Haberdasher Hop Factory: How Does IPA Beer Become Whiskey?

Haberdasher Hop Factory: How Does IPA Beer Become Whiskey?

Can IPA beer really be turned into whiskey?

Today we're tasting Hop Factory from Haberdasher Artisan Distillery in Franklin, Indiana — a truly unusual spirit that starts its life as a finished IPA from Oaken Barrel Brewing Company.

This isn't beer made specifically for distillation. Haberdasher takes Superfly IPA, double pot distills it to roughly 150 proof, selects the portion containing the biggest hop flavors, and then ages the spirit in used bourbon barrels for 1 to 2 years.

The result is something completely different from a traditional whiskey.

In this review, we explore:

What is Haberdasher Hop Factory?

How does IPA beer become a distilled spirit?

How much hop character survives distillation?

️ Why is Hop Factory aged in bourbon barrels?

Peach and orange peel notes

Floral and creamy characteristics