YOUR MATES BREWING CO. EDDIE
As men we're experts at keeping our cards close to our chest. But in the words of the late Kenny Rogers, 'you've got to know when to fold 'em'. Try sharing this frothy with a mate and help remove the stigma that is often associated with men talking openly.
Origin – Warana. Queensland
ABV – 3.5%
Size – 375mL can
Style – Extra Pale Ale
Much loved Tasmanian batsman David Boon is said to have consumed 52 beers on the plane trip to London ahead of the 1989 Ashes series. Attempting to surpass the 51 can bar set by Rod Marsh, in an effort that saw the wicketkeeper carried off the plane, legend has it that Boonie was stuck on 49 cans with the plane approaching Heathrow. A quick chat between team captain Allan Border and the pilot ensued, and an extra loop of London for the flying kangaroo later, the record was broken.
Yet while it all may seem like some harmless fun, our binge drinking culture is having significant effects on our health. A recent global survey found that Aussie drinkers had the highest rate of alcohol-related harm including violence, accident and disease. It’s one of reasons why some of the nation’s best craft brewers have been working up beers that get on without going overboard. While lower alcohol beers have suffered something of a bad rap among serious sippers for some time, new iterations such as Young Henry’s Stayer and Balter’s Captain Sensible have defied trends and expectations alike, bringing richer textures, deeper layers, and bolder notes than ever before.
The latest addition to this mid-strength market comes from fast growing Sunshine Coast brewer, Your Mates. Eddie, or #extremeeddie as the brewery is calling him joins the cast of characters including Donnie, Macca, Sally and Larry that have been introduced to us since Christen McGarry and Matt Hepburn quit professional jobs in 2013, rented an industrial shed, purchased a DIY brew kit and set about slinging brews up and down the coast. With a mantra, that given their name, revolves around mateship, McGarry’s mission with this one was to craft an offering that would lubricate conversation between friends, unabated, well into the night – or ‘all gas and no brakes’ as is written on the can. And it’s a 3.5 percent XPA that does just that. Despite being lower on the booze scale, Eddie doesn't skimp on flavour. He pours a perfectly clear and somewhat bright golden orange and is laced with melon, pineapple, nectarine and pine, before signing off with a building bitterness.
Caught behind for 9 on Day One, I’d suggest in hindsight even Boonie would agree he’d have been better off with mate or two like Eddie at 30,000 feet.
