Tröegs Independent Brewing | Nimble Giant Double IPA
Shakespeare famously asked, “what’s in a name?” in 1597 and the question still holds up over 500 years later. What is in a name?
What’s in a (beer) name?
The brilliant team behind the scenes at Tröegs Independent Brewing, established in 1996 and based out of Hershey, PA, has a history of creating fantastic brews with equally great names to go with them. From Blizzard of Hops, their winter IPA, to Impending Descent- an Imperial Stout, to their annual fall batch of Master of Pumpkins (hello Metallica fans!), the folks at Tröegs know how to pair a great beer with a great name. The return of, Nimble Giant, is no exception.
Weighing in at a formidable 9% ABV, this Double IPA is way too easy to drink. Brewed with Azacca, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops, Nimble Giant boasts notes of grapefruit, pineapple, and honeysuckle making this brew light and refreshing on the palate. When interviewed, Chris Trogner, co-founder of Tröegs Independent Brewing, along with his brother John, described Nimble Giant as a “big beer in terms of hop character, citrus, and pineapple notes” and “deceptively easy to drink”, hence the name.
Nimble Giant was Tröegs’ first Double IPA and went through many different trials on their in-house small-batch Scratch System, with the earliest trials using fruity and complex Mosaic hops. After about half a dozen small test batches, the team hit upon something special after dry-hopping Mosaic and Simcoe hops together, and then finishing with the addition of the Azacca hops. The result would become the fruity and complex Nimble Giant, which is second only to Mad Elf (another aptly named, holiday ale) in the anticipation it generates throughout the community.
If you’re lucky enough to find Nimble Giant, it’s perfect for a day of hiking or tubing with friends and family. Although, it is important to remember that each delicious sips clocks in at 9%, so it’s a good idea to pair this brew with hearty dishes like barbequed chicken and cured ham, or tropical fruits such as grapefruit, pineapple, peaches, and melons. This Nimble Giant really can creep-up on you, although after a rough 2020, I don’t think we’d mind.
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