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Midwest Sound

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Midwest Sound is a bold Imperial IPA from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a standout entry in the thriving Chicagoland craft beer scene. It pours a vivid golden-amber with a frothy white head and excellent clarity. The aroma bursts with tropical and citrus hops — ripe mango, blood orange, and a hint of pine resin. On the palate, a full, smooth body delivers waves of juicy hop character balanced by a firm but not aggressive bitterness. Subtle notes of biscuity malt provide backbone without stealing the spotlight. The finish is clean and lingering, leaving a pleasant resinous warmth. A well-crafted, highly drinkable double IPA with serious Midwestern attitude.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber11
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalhoppyresinous
tropical
hoppy
resinous
clean
fruity
piney
Aroma
The nose bursts with vibrant tropical and citrus character, leading with ripe mango and blood orange notes that dominate the aromatic profile.
also:citrusy,juicy,orange,bready
not found:floral,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Midwest Sound

◎ Appearance

Midwest Sound presents a vivid golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and a bright, luminous quality. The pour yields a frothy white head with strong retention and fine lacing that clings to the glass throughout the drinking experience. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a visually engaging and inviting presentation.

golden-amberbright claritypersistent white headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose bursts with vibrant tropical and citrus character, leading with ripe mango and blood orange notes that dominate the aromatic profile. A clean resinous undertone emerges beneath the fruit, with hints of pine resin adding depth and complexity. The overall impression is fresh and assertive, with no rough or unpleasant edges—purely expressive hop character.

tropical mangoblood orangepine resincitrus-forward

◐ Taste

The palate delivers a full, smooth body with juicy, wave-like waves of hop-derived flavor that unfold across the mid-palate. Bitterness is firm and structured—approximately 80 IBU—yet restrained and well-integrated rather than aggressive or astringent. Subtle biscuity malt notes provide essential backbone and balance, allowing the hops to remain the focal point without becoming one-dimensional.

full-bodiedjuicy hopsfirm bitternessbalanced malt

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and lingering, leaving behind a pleasant resinous warmth and a dry, slightly piney aftertaste. The bitterness tapers gracefully without clinging harshly, creating a satisfying and inviting conclusion that encourages another sip.

clean finishresinous warmthlingering
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Midwest Sound

More from Phase Three Brewing Company

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About Imperial IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Imperial IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same tropical, hoppy, resinous character as Midwest Sound will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →