Hipster Juicebag Review: Burn ‘Em Brewing’s Triple Dry-Hopped Hazy IPA

Hipster Juicebag is Burn ‘Em Brewing’s triple dry-hopped hazy IPA, built around a four-hop combination and a juicy, soft-edged profile. I rate this Michigan City beer 3.88 out of 5. The recipe has enough hop detail to make it more than a generic juice-bomb: Citra and Idaho 7 lead the base, with Mosaic, Idaho 7, Citra and Lemondrop added through a triple dry-hop. At 6.5% ABV, it sits in the full-strength IPA range without heading into double IPA territory.

At a Glance

What Hipster Juicebag tastes like

I look at the hop bill first with a beer like this. Citra is associated with familiar citrus and tropical-fruit notes, Mosaic can add berry and ripe-fruit character, Idaho 7 often brings a broad fruit quality with a piney edge, and Lemondrop is known for its lemon-like citrus. The brewery’s listing describes the beer as a triple dry-hopped hazy IPA featuring Mosaic, Citra, Idaho 7 and Lemondrop. That is a clear signal of an aroma-led beer, with hop expression layered after fermentation rather than relying on bitterness alone.

The pour should be hazy gold to orange-gold, with a foamy pale head. On the nose, the combination suggests lemon zest, orange, ripe tropical fruit and a little soft berry. On the palate, I would expect a rounded grain sweetness to cushion the hop flavor, followed by a fresher citrus lift. The finish can stay lightly bitter and gently resinous without turning sharp. That is the flavor direction I would expect from this combination, and it explains why the beer earns a place among Burn Em Brewing’s notable hazy IPAs.

The “triple dry hopped” description matters because dry hopping is principally about aroma and flavor rather than adding much additional alcohol. More than one dry-hop charge can build a layered nose, though the result still depends on hop freshness, timing and the beer’s base recipe. For a useful primer on how the style differs from clearer, more bitter IPAs, see our guide to hazy IPAs.

ABV, bitterness and ingredients

Hipster Juicebag is listed at 6.5% ABV, a familiar strength for a modern hazy IPA. It has enough alcohol to carry a generous hop aroma and a fuller texture, but it is not in the double IPA bracket. If you are comparing labels or menus, remember that a 16 oz pour at 6.5% contains more alcohol than a standard 12 oz serving. The strength is worth keeping in mind if you are pairing it with food or having more than one.

The published IBU figure is less consistent. One beer listing gives 38 IBU, while a separate directory gives 40. Both put it in a moderate-to-firm bitterness range, but an IBU number does not translate directly into how bitter a hazy IPA tastes. Malt sweetness, hop oils, carbonation and the beer’s final pH all affect perception. Our plain-English explanation of IBU covers why the number is a guide, not a direct flavor measurement.

The hop bill is better documented than the grain bill. Citra and Idaho 7 appear in the initial brew, and the four-hop dry-hop list names Mosaic, Idaho 7, Citra and Lemondrop. I could not verify an official malt schedule or a complete grain bill, so I am not going to guess whether the recipe uses oats, wheat, or a particular pale malt. Those grains are common in the style, but common practice is not proof of this beer’s recipe. Our overview of brewing malts explains what each grain can contribute when a brewer does publish the details.

A third-party beer directory estimates about 220 calories in a 12 oz serving. That is not an official nutrition label from Burn ‘Em Brewing, and the figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a guaranteed product value. The calorie total changes with serving size and can also vary with a beer’s residual extract and alcohol content.

Burn ‘Em Brewing: from homebrew to Michigan City taproom

Burn ‘Em Brewing is based in Michigan City, Indiana, close to the southwest edge of Lake Michigan. The company says it was incorporated in 2013 and grew from a group of friends who began as homebrewers. That starting point helps make sense of the brewery’s wide-ranging portfolio: Burn ‘Em has built a reputation around an experimental approach and a long list of changing recipes, alongside a taproom and full scratch kitchen.

The original brewery operated at 718 Freyer Road. In 2023, Burn ‘Em announced a move to a larger East 2nd Street facility, designed to increase production capacity and provide an event space, patio and kitchen. The current taproom address is 1215 E 2nd Street in Michigan City. The brewery says its canned beers reach locations around Indiana and select parts of Michigan, so Hipster Juicebag is a regional beer rather than a nationwide shelf staple.

I like the fit between this independent brewery’s playful naming and a hop-forward beer with a detailed recipe. The label has a deliberately irreverent voice, while the beer itself is anchored by an identifiable mix of citrus and fruit-forward hops. For more on how the hazy IPA category works, our hazy IPA explainer is a good place to start; for another modern hazy from the Midwest, compare it with Son of Juice from Maplewood Brewing.

How I would serve Hipster Juicebag

I would serve a hazy IPA like Hipster Juicebag cool, but not ice-cold. A slight rise in temperature helps the hop aroma open up, and a tulip or nonic glass concentrates the citrus and tropical notes better than drinking straight from a can. Give the pour a little room for the head; carbonation carries the aroma above the glass and keeps the palate from feeling too heavy.

Food is where this beer can be especially useful. The citrus-forward hop character can cut through salty, fatty foods, while the soft texture works with spice. Try it with grilled chicken, smash burgers, buffalo cauliflower, fish tacos or a sharp cheddar. For barbecue, I would choose pulled pork or chicken with a tangy sauce rather than a very sweet glaze, which can make hop bitterness seem more pronounced. Our beer and BBQ pairing guide has more ideas for matching beer with ribs, brisket and pulled pork.

For a backyard cookout or game-day spread, it is a good alternative to a very bitter West Coast IPA: it brings enough hop energy to stand up to bold flavors, but its soft body is more welcoming for a mixed crowd. If the plan is an outdoor game or tailgate, see our list of beers for tailgating. If you are making a tasting flight, place it beside a clearer American IPA and a lighter pale ale so the hazy texture and late-hop aroma stand out.

Hipster Juicebag compared with other hazy IPAs

The closest comparisons on this site are beers where haze, hop aroma and a soft finish are central to the experience. Electric Jellyfish from Pinthouse Brewing is another widely discussed hazy IPA, while Alien Church from Tired Hands offers a higher-strength, fuller expression of the style. For a fruit-forward counterpart with a different feel, see Liquid Candy from Tarantula Hill.

Hipster Juicebag’s own point of difference is its four-hop dry-hop list and the triple-dry-hop process, paired with a moderate 6.5% ABV. That makes it sound more aromatic than aggressively bitter. Cloud Candy IPA is another hazy worth comparing if you prefer juicy, fruit-led character. And when you want a more familiar benchmark from a larger brewery, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing makes a useful point of comparison for the approachable end of the category.

I would put Hipster Juicebag in the flavorful but not extreme part of the hazy IPA spectrum. Its 6.5% ABV keeps it substantial; its named hops imply a busy nose; the published IBU suggests enough bitterness to frame the fruit without dominating. If you want a more substantial hop hit, choose an imperial hazy. If you want the aroma with an easier finish, this is the sort of beer I would look for.

Where to find Hipster Juicebag

Burn ‘Em Brewing’s own distribution information describes a regional footprint across Indiana and selected parts of Michigan. Availability changes with the brewery’s releases and local distributor stock, so the best bet is to check the taproom’s current menu or ask a nearby craft-beer retailer. It may be easiest to find in and around northwest Indiana, rather than through a national online retailer.

I did not find a verified Saucey listing for Hipster Juicebag, so the five picks below are genuine available hazy IPA alternatives rather than a pretend direct-buy link. Each is a different real beer with an existing Saucey link and product image. Start with Hazy Like a Fox or Hazy Hero for a close hazy IPA match; pick Hazy Little Thing for a widely distributed benchmark, or All Day Haze when you want a lighter-bodied option.

Pros and cons

Final verdict

Hipster Juicebag has the ingredients of a confident modern hazy IPA: a triple dry-hop, four named varieties, a moderate-to-full 6.5% ABV and a regional brewery willing to experiment. The documented hop list promises layers of citrus, tropical fruit and berry over the familiar soft haze. I give it 3.88 out of 5: a strong pick for hop-forward flavor without the extra strength of an imperial IPA, and one I would seek out when Burn ‘Em’s regional distribution puts it within reach.

FAQs

What is the ABV of Hipster Juicebag?

Hipster Juicebag is listed at 6.5% ABV.

What hops are in Hipster Juicebag?

The published description names Citra and Idaho 7 in the beer, with a triple dry-hop featuring Mosaic, Idaho 7, Citra and Lemondrop.

How many IBUs does Hipster Juicebag have?

Third-party beer listings differ: one gives 38 IBU and another gives 40. I could not find an official brewery-published figure.

How many calories are in Hipster Juicebag?

A third-party directory estimates about 220 calories per 12 oz. Burn ‘Em Brewing does not publish an official calorie figure in the sources checked, so treat 220 as an estimate.

Where is Burn ‘Em Brewing?

Burn ‘Em Brewing is in Michigan City, Indiana. Its current taproom is at 1215 E 2nd Street.

Is Hipster Juicebag a hazy IPA?

Yes. It is categorized as a New England or hazy IPA and described as triple dry hopped.

References

• Burn ‘Em Brewing, About Us: brewery history, address and distribution.
• Beer profile and recipe details: beer facts and hop description.
• BeerMenus, Hipster Juicebag: ABV, style and calorie estimate.
• TapHunter, Hipster Juicebag: alternate bitterness listing and brewery location.
• City of Michigan City, Burn ‘Em Brewing: brewery background and current site.
• Inside INdiana Business, February 2023: expansion announcement.