Hop Butcher Destination Moon 4Pk

Hop Butcher Destination Moon 4Pk is a 7.5% ABV Double India Pale Ale from Chicago’s Hop Butcher For The World, sold in a 4-pack of 16oz cans. Scored 94 in a blind taste test by BJCP-certified judges for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, Destination Moon exemplifies the brewery’s hop-driven, rotating release philosophy built around Mosaic, Chinook, and Simcoe hops.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Style: Double IPA | Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World | Hops: Mosaic, Chinook & Simcoe

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of a 25,000-square-foot production facility in Bedford Park, just outside Chicago. The brewery’s founders make annual trips to Washington’s Yakima Valley hop-growing region, where they secure early access to experimental and limited hop lots. Destination Moon is part of Hop Butcher’s constant rotation model no single beer stays on the schedule permanently making each release a snapshot of whichever hops the team finds most compelling at the time. This particular expression leans on the tropical and resinous character of Mosaic, the piney bite of Chinook, and the citrus-forward punch of Simcoe.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a rush of tropical fruit passion fruit and ripe pineapple dominate, followed by a layer of sweet citrus and a subtle dank, resinous undercurrent. A faint berry note lingers behind the more assertive tropical character.

Taste: The entry is soft and creamy, with passion fruit and kumquat hitting first on the palate. Mid-palate, pineapple and tangerine flavors intensify while light pine resin and grapefruit bitterness build structure. The fuller body carries a juicy sweetness that never turns cloying, balanced by that persistent resinous backbone.

Finish: Medium-long and slightly tart, with a pungent hop bitterness that dries the palate cleanly. Lingering notes of sweet grapefruit, orange peel, and a touch of dank berry carry through the close.

How to Drink Destination Moon

Destination Moon drinks best poured cold into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint, which opens up the aromatic hop oils. Drink it fresh DIPAs like this lose hop vibrancy over time, so consuming within a few weeks of purchase is ideal.

• IPA Shandy: Mix with fresh lemonade to play off the citrus and tropical notes while taming the bitterness for warm-weather sessions.
• Hop Drop (Boilermaker): Pair a pour alongside a shot of unaged white whiskey the grain spirit amplifies the resinous hop character.
• Michelada Twist: Combine with lime juice, hot sauce, and a pinch of salt to contrast the beer’s tropical sweetness with savory heat.

Best For

• Hop-obsessed IPA drinkers exploring Chicago’s craft beer scene
• Sharing with friends during a weekend cookout or tasting session
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who values limited rotating releases
• Pairing with bold, spicy foods that stand up to assertive hop bitterness

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Destination Moon taste like? Destination Moon delivers intense tropical fruit passion fruit, pineapple, and kumquat layered over a creamy, full body with resinous pine and grapefruit bitterness. The finish is tart and pungent with lingering citrus.

How does Destination Moon compare to Tree House Julius? Both are hop-forward Double IPAs known for soft, juicy bodies and tropical aromatics, but Destination Moon’s Chinook addition introduces a more pronounced pine resin and dank character. Tree House Julius, brewed in Massachusetts, tends toward a rounder, less bitter profile, while Destination Moon finishes with a sharper, more tart edge.

Is Destination Moon good for sipping on its own? Absolutely its 7.5% ABV is restrained enough for a Double IPA to remain sessionable across a couple of cans, and the creamy body and layered hop flavors reward slow, attentive drinking straight from a glass.

Where is Destination Moon made? Destination Moon is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World at their production facility in Bedford Park, Illinois, a suburb directly southwest of Chicago. The brewery sources hops from Washington’s Yakima Valley, one of the premier hop-growing regions in the United States.

What foods pair well with Destination Moon? Spicy Thai green curry complements the tropical fruit notes while the hop bitterness cuts through coconut milk richness. Grilled chicken tacos with mango salsa echo the pineapple and citrus character. Sharp aged cheddar provides a salty, savory contrast to the beer’s juicy sweetness. Fish and chips work well, as the resinous bitterness cuts through fried batter. A citrus-dressed arugula salad mirrors the grapefruit and tangerine flavors.

What sizes does Destination Moon come in? Destination Moon is available as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, which is the standard release format for Hop Butcher For The World’s rotating DIPA lineup.

Is Destination Moon worth the price? Destination Moon positions in the premium craft DIPA tier, consistent with other limited-rotation releases from highly regarded regional breweries. The 94-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and a BeerAdvocate rating of 91 suggest strong critical consensus behind its quality, placing it among the better values in the competitive hazy and hop-forward Double IPA segment.

Why Destination Moon?

Destination Moon earned a 94-point score in a blind evaluation by BJCP-certified judges a meaningful benchmark in a category flooded with competing Double IPAs. The Mosaic, Chinook, and Simcoe hop bill strikes a balance between tropical juice and old-school resinous bite that many modern hazy DIPAs deliberately avoid, giving this beer a wider flavor range than single-note juice bombs. Hop Butcher’s rotating release model means Destination Moon appears in limited windows, reinforcing its appeal among collectors and hop chasers who track the brewery’s output closely. For drinkers who want a Chicago-brewed DIPA with verified critical acclaim and genuine complexity, this is a release worth catching while it’s fresh.