Phase Three F-Stop 4Pk is a Double IPA from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, sold as a 4-pack of 16oz cans at 7.5% ABV. Brewed with a distinctive triple-hop bill of Citra, El Dorado, and Vic Secret, F-Stop earned a 90-point rating on BeerAdvocate and carries a 4.2 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 4,000 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and has quickly risen to national prominence in the craft beer scene — ranked #2 among small breweries in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine's 2022 reader's choice awards. F-Stop is built on a hop combination of Citra, El Dorado, and Vic Secret, a trio designed to push tropical fruit character to the forefront while maintaining a clean bitterness backbone. The beer has also been released in a DDH (Double Dry-Hopped) variant, further intensifying the hop-forward aromatics that define the expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pineapple leads immediately, followed by waves of tropical fruit juice, candied pear, and a subtle undercurrent of resinous pine. The hop bouquet reads more like a fruit stand than a brewery.

Taste: The palate opens with concentrated pineapple juice and watermelon candy sweetness, then transitions through peach bubblegum and candied orange peel at mid-palate. A firm but balanced hop bitterness emerges toward the back, grounding the tropical sweetness without overwhelming it.

Finish: Medium-length with a piney, slightly resinous close that cleanses the palate. Lingering notes of tropical fruit candy and a gentle drying bitterness encourage the next sip.

How to Drink F-Stop

F-Stop drinks best cold, poured into a tulip glass or wide-mouthed pint to maximize hop aromatics. Drinking straight from the can works in casual settings, but the aromatic complexity rewards a proper pour. For cocktail-adjacent applications: use it as the beer component in a Michelada for a tropical twist, float it into a citrus-forward Beer Margarita, or pair it with fresh grapefruit juice in a Hop Shandy that amplifies the Citra hop character.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow IPA enthusiasts during a backyard tasting session
• Introducing someone to the haze-forward craft IPA movement
• Pairing alongside spicy grilled foods at a summer cookout
• Adding to a curated craft beer gift pack for a hop lover

Frequently Asked Questions

What does F-Stop taste like? F-Stop delivers an intensely tropical profile dominated by pineapple juice, pear, and fruit candy, with a piney hop bitterness that provides balance on the finish. The overall impression is juicy and full-bodied without being cloying.

How does F-Stop compare to Tree House Haze? Both beers occupy the top tier of haze-forward American IPAs, with Phase Three and Tree House ranking #2 in their respective size categories in Craft Beer & Brewing's 2022 reader's choice awards. F-Stop leans more heavily into tropical fruit candy and pineapple, while Tree House Haze is often described as more balanced between citrus and stone fruit with a slightly softer mouthfeel.

Is F-Stop good for IPA beginners? At 7.5% ABV with a fruit-forward profile that downplays harsh bitterness, F-Stop is approachable for drinkers who are curious about Double IPAs but wary of aggressively bitter styles. The candy-like sweetness and juicy texture make it a strong gateway into the category.

Where is F-Stop made? F-Stop is brewed at Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. The brewery has become one of the most acclaimed small craft operations in the United States.

What foods pair well with F-Stop? Spicy Thai green curry works well, as the tropical hops mirror the cuisine's aromatic herbs. Grilled pineapple-glazed chicken echoes the beer's dominant fruit character. Fish tacos with mango salsa complement the juicy hop profile. Sharp cheddar provides a rich, savory counterpoint. Coconut shrimp amplifies the tropical theme while adding textural contrast.

What sizes does F-Stop come in? F-Stop is available as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, the standard format for Phase Three's IPA releases.

Is F-Stop worth the price? F-Stop positions as a premium craft Double IPA from a highly regarded small brewery, and its 90-point BeerAdvocate score and strong Untappd ratings support its standing in the upper echelon of the style. For hop-forward beer enthusiasts seeking top-tier quality from a limited-production brewery, the price point aligns with what the market expects for this caliber of DIPA.

Why F-Stop?

F-Stop represents Phase Three Brewing at the height of its craft — a brewery ranked among the best small operations in the country by Craft Beer & Brewing readers. The Citra, El Dorado, and Vic Secret hop combination is deliberately constructed to maximize tropical fruit intensity while maintaining drinkability at 7.5% ABV. With a BeerAdvocate score of 90 and over 4,000 Untappd ratings averaging 4.2 out of 5, F-Stop has been validated by both critics and the broader craft beer community. For drinkers who chase hazy, juice-bomb Double IPAs, this is a benchmark expression from one of Illinois' most respected breweries.