Shortfuse Hop Cycle 4Pk

Shortfuse Hop Cycle 4Pk is a rotating-hop hazy double IPA from Short Fuse Brewing Company, packaged as four 16oz cans at 8.6% ABV. Each release in the Hop Cycle series spotlights a different combination of hops, making every batch a distinct experience — a format that has earned the line consistent Untappd ratings between 3.7 and 3.9 across multiple variants.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.6%  |  Origin: Schiller Park, Illinois  |  Style: Hazy Double IPA  |  Brewery: Short Fuse Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short Fuse Brewing Company operates out of Schiller Park, a suburb just northwest of Chicago. The brewery is notable in the Illinois craft scene for housing two 30-barrel foeders — large oak aging vessels rarely seen at breweries of this size. Hop Cycle is their rotating double IPA series, built around the concept of pairing different hop varieties against one another in each release. Past editions have featured combinations like Mosaic vs. Citra, Galaxy vs. Citra, Amarillo vs. Chinook, and El Dorado with Azacca and Idaho 7, ensuring that no two Hop Cycle batches taste alike.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Depending on the hop bill, expect waves of tropical fruit — passion fruit, mango, and citrus are common across variants. Piney, resinous undertones and a soft floral quality round out the nose.

Taste: The entry is juicy and fruit-forward, landing with ripe tropical flavors such as peach, pineapple, and citrus. Mid-palate, a botanical, piney bitterness emerges to balance the sweetness. Despite the 8.6% ABV, the body stays relatively light and the mouthfeel is smooth, though the alcohol warmth does assert itself on fuller sips.

Finish: Moderately long with lingering pine resin and a soft citrus peel fade. The bitterness is present but controlled, leaving a clean, dry close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Hop Cycle

Pour Hop Cycle into a tulip glass or stemless IPA glass at around 45°F to let the aromatic hop oils open up fully. Drinking straight from the can works on the go, but the haze and aroma deserve proper glassware. A Michelada riff using Hop Cycle brings tropical hop character to the tomato-lime base. It also works in a Beer-a-Rita, where its bold fruit notes pair naturally with fresh lime and a salted rim. For a low-effort serve, try a Shandy with fresh lemonade to tame the ABV while amplifying the citrus notes.

Best For

• Hop-head friends who want to compare different hop profiles side by side
• Backyard cookouts where a big, flavorful beer holds up to grilled meats
• Trading or sharing with fellow craft beer collectors who appreciate rotating series
• Supporting independent Illinois craft brewing with a genuinely local product

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hop Cycle taste like? Hop Cycle delivers a juicy, tropical-forward flavor profile heavy on passion fruit, citrus, and pine, with a surprisingly smooth body given its 8.6% ABV. The exact flavor shifts with each release depending on which hops are featured.

How does Hop Cycle compare to Short Fuse Loosey Juicy? Loosey Juicy is Short Fuse's more sessionable hazy IPA, while Hop Cycle sits in double IPA territory at 8.6% ABV with a rotating hop bill that changes from batch to batch. Hop Cycle generally runs bolder, more resinous, and higher in alcohol.

Is Hop Cycle good for sipping? Yes — despite the high ABV, drinkers consistently note that Hop Cycle is deceptively drinkable, though pacing is wise given the 8.6% strength packed into 16oz cans.

Where is Hop Cycle made? Hop Cycle is brewed by Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, a suburb located just outside Chicago in the western suburbs corridor.

What foods pair well with Hop Cycle? Spicy tacos al pastor complement the tropical hop character. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar stand up to the beer's bold bitterness. Thai green curry echoes the botanical, herbal notes. A charcuterie board with aged cheeses balances the hop intensity. Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the fruit-forward profile.

What sizes does Hop Cycle come in? Hop Cycle is available in 4-packs of 16oz cans, the standard tall-boy format common for craft double IPAs.

Is Hop Cycle worth the price? Hop Cycle positions as a craft double IPA from an independent Illinois brewery, and its rotating hop format gives repeat buyers a reason to come back for each new batch — solid value within the hazy DIPA category.

Why Hop Cycle?

The rotating hop concept is Hop Cycle's defining feature: rather than committing to a single recipe, Short Fuse treats each batch as a showcase for different hop pairings, from Galaxy vs. Citra to Amarillo vs. Chinook. That format turns a single SKU into an ongoing education in hop character, and the 8.6% ABV puts it firmly in double IPA territory without sacrificing drinkability. Short Fuse's broader brewing program — including their use of two 30-barrel foeders, rare for an Illinois brewery — signals a team comfortable with ambitious production. For anyone tracking the Chicago-area craft scene, Hop Cycle is one of the more inventive rotating series available.