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Easy Buckets

Great Lakes Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American Pale Ale · One of 239 American Pale Ales in hopIQ

The beer of the brewery's partnership with Cleveland's professional basketball team, named by fans and released for the season in the team's broadcast area. It began as a blonde ale; for 2025-26 the brewery switched to a new pale ale recipe. Two-row base malt and white wheat are hopped with Citra alone. Grapefruit, orange peel and a touch of passion fruit lead the nose, over a soft, lightly bready body. Bitterness stays moderate and the finish is clean and dry.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
See all American Pale Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
orange
hoppy
tropical
Malt character
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Easy Buckets

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright, inviting radiance. The head forms with moderate density and displays crisp, persistent lacing along the glass. Carbonation appears lively and well-integrated throughout.

pale goldenclearpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

Citra hops deliver a vibrant citrus-forward bouquet: grapefruit and orange peel dominate the nose, with a subtle passion fruit note adding complexity in the background. Beneath the hop character lies a soft, lightly bready malt undertone that grounds the profile without asserting itself.

citrus-forwardgrapefruit, orange peelsubtle passion fruit

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bright citrus notes that echo the aroma, transitioning to a soft, pillowy body built from two-row and white wheat. Bitterness remains moderate and measured, integrating cleanly without dominating or fatiguing. The malt sweetness is restrained, allowing the hop character and clean fermentation to drive the mid-palate.

soft bodymoderate bitternessclean fermentation

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and crisp, with citrus impressions lingering briefly before fading. No lingering sweetness or harsh bitterness—just a clean, refreshing conclusion.

dry finishclean, refreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Easy Buckets

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Easy Buckets

About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar American Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, orange, dry character as Easy Buckets will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American Pale Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →