Jack's Abby Hoponius Union
No ratings yet — be the first to log it.
Tasting Notes
Hoponius Union leads with bright citrus and pine resin on the nose, with a clean malt backbone that stays well out of the way. The flavor follows through with assertive hop bitterness — grapefruit pith, a hint of tropical fruit — without the ester-driven fruitiness you'd get from an ale. The lager fermentation keeps everything tightly focused and dry, and the finish is lean and bitter without being harsh. Body sits in the medium-light range, making the hop character the clear protagonist throughout.
About the Brewery
Jack's Abby is based in Framingham, Massachusetts, founded in 2011 by the Hendler brothers. The brewery has built its entire identity around lager brewing, which was a genuinely contrarian move when they launched during the height of American craft ale mania. They've become one of the most respected lager-focused craft breweries in the country, with a broad lineup that applies lager fermentation to styles — IPAs, porters, barrel-aged releases — that most American breweries default to ale for.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai noodles work well here because the dry bitterness cuts through chile heat without amplifying it. A classic cheeseburger with sharp cheddar gives the hops something fatty to push against. Grilled swordfish or mahi-mahi pairs naturally since the citrus-forward hop profile mirrors the brightness you'd squeeze over fish anyway. Aged gouda, with its caramel and crystalline texture, finds a nice counterpoint in the beer's lean, bitter finish. Fish tacos with a lime crema tie the whole citrus thread together without fighting the beer for attention.
Style Guide
India Pale Lagers take the aggressive hop character of an IPA — heavy dry-hopping, high bitterness, citrus and pine aromatics — and apply it to a lager fermented with bottom-fermenting yeast at cold temperatures. The result is cleaner and crisper than an IPA, with none of the fruity esters that ale yeast produces, which lets the hops read with unusual clarity. The style has no deep historical roots; it emerged from American craft brewing in the 2000s and 2010s as brewers experimented with process. It differs from a standard IPL in that the best examples aren't just pale lagers with hops tossed in — the hop load and conditioning are dialed to actually sustain that IPA-level bitterness and aroma.