Maplewood Son of Juice 19.2OZ

Maplewood Son of Juice 19.2OZ is a Hazy IPA brewed in Chicago, Illinois, coming in a 19.2 oz stovepipe can at 6.3% ABV. Scored 93 out of 100 by Craft Beer & Brewing and rated 91 on BeerAdvocate, Son of Juice has earned a devoted following among haze enthusiasts for its intensely tropical, low-bitterness profile.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.3% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Style: Hazy IPA | Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery operates out of Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, producing both beer and spirits under one roof. Son of Juice is built on a grain bill of Pilsner malt, malted oats, golden naked oats, and white wheat a combination of multiple oat varieties that creates the beer’s distinctively soft, creamy body and persistent haze. The hop schedule layers Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo, Simcoe, Simcoe Cryo, and Nugget hops, with the cryo variants delivering concentrated tropical and citrus aromatics while keeping vegetal harshness to a minimum.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pale gold beneath a fine pastel haze, Son of Juice opens with a rush of citrus and tropical fruit white grapefruit, passionfruit, and ripe orange dominate. Beneath the fruit sits a subtle thread of dark berry and herbal hop character.

Taste: The first sip delivers a burst of guava and sweet grapefruit, followed quickly by passionfruit, kiwi, and under-ripened orange at the mid-palate. A light blueberry note surfaces alongside a quiet grain sweetness from the oat-heavy base, keeping bitterness restrained and letting the fruit expression lead throughout.

Finish: Medium-bodied and creamy in texture, the finish lands malty-dry with a slightly more bitter balance than sweet. The tropical character fades gradually, leaving behind clean citrus pith and soft grain.

How to Drink Son of Juice

Son of Juice drinks best cold, poured into a tulip glass or straight from the 19.2 oz can. Give it a gentle swirl before pouring to redistribute any settled hop sediment. The beer’s juicy, low-bitterness profile also makes it a strong candidate for beer cocktails: a Beermosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice that amplifies the citrus notes; a Radler mixed with grapefruit soda for a lighter warm-weather drink; or a Michelada where the tropical fruit and creamy body provide an unexpectedly smooth counterpoint to the lime and hot sauce.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and summer gatherings where a single 19.2 oz can replaces the need for a second pour
• Introducing hop-averse friends to the IPA category through a soft, fruit-forward entry point
• Pairing with spicy grilled foods where low bitterness and creamy body cool the heat
• Stocking a curated hazy IPA tasting flight alongside other top-rated regional hazies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Son of Juice taste like? Son of Juice delivers a wave of tropical fruit guava, passionfruit, grapefruit, and orange carried by a creamy, oat-driven body with very low bitterness. It finishes malty-dry with a clean citrus fade.

How does Son of Juice compare to Lagunitas Hazy Wonder? Son of Juice leans heavier on tropical fruit intensity and has a creamier mouthfeel from its dual-oat grain bill, while Lagunitas Hazy Wonder tends toward a lighter body and a more restrained hop character at a similar ABV. Son of Juice also carries a higher critical rating, scoring 93 from Craft Beer & Brewing versus Hazy Wonder’s more modest critical reception.

Is Son of Juice good for beginners? Yes its minimal bitterness, juicy fruit character, and approachable 6.3% ABV make it one of the more welcoming Hazy IPAs for those new to the style.

Where is Son of Juice made? Son of Juice is brewed by Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Maplewood operates as a combined brewery and distillery in the city’s northwest side.

What foods pair well with Son of Juice? Fish tacos with mango salsa, where the tropical hops echo the fruit in the salsa; Thai green curry, whose coconut richness complements the creamy body; grilled chicken with citrus glaze for a direct citrus-on-citrus match; sharp cheddar cheese, which cuts through the soft mouthfeel; and pepperoni pizza, where the carbonation and dry finish cleanse the palate between bites.

What sizes does Son of Juice come in? Son of Juice is available in the 19.2 oz stovepipe can format as well as standard 16 oz four-packs.

Is Son of Juice worth the price? Son of Juice positions as a mid-premium craft Hazy IPA, and its 93-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing and 91 on BeerAdvocate place it among the higher-rated options in its price tier, representing strong value relative to its critical acclaim.

Why Son of Juice?

What separates Son of Juice from the crowded hazy IPA field is the grain bill engineering the combination of malted oats and golden naked oats alongside Pilsner malt and white wheat creates a body that is genuinely creamy without feeling heavy at 6.3% ABV. The use of both standard and cryo versions of Mosaic and Simcoe hops concentrates the tropical and citrus aromatics while reducing astringent plant matter, resulting in a cleaner fruit expression than many competitors achieve. A 93 from Craft Beer & Brewing and consistent ratings above 4.0 on Untappd across more than 75,000 check-ins confirm that the recipe delivers reliably. For drinkers who want a fruit-driven, soft-bodied hazy IPA with legitimate critical backing from a Chicago brewery doing things its own way, Son of Juice earns its reputation.