What we’re drinking: Easy Eddy
ABV: 6.0%
Who Brews It: Big Grove Brewery
Where you can find it: Most liquor and grocery stores around Iowa carry Big Grove beer
Typical Price: $11.99 for a six-pack of 12 oz. cans or $10.99 for a four-pack of 16 oz. cans
What makes a beer a staple, reliable IPA? I’ve found that staple IPAs have an emphasis on drinkability, lower alcohol by volume, and an IBU that is rarely higher than 50. This beer is definitely hoppy, as opposed to emphasizing malts and grains. An assortment of fruity flavors keeps the hops from overwhelming the palate. Easy Eddy by Big Grove Brewery matches all these characteristics, resulting in a great flagship IPA.
When poured, Easy Eddy has a color that is reminiscent of honey and will usually have a decent-sized head. I’d wait for the head to diminish before taking your first drink. The first flavors are fruity. Strong notes of pineapple and mango are immediately prevalent in the body, but there are also hints of citrus fruits such as tangerine. The mouthfeel is a medium body, very low carbonation, and a semi-creamy texture that befits a hazy IPA. The aftertaste is somewhat malty but also carries the distinct pine resin taste found in all IPAs, though it is greatly diminished in this beer. Overall, Easy Eddy has low bitterness for an IPA, choosing instead to be defined by its juicy, fruity flavors.
New England IPAs, hazy IPAs, juicy IPAs – all these terms refer to the same style of IPA. This stands in contrast to West Coast IPAs, which have stronger carbonation, a more piney hop profile, and a transparent body. Hazy IPAs are a recent addition to the American craft beer scene, first emerging in the 2010s. The Alchemist, a nationally recognized brewery in Vermont, is commonly credited with pioneering this style.
The hops featured in Easy Eddy are Simcoe and Mosaic. Simcoe is a staple hop in all types of IPAs. This hop gives Easy Eddy its strong, fruity flavoring, but Easy Eddy is unique because the piney taste common in Simcoe is not prevalent. Mosaic hops also contribute to the juicy taste. True to its name, a Mosaic hop tends to have a medley of fruity aromas. Mango is often noted as a prevalent aroma, which leads to the strong mango notes in Easy Eddy.
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