Hop Butcher Sun Fang 4Pk

Hop Butcher Sun Fang 4Pk is a 5.0% ABV West Coast Pilsner brewed with Citra and Krush Cryo hops, sold in a four-pack of cans. This limited-rotation release is a collaboration between Chicago's Hop Butcher for the World and Miami-based Tripping Animals Brewing, combining two respected names in American craft beer.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: West Coast Pilsner  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher for the World  |  Collaboration: Tripping Animals

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher for the World operates a production brewery in Bedford Park, a southwest suburb of Chicago, alongside a smaller fully functional brewhouse at its North Center taproom. The brewery has earned widespread recognition in the Chicago craft scene, including a Reader's Choice Award in Hop Culture's Chicago Brewery Bracket. Sun Fang uses Krush Cryo and Citra hops — the cryo processing concentrates lupulin compounds, delivering intensified hop aromatics without excessive bitterness. The West Coast Pilsner style pairs a clean, dry lager base with assertive American hop character, and Sun Fang is part of Hop Butcher's rotating release schedule rather than a year-round offering. Label artwork is by Dan Grzeca.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The Citra and Krush Cryo hop combination delivers bright citrus peel and tropical fruit on the nose. Expect notes of grapefruit zest, lime, and a subtle resinous pine quality characteristic of the West Coast approach.

Taste: The entry is clean and crisp, with the pilsner malt providing a light bready foundation that stays out of the way. Mid-palate, concentrated hop oils bring forward tangerine, white grapefruit, and a faint stone-fruit sweetness. The finish leans dry and snappy, with hop bitterness that is present but restrained at this sessionable ABV.

Finish: Short to medium in length with a clean, mineral-dry close. Lingering citrus pith and a gentle floral bitterness encourage another sip.

How to Drink Sun Fang

Pour cold into a pilsner glass or a clean shaker pint to let the hop aromatics open up; this beer is built to drink fresh and chilled. Sun Fang works well as a standalone session beer but also has cocktail-adjacent versatility: use it in a Beer Margarita (michelada-style with lime and salt) where the Citra hop citrus amplifies the lime; a Shandy with fresh lemonade to lean into the tropical-citrus profile; or a classic Radler with grapefruit juice, where the hop bitterness balances the sweetness.

Best For

• Warm-weather afternoon sessions where low ABV and high flavor matter
• Introducing hop-forward styles to someone who usually drinks lagers
• Pairing with grilled seafood or tacos at a backyard cookout
• Collecting limited Hop Butcher releases and brewery collaborations

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sun Fang taste like? Sun Fang drinks like a crisp, dry pilsner with pronounced citrus and tropical hop aromatics from its Citra and Krush Cryo hop bill. The bitterness is balanced and moderate, making it highly drinkable at 5.0% ABV.

How does Sun Fang compare to Firestone Walker Pivo Pils? Both are hop-driven pilsners, but Pivo Pils uses German Saphir hops for a more floral, Old World character, while Sun Fang leans into American Citra and cryo hops for bolder tropical-citrus aromatics. Sun Fang is also a limited collaboration release, whereas Pivo Pils is a year-round production beer.

Is Sun Fang good for easy drinking? At 5.0% ABV with a clean lager body, Sun Fang is a genuinely sessionable beer that delivers serious hop complexity without the weight of a double IPA or the sweetness of a hazy.

Where is Sun Fang made? Sun Fang is brewed by Hop Butcher for the World in Chicago, Illinois, which operates production facilities in Bedford Park and a smaller brewhouse in the North Center neighborhood. It is a collaboration with Tripping Animals Brewing of Miami, Florida.

What foods pair well with Sun Fang? Fish tacos with a citrus slaw mirror the hop profile's grapefruit and lime notes. Grilled shrimp or ceviche complement the clean, dry finish. A simple margherita pizza lets the hop aromatics take center stage. Mild, creamy cheeses like fresh mozzarella or burrata provide a textural contrast to the beer's crispness.

What sizes does Sun Fang come in? Sun Fang is available as a four-pack of cans, the standard release format for Hop Butcher's rotating beer lineup.

Is Sun Fang worth the price? Sun Fang positions in the premium craft four-pack tier, which is consistent with limited-run collaboration releases from well-regarded breweries. The use of cryo-processed hops and its small-batch, rotating availability support the pricing relative to year-round craft pilsners.

Why Sun Fang?

Sun Fang stands out because it pairs the clean discipline of a West Coast Pilsner with the aromatic punch of cryo-processed Citra and Krush hops — a combination that delivers IPA-level hop complexity on a light, dry, crushable frame. The collaboration between Hop Butcher for the World and Tripping Animals brings together a Midwest powerhouse and a respected Southern Florida brewery, each known for pushing hop-forward styles. As a rotating release, Sun Fang is not a beer that sits on shelves indefinitely; once a batch is canned, availability is limited. For drinkers who want bold American hop character without committing to a heavy, high-ABV pour, this 5.0% pilsner hits a rare sweet spot.