Hop Butcher Meet the Riwakas 4Pk

Hop Butcher Meet the Riwakas 4Pk is a Double IPA brewed with New Zealand Riwaka hops, packaged in a 4-pack of 16oz cans at approximately 6.5% ABV. It comes from Hop Butcher For The World, the Chicago brewery named 2021 Illinois Brewery of the Year at the NY International Beer Competition and ranked the #2 Small Regional Brewery by Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in 2025.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~6.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World  |  Format: 4-Pack 16oz Cans

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Chicago's North Side and has built a formidable reputation in the hazy IPA space, earning a #2 ranking for Favorite Hazy IPA Brewer from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in 2025. The brewery's blind-tasted beers have scored as high as 98 out of 100 from the same publication's review panel. Meet the Riwakas spotlights Riwaka, a triploid hop variety bred from Saaz genetics and grown exclusively in New Zealand's Nelson region — one of the most sought-after and allocation-limited cultivars in the hop world. The brewery is known for producing clean, intensely hopped beers with rich tropical and citrus aromas and a smooth finish free of harsh hop burn, a hallmark of their precise fermentation control and high-quality hop sourcing.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Riwaka hops are prized for their expressive pink grapefruit character, and that citrus punch leads the nose here. Behind it, expect layers of pineapple, mango, and a subtle floral lift that nods to the hop's Saaz heritage.

Taste: The first sip delivers bright tropical fruit — pineapple and mango land immediately, followed by a wave of orange and grapefruit at mid-palate. The mouthfeel is soft and full without excessive sweetness, and the bitterness stays integrated rather than abrasive. A hint of white grape and vinous complexity emerges as it warms slightly in the glass.

Finish: Medium length with a clean, zesty grapefruit rind fade and gentle resinous pine. There is no lingering astringency — just a bright, dry close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Meet the Riwakas

Pour into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass at around 45–50°F to let the aromatic complexity fully open up; drinking straight from the can mutes the hop expression significantly. This beer is best enjoyed fresh — the volatile hop aromatics that define it diminish with time, so drink within a few weeks of purchase. A Riwaka-driven DIPA like this also works surprisingly well in a Hop Shandy with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt, amplifying the citrus already in the beer. Try it in a Brass Monkey (half DIPA, half orange juice, served ice-cold) for a brunch-friendly twist that plays off the tropical profile. A Beer-garita — equal parts DIPA and a simple lime margarita poured over ice — leans into the citrus and adds a tequila backbone that complements the fruit-forward hops.

Best For

• Hop-obsessed friends who chase single-varietal showcase beers
• Bringing a standout 4-pack to a summer cookout or tailgate
• Exploring New Zealand hop varieties beyond the ubiquitous Nelson Sauvin
• Adding to a craft beer tasting flight alongside other Hop Butcher releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Meet the Riwakas taste like? Meet the Riwakas delivers pronounced tropical fruit — pineapple, mango, and orange — layered over a signature pink grapefruit character from New Zealand Riwaka hops, with a soft, full mouthfeel and clean, bitter-free finish.

How does Meet the Riwakas compare to Other Half DDH releases? Both breweries excel at heavily hopped, haze-forward IPAs, but Hop Butcher's approach tends to emphasize a cleaner, less sweet finish, and Meet the Riwakas showcases a single New Zealand hop variety rather than the multi-hop blends Other Half typically layers. Other Half's DDH series also generally runs higher in ABV, often in the 8–9% range.

Is Meet the Riwakas good for hop-forward beer beginners? At roughly 6.5% ABV and with a smooth, low-bitterness profile, it is more approachable than many Double IPAs while still delivering intense hop flavor — a solid entry point for anyone curious about the style.

Where is Meet the Riwakas made? Meet the Riwakas is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Chicago, Illinois (zip code 60618), on the city's North Side.

What foods pair well with Meet the Riwakas? Spicy Thai green curry mirrors the tropical and citrus hop character. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's fruit-forward profile. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts the soft mouthfeel. Grilled shrimp with a citrus glaze reinforces the grapefruit notes. Coconut-crusted chicken brings out the tropical undertones.

What sizes does Meet the Riwakas come in? Meet the Riwakas is available in a 4-pack of 16oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher's rotating IPA releases.

Is Meet the Riwakas worth the price? Hop Butcher positions within the premium tier of craft DIPAs, and the use of high-demand, allocation-limited Riwaka hops — along with the brewery's consistently top-ranked quality — supports the price point relative to other specialty-hop 4-packs in the category.

Why Meet the Riwakas?

Riwaka hops are among the most difficult-to-source cultivars in the brewing world, grown only in New Zealand and perpetually under-allocated, which makes any single-varietal Riwaka release an event. Hop Butcher has the credibility to back it up: their beers have scored as high as 98/100 in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine blind tastings, and the brewery earned a #2 national ranking for both Small Regional Brewery and Favorite Hazy IPA Brewer in 2025. Meet the Riwakas channels that brewing precision into a focused showcase of one hop's expressive citrus and tropical personality. For anyone who cares about hop provenance and clean execution, this is a rare chance to taste Riwaka at its most vivid.