Spiteful Alley time! 6Pk

Spiteful Alley Time! 6Pk is a Simcoe-hopped American Pale Ale from Chicago's Spiteful Brewing, packaged as a six-pack at 6.0% ABV. It holds an 88 ("Very Good") rating on BeerAdvocate across nearly 200 ratings, and earned a spot on Paste Magazine's list of the best American Pale Ales in a blind tasting.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: American Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Spiteful Brewing

Production & Heritage

Spiteful Brewing operates out of the Bowmanville neighborhood on Chicago's Northside, at 2024 W. Balmoral Ave. Alley Time is built on a straightforward grain bill of Pilsen malt and amber malt, with a single addition of Simcoe hops — a deliberate restraint that lets that one varietal dominate the flavor without competing layers of hop character. The brewery hand-fills and hand-labels every can, and self-distributes to ensure freshness hits shelves without delay.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grassy and herbal Simcoe notes lead, followed by lemon zest and a subtle apricot-like fruitiness. A faint dankness sits underneath, hinting at the pine to come.

Taste: The entry is light and clean, with a soapy citrus and lemon zest character up front that moves into resinous pine and dank hop flavor at mid-palate. Biscuity malt and a touch of light honey sweetness provide just enough backbone before a firm bitterness takes hold. The overall impression is hop-forward without the punch of an IPA.

Finish: Dry and crisp, with lingering pine and a subtle grassy bitterness that fades cleanly. The pilsner-like body makes the finish particularly refreshing and encourages another sip.

How to Drink Alley Time

Alley Time is built to drink cold and uncomplicated — straight from the can or poured into a shaker pint. Its dry finish and moderate bitterness also make it a surprisingly capable beer cocktail base. Try it in a Michelada, where the pine and citrus character cuts through tomato and hot sauce. It works well in a Beer Shandy mixed with fresh lemonade, amplifying the existing lemon zest notes. A Hop Drop 'n Roll — Alley Time with a splash of grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt — plays up the Simcoe's citrus side for a quick patio drink.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where you need a hop-forward but easy-drinking beer on hand
• Introducing hop-curious friends to pale ales without overwhelming IPA bitterness
• Supporting a local Chicago brewery with a hand-canned, self-distributed product
• Stocking a cooler for a weekend spent outdoors — the six-pack format is built for sharing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Alley Time taste like? Alley Time leads with citrus zest, pine, and a touch of dank hop character, supported by a light biscuit malt sweetness. It finishes dry and crisp, closer to a hoppy pilsner in body than a heavy pale ale.

How does Alley Time compare to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Both are classic American Pale Ales, but Alley Time uses a single Simcoe hop addition for a more focused pine-and-citrus profile, while Sierra Nevada Pale Ale relies on Cascade hops for its signature floral and grapefruit character. Alley Time also finishes drier and lighter in body.

Is Alley Time good for beginners? Yes — at 6.0% ABV with restrained bitterness and a dry, approachable body, Alley Time is an excellent entry point into American Pale Ales for anyone moving beyond lagers and wheat beers.

Where is Alley Time made? Alley Time is brewed by Spiteful Brewing in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Chicago's Northside, at 2024 W. Balmoral Ave. The brewery self-distributes to maintain freshness from brewery to shelf.

What foods pair well with Alley Time? Grilled chicken or bratwurst — the pine hops complement char and smoke. Fish tacos with citrus slaw echo the beer's lemon zest notes. Sharp cheddar balances the dry bitterness. Spicy Thai noodles benefit from the crisp, palate-cleansing finish. A simple margherita pizza lets the Simcoe hop character shine alongside fresh basil.

What sizes does Alley Time come in? This listing is a six-pack of standard cans, which is the primary retail format for Alley Time.

Is Alley Time worth the price? Alley Time positions as a craft pale ale from a small, independent Chicago brewery that hand-fills every can. Within the American Pale Ale category, it delivers a distinctive single-hop profile and strong BeerAdvocate ratings that justify its place among quality craft six-packs.

Why Alley Time?

The single Simcoe hop addition is the defining move here — rather than layering multiple hop varieties, Spiteful Brewing isolates one of the most characterful hops in the American craft lexicon and lets it speak clearly against a clean pilsner malt base. That focus earned Alley Time an 88 on BeerAdvocate and a place on Paste Magazine's blind-tasted best American Pale Ales list. The hand-canned, self-distributed model means the beer arrives fresher than most macro-distributed competitors. For drinkers who want serious hop flavor without IPA-level intensity, this is a Chicago-made pale ale that earns repeat purchases on quality alone.