Leinenkugels Big Eddy Imperial IPA

Formerly brewed at Leinenkugel Brewing Company (MillerCoors)
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA

On tap at Great Dane at Hilldale. Perhaps one of the most unbalanced IIPAs out there. It is ALL hops and very little malt background. Plays to the worst of the American IPA tendencies by going over the top on Cascade hops and providing insufficient malt to ground it.

On cask at Great Dane, Hilldale (5/25). Reminded me quite a bit of Tyranena Hop Whore. Pours a golden orange with notes of mango, lemongrass, and citrus hops on the nose. Leads into more of the same on the palate, with a powerful hop finish. It’s well crafted, but not overwhelming compared to some of the great IIPAs. Slightly thin of palate, and lacking the complexity of something like Dreadnaught.

On tap at the Landmark 1850, across the highway from Mitchell Int. Airport in Milwaukee. Pours a thick hazy coppery amber brew with a lumpy white head. Aroma of strong grapefruit hops, barley malt, caramel, and citrus zest. Taste is thick and syrupy with some light alcohol and pine spice. Finish is grapefruit bitter that lingers around a little bit. Leinenkugel has really done great on this craft beer and hope to see this come out as a regular beer.

Thanks to Skyview for sharing this very rare, and very good beer. It has a powerful aroma of hops with citrus and herbs. one of the most intense hop aromas I have had in any beer. Fruity, inclduing peaches and lemon, more citrus, in the flavor. But there is also a body of sweet malt. Very well balanced. Thick on the palate. I expected a beer good for Leinenkugels; but this is good by any measure.

Thanks to Skyview for sharing his growler. A spectacular floral/citrus hop nose on this dark orange beer. Bitter hop taste.

I really think this would kick some ass in a blind tasting, as some might be inclined to hold the fact that it’s from Leinenkugels against the brew. Growler shared by OhioDad. Sweet caramel aroma with nice hops scents--grapefruit being the dominant aroma. Medium brown body. Medium to full palate. The taste is a fantastic mix of citrus flavors, bitterness, and malts. This is outrageously easy to drink and very, very refreshing. I hope they start bottling this stuff now!

Gifted a growler from a true friend who chose to remain anonymous! Poured a dark pumpkin/amber into my pint glass with a light head, and little lacing. The nose a sharp and floral with a brutal pickled hopped up back end nose. A lot of lemon citrus, with a salty, piney astringancy Holy shite this beer is pretty damn big! The taste is excedingly strong hops all up front, floral and pineappley, with a slight nutty finish, all in all, this beer is so frickin hoppy I am having trouble getting more out of it. Waiting a bit, I am getting a bit of caraway, rich and thick in mouthfeel, this beer masks it’s alcohol well. Slight harsh on the finish, but hey, it’s a double. On a side note, one of my good customers is the brew master of the 10th street pilot house (Leinies brew lab), when he told me what it took to make this beer, let alone the ...RIS to come... Exciting shit my friends. If your lucky to try it, it’s a damn fine beer.

Got a chance to try this treat. This is an excellent dipa and it is surprising it came from leinies. Aroma is big citrus and so is the taste. Has enough malt to back it up but not get in the way. Hides the alc well and finishes a fanastic citric bitterness. pretty damn good stuff.