Cool Pool come in? It is available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Roaring Table Brewing.

Is The Far Out Cool Pool worth the price? As a small-batch collaboration between two respected Illinois breweries, it positions in the craft premium tier — typical for limited-run hoppy lagers from independent producers. The quality of hop selection and the hand-brewed approach justify the investment for fans of the style.

Why The Far Out Cool Pool?

This beer stands out because of its intentional blending of brewing philosophies — marrying German Mittelfrüh hops with New Zealand Nectaron and American Citra in a lager format that few breweries attempt at this scale. The collaboration between Roaring Table and Hop Butcher for the World brings together a small-town 10-barrel operation with one of Chicago's most sought-after hop-centric breweries. The result is a California-style pilsner that genuinely bridges European restraint and American hop-forward ambition without sacrificing drinkability. For anyone seeking a lager with real character that stays under 5.5% ABV, this collaboration delivers.