Hop Butcher Be Alert for Foul Balls 4Pk

Hop Butcher Be Alert for Foul Balls 4Pk is a hazy New England IPA brewed in Chicago, Illinois, at 6.75% ABV, sold in a 4-pack of cans. Built on a dual-hop bill of New Zealand-grown Nelson Sauvin and Motueka, this release carries a strong 4.1 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,400 reviews — a testament to the brewery’s consistent quality with limited-run IPAs.
Quick Facts: ABV: 6.75%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: New England IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World
Production & Heritage
Hop Butcher For The World operates out of Chicago and Bedford Park, Illinois, and has built a devoted following through an aggressive rotation of small-batch hazy IPAs. Be Alert for Foul Balls showcases a hop combination that leans heavily on New Zealand varieties: Nelson Sauvin, known for its white wine and gooseberry character, and Motueka, which contributes bright lime and tropical citrus notes. The result is a New England-style IPA with a characteristically hazy, unfiltered body and pillowy mouthfeel that lets the hops take center stage.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Fresh-cut green grass opens first, followed by ripe stone fruit and a whisper of white pepper. A faint dank quality lingers underneath, adding depth without overwhelming the brighter top notes.
Taste: The entry is light and juicy, with luscious tropical fruit and white grape flavors landing immediately — a clear signature of the Nelson Sauvin. Mid-palate, grapefruit citrus and a lime slushie-like brightness from the Motueka hops take hold. A subtle peppery spice and cotton candy grape sweetness round out the peak, keeping the beer vibrant without veering into cloying territory.
Finish: Crisp and moderately dry, with lingering citrus zest and mild hop spice that fade cleanly. The finish stays refreshingly light for the style, encouraging another sip.
How to Drink Be Alert for Foul Balls
Serve cold — around 40–45°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to amplify the aromatic hop oils. This beer is at its best fresh; hazy IPAs lose their punch quickly, so drink it within a few weeks of purchase. Its juicy, fruit-forward profile also makes it a natural fit in beer-driven mixed drinks: a Beermosa using orange or mango juice plays off the tropical notes beautifully; a Michelada gains an unexpected citrus-forward twist from the Motueka character; and a simple Beer Shandy with fresh lemonade amplifies the lime and grapefruit brightness already present in the hop bill.
Best For
Sharing at a backyard cookout or tailgate with fellow hop enthusiasts
Introducing a wine drinker to craft beer through its white grape and Sauvignon Blanc-like hop character
Adding variety to a curated hazy IPA tasting lineup
Bringing as a host gift for someone who appreciates limited-release Chicago craft beer
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Be Alert for Foul Balls taste like? It leads with juicy tropical fruit and white grape, followed by bright grapefruit and lime citrus, finishing with mild peppery hop spice. The overall impression is crisp, fruity, and refreshingly light for a hazy IPA.
How does Be Alert for Foul Balls compare to WeldWerks Juicy Bits? Both are well-regarded hazy IPAs with tropical and citrus-forward profiles, and the two breweries have even collaborated in the past. Be Alert for Foul Balls leans more into white wine-like grape and green characteristics from Nelson Sauvin, while Juicy Bits tends toward a broader tropical juice quality from its own hop selections.
Is Be Alert for Foul Balls good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the 6.75% ABV keeps it sessionable enough for multiple cans, and the bright, fruit-driven flavor profile is satisfying without requiring food or a mixer alongside it.
Where is Be Alert for Foul Balls made? It is brewed and canned by Hop Butcher For The World, which operates brewing facilities in Chicago and Bedford Park, Illinois.
What foods pair well with Be Alert for Foul Balls? Grilled fish tacos with mango salsa mirror the tropical fruit notes; a citrusy Thai green papaya salad complements the lime and grass character; sharp white cheddar provides contrasting richness against the hop bitterness; spicy Buffalo wings are cooled by the beer’s juicy body; and a fresh fruit tart echoes the grape and stone fruit flavors in the hop profile.
What sizes does Be Alert for Foul Balls come in? It is available as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard release format for Hop Butcher’s rotating IPA series.
Is Be Alert for Foul Balls worth the price? It positions in the premium craft IPA tier, consistent with limited-rotation hazy IPAs from top-regarded regional breweries. The use of New Zealand specialty hops — which command higher prices than domestic varieties — and the beer’s strong community ratings support its value within that segment.
Why Be Alert for Foul Balls?
The defining move here is the all-New Zealand hop bill. Nelson Sauvin and Motueka are not the default choices for a New England IPA — they’re more expensive and harder to source in volume than the Citra and Mosaic combinations that dominate the style. That choice gives this beer a distinctly different flavor axis: white grape, gooseberry, and lime rather than the typical mango-and-orange template. With a 4.1 Untappd rating across more than 1,400 reviews, it has earned genuine credibility among hazy IPA drinkers. For anyone looking to explore what New Zealand hops bring to the New England IPA format, this is one of the more focused and well-executed examples coming out of Chicago’s competitive craft scene.