Shortfuse IPA Bomb 6Pk

Shortfuse IPA Bomb 6Pk is a dry-hopped American IPA from Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, sold in a six-pack format. This hop-forward brew earned a 3.5 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 3,400 user reviews, reflecting its loyal following among Illinois craft beer drinkers. Note: this expression has been discontinued by the brewery.

Quick Facts: Style: American IPA  |  Origin: Schiller Park, Illinois  |  Dry-Hopped with Mosaic & Galaxy Hops  |  Brewery: Short Fuse Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short Fuse Brewing Company operates out of Schiller Park, a suburb just northwest of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. IPA Bomb was built around a dry-hopping regimen featuring Mosaic and Galaxy hops — two varieties prized for their tropical, citrus, and stone-fruit aromatics. A caramel malt backbone provided structure beneath the hop load, placing IPA Bomb in the classic American IPA tradition rather than the hazy or New England substyle. The brewery produced multiple variants of the IPA Bomb line, including a Citrus IPA Bomb expression listed at 6.9% ABV, though the base version's exact ABV was not widely published. Production of IPA Bomb has since been discontinued.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with pronounced fruity esters — tropical and juicy, leaning heavily into the Mosaic and Galaxy hop profile. Behind the fruit sits a layer of light caramel malt sweetness, along with spicy and piney resinous notes typical of American hop varieties.

Taste: The entry is immediate and hop-driven, delivering mango, orange, and grapefruit flavors alongside lemongrass and earthy pine. Mid-palate, caramel malt steps in to provide a moderately sweet counterpoint, though the body trends toward the lighter side and lets the hops dominate the conversation. Grapefruit and pine intensify toward the peak.

Finish: The finish is hop-bitter and moderately dry, with lingering citrus pith and resinous pine. The lighter body means the finish clears quickly, leaving an airy bitterness rather than a heavy, coating sensation.

How to Drink IPA Bomb

Pour into a tulip glass or standard pint glass at 40–45°F to let the hop aromatics open up fully; IPA Bomb is best consumed fresh, as dry-hopped IPAs lose vibrancy over time. A Hop Shandy — combining IPA Bomb with fresh lemonade — would play well with the citrus-forward hops. A Citrus Radler using grapefruit juice rounds out the tropical character into a refreshing warm-weather drink. For a bolder option, a Boilermaker paired with a pour of bourbon leverages the caramel malt backbone as a bridge between the two.

Best For

• Stocking a cooler for a summer backyard cookout
• Introducing a macro-lager drinker to hop-forward craft beer
• Pairing with spicy foods like tacos or buffalo wings
• Collecting discontinued Illinois craft beer releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does IPA Bomb taste like? IPA Bomb delivers bold tropical and citrus hop flavors — mango, orange, and grapefruit — supported by earthy pine and a caramel malt backbone. The body is on the lighter side, letting the hops take center stage from start to finish.

How does IPA Bomb compare to Goose Island IPA? Both are American IPAs brewed in the greater Chicago area, but IPA Bomb leans more heavily into tropical and fruity Mosaic and Galaxy hop aromatics, while Goose Island IPA features a more balanced, classically bitter hop profile with Centennial and Cascade hops. IPA Bomb's lighter body also sets it apart from Goose Island's fuller mouthfeel.

Is IPA Bomb good for beginners? Its tropical, fruit-forward hop character makes it relatively approachable for anyone new to IPAs, though the assertive bitterness and piney edge may challenge palates unaccustomed to the style.

Where is IPA Bomb made? IPA Bomb was brewed by Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, a suburb located just northwest of Chicago in Cook County.

What foods pair well with IPA Bomb? Spicy Thai green curry, where the hop bitterness cuts through coconut milk richness. Chargrilled burgers with sharp cheddar, as the caramel malt echoes toasted bun sweetness. Fish tacos with mango salsa, mirroring the beer's tropical hop notes. Blue cheese, where the bitterness counters the cheese's intensity. Jerk chicken, whose allspice and scotch bonnet heat pairs naturally with piney, citrus hops.

What sizes does IPA Bomb come in? IPA Bomb was sold primarily as a six-pack; individual bottle or can sizes were standard for the format, though the exact unit size was not widely documented by the brewery.

Is IPA Bomb worth the price? IPA Bomb positioned as a mid-range craft IPA from a small suburban Chicago brewery, pricing in line with regional six-pack competitors. As a discontinued product, remaining stock may carry a slight premium for collectors or fans of Short Fuse's lineup.

Why IPA Bomb?

IPA Bomb earned its name through an unapologetic commitment to hop intensity, built on a Mosaic and Galaxy dry-hopping schedule that delivered genuinely tropical aromatics in a category crowded with one-note bitterness. More than 3,400 Untappd users rated it, giving it a 3.5 out of 5 — solid for a small-batch suburban Illinois brewery competing against Chicago's deep craft scene. Its discontinuation makes remaining stock increasingly scarce, lending the beer a certain collector's appeal for fans of Short Fuse Brewing. For those who find it, IPA Bomb represents a snapshot of the mid-2010s American IPA movement: bold, hop-loaded, and unapologetically aromatic.