Hop Butcher Path Maker 4Pk

Hop Butcher Path Maker 4Pk is a 6.5% ABV New England-style hazy IPA from Chicago's Hop Butcher For The World, sold as a 4-pack of 16oz cans. Triple-hopped with Citra, Simcoe, and Galaxy, this small-batch release carries an 89 score on BeerAdvocate and a 4.0 average on Untappd across more than 1,600 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: New England / Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World  |  Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Galaxy

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World is a Chicago microbrewery celebrated for its small-batch, hop-driven beers and a constant churn of fresh can releases — the brewery does not maintain any single year-round offering, making each drop a limited window. Path Maker was last canned on June 24, 2025, reflecting that rapid-rotation model. The beer is built on a soft, hazy malt base designed to showcase the oil-rich trio of Citra, Simcoe, and Galaxy hops, a combination that layers tropical, citrus, and resinous characteristics without aggressive bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus peel and ripe tropical fruit lead, followed by gentle dank, resinous undertones from the Simcoe addition. The overall impression is inviting and fruit-forward without any harsh vegetal edge.

Taste: The entry delivers ripe tangerine and fresh pineapple, rolling into a mid-palate of stone fruit and softer orange juice character. The hazy malt base keeps everything plush and moderately juicy, while a restrained bitterness provides structure without overwhelming the fruit.

Finish: Clean and gently bitter, with lingering notes of tropical pith and a dry, refreshing close. The moderate crispness resets the palate quickly, making it an easy beer to return to.

How to Drink Path Maker

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics open fully; drinking straight from the can will mute the tropical nose. Path Maker also works well in beer-forward mixed drinks: try it in a Beermosa, where the tangerine notes complement fresh orange juice; a Michelada, where the soft body tempers spice from hot sauce and Tajín; or a Radler-style blend with grapefruit soda, which amplifies the citrus hop character.

Best For

• Sharing with friends during a summer cookout or backyard session
• Gifting to a craft-beer enthusiast who collects limited drops
• Pairing alongside a taco spread or weekend brunch
• Introducing someone to the hazy IPA style with a well-balanced example

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Path Maker taste like? Path Maker delivers ripe tangerine, pineapple, and stone fruit layered on a soft, hazy malt body, finishing clean with moderate bitterness and juicy tropical character.

How does Path Maker compare to other Hop Butcher IPAs? Path Maker sits at 6.5% ABV, making it more sessionable than many of Hop Butcher's higher-gravity double IPAs, while the Citra-Simcoe-Galaxy hop bill leans heavier on tropical fruit than their single-hop or more resinous releases.

Is Path Maker good for someone new to hazy IPAs? Yes — the 6.5% ABV is approachable, and the restrained bitterness and juicy fruit character make it a balanced entry point into the New England IPA style.

Where is Path Maker made? Path Maker is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World, a microbrewery based in Chicago, Illinois, known for its rotating roster of small-batch, hop-forward beers.

What foods pair well with Path Maker? Fish tacos, where the citrus hops mirror a lime squeeze; Nashville hot chicken, where the juicy body tempers heat; grilled shrimp skewers with mango salsa; a fresh burrata and stone-fruit salad; or mild washed-rind cheeses that complement the beer's soft malt backbone.

What sizes does Path Maker come in? Path Maker is released in 4-packs of 16oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating releases.

Is Path Maker worth the price? Path Maker positions as a craft-premium hazy IPA; its limited small-batch availability and consistently strong community ratings — 89 on BeerAdvocate and 4.0 on Untappd — place it squarely in line with other sought-after microbrewery four-packs.

Why Path Maker?

Hop Butcher's rotating release model means Path Maker is brewed in small batches and available only until each run sells through, giving it a scarcity that most year-round hazy IPAs cannot match. The Citra, Simcoe, and Galaxy hop combination is one of the more proven trios in modern IPA brewing, delivering complexity without relying on a single varietal's profile. With an 89 BeerAdvocate score and over 1,600 Untappd ratings averaging 4.0, Path Maker has earned consistent praise from a broad cross-section of craft-beer drinkers. At 6.5% ABV, it strikes a balance between flavor intensity and drinkability that keeps it relevant whether you are opening the first can or the last.