Spiteful Working For The Weekend 4Pk

Spiteful Working For The Weekend 4Pk is a 7.9% ABV Double IPA from Chicago's Spiteful Brewing, sold as a four-pack of cans. Scoring a 91 on BeerAdvocate across hundreds of ratings, this hop-forward ale has built a loyal following for its intensely tropical and citrus-driven character backed by a sturdy malt backbone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.9%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Spiteful Brewing

Production & Heritage

Spiteful Brewing operates out of Chicago, Illinois, where it has earned a reputation for bold, uncompromising ales. Working For The Weekend is built on a grain bill of Marris Otter and Special Roast malt, providing the biscuity foundation needed to support a heavy hop charge. The triple-hop combination of Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic drives the beer's personality — Citra and Mosaic contribute waves of tropical fruit and citrus, while Centennial adds a classic floral and grapefruit bitterness that anchors the blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright citrus — tangerine and lime peel lead into ripe mango and tropical fruit. A subtle dank, resinous quality lingers underneath, with a faint cracker-like sweetness from the Marris Otter malt rounding things out.

Taste: The first sip delivers a juicy burst of mango and mandarin orange, almost syrupy in its ripeness. Mid-palate, a biscuity malt character emerges, providing structure before the hops reassert themselves with lemon zest and pine resin. The bitterness is pronounced but well-calibrated against the 7.9% ABV, keeping the beer balanced rather than astringent.

Finish: The finish is moderately long with lingering pine, grapefruit pith, and a dry, slightly resinous bite. A trace of biscuit malt warmth fades slowly, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Working For The Weekend

This Double IPA drinks best fresh and cold — pour it into a tulip glass or IPA glass at around 45°F to let the hop aromatics fully express themselves. Beyond drinking it straight, it works in a few cocktail-adjacent serves: a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the citrus hops amplify the lemon; a Michelada riff, where the tropical fruit character plays well against lime, hot sauce, and Tajín; or a Beermosa with fresh tangerine juice, which doubles down on the mandarin notes already present in the beer.

Best For

• Weekend cookouts and backyard grilling sessions where bold flavor stands up to charred meats
• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate hop-forward styles
• Pairing alongside spicy dishes that benefit from a bitter, fruity counterpoint
• Building a Double IPA tasting flight to compare regional hop profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Working For The Weekend taste like? It delivers juicy mango and tangerine flavors up front, supported by a biscuity malt backbone, with a firmly bitter finish driven by pine and grapefruit pith.

How does Working For The Weekend compare to Pliny the Elder? Both are well-regarded Double IPAs, but Working For The Weekend leans more tropical and citrusy thanks to its Citra and Mosaic hop bill, while Pliny the Elder tends toward a more balanced, piney, and floral hop profile at a slightly higher 8% ABV. One reviewer directly compared the two, stating it made them forget they couldn't get Pliny in Illinois.

Is Working For The Weekend good for sipping on its own? Yes — the interplay of tropical fruit sweetness and assertive bitterness makes it a satisfying standalone pour, especially when served cold in a proper glass to highlight the aromatics.

Where is Working For The Weekend made? It is brewed by Spiteful Brewing in Chicago, Illinois, a craft brewery known for its aggressively hopped and flavorful ales.

What foods pair well with Working For The Weekend? Spicy Thai green curry works well, as the tropical hop character complements coconut and lemongrass. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar match the malt backbone. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's fruit-forward hops. Blue cheese benefits from the bitterness cutting through its richness. Cajun shrimp also pairs nicely, with the citrus hops lifting the spice.

What sizes does Working For The Weekend come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, the standard retail format from Spiteful Brewing.

Is Working For The Weekend worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft Double IPA, and the 91-point BeerAdvocate score alongside nearly 20,000 Untappd ratings suggest strong value within the style — competitive with nationally distributed Double IPAs at a similar price tier.

Why Working For The Weekend?

The combination of Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic hops produces a layered tropical and citrus character that stands apart from single-hop or more traditional Double IPAs. Its 91-point BeerAdvocate score and close to 20,000 ratings on Untappd reflect consistent quality, not hype-cycle novelty. The Marris Otter and Special Roast malt bill gives it a biscuity depth that many juice-bomb IPAs lack, keeping the beer structured and drinkable at 7.9% ABV. For anyone seeking a Chicago-brewed Double IPA with verified critical acclaim and genuine complexity, this is a reliable choice.