Fantasy Factory
Karben4 Brewing
- From:
- Karben4 Brewing
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #511 - ABV:
- 6.3%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,315 - Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 10.76%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 109
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 15, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 11, 2013
- Wants:
- 50
- Gots:
- 199
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Hopheads crusade on a heroic quest for the holy grail of India Pale Ales. The subconscious composes paradisiacal scenes of malty waves crashing on a ripe lupulin landscape cascading hop flavors and aromas in profuse abundance. With humble confidence we offer this brew as fantasy made reality. Balanced in every detail and gushing resinous, exceptional citrus flavors and aromas that collaborate with soft bready notes surrendered from premium English golden malted barley, this beer is a tropical dreamscape. Epic.
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Reviewed by LoftusTheBeerEngineer from Wisconsin
4.16/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Fantasy Factory
---Karben4 Brewing
Okay this is an IPA and I'm putting it up against zombie dust, yeah Let's go head to head!
Look: 3.5 l 5.0
Fantasy factory is an IPA and it's what I would consider to be a hazy --- It's slightly darker than zombie dust and that even can be detected by the head ---If you like cats and unicorns the look will be really good! Lol I'm not sure what it means if the cat's packing heat ----looks like he has a gold-plated pistol and that unicorn is breathing fire --- Okay that's just marketing shit, but we're here to judge some beer! For some reason I'm not worried (smiles).
Smell: 4.25 l 5.0
---Out of the can It kind of smells a lot like fruit loops ---come here kitty kitty kitty, once again I think Simcoe hops of the best variety are in play here or maybe some variety of modern hops I might not be as familiar with.
Mouth feel: 4.25 / 5.0
What?! this is really smooth ---Creamy it's delicious I wasn't expecting this... I've glanced over the unicorn with the golden mane breathing fire with the cat riding herd with a headband that's flapping behind him half the length of his body --- Dude, That cat can ride. There's a castle in the back and a rainbow, so it makes the medieval cat seem much less evil, but did I say he was packing heat?
Overall: 4.0 l 5.0
Honestly, I suppressed the impulse to buy this at least five times.... I looked at the packaging. I looked at the price and I said nope !
It was on sale so I took a bite.. at the price $1.60 for a 19.2 oz solo yep! Glad I did... I mean a baby blue colored can with a unicorn and a cat.... A fantasy castle and a rainbow... I don't give a s*** It was only a $1.60 let's go... It's somewhere close to zombie dust... I'm going to say smoother and a little less bitter... Neither of these are pale ale or IPA in my opinion but very drinkable
I'm going to downgrade the look simply based upon the can and it's art work which is not at all appealing to my generation ---though It makes a statement, I think it's marketing isn't quite right the caliber of beer we have here... Then again if you grew up on fruit loops... You probably want a cat a castle and a unicorn ---Does that make me a curmudgeon?
Feb 15, 2026---Karben4 Brewing
Okay this is an IPA and I'm putting it up against zombie dust, yeah Let's go head to head!
Look: 3.5 l 5.0
Fantasy factory is an IPA and it's what I would consider to be a hazy --- It's slightly darker than zombie dust and that even can be detected by the head ---If you like cats and unicorns the look will be really good! Lol I'm not sure what it means if the cat's packing heat ----looks like he has a gold-plated pistol and that unicorn is breathing fire --- Okay that's just marketing shit, but we're here to judge some beer! For some reason I'm not worried (smiles).
Smell: 4.25 l 5.0
---Out of the can It kind of smells a lot like fruit loops ---come here kitty kitty kitty, once again I think Simcoe hops of the best variety are in play here or maybe some variety of modern hops I might not be as familiar with.
Mouth feel: 4.25 / 5.0
What?! this is really smooth ---Creamy it's delicious I wasn't expecting this... I've glanced over the unicorn with the golden mane breathing fire with the cat riding herd with a headband that's flapping behind him half the length of his body --- Dude, That cat can ride. There's a castle in the back and a rainbow, so it makes the medieval cat seem much less evil, but did I say he was packing heat?
Overall: 4.0 l 5.0
Honestly, I suppressed the impulse to buy this at least five times.... I looked at the packaging. I looked at the price and I said nope !
It was on sale so I took a bite.. at the price $1.60 for a 19.2 oz solo yep! Glad I did... I mean a baby blue colored can with a unicorn and a cat.... A fantasy castle and a rainbow... I don't give a s*** It was only a $1.60 let's go... It's somewhere close to zombie dust... I'm going to say smoother and a little less bitter... Neither of these are pale ale or IPA in my opinion but very drinkable
I'm going to downgrade the look simply based upon the can and it's art work which is not at all appealing to my generation ---though It makes a statement, I think it's marketing isn't quite right the caliber of beer we have here... Then again if you grew up on fruit loops... You probably want a cat a castle and a unicorn ---Does that make me a curmudgeon?
Reviewed by Mrkafur
4.77/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.77/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
I arrived in Madison, WI for the first time ever and ordered a local IPA at the airport bar. They recommended the Fantasy Factory IPA from Karben4 Brewing, and I was very impressed by its flavor and aroma. However, since it was from a can instead of a draft, I didn't give it a perfect score.
Sep 09, 2024Rated by krh from Illinois
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Solid all around. Nothing overpowering.
Mar 09, 2024Reviewed by BrewMattster from Wisconsin
3.38/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
She’s a bit “clean” for an IPA. I definitely like her, she just doesn’t have that sloppy, hazy, stanky character that some of us have come to love in these beers. She’s just a bit……”proper” and crisp……definitely easy drinking and very smooth with very little bite and almost no after taste.
Oct 28, 2023
Rated by BlueMountain from Iowa
3.06/5 rDev -25.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.06/5 rDev -25.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Bitter finish, texture a bit shallow but with some nice foam, darker colored IPA.
Oct 04, 2023
Reviewed by cryptichead from Illinois
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a nice old fashioned old school IPA. Pours a nice tannish amberish hue. Nice and fluffy and sticky foam that lingers for a while. Piny and citrusy on the tongue nose and the tongue. Grapefruit. Get a nice touch of the malt too. A very nice IPA with a fun absurd label to boot.
Mar 04, 2023
Reviewed by Captain69 from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
great hoppy ipa fresh hop taste in every sip , just started getting this in the south sub. of chcago , had several of their beers in Madison they were all great
Jan 25, 2023
Reviewed by Papercut4 from Wisconsin
3.82/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a nice opaque gold with a 2 inch head that lingers. Smells bready and malty. Tastes bready and citrusy as well. A decent IPA for sure. Pretty much your standard
Dec 30, 2022
Rated by archermarks
4.33/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A great IPA. Not as heavy as two hearted, and really nice. Fun branding too.
Oct 26, 2022
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
4.19/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle
This beer brings me back to the first time I had it, back when my sister lived in Madison and was homesick so it gave me an excuse to visit friends in the area. My one buddy took me to this brewery and I became a fan of this beer for life. It reminds me of a better version of Summit Saga - just a good IPA for lovers of the style. Foggy, stinky, hoppy, bitter, enjoyable - that's my review. I could be critical but I won't
Thumbs up
Dec 02, 2021This beer brings me back to the first time I had it, back when my sister lived in Madison and was homesick so it gave me an excuse to visit friends in the area. My one buddy took me to this brewery and I became a fan of this beer for life. It reminds me of a better version of Summit Saga - just a good IPA for lovers of the style. Foggy, stinky, hoppy, bitter, enjoyable - that's my review. I could be critical but I won't
Thumbs up
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