If you know the hops in an IPA, you know how it’s going to taste, right? Not necessarily!

Truth is, many other factors shape how a brew tastes. From the malt and yeast choices, to the brewers’ technique, to the specific amount of hops used, two IPAs with the same cones can have flavors that are worlds apart.

Today, you have the opportunity to taste SIX different interpretations of one IPA!

These beers come from a set of elite Midwest microbreweries as part of the Things We Don’t Say initiative, a global movement to spread awareness for mental health awareness*. Each brew began with the same base recipe developed by Eagle Park Brewing in Wisconsin.

But, that’s where the similarities end. Most of these special hopbombs aren’t leaving the Midwest, so here’s your exclusive chance to do a back-to-back tasting!

Since the beers all have the same title, we went ahead and gave them some appropriate nicknames to differentiate:

The ‘Hazy Standard’ from The Brewing Projekt

When kicking off any comparative tasting, it’s a good idea to start with the standard. The Brewing Projekt closely followed the initial recipe, which required careful precision.

It all began with a fluffy malt bill of flaked oats and wheat, plus Cashmere Hops in the boil. Two days into fermentation, the brewers added Azacca Hops. Finally, they dry-hopped it with more Cashmere and Azacca, plus a dose of El Dorado. The result is an easygoing, 5.9% ABV Hazy IPA whirled in notes of orange zest and melon!

The ‘Sorbet IPA’ from Energy City Brewing

These creative microbrewers amped up their Things We Don’t Say IPA to new fruity heights! Seriously, they transformed the recipe into a Hazy IPA hopped with Enigma for undercurrents of pinot gris and red berries, then made it extra juicy with additions of pineapple and pomegranate post-fermentation. It’s lush, bright magenta, and packs a 7.5% ABV!

The ‘Incognito Hop-splosion’ from Maplewood Brewery

Maplewood really shook things up for their rendition! They added Amarillo and Enigma Hops, plus extra-potent Citra Cryo and Mosaic Incognito for deep complexity. Expect plenty of pithy ruby red grapefruit and orange, plus smooth papaya and rich mango flavors.

The ‘Red for a Good Cause’ from Mikerphone Brewing

This red sipper may look like it also has fruit in it, but it’s all hops! The Mikerphone team coaxed out luxurious waves of pineapple, stone fruit, and melon flavors with their double dry-hopped rendition. Still wondering about the hue though? The brewers added food coloring to this 6% ABV quencher in honor of the Mental Health Awareness Movement!

The ‘Pillowy Soft Haze’ from Riverlands Brewing

This clever team leaned into the original recipe, crafting an easygoing 6% ABV IPA. But, don’t be fooled — their version explores a different tropical direction of the hops. Each sip delivers bright notes of lemon and lime, backed with papaya and mango. Whispers of fresh OJ weave in and out. And man, is this haze pillowy soft!

The ‘Double Dry-Hopped Finisher’ from Old Irving

Crafted right in the heart of Chicago, Old Irving’s Things We Don’t Say IPA serves as an excellent final brew in this sixer. With scores of Midwest craft fans praising its “crushable juice!!” on Untappd, this 6% ABV double dry-hopped haze sips down like a fresh-squeezed fruit blend mingled with soft pine notes.

Which of these IPAs will be your favorite? Only one way to find out!

*This bundle is also a chance to be part of an important cause! Started by Eagle Park Brewing in Wisconsin, the Things We Don’t Say movement now includes some 200 breweries worldwide, all sending a powerful message with their beer name:

It’s okay to not be okay. Let’s fight the stigma surrounding mental illness.