ShinDigger Steady Eddie! Review – A Peachy Little Alcohol-Free Pale Ale

ShinDigger Brewing – A Little Background

If there’s one thing the craft beer world has taught us, it’s that you don’t necessarily need years of brewing experience, a fancy brewery or a massive investment to get started. Sometimes all you need is a homebrew kit, a student house and a few thirsty mates!

That’s pretty much how ShinDigger Brewing began back in 2013. Founded by Manchester University students Paul Delamere and George Grant, the pair started experimenting with homebrewing while at university, initially making beer for their house parties. Before long, their homemade creations were proving popular enough to turn a bit of student fun into a proper business.

Fast forward a few years and ShinDigger has become an established name in Manchester’s craft beer scene, building a reputation for colourful branding, creative beers and a refreshing attitude towards the whole business of drinking beer.

Their philosophy is simple: make good times better through beer. It’s less about taking themselves too seriously and more about producing interesting, enjoyable beers that people actually want to drink.

Their range covers everything from easy-going session beers and fruity pale ales to more hop-forward IPAs, and now they’re dipping their toes into the alcohol-free market.

Introducing Steady Eddie!

Steady Eddie! is ShinDigger’s first alcohol-free pale ale, arriving with a clear mission: to challenge the idea that alcohol-free beer has to compromise on flavour.

Coming in at 0.5% ABV, this hazy pale ale is described as a hop-forward beer, with stone fruit and candied peach aromas promised by the brewery.

It’s an interesting addition to the ever-growing alcohol-free craft beer scene. With more established craft breweries exploring the no-alcohol market, it’s good to see another name bringing its own personality to the party.

And with a name like Steady Eddie!, there’s certainly a bit of character before we’ve even cracked open the can!

Tasting Review: Aroma, Appearance & Drinkability

Aroma

There’s a nice fresh aroma as soon as you get things underway, with some gentle hop notes coming through alongside a hint of peach.

It’s not an overpowering aroma, but there’s enough going on to make it inviting. The peach gives it a slightly fruity character, while the hops provide that familiar pale ale feel.

A promising start, particularly if you’re a fan of fruitier alcohol-free beers.

Appearance

teady Eddie! puts on a decent show in the glass. There’s a nice head that gives the beer a lively appearance, while the overall look is bright, inviting and exactly what you’d hope for from a hazy pale ale.

Nothing particularly complicated here, but it certainly looks the part.

Taste & Mouthfeel

Thankfully, the taste follows on nicely from the initial impression.

There’s a refreshing quality to Steady Eddie!, with a pleasant peach flavour sitting in the background and combining nicely with the hops. It’s a fairly straightforward flavour profile, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The balance between sweetness and bitterness works well, making it an easy-going beer that’s enjoyable to drink. There’s a decent consistency to it too, giving the beer a satisfying mouthfeel without feeling too thin or watery.

If I’m being a little picky, there’s a slight sweet aftertaste that hangs around once you’ve finished a sip. It’s nothing particularly unpleasant, but it’s noticeable.

I’d also have liked a little more complexity to the flavour. There’s enough here to keep things interesting, but perhaps not quite the depth you get from some of the more adventurous alcohol-free pale ales we’ve tried.

Still, it’s refreshing, flavoursome and certainly doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard.

The Verdict – A Steady Performance!

When searching for a new beer to try, I was immediately drawn in by the fun design of the can. Thankfully, the beer itself didn’t disappoint.

Steady Eddie! is a tasty, refreshing alcohol-free pale ale that gets plenty right. The peach notes work nicely alongside the hops, there’s a good balance between sweetness and bitterness, and the overall mouthfeel makes it an enjoyable drink.

It’s perhaps a little lacking in complexity compared with some of the other alcohol-free beers we’ve tried, and the slightly sweet aftertaste won’t be to everyone’s liking. But those are relatively minor complaints.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely. It’s an easy-going beer that I can see myself reaching for again, particularly when I’m after something fruity and refreshing without too much fuss.

ShinDigger has made a promising entrance into the alcohol-free market with Steady Eddie!, and it’s certainly one worth adding to your list if you enjoy a hazy pale ale.

Have you tried ShinDigger Steady Eddie!? I’d love to hear what you thought. Share your thoughts in the comments and check out more alcohol-free beer reviews here at ModestDrinker.com.