Pipeworks Turtles in Stereo 4Pk is a New Zealand-style pale ale from Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, packaged in four 16-ounce cans at approximately 7% ABV. Built around an exclusive lineup of four New Zealand hop varieties, this release represents the brewery's dedicated showcase for Southern Hemisphere hop character — a distinct departure from the American hop profiles that dominate the Chicago craft scene. Pipeworks earned RateBeer's "Best New Brewery in the World" title in 2013, and Turtles in Stereo carries that pedigree forward with a focused, aromatic pale ale.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~7%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: NZ-Style Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Pipeworks Brewing Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois, and quickly gained international recognition for its inventive, hop-driven beers. Turtles in Stereo is brewed with a clean malt base designed to stay out of the way, allowing four New Zealand hop varieties — Motueka, Rakau, Nelson Sauvin, and Nectaron — to take center stage. While the brewery's well-known Lizard King pale ale uses a single American hop (Mosaic), Turtles in Stereo takes the opposite approach: a multi-hop, all-New Zealand bill engineered for layered aromatics, soft bitterness, and expressive fruit-forward complexity. The beer is packaged in distinctive 3D-inspired 16-ounce cans.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Citrus peel and tropical fruit lead the nose immediately, followed by hints of light pine resin. A subtle bready malt character sits underneath, letting the hops dominate without losing balance.

Taste: The entry is bright and citrus-forward, with flavors of ripe stone fruit and white grape arriving on the mid-palate — signatures of Nelson Sauvin and Nectaron in particular. Moderate bitterness keeps the tropical sweetness in check, while the clean malt base provides just enough structure to anchor the hop intensity without competing for attention.

Finish: Medium in length with a soft, slightly resinous close. Lingering notes of citrus zest and tropical fruit fade gradually, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Turtles in Stereo

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint to allow the aromatic hop profile to open fully; serving cold (around 40–45°F) preserves the bright fruit character. This pale ale also works well in hop-forward beer cocktails: a Michelada benefits from the citrus and tropical notes cutting through the tomato and spice; a Beer Shandy pairing it with fresh lemonade amplifies the stone fruit and citrus zest; and a Hoppy Radler mixed with grapefruit soda plays off the Nelson Sauvin's white grape character.

Best For

• Sharing with friends during a backyard cookout or casual gathering
• Introducing hop enthusiasts to the distinct character of New Zealand hops
• Pairing alongside spicy or grilled foods where bright aromatics cut through richness
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who follows limited Pipeworks releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Turtles in Stereo taste like? Turtles in Stereo delivers bright citrus zest, tropical fruit, ripe stone fruit, and white grape flavors over a clean malt base with moderate bitterness. The New Zealand hop bill gives it an aromatic, fruit-forward character that distinguishes it from typical American pale ales.

How does Turtles in Stereo compare to Pipeworks Lizard King? Both are pale ales from Pipeworks, but Lizard King is a single-hop beer using Mosaic at 6.0% ABV, producing berry and citrus notes, while Turtles in Stereo uses four New Zealand hops at approximately 7% ABV for a more layered tropical and white grape profile. Turtles in Stereo leans Southern Hemisphere in character, whereas Lizard King is firmly American in its hop expression.

Is Turtles in Stereo good for hop lovers? Yes — it is specifically designed as a hop showcase, with the entire flavor profile driven by Motueka, Rakau, Nelson Sauvin, and Nectaron. The clean malt base intentionally recedes so the hops remain front and center.

Where is Turtles in Stereo made? Turtles in Stereo is brewed by Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Pipeworks is an independent craft brewery that has operated in Chicago since its founding and gained international recognition from RateBeer in 2013.

What foods pair well with Turtles in Stereo? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos complement the tropical and citrus hop character; Thai green curry matches the bright aromatics with its herbaceous spice; a fresh goat cheese salad mirrors the beer's white grape notes; spicy buffalo wings benefit from the moderate bitterness and carbonation; and grilled pineapple or stone fruit desserts echo the hop-derived fruit flavors.

What sizes does Turtles in Stereo come in? Turtles in Stereo is available in a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans.

Is Turtles in Stereo worth the price? Turtles in Stereo positions as a craft-premium pale ale within Pipeworks' rotating lineup, and the use of four specialty New Zealand hop varieties — which are more expensive and harder to source than domestic American hops — justifies its pricing relative to standard pale ales.

Why Turtles in Stereo?

The defining differentiator here is the all-New Zealand hop bill. While many American craft breweries dabble with one or two NZ varieties, Turtles in Stereo commits fully to four — Motueka, Rakau, Nelson Sauvin, and Nectaron — creating a layered aromatic profile that most domestic pale ales simply cannot replicate. This beer fills a specific gap in the Pipeworks lineup: where Lizard King speaks the language of American single-hop brewing, Turtles in Stereo is the brewery's Southern Hemisphere counterpart. For drinkers who appreciate hop complexity but want something distinct from the Citra-Mosaic-Simcoe mainstream, this is a purposeful, well-constructed alternative from a brewery with a decade-plus track record of hop-driven innovation.