Hop Butcher Double Pepperoni 4Pk is a 7.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale from Chicago's Hop Butcher For The World, sold as a four-pack of 16oz cans. This release earned a 95-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in a blind taste test judged by certified BJCP panelists, placing it among the brewery's most acclaimed offerings. Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Style: Double IPA | Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World Production & Heritage Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Bedford Park, a southwest suburb of Chicago, and has built a reputation on a model of constant rotation — the brewery has produced over 250 different beers with no permanent flagship. Double Pepperoni is hopped with Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, Vic Secret, and Citra, a combination that bridges classic West Coast dankness with Southern Hemisphere tropical fruit character. True to the brewery's ethos, cans are typically distributed within hours or days of packaging, prioritizing freshness above all else. Tasting Notes Aroma: Orange and grapefruit citrus lead the nose, followed by ripe peach and guava. A grassy, white-wine-like quality from the Nelson Sauvin hops adds a layer of bright, herbal complexity. Taste: The entry is juicy and tropical — pineapple and grapefruit juice dominate the front palate. At mid-palate, earthy and herbaceous notes emerge alongside dank resinous pine and citrus peel. A subtle sweetness rounds out the peak, balancing the pithy grapefruit bitterness without veering into cloying territory. Finish: Medium-long with lingering green lime zest and pine resin. The dank, grassy character fades slowly, leaving a dry, refreshingly bitter close. How to Drink Double Pepperoni Pour fresh and cold into a tulip glass or straight from the can — Double Pepperoni is at its best consumed as close to the canning date as possible. A Michelada riff works surprisingly well here, where the citrus-forward hop profile meets lime and hot sauce for a savory twist. Try it alongside a Beer-a-Rita build using fresh grapefruit juice to amplify the pithy citrus already present. For something unconventional, use it as the base in a Hop Shandy with lemonade, where the tropical fruit character bridges the gap between bitter and sweet. Best For Sharing with hop-obsessed friends on pizza night — the name practically demands it Adding a limited-release conversation starter to a craft beer tasting lineup Gifting to a collector who tracks Hop Butcher's rotating roster of 250+ releases Pairing with backyard grilling sessions where bold, tropical flavors match smoky food Frequently Asked Questions What does Double Pepperoni taste like? Double Pepperoni delivers a juicy, tropical profile dominated by pineapple, grapefruit, and guava, layered with dank, earthy, and herbaceous hop character. It finishes dry with lingering pine resin and citrus peel bitterness. How does Double Pepperoni compare to Phase Three Unchecked Imagination? Both are highly rated Midwest Double IPAs, but Double Pepperoni leans more dank and earthy thanks to Simcoe and Vic Secret, while Phase Three's releases often emphasize softer, haze-forward juice profiles. Double Pepperoni scored a 95 from Craft Beer & Brewing in blind judging, giving it strong critical backing in the category. Is Double Pepperoni good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the 7.5% ABV keeps it in a sessionable range for a Double IPA, and the layered hop complexity rewards slow, attentive drinking from a proper glass. Where is Double Pepperoni made? Double Pepperoni is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World at their production facility in Bedford Park, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago. The brewery distributes primarily throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. What foods pair well with Double Pepperoni? Pepperoni pizza is the obvious match, where the citrus and pine hops cut through the fat and salt. Spicy Thai green curry works well against the tropical fruit notes. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa echo the guava and pineapple character. Sharp cheddar or aged gouda can stand up to the hop intensity. Fish and chips benefit from the pithy grapefruit bitterness acting like a squeeze of lemon. What sizes does Double Pepperoni come in? Double Pepperoni is available as a four-pack of 16oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating Double IPA releases. Is Double Pepperoni worth the price? Double Pepperoni positions as a premium craft Double IPA from one of Chicago's most in-demand breweries, and its 95-point blind-tasting score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine reinforces strong value within the limited-release hazy and hop-forward DIPA segment. Why Double Pepperoni? Hop Butcher's constant-rotation model means Double Pepperoni is not a year-round staple — it appears, moves fast, and disappears. That scarcity is backed by substance: a four-hop combination of Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, Vic Secret, and Citra that delivers both dank complexity and bright tropical juice in a single pour. The 95-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing's BJCP blind panel and a 91 on BeerAdvocate confirm this isn't just hype — it's one of the stronger entries in a catalog of over 250 releases. For anyone tracking the Midwest's competitive Double IPA scene, this is a release worth catching while it's fresh.
