What we’re drinking: Daisy Cutter
ABV: 5.2%
Who Brews It: Half Acre Beer Co.
Where you can find it: Daisy Cutter is not available in Iowa. Instead, cross the border to Illinois to pick up some cans.
Expected Price: $11.99 for a 6-pack of 12 oz cans
I’ve always found American pale ales to be one of my favorite types of beer. While I like some hoppier beers, there’s something about the consistency of a pale ale that makes it a reliable choice when you’re looking to try something new. For me, and for many other beer lovers, pale ales occupy a sweet spot where they are distinct from a typical lager yet don’t run the risk of being overwhelmingly hoppy like some types of IPA.
One of the best pale ales around actually isn’t found in the state of Iowa. To pick up some Daisy Cutter by Half Acre Beer Co., you’ll need to cross the Mississippi and enter Illinois. Daisy Cutter is brewed in the northside of Chicago, and while it is distributed in several states across the USA, Iowa is not one of them.
Once you’ve managed to track down some cans (or get it on tap if you find yourself close to Chicago), you’ll find yourself with a bright, amber colored beer that has a semi-hazy opacity. There’s no sediment in the beer, and a good pour will have a decent, lingering head. Once you take your first drink of Daisy Cutter, you’ll experience a dry beer that begins with a quick burst of earthy, pungent hops. This hop taste quickly fades, and it never reaches the level of evergreen intensity that you would associate with an IPA. Next, a citrus taste emerges that carries slight notes of papaya and mango. Finally, a sweet, biscuity taste that lingers after you swallow, reminiscent of certain styles of English ales.
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