Alien Church Review: Tired Hands Brewing Company’s 7% Hazy IPA

Alien Church is Tired Hands Brewing Company’s celebrated 7% oat IPA, built for a full-on rush of ripe fruit, soft malt, and modern American hops. The community rating is 4.18 stars from 72,306 ratings, a strong signal that this Ardmore beer has moved well beyond local cult status. Its plush texture carries a very expressive hop profile without turning the beer into a one-note juice bomb.

Alien Church at a glance

I like to start with the facts because hazy IPAs can be easy to oversell. Alien Church is not a double IPA: at 7% ABV it sits in the strong single-IPA bracket, even though its weighty oats and expansive hop aroma can make it feel bigger. For a quick primer on the style, my hazy IPA explainer lays out why haze, soft bitterness, and hop aroma often travel together.

What does Alien Church taste like?

The brewery describes Alien Church as a fluffy-oat IPA with a forceful dry hop and a bright, pungent character. Its current product notes point toward mandarin orange, floral lychee, peach candy, and musky guava. Other longstanding beer descriptions add blueberry, fresh orange, deep pine, honeydew, grapefruit, and pineapple. That range makes sense for the hop bill: Mosaic and Citra can push ripe citrus and tropical fruit, while Chinook, Centennial, and Columbus help add resinous, floral, or sharper edges. The exact proportions are not published, so I treat those as likely flavor contributions rather than a guaranteed hop-by-hop map.

The appeal is the contrast: an aromatic first impression that suggests fruit punch, then a firm enough bitterness to keep the finish from feeling like sweet juice. The oat-rich base is central. Oats can help build a rounded, velvety impression, and here that softness gives the high-volume hop aroma somewhere to land. A hazy IPA should still taste like beer, not smoothie, and Alien Church keeps its bitter backbone in the conversation.

The 25 IBU figure appears consistently in beer-profile data, but I would not confuse that number with perceived bitterness. Hops added late in the process can deliver intense aroma and flavor without the harsh bitterness associated with a heavily early-hopped IPA. For anyone curious about that process, this guide to dry hopping explains how brewers load aroma into beer after the boil.

Appearance, aroma, body, and finish

Appearance: Expect a hazy golden-orange pour with a dense, pale head. The opaque look is typical for this style and is part of its soft, saturated presentation, rather than a sign that it has been left unfiltered by accident.

Aroma: Citrus peel, orange juice, ripe tropical fruit, and a touch of floral lift lead the way. The brewery’s lychee and guava notes are particularly useful clues: this is more perfumed and tropical than a straight grapefruit-and-pine West Coast IPA.

Body: Medium-full, pillowy, and smooth. Malted oats are the one clearly specified grain ingredient, and they fit the rounded texture that defines the beer. The carbonation helps keep that softness from becoming heavy.

Finish: Fruit-forward at first, then gradually drier and more bitter, with a lingering herbal, citrus-peel, or pine-like edge. If your preference is for crisp, lean bitterness rather than juicy aromatics, a traditional West Coast IPA may be more your lane. My review of a contrasting West Coast pale ale is a useful counterpoint for a brighter, drier take.

Who should drink Alien Church?

I would recommend Alien Church to fans of richly aromatic New England IPAs. It is a good fit if you like ripe fruit, a smooth oat-supported mouthfeel, and a satisfying hop finish, and do not mind some haze or a substantial 7% ABV. It is less suited to someone who wants a light, crisp, low-bitterness session beer or a very dry, transparent IPA.

The name and artwork are playful, but the beer itself has serious hop intensity. Serve it cold but not ice-cold, giving it a few minutes in the glass so the citrus, floral, and tropical notes can open up. A tulip or a stemmed IPA glass concentrates the aroma, though a clean pint glass is perfectly fine. For more examples of expressive hazy IPAs, compare the alternative beers featured below and browse my other full hazy IPA reviews.

Food pairings for Alien Church

The juicy hop character gives Alien Church enough flavor to stand alongside bold food, while its bitterness can cut through richness. My pairing pick is grilled chicken tacos, carnitas, or a spicy shrimp taco, where citrusy hops echo lime and help reset the palate. Our guide to beer pairings for tacos has more ideas if you are planning a spread.

For barbecue, pulled pork and ribs are natural partners: a sweet glaze meets the beer’s fruitiness, and hop bitterness keeps each bite from piling up. Smoked brisket can work too, particularly with a sharper vinegar sauce instead of a very sugary rub. See the full beer and BBQ pairing guide for more ways to balance smoke, fat, and sauce.

Spicy food is another strong match. The softer body can take the edge off chile heat, though very hot dishes may make the alcohol and bitterness feel more pronounced. For ramen, choose a richer pork broth or a spicy miso bowl and keep the toppings bright with scallions and citrus; our ramen and beer guide explains how to match beer to broth. Aged cheddar or blue cheese can also stand up to the hop intensity, while mild fresh cheese is easily overwhelmed.

Tired Hands Brewing Company and its Ardmore roots

Tired Hands Brewing Company grew out of founder Jean Broillet IV’s interest in farmhouse brewing and expressive American hop-forward beers. The brewery says it makes beer by hand in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and its history is closely tied to the brew-cafe idea: making beer and serving food in the same community space. The original Brew Cafe opened in Ardmore in 2012, followed by the Fermentaria in 2015.

That mix of farmhouse inspiration and assertive American hops helps explain why Alien Church feels like more than a standard hazy IPA. Tired Hands has built its following on beers with a strong personality, but this one has also found a broad audience because its fruit-forward profile is immediately inviting. If a visit to the region is on your list, use my guide to great beer cities when planning a wider tasting itinerary around Philadelphia and Ardmore.

Where to buy Alien Church

Tired Hands lists Alien Church as a four-pack in its online store, and the brewery’s current product listing gives it a 7% ABV. The brewery sells a changing range, so stock, shipping eligibility, and pickup options can vary. It is also seen through regional retail and taproom listings, especially in Pennsylvania. Check the brewery’s official shop for the freshest information and confirm local delivery rules before you make a trip.

For US buyers outside the brewery’s local footprint, the exact beer was not in Saucey’s live product search when I checked. Rather than send you to a nonworking listing, I have included five real, similar hazy IPAs with current Saucey product pages below. They are alternatives, not versions or substitutes made by Tired Hands.

Five hazy IPA alternatives to try

These picks are based on style and drinking character: soft-bodied, fruit-forward IPAs with meaningful hop aroma. Availability can vary by delivery area. For a broader overview of the category, browse my IPA brands and reviews hub.

Among these, I would start with Hazy Hero for a balanced, plush hazy IPA, or Liquid Candy for a more overtly juicy profile. Hazy Little Thing is a convenient, widely distributed option; I have a full Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing review if you want to compare its citrus-led profile. Big Little Thing is stronger and more intense, while All Day Haze is a sensible direction if you want something gentler. The listed ABV for any exact package may depend on product version, so check the can.

My verdict on Alien Church

Alien Church earns its reputation by bringing several good ideas together: a generous malted-oat base, a layered American hop bill, a clear 7% ABV, and bright, memorable fruit character. The official description sets expectations well, and the 4.18-star community rating from 72,306 ratings shows the beer has found a dedicated following. Choose it for a soft, powerful hazy IPA with both tropical lift and enough bitterness to finish cleanly.

The caveat is style preference. If you are sensitive to haze, prefer lower-strength beers, or want a dry and sharply bitter IPA, the plush texture may feel too broad. I also will not overstate the technical detail: the 25 IBU is reported by beer-profile sources, calories are a third-party estimate, and Tired Hands does not publish a full malt bill or exact hop amounts for the core beer. Those limits aside, Alien Church is a distinctive, well-regarded IPA that belongs near the top of a hazy-IPA tasting. For readers weighing strength and serving size, this ABV explainer is a useful refresher.

Frequently asked questions

What style of beer is Alien Church?

Alien Church is a New England-style hazy IPA, also described by the brewery as an oat IPA.

How strong is Alien Church?

It is 7.0% ABV, according to the brewery product description.

What hops are in Alien Church?

The established beer description lists Mosaic, Citra, Chinook, Centennial, and Columbus. The brewery does not publish exact amounts or additions.

How many calories are in Alien Church?

A third-party listing estimates about 220 calories per 12-ounce serving. The brewery does not publish a nutrition label, so treat this as an estimate.

What does Alien Church taste like?

Expect a soft oat-backed body with citrus, tropical fruit, floral notes, and a balancing bitter finish. The brewery highlights mandarin, lychee, peach, and guava.

Where can I buy Alien Church?

Tired Hands lists four-packs through its own online shop, and the beer appears in regional Pennsylvania retail listings. Availability and shipping options vary by location.

References

• Tired Hands Brewing Company, Alien Church product listing
• Tired Hands Brewing Company, About Us
• BeerAdvocate, Alien Church beer profile
• Craft Beer and Brewing, Alien Church review
• BeerMenus, Alien Church listing and calorie estimate