Phase Three Chicago Pixel 6Pk

Description

Phase Three Chicago Pixel 6Pk is a 6.5% ABV hazy IPA from Phase Three Brewing Company, sold in a six-pack format and brewed exclusively with hand-selected Citra hops. It holds a 93 score on BeerAdvocate and a 4.0/5 average across nearly 24,000 ratings on Untappd, establishing it as one of the most recognized single-hop hazy IPAs in the Midwest.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5% | Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois | Style: Hazy IPA (New England IPA) | Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Chicago Pixel is built on a grain bill of oats, wheat, and Pilsner malt a combination that produces the dense, creamy body and persistent haze characteristic of the New England IPA style. What separates this beer from the crowded hazy IPA field is its commitment to a single hop variety: 100% hand-selected Citra hops, chosen lot by lot for quality rather than relying on the multi-hop blends most breweries favor. The result is a focused, high-definition expression of Citra’s tropical and citrus character without competing hop flavors muddying the picture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe mango and fresh orange dominate the nose immediately, followed by softer layers of peach, mixed berry, and a faint whisper of soft pine. The aromatics are juicy and inviting without any harsh resinous edge.

Taste: The first sip delivers a wave of pulpy grapefruit and passion fruit, transitioning quickly into mandarin orange, pineapple, and honeydew melon at mid-palate. Mango and peach emerge as the beer warms slightly, all carried on a pillowy, oat-driven body. There is a subtle pine dankness woven throughout, but bitterness stays restrained and balanced against the fruit-forward sweetness.

Finish: Medium in length with a soft, slightly creamy texture that fades into lingering lime peel and apricot. The finish is clean and dry enough to invite the next sip without any cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Chicago Pixel

Pour cold into a tulip glass or stemless wine glass to concentrate the aromatic hop oils this beer rewards drinking fresh and slightly below room temperature. For a Hazy Shandy, combine with fresh-squeezed lemonade to amplify the citrus dimension. In a Beer-a-rita, use Chicago Pixel in place of a standard lager with lime juice and a salted rim the tropical hops make the pairing natural. A Hop Radler with sparkling grapefruit juice highlights the beer’s pulpy citrus notes for a lighter, sessionable serve.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates hop-forward IPAs
• Summer cookouts and backyard grilling sessions
• Introducing someone to single-hop hazy IPAs
• Adding a top-rated Midwest hazy to a curated beer tasting lineup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chicago Pixel taste like? Chicago Pixel delivers intense tropical fruit mango, passion fruit, and pineapple alongside bright citrus notes of grapefruit, orange, and lime peel, all supported by a soft, creamy mouthfeel from its oat and wheat grain bill. A light pine dankness appears in the background without significant bitterness.

How does Chicago Pixel compare to Trillium Fort Point? Trillium Fort Point is widely credited as a foundational New England IPA and was cited by Phase Three as an inspiration for what eventually became Pixel. While Fort Point uses a multi-hop bill and tends toward a more balanced, restrained profile, Chicago Pixel leans harder into single-hop Citra intensity with a juicier, more tropical-forward character.

Is Chicago Pixel good for beginners? At 6.5% ABV with low bitterness and a fruit-forward flavor profile, Chicago Pixel is an excellent entry point for anyone new to hazy IPAs or craft beer in general. The soft mouthfeel and approachable sweetness make it far less intimidating than more aggressively bitter West Coast-style IPAs.

Where is Chicago Pixel made? Chicago Pixel is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The brewery has built a strong regional and national reputation for its hazy IPAs and pastry stouts.

What foods pair well with Chicago Pixel? Grilled fish tacos with mango salsa complement the beer’s tropical hop character. Spicy Thai green curry works well, as the creamy body tempers heat while the citrus hops cut through coconut richness. A charcuterie board with aged cheddar and stone fruit preserves highlights both the malt sweetness and hop fruitiness. Lemon-herb roasted chicken mirrors the citrus notes cleanly, and a key lime pie provides a dessert pairing that echoes the lime peel finish.

What sizes does Chicago Pixel come in? Chicago Pixel is commonly available in a six-pack format of standard cans, which is the configuration represented here.

Is Chicago Pixel worth the price? Chicago Pixel positions as a premium craft hazy IPA, priced above mainstream IPAs but in line with other highly rated small-batch offerings. Its 93-point BeerAdvocate score and the use of hand-selected single-hop Citra lots provide tangible quality markers that justify the step up from mass-market alternatives.

Why Chicago Pixel?

The defining move behind Chicago Pixel is Phase Three’s decision to build an entire hazy IPA around a single hop and not just any Citra, but hand-selected lots chosen for peak aromatic quality. That discipline shows in the glass: the tropical and citrus profile reads as coherent and vivid rather than muddled by competing hop varieties. A 93 on BeerAdvocate places it among the top tier of the style nationally, and the nearly 24,000 Untappd ratings confirm broad, sustained demand rather than fleeting hype. For drinkers who want to taste what Citra can do when given the full spotlight on an oat-and-wheat canvas, this is one of the clearest examples available.