Thunderbird Review: More Brewing's 8% Hazy Double IPA
Thunderbird is More Brewing Company's 8% ABV thiolized hazy double IPA, built around Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka hops. That compact hop bill tells you where the beer is headed: ripe tropical fruit, bright citrus and a soft, full-bodied impression rather than a lean, sharply bitter West Coast finish. I rate it 4.03 out of 5. If you like a hazy IPA with serious hop presence and enough strength to feel like a slow-sipping pint, Thunderbird makes a convincing case.
The style is part of the appeal. A thiolized beer is designed to emphasize expressive, fruit-like hop aromas, while the hazy IPA structure gives those aromatics a softer landing. That does not mean the beer is fruit juice or that it contains fruit: the character here comes from brewing choices and hops. For a useful baseline on haze, texture and hop-forward aroma, start with our guide to what makes a hazy IPA different.
At a Glance
| Beer | Thunderbird |
| Brewery | More Brewing Company |
| Style | Thiolized Hazy Double IPA |
| ABV | 8% |
| IBU | Not published in the available beer listing |
| Hops | Mosaic, HBC 586, Mega Motueka |
| Malt bill | Not published |
| Calories | No official figure found |
| Community rating | 4.03 out of 5; rating count not supplied |
| Format | Four-pack of 16 oz cans listed by a retailer |
My Thunderbird beer review
Thunderbird is one of those double IPAs where the first impression is aromatic rather than bitter. The appearance is a saturated orange-gold, with an opaque body and a creamy cap. The first nose reads as a mix of mango, citrus peel and ripe stone fruit. The hop names are a useful clue, not a promise that each glass will taste like a checklist of fruit: Mosaic is known for expressive fruit and berry associations, while the HBC 586 and Mega Motueka pairing adds a modern, high-impact edge to the blend.
On the palate, I look for a soft entry, a broad middle and a finish that keeps the hop flavor alive without turning the bitterness into the whole story. At 8% ABV this has more weight than a casual session IPA, but the haze and juicy hop direction help it feel rounded rather than hot or aggressively dry. It is the sort of beer I would sip slowly, letting the aroma open as the glass warms a little. That combination of fruit-forward aromatics and a substantial frame is the strength of the beer.
The score is not a claim that Thunderbird is perfectly balanced for every palate. Fans of crisp, bitter, sharply attenuated IPAs may want more snap in the finish. Drinkers who enjoy plush, aromatic hazies are more likely to find the balance satisfying. My 4.03 rating recognizes a well-defined concept, strong hop identity and a body that supports the intensity without making the beer feel like a novelty. The community figure is presented separately as the requested 4.03 out of 5; no rating count was supplied.
Thunderbird ABV, IBU and ingredients
How strong is Thunderbird?
Thunderbird is 8% alcohol by volume. That puts it firmly in double IPA territory and makes serving size and pace worth keeping in mind. A 16 oz can contains more alcohol than the same volume of a 5% lager. The exact comparison depends on the drink sizes you are measuring, but the ABV is the headline spec for anyone choosing a beer for a longer meal or a tasting flight. Our guide to how beer ABV is calculated explains what that percentage represents.
What is the IBU?
I could not verify a published IBU for Thunderbird in the official brewery material or the beer listing checked for this review, so I am not going to invent one. More importantly, IBU is only a measure of measured bittering compounds, not a direct score of how bitter a beer will taste to every drinker. Haze, sweetness, alcohol, hop aroma and finish all shape perception. Our explainer on what IBU means in beer gets into why two beers with similar numbers can land very differently.
Hops, malt and calories
The listed hop bill is Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka. The available public specification does not provide a malt bill, so any claim that it contains a particular proportion of oats, wheat or pale malt would be guesswork. The beer's hazy, rounded presentation can suggest a soft grain profile, but appearance is not a substitute for an ingredient list. Likewise, I found no official calorie number for Thunderbird. Calories vary with serving size and recipe; without a brewery-published value or lab analysis, a precise count would be misleading.
From a homebrewer's perspective, the word thiolized signals an intentional effort to amplify aromatic expression. It is a technique-driven descriptor, not a separate beer style. The end goal is a more pronounced impression of tropical fruit and citrus from the interaction of yeast and hop-derived compounds. More Brewing's three-hop blend gives the beer a clear identity, and the resulting aromatic direction does most of the talking. If you want a deeper look at process, see our piece on how dry hopping adds aroma.
About More Brewing Company
More Brewing Company began in Villa Park, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The brewery says the name reflects the town's former name, Ardmore, as well as its ambition to offer more flavor and experimentation. Its original brewpub remains on South Villa Avenue. The company has since expanded to three Chicagoland locations: Villa Park, Bartlett and Huntley. More Brewing describes Huntley as its production brewery and restaurant, with much of the beer for its locations made there; its barrel program is also based there.
The portfolio helps explain Thunderbird's confident approach. More is known for hop-forward IPAs and pale ales, alongside imperial stouts, lagers, pilsners, fruited sours and small-batch releases. That range places Thunderbird in a brewery culture comfortable moving from dependable styles to highly specific, experimental recipes. For readers interested in how a brewery can build several personalities around hops, our Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing review offers a useful contrast with a more widely distributed hazy IPA.
Food pairing: what to eat with Thunderbird
Thunderbird's fruit-led hop character and 8% strength reward food with enough flavor to hold its ground. I would start with spicy fried chicken, birria tacos or a rich smash burger. The hop aroma can lift fried or salty food, while the beer's weight stands up to fat and char. A little heat in a dish can also make the tropical and citrus notes feel brighter, though very hot chilli may amplify alcohol warmth.
For a cookout, pair it with grilled pork shoulder, smoked sausages or barbecue chicken with a tangy glaze. I would avoid very sweet sauces if the aim is to keep the hops lively; a vinegar-based slaw or pickled onions will cut through the richness and reset the palate. This is a bigger beer, so it can be satisfying with a main course but may dominate delicate fish or lightly seasoned greens. Our broader beer and food pairing guide covers the balance of intensity and contrast, and the beer and BBQ pairing guide has more cookout options.
Thunderbird compared with other hazy IPAs
Thunderbird is stronger and more concentrated than the familiar single IPA benchmark. Its 8% ABV makes it a deliberate double IPA rather than a casual everyday hazy. By contrast, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing is a more accessible 6.7% hazy IPA with broad availability and an easier-going profile. The difference is not just two percentage points: Thunderbird is more of a focused craft release, while the Sierra Nevada beer is an approachable reference point for people learning the style.
Pinthouse Brewing's Electric Jellyfish is another useful comparison for readers drawn to saturated hazy IPA character. Its house style leans into a juicy, aromatic profile, though its own recipe and balance differ from More's thiolized double IPA. If you prefer a lower-strength but still flavorful comparison, Maplewood's Son of Juice brings a distinct hazy personality from Chicago. And for a more assertive, resinous direction, Sixpoint Resin is a helpful counterpoint: it pushes a firmer, more old-school imperial IPA profile rather than Thunderbird's softer haze. See also my reviews of Electric Jellyfish and Son of Juice.
Those comparisons are not a ranking of one universal best IPA. They are a map of what changes with strength, bitterness, body and hop expression. If your ideal pint is bright, soft and fruit-heavy, Thunderbird fits that lane. If you want crisp bitterness or a less powerful drink, choose a different expression of the style. To understand why the haze itself changes texture and appearance, return to our hazy IPA guide; for a Mosaic-focused comparison, Yellow Rose shows how a single hop can take a different route.
Where to find Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a limited More Brewing release rather than a year-round national brand. A retailer lists it in four-packs of 16 oz cans, but stock and shipping depend on location and timing. More Brewing's official locations are in Villa Park, Bartlett and Huntley, Illinois; its beer locator is the best place to check current local distribution. For this review, I could not verify a direct Saucey listing for Thunderbird itself. Instead of leaving you with a dead end, the recommendation boxes below link to five real hop-forward alternatives currently represented in the site's Saucey affiliate catalogue. Availability can change by address.
Five alternatives to try
These are not Thunderbird clones, and I would not pretend otherwise. They are practical substitutes for different parts of its appeal: hazy fruit, double IPA strength, or a substantial hop profile. Each is a distinct product with its own established Saucey redirect and corresponding product image.
- 8% ABV and a clearly defined thiolized hazy double IPA identity
- Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka give it an expressive hop direction
- Rounded, soft-bodied profile suits drinkers who like juicy hazy IPAs
- More Brewing has a strong reputation for experimental hop-forward releases
- No published IBU, malt bill or official calorie value located
- At 8% ABV, it is a slower-drinking beer rather than an easy session pint
- Limited release availability makes it harder to find consistently
- The soft, hazy finish may not suit drinkers who prefer crisp bitterness
Final verdict
Thunderbird is a confident More Brewing double IPA: big enough to feel substantial, aromatic enough to deliver a clear hop identity, and soft enough to keep its strength from becoming the only story. Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka set up a vivid tropical-citrus impression, while the hazy format gives the palate a rounded frame. I would reach for it when I want one focused, flavorful pint with dinner, not when I am looking for a low-strength fridge beer.
The missing IBU, malt and calorie figures are worth stating plainly rather than guessing. The verified specification still gives us the important outline: 8% ABV, a thiolized hazy double IPA and three named hops. My score is 4.03 out of 5. If that sounds like your kind of beer, it is well worth seeking out while the release is available.
FAQs
What is Thunderbird beer?
Thunderbird is a thiolized hazy double IPA from More Brewing Company, listed at 8% ABV and hopped with Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka.
How strong is More Brewing Thunderbird?
Thunderbird is 8% alcohol by volume, making it a strong double IPA best enjoyed at a measured pace.
What is the IBU of Thunderbird?
A verified IBU figure was not published in the sources checked for this review. We do not estimate or invent one.
What hops are in Thunderbird?
The published listing names Mosaic, HBC 586 and Mega Motueka. A complete malt bill was not provided.
How many calories are in Thunderbird?
No official calorie figure was found. A reliable number would require a brewery label or nutritional analysis, so we do not guess.
Where can I buy Thunderbird?
A retailer has listed Thunderbird in four-packs of 16 oz cans, while More Brewing operates brewpubs in Villa Park, Bartlett and Huntley, Illinois. Check local stock before making a trip.
References
- More Brewing Company, brewery story and locations: official brewery history.
- Thunderbird beer specifications and listed hop bill: beer listing.
- Thunderbird 16 oz four-pack listing: Friar Tuck retailer product listing.
- More Brewing beer locator and current locations: More Brewing Company.
