Shortfuse Bee-33 4Pk

Shortfuse Bee-33 4Pk is a honey-forward Triple IPA from Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, packaged as a four-pack at 11.0% ABV. Brewed with over 50 pounds of honey and triple dry hopped, Bee-33 carries a 3.7 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,800 reviews and an 83 on BeerAdvocate — a solid showing for a high-gravity honey IPA.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11.0%  |  Origin: Schiller Park, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Honey Triple IPA  |  Brewery: Short Fuse Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short Fuse Brewing Company operates out of Schiller Park, a suburb just west of Chicago, where it has built a following for aggressive, hop-heavy recipes. Bee-33 distinguishes itself through a massive honey addition — over 50 pounds per batch — layered into a Triple IPA base. The brew is finished with Cascade hops and then triple dry hopped with El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo, creating a complex interplay between residual honey sweetness and resinous, tropical hop oils. At 11.0% ABV, this sits firmly in imperial territory while the honey works to smooth out the alcohol presence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet malts lead the nose, followed by a recognizable floral honey character. Behind the sweetness, El Dorado and Mosaic hops introduce tropical fruit and stone fruit undertones that keep the aroma layered and engaging.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and sweet, with biscuity malt and warm honey coating the palate. Mid-palate, the triple dry hop charge kicks in — Amarillo and Mosaic deliver ripe mango, melon, and citrus pith. As the hop bitterness builds, it pushes against the honey-malt sweetness with considerable intensity, landing on a firmly bitter peak that reminds you this is an 11% beer.

Finish: Long and resinous, with a light sticky texture and mild underlying bitterness that lingers well after the swallow. The honey recedes gradually, leaving behind piney hop resin and a gentle alcoholic warmth.

How to Drink Bee-33

Bee-33 is best served at 45–50°F in a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the aromatic complexity; pouring it too cold mutes the honey and hop interplay. Given the 11% ABV, this drinks best as a standalone sipper rather than a session pour. For those inclined toward beer cocktails, the honey backbone makes it an interesting candidate for a Bee's Knees Shandy, blending it with fresh lemon juice and a touch of ginger syrup. It also works in a Boilermaker paired alongside a pour of bourbon, where the honey sweetness bridges the two. A Michelada variation with lime, hot sauce, and Bee-33 creates an unexpectedly balanced sweet-heat combination.

Best For

• Hop-forward beer enthusiasts seeking a high-ABV challenge with a twist
• Sharing at a backyard cookout or small tasting with friends
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who appreciates unusual brewing ingredients
• Pairing alongside a charcuterie spread or smoked meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bee-33 taste like? Bee-33 delivers a full-bodied, sweet malt and honey profile up front that transitions into intense tropical hop bitterness from its triple dry hop process. The finish is long and resinous with lingering piney notes and gentle warmth from its 11.0% ABV.

How does Bee-33 compare to other honey IPAs? Most honey IPAs sit in the 6–8% range with a restrained hop bill, while Bee-33 pushes to 11.0% ABV with over 50 pounds of honey and a triple dry hop of El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo — making it significantly bolder and more hop-aggressive than typical examples of the style.

Is Bee-33 good for sipping neat? Yes — the high ABV, full body, and layered hop-and-honey complexity reward a slow, contemplative pour from a tulip glass at cellar temperature rather than quick consumption.

Where is Bee-33 made? Bee-33 is brewed by Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, a suburb located just west of Chicago in the greater Chicagoland area.

What foods pair well with Bee-33? Smoked brisket or pulled pork — the honey sweetness complements char and smoke. Aged cheddar or Gruyère — the fat and salt balance the hop bitterness. Spicy Thai curry — the residual sugar tempers chili heat. Honey-glazed chicken wings — reinforces the honey character while the bitterness cuts through the glaze. Blue cheese — the bold funk stands up to the beer's intensity.

What sizes does Bee-33 come in? Bee-33 is available in a four-pack format from Short Fuse Brewing Company.

Is Bee-33 worth the price? Bee-33 positions as a specialty craft release with an unusual ingredient bill — over 50 pounds of honey and a triple dry hop — at 11.0% ABV, placing it in the premium craft IPA tier where higher per-unit pricing reflects the ingredient cost and limited production scale.

Why Bee-33?

The sheer volume of honey — more than 50 pounds per batch — sets Bee-33 apart from the crowded IPA landscape, where most honey additions are modest afterthoughts. Layering that honey base with a triple dry hop of El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo creates a tension between sweetness and bitterness that few beers in this category attempt at 11.0% ABV. With a 3.7 rating across over 1,800 Untappd reviews and an 83 on BeerAdvocate, the beer has earned a consistent following among drinkers who want a high-gravity IPA that trades one-dimensional bitterness for something more layered. For anyone who finds standard IPAs too lean or standard imperial stouts too heavy, Bee-33 occupies an unusual and rewarding middle ground.