Shortfuse Purple Juice Cannon 4Pk

Shortfuse Purple Juice Cannon 4Pk is a 10% ABV Imperial New England IPA from Short Fuse Brewing Company, sold as a four-pack of cans. Brewed with concord grape, fresh berries, and a six-hop blend, this double IPA stands out for its intensely fruity profile that masks serious gravity behind a deceptively smooth body.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10%  |  Origin: Schiller Park, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial/Double New England IPA (Hazy)  |  Brewery: Short Fuse Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short Fuse Brewing Company operates out of Schiller Park, Illinois, a suburb just west of Chicago. Purple Juice Cannon is part of the brewery's Juice Cannon series, which explores fruit-forward variations on the hazy IPA template. What separates this expression from most double NEIPAs is the addition of real concord grape and fresh berries during brewing — an uncommon technique in the style. The hop bill is equally ambitious: Vic Secret, Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic, Azacca, El Dorado, and Amarillo contribute layers of tropical, stone fruit, and white wine character that intertwine with the grape addition rather than competing with it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Concord grape dominates the nose immediately, followed by ripe mixed berries and a wave of tropical citrus from the hop blend. A faint spicy, dank undertone lingers beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is juicy and sweet, led by grape and berry flavors that read almost like a smoothie. At mid-palate, citrus hops push through — grapefruit, passionfruit, and gooseberry from the Nelson Sauvin and Vic Secret — creating a more complex interplay. Despite the 10% ABV, alcohol heat is remarkably restrained, and the body stays lighter than expected for a beer of this gravity.

Finish: Sweet and fruity with lingering grape skin and a touch of hop resin. The finish is moderate in length, drying just enough to invite the next sip without turning bitter.

How to Drink Purple Juice Cannon

Pour into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass at 40–45°F to let the aromatics fully open up; drinking straight from the can mutes much of the grape and berry complexity. This is a sipper — the 10% ABV demands respect despite the easy-drinking character. A slow, relaxed pace over a meal or a session with friends keeps the experience enjoyable. Adding a thin citrus wheel of blood orange to the glass can amplify the tropical-grape interplay if you want to push the fruit character further.

Best For

• Hazy IPA fans looking for something more adventurous than a standard NEIPA
• Sharing during backyard cookouts or small gatherings where a flavorful, high-ABV beer replaces volume drinking
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward fruit-forward styles
• Pairing with bold, spicy, or smoked foods that can stand up to the beer's intensity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Purple Juice Cannon taste like? Purple Juice Cannon tastes like a juicy blend of concord grape, mixed berries, and tropical citrus hops, with a surprisingly light body for a 10% ABV imperial IPA. The sweetness is prominent but balanced by enough hop resin and subtle spice to keep it from becoming cloying.

How does Purple Juice Cannon compare to Red Juice Cannon? Both are high-gravity New England IPAs from Short Fuse that use real grape additions, but Red Juice Cannon (9.8% ABV) is brewed with Cabernet grapes and red grapefruit zest, giving it a more tart, vinous profile. Purple Juice Cannon leans sweeter and jammier thanks to the concord grape and berry additions.

Is Purple Juice Cannon good for sipping? Yes — despite its hazy, juice-like drinkability, the 10% ABV makes this a beer best enjoyed slowly and deliberately. It rewards a careful pour into proper glassware where the full aroma can develop.

Where is Purple Juice Cannon made? Purple Juice Cannon is brewed by Short Fuse Brewing Company in Schiller Park, Illinois, located in the western suburbs of Chicago.

What foods pair well with Purple Juice Cannon? Smoked pulled pork benefits from the beer's grape sweetness cutting through the fat. Spicy Thai basil chicken finds a cooling counterpoint in the fruity body. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the berry and hop flavors effectively. Grilled lamb burgers with a berry reduction echo the concord grape notes. Dark chocolate brownies match the beer's sweetness while drawing out the dank hop undertones.

What sizes does Purple Juice Cannon come in? Purple Juice Cannon is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Purple Juice Cannon worth the price? Purple Juice Cannon positions as a premium craft offering within the imperial IPA category, and its complex six-hop bill combined with real fruit additions justifies its place above standard hazy IPAs in terms of value. For drinkers who enjoy fruit-driven, high-ABV hazies, the quality-to-price ratio is competitive.

Why Purple Juice Cannon?

The use of real concord grape and fresh berries in a double New England IPA is uncommon enough to make this beer genuinely distinctive — this is not a style where brewers typically reach for wine grapes. The six-hop blend of Vic Secret, Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic, Azacca, El Dorado, and Amarillo provides a layered tropical and citrus backbone that most single- or dual-hopped hazies cannot match. At 10% ABV with a body that drinks far lighter than its gravity suggests, Purple Juice Cannon occupies a rare space: bold enough to satisfy hop heads, fruity enough to intrigue drinkers who normally avoid IPAs, and strong enough that a single can constitutes a full session. It is one of the more creative entries in Short Fuse's Juice Cannon series and a standout example of what fruit-adjunct imperial IPAs can achieve when the recipe is built around balance rather than novelty alone.